The news that made the rounds on the internet this morning (12/11/2024), with Stavros Xarchakos embracing a traveling musician who was playing “Once upon a time”, had a sequel, this time from the side of the musician who publicly thanked the great composer.
The street artist, Manolis Rakintzis, went ahead with a post on social media, in which he referred to the touching incident with Stavros Xarhakos.
“As a creator, I have to say that through this video, the importance of having your songs heard from the Herodion and the full stadiums to the street can be seen,” he said, among other things.
The full post follows
“Since last night, I’ve been trying to sort out my feelings about what happened while I was playing in the center of Athens, a city sometimes welcoming and sometimes terribly aggressive towards street musicians.
The truth is that I see and re-watch the video of our great composer Stavros Xarchakos crossing the street and coming to hug me while listening to me play his song, and I feel like someone else has experienced it, like the person I see, don’t be me
Seeing a living piece of the artistic history of this place open its arms to a stranger he met by chance on the street, I realize how important it is to reach that point where you have nothing to prove to anyone, with tenderness as your only reference point and humility.
As a creator, I have to say that through this video, the importance of having your songs heard from the Herodion and the full stadiums to the street can be seen.
A big thank you to Mr. Stavros Xarchakos, who so simply gave me a moment that I will not forget as long as I live. Thank you to all those who sought me out after this video.
I am truly honored and will be glad when they remember not to ignore a musician who plays next to them in their walks and shopping in the future, and not to treat him as a beggar. Street musicians are not beggars. Music is love, it is emotion and offering. This is what we do either on the street or in shops. I hope that all those who applaud today are moved and honor me with their kind words will be with us tomorrow too, when the police come to chase us away from the place where we are playing.
It will be my pleasure to interact more, in terms of equality, excitement and fun.”
When Manolis Rakintzis met Stavros Xarchakos
It all started when Stavros Xarchakos, who had just finished his concert at the Acropolis Museum, was walking in the center of Athens and at the junction of the University and Bucharest, he had a pleasant surprise.
The itinerant musician, Manolis Rakintzis, was singing with his guitar the song “Once upon a time”, with which Stavros Xarchakos had closed his concert a little while ago.
Then the composer approached him and hugged him, wanting to show his admiration.
