Sakis Rouvas In Corfu

I followed his instructions to his house but I am confused. The area is deserted. I find an open vet clinic so I stop to get directions. “Do you know where is the house of Sakis Rouvas?” I ask. He stares at me, “Yes” he replies finally. “I’m heading that way myself” and he draws me a map. There is no number on the door, I realize it’s the house by the jeep parked outside and I call him. “You found it” he says. He steps outside to welcome me. He is wearing black, a T-shirt and a fisherman’s pants, he is tanned, his eyes smile. He is sure of himself and calm. His face is almost perfect. Although I have met him many times I feel awkward at first. He is very simple, very friendly and extremely handsome and because of that I have a hard time. His garden has a view of pine trees and the Mediterranean. A dog is walking around us. I ask him what’s his name and he tells me “Kouklara (= doll) but I call her Lara” And while the sun is still shining we move inside where a number of works of art are shining in their frames. I can hear from the white kitchen with the red Bouhara various noices and a Georgian woman, with a childlike smile shows up with the Pepsi I have asked for.

“Ssss” Sakis tells her, “I’m giving an interview” and her – very proud that she can do something for him – moves away like an athlete who has just won the gold medal.

It’s a fact that his aura creates the desire to return the favor and “give him” something in return for the positive energy that you are taking. But the face with the jolly look and the eyes that can be very sweet or inpenetretable, apart from the teaser with the dimples, co exists the star with the body that is made for hugs and sensual enough to cause panic to women as well as the demanding professional who is looking for ways to raise the standards. I try to concentrate, I swallow my Pepsi and I begin:

Except for the positive things, did Eurovision have any negative spots?

“No. For starters I had never felt the love and the trust of the people in that degree. People I never thought I would be, of every age and environment supported me. And all these had a different gravity I was no longer just Sakis, I was representing my country”.

Did you feel that the expectations were too much – did you feel that you took a chance?

I did feel the pressure of expectations but they weren’t just peoples’ expectations. They were mine as well. I was under a lot of pressure, I was stressed even. And I was very glad to see the attitude of the public on that event. I didn’t feel that I risked anything.

We know that you’ re always after the top. Did you felt sorry that you came third?

I wasn’t sorry but I certainly wanted to be first, so that we could celebrate together the victory of our country. I wish I had given that joy to the world – I know how beautiful is that I felt it when we won the UEFA championship. I was delirious then, like I was in the field and I scored. Same as I felt with our athletes in the Olympics that won.

If only there weren’t the doping incidents …

I am very disappointed by the small-minded people that emphasize on the negative things of Greece. I’ m saddened and bitter by those who need misery to their lives and unfortunately they transmit it to the rest of us. We have so many successes and they are all trying to devour the athletes, and the Greeks more than the foreigners. I believe that these people are just a particular group and I refuse to believe that the average Greek is miserable. The Greeks want to be happy, proud and they want to honor their representatives. Let’s all take a deep breath and enjoy our success. Let’s not always project our negatives like they are the main points in this land…

How did you like the Olympic Athens?

I walked around a little bit, not much mind you, but I liked what I saw. As for the opening ceremony, I thought it was grand from every angle. I was so proud, like it was my creation. It was a unique spectacle, very inspiring. Dimitris Papaioannou was an exceptional choice for this show. He really showed that we have escaped the stereotypes.

Let’ s get back to you. Will you represent Greece at the Eurovision contest again?

I have been asked but I haven’t made up my mind yet. It’s a challenge for me, maybe greater than the first time, because now I ‘m a lot more familiar with the concept, but the circumstances must be right.

You mean – I guess – the circumstances that turn a song to a hit.

If there are circumstances like that, I don’ t know them. A lot of different songs become hits and that in itself proves that there is no code about these things. You always hope that a song will become a hit and the public will love it. “Shake it” was connected with Eurovision, and people loved it even more. So it became a big hit. I listened to it a lot this summer and it gave me great joy.

I understand that you are very popular in Turkey

That’s what I heard too. I had many proposals from there. I might create an album there. We’ll see.

You can speak English very well. Did you have lessons?

No, but here in Corfu, we have a lot of tourists. I had to learn to speak English. I worked at a bar when I was a kid. In “Fontana” so you see English were essential.

Will you be involved in the movies? I think that it suits you …

It’s true I have been asked to participate in movie productions many times but nothing worked as a motive yet.

How do you manage the hysteria that happens to a certain amount of your fans when they hear the word Sakis or that “unrequited love” that some of your fans direct to you?

What you call hysteria, I call enthusiasm and it’s something that I feel when I’m on stage. Their love is not really unrequited. When I’m singing, I can feel that communication and it keeps me going. We form a relationship, a union. And as I get that from them, they must be getting something from me too. A pleasure an energy or something. And what my fans give me is not unimportant. It’ s their love. And that’ s my whole life.

Isn’t the stereotype of the “good – looking block” little for you? You seem to projecting a very small part of who you are, because while you are very gifted you try to disguise it.

What do you think I have been doing with you so far? In a picture you see the image of a person. What matters is what you can read in a picture. Whether I’ m being photographed, or I’ m on stage or when we talk, all these are moments that show who I am, because I’m “present” in everything I do and you choose what you want to keep. If you think that the image of “the good – looking guy” is what comes first, that’s because that’s what you want to see

Don’t tell me that you never tried to project something more or less…

I ‘m just trying to give my love. And everything I do contain it. Even a picture.

Love is the basic ingredient of your success then?

Love is the basic ingredient of human existence. Is there something prettier than that? And it’s not about your profession or your success or your class. It’s a matter of character and attitude in life.

What’s the main ingredient of your life?

A very large part of my life, maybe the largest, is my work. And the feelings as well as the lessons my work has to offer to me are very intense.

So how much space is left for your loved one?

The physic space can’t be measured. It contains all. My work may be demanding and that’s not easy for “the other” but I imagine that it’s interesting.

Have you ever been to a long-term relationship?

What is long-term to you? One year? Five? Thirty? I was in Corfu (the city) the other day and I stopped to a stall were an elderly couple was selling spices and honey. They gave me advice and when I asked them how long they have been together, they told me they were married for fifty years. Long-term is completely subjective.

Let’s go to something more specific. Do you get jealous?

I consider jealousy a very unhealthy emotion, with large doses of selfishness and possessiveness and I add it to the things that make my life more difficult. Of course I have been jealous in my life, but consciously I try not to be. I also believe that in a relationship you have the ability – in a normal term – to either make it bigger or extinguish it.

Even by lying?

I don’t see a reason to lie, it has no meaning. If there is a serious reason then I’ll tell it (a lie). But something very important must be at stake. But not in a love affair because in love affairs I choose to live in situations where lying isn’t necessary.

Since you became famous and the idol for thousands of women, did you get your heart broken?

Yes, of course. The taste is always unpleasant, but it’s all a part of life. But I won’t go any further than that because I try to keep that part of my life intact.

Do you think about marriage?

I don’t consider it impossibility but I’m not thinking about it right now.

How about children?

I love children they are the perfect humans. And when you are near them you become one yourself. But they are a great responsibility too, because a parents action – especially if the child is young – have a tremendous impact. If or when I have a child I want to devote myself to it. It’s not time yet because I couldn’t give my child all the things that I want. Everything has its time,

Draw me a picture of your childhood.

For starters Corfu is beautiful. The colors, the tastes the music. What I can’t forget is Ash Wednesday when all the people gather to the old city with candles and epitafios (the body of Christ) moves in the streets and the cities band play the adagio of Albioni, like a movie from Fellini. I grew up near the airport. I remember the mornings when I woke up. The sooner I got up, the sooner I could star playing soccer at my school. Those who got there first formed two teams and they played ball. I also remember that I loved Jules Verne. I recall that the first book I ever read was “Robinson Crusoe” and “20.000 leagues under the sea”. As I recall I was an incredibly naughty boy.

Did the girls favor you then?

You know boys are not as fast as girls when it comes to the game of love but there was always something going on. My first love was on elementary school. I always took her home…

When you were a teenager, did you imagine you could go so far?

I always felt that I had a connection with the people. When I was an athlete – and that was a big part of my life – I felt that. Ever since I was very young, I was singing for my friends and I really enjoyed myself. I never imagined how far I would go though. I just did something I really liked.

In the previous TV season your friend Ilias Psinakis, evolved to a major player and took us by surprise. Had you envisioned his as a TV star?

Ilias was always a star both in life and for his friends. He always had that something. He is a very special man and showbiz suits him, I keep telling him to continue. This by the way is psychoanalysis not an interview. Next time you should try hypnoses and get it over with.

Maybe next time. Now tell me of a Greek artist that you think is worth it

I vote for Dimitri Papaionou and not Just for the opening ceremony.

And what did you think of the closing ceremony?

It was wonderful and something more than that. For me it was even more special because it gave me the opportunity to participate in one of those events that happen once in your lifetime. I was part of the Olympics when they took place in my country. Whatever I can say is little …

The moment of your fall?

You want me to comment on my fall? It was insignificant. I have given many performances and I fell many times but that particular moment was so great and rich in emotions that it didn’t carry any weight …

What do you think when you hear the word Rouvitsa?

It seems like we are part of one big family. It’s fun! I like it!

Is there a life expectancy for a pop star? Are there milestones in your career?”

I am not sure if there is life expectancy. Sinatra was a pop star until he died. You just have to change with the passage of time. Whatever doesn’t change dies. And I don’t believe in milestones. On the contrary I believe in details, in small and repeated events that without being too obvious are very important. There are some points more important than others for sure but they don’t jus happen. Something has set them in motion. It’s a journey of constant change and evolution.

Make a wish

I wish that everybody could put in our souls the beauty that our ancestors had and revive it. The lessons that they gave us are very beautiful.

And one final question. I’ve been very discreet until now but I have to ask. Do you consider yourself a good lover?

He looked at me and his face was as calm as water that nothing can disturb, only his tranquil smile that brightened his eyes became more evident

That’s a question that shouldn’t be asked to me but nevertheless I will try to answer you. Our sexual behavior has to do with our attitude and way of life in general terms. Consequently by noticing the way someone behaves and deals with people and situations by measuring how much of himself he gives to everything he do you can draw conclusions for his love life. Our love life is, I think, nothing but a summary of our whole life.

Life & Style, 1/10/2004