Markos Vamvakaris sings Oloi oi rebetes tou ntounia, a Greek rebetiko song which means “All the rebetes (rebetika players) in the world” in English. The song Oloi oi rebetes tou ntounia is one of the most renowned rebetika songs, composed and written by Vamvakaris himself.
Markos Vamvakaris was from the island of Syros, famous for his support to the rebetika genre of Greek music. This song is a perfect example of rebetika songs composed – and performed by Vamvakaris himself; there are straight references to his influential stance towards Greek music. And indeed, he is the man loved by all “rebetes”, because he was one of the biggest and most important creators of laika, rebetika and folk songs.
As with most rebetika songs, the “Oloi oi rebetes tou ntounia” refers to the sorrow, pain and poverty of people, as well as the audacious men – the “magkes” in Greek – which are common themes in the popular genre of laika and rebetika songs of the time.