Zorbas
"Zorbas" (or more commonly, "Zorba's Dance") is a song by Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis. It is based on two traditional Cretan songs, "Armenohorianos Syrtos" and "Kritiko syrtaki", composed by Giorgis Koutsourelis. The song featured in the 1964 film Zorba the Greek, for which Theodorakis wrote the soundtrack, and became popular around the world. It is now commonly played and danced to in Greek tavernas. The track has been recorded by many different musicians from around the world. Some of the more notable are listed below.
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass recorded a version of the song (as "Zorba the Greek") for their 1965 album Going Places. Issued as the B-side of the group's "Tijuana Taxi" single, the song reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The tune reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart in August 1965, performed by Marcello Minerbi (Durium Records DRS 54001).
Alto saxophonist Phil Woods recorded the tune on his album Greek Cooking.
The song was featured, among others, in the film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and in the "Subdivision" episode of Prison Break, where Charles "Haywire" Patoshik raided a fast food joint and gorged himself on soda and ice cream.
