Nana Mouskouri sings Amazing Grace, one of the most renowned foreign songs based on a poem written 3 centuries ago. Although not a Greek song, Amazing Grace was one of the songs that made Nana Mouskouri known and appreciated abroad.
The words to “Amazing Grace” were written in the 18th century by John Newton. He was born in London and after a life which included being press-ganged into the navy, flogged and becoming a skipper of a boat plying the slave trade, was converted to religion and became a minister. He wrote many hymns and this one was propelled into the pop charts when a pipe band recorded the tune.
Amazing Grace is one of the most beloved songs in the US. Author Gilbert Chase writes that “Amazing Grace” is “without a doubt the most famous of all the folk hymns.
It comes as no surprise that the emotional and flawless performance of Nana Mouskouri opened the doors to the American audience, who got to know the Greek singer with the melodious voice that had already captivated Europe.