I too was one of the lucky ones to have seen Pantelis Pantelidis perform live. I saw him in Greece a few years ago at a place called Teatro Music Hall. Having grown up with Greek music all my life, I realized this guy wasn’t just the latest fad. People loved him. He spoke to “every man” with the music and lyrics he wrote and sang.
It was his simplicity and purity— and perhaps his humble beginnings in front of a camera in his bedroom via YouTube— that made Pantelis special to so many people.
He sang about love and pain, heartbreak and lost love— emotions and experiences of everyone, and in a language everyone could understand and connect with.
He was, without a doubt, one of the greatest talents of our current generation of Greek singers— and he had only just begun.
No doubt the fatal accident that killed him instantly and left two innocent young Greek girls in critical condition has shaken the nation.
An estimated 20,000 people showed up at his funeral in the Nea Ionia suburb of Athens, a working class neighborhood where neighbors know each other and call each other by their first names. Pantelis was “one of them.” Today, that neighborhood was covered in black as thousands came to pay tribute to their beloved son, singer and friend.
RIP Pantelis PantelidisMore than 20,000 people join Pantelis Pantelidis on his final journey. The beloved, popular singer was buried today with music and bands playing throughout his coffin’s procession and tens of thousands of mourners. Two women remain in critical condition following the fatal traffic accident.
Posted by The Pappas Post on Saturday, February 20, 2016
Hopefully this accident will serve as a wake up call to a nation that is suffering yet another crisis— the crisis on the roads. The numbers are staggering. According to official statistics, 1,600 people lost their lives in traffic accidents on Greek roads in 2015 with 20,000 people injured.
And like in Pantelidis’ case— speed was involved. Not only was he not wearing his seatbelt, but he was driving on a dangerous stretch of Vouliagmenis Avenue at excessive speeds of upwards of 80-90 miles per hour, according to police reports and witnesses.
Every day in Greece there are five people killed on the roads in accidents. Fifteen people are left paralyzed and 60 are seriously injured. This is every day in Greece and according to statistics, upwards of 60% to 70% of the victims are young people under the age of 29.
As if Greece didn’t have enough crises to worry about— the economic one, the refugee one— the road crisis is another real crisis that needs to be dealt with at the highest levels of Greek government.
It’s sad that the 1,600 souls lost last year weren’t enough of a wake up call. Hopefully Pantelis Pantelidis’ death won’t be in vain and Greeks will wake up and realize there’s a war going on on their roads and highways— and they’re not winning it.
8 comments
Great post about a life certainly lost too soon! I’m of Greek heritage and find those statistics alarming although not surprising! Each time I’ve been to Greece and been in cars while relatives are driving it seems they are fearless and have no regard for safety or the law. They speed as though it’s absolutely normal, they drink and drive with no worry in the world. It’s unfortunately their way of life, it’s how is always been so YES PLEASE let this be a wake up call, let them realise how precious life is and that not everyone gets out alive as this sad story has showed. Much love to all in the Motherland who are dealing with this loss and to family and friends of all the 1600 who have been lost last year!
Anyone know his blood alcohol level ?
If the cops parked outside any club, I can guarantee you
They would nail several with drinking and driving…
I find it very hard to believe there was no alcohol involved…
The same attitude that brought them to their financial ruin applies to their road death issue: the rules are for the other guy.
There simply aren’t no rules. Greece is a society in moral,economic,social, decay, and it’s going to take a long time to recover.
I am not convinced I need the government to tell me not to speed because I have a good chance of getting killed.
If I am of age to drive, I should be of age to know that too!!
Let Pantekis rest in peace. Whether he was speeding or not. He’s in Gods hands now . He will never be forgotten . A beautiful young man has left us but is with the Lord .
There is no Road Crisis if you’re going 200 km/h drunk then yes the road maybe somewhat of a hazard but no road can prevent stupidity. That goes for anyone not just Pantelis Pantelides. The real issue is that bars and clubs are not held responsible for the copious amounts of alcohol they serve and that’s why English Tourists always get in hot water in Greece because their allowed to go overboard.Why don’t they try that in their home country? Ironic ain’t it that one of the girls he was with according to the media a “barwoman”, so she should have had the knowledge of what alcohol can do to people. I don’t know who to believe. I’m sorry for this guy and his family but i also believe bars and clubs have to be accountable for the amount they serve and in Greece it seems there is no limit to anything, alcohol, speeding, gambling,eating, noisemaking. There are just no laws enforced.
I feel so bad for him! He was an amazing singer !