Anatolitika/Oriental - Greek Urban Music from Smyrna

The sub genre of "Anatolitika" or "Oriental" in Greek urban song touches the areas of rebetika, smyrneika and light theatre tunes (epitheorasis). Usually a Greek orientalist view of the "East" of pashas, maharajahs, harems and sultry females, musically it is a melange of east and west with elements of Greek Turkish and Arabic music with often strong Latin influences and a Hollywood feel. These songs, starting with a few examples in the 20s and 30s (Miserlou being one of the early examples - see my Misirlou upload), became very popular in the late 40s and 50s.