Notes from the Armenian Blogosphere
As I’ve constantly said, the music scene here sucks because with one or two exceptions, although I can’t really name any, everything is decided and determined by connections and the support of government-linked sponsors. We all know that Nune Yesayan, for example, is a has-been who has only managed to “survive” thanks to her close contacts with Bagrat Sarkisyan, Gerard Cafesjian’s local partner at the appallingly propagandist and tasteless Armenia TV.
Now, we have another talentless musical non-entity who Zarchka at Life Around Me wrote about in September.
Hayko started his career translating a Spanish singer Luis Miguel’s songs into Armenian and representing them as those of his own. He was all but sure that no one in Armenia knew Luis Miguel and that his little secret would never be disclosed.
But his calculations and assumptions were not approved soon when people got to know Luis Miguel and compared their songs. As far as Hayko was very small to be famous, there remained only a single option, that Hayko was cheating. Although he didn’t learn his lesson and soon after pretending to be a composer he translated another old Spanish song by Alejandro Sans, this time representing it as a song on the basis of Spanish folk music. Whether it is still the influence of Ardzaganq Studio where everyone just sing translated songs of famous singers, can’t say, but one thing for sure- what an impudence!
I don’t even mention poor musical abilities he is gifted, the limited pitch level of his voice and the lack of the ability to conjoin two words together.
Now, Hayko is apparently going to represent Armenia on the international music stage at the Eurovision Song Contest. The general reaction to this from bloggers that have posted about this is “God help us all.” Der Hova at Cilicia.com’s Life in Armenia says it best.
There is no doubt about widespread corruption in this country. Not only in government, but in EVERY sphere.
May 12 is the date of the forthcoming parliament elections, but on that same day we will see another event which I’m sure more youth are looking forward too than the elections … Eurovision.
These past 2 days we saw 20 songs performed in a national competition which will determine who shall represent Armenia in this year’s coming contest. (Supposedly they received 120 submissions.)
[…]
Tonight, 7 out of the 20 performances will perform and the jury, NOT THE PUBLIC, will decide who shall go to Finland in May.
Let them send someone who does not deserve it and lose. These people need a major slap in the face to realize that in the end corruption hurts only us.
When Der Hova wrote that I suppose he already guessed who would win. Indeed, this has been the word for a few months now, and Der Hova sarcastically registers his surprise in his latest post.
Surprise, surprise … Hayko is representing Armenia at Eurovision 2007 in Helsinki.
Incidentally, Zarchka has also written something on what she calls “Playing Eurovision.”
But you know what’s the funniest and the bizarre point in all this show? That while they are planning a show contest and audience-voting, in the narrow circles everyone knows who will go to Eurovision. Can’t you guess? It is the most honored artist… Hayko!
Woe is us!!!
No wonder he’s an “Honoured Artist of Armenia.” Don’t be surprised if Hayko and some of his other musical “luminaries” dependent on the support of government-linked sponsors start playing politics now it’s election time.
Talking of which, Harmick at Blogrel sees a definite correlation between how Armenia’s Eurovision entry was chosen and democracy in general. It would be funny if it weren’t so true.
Last year’s entry was selected internally by the Armenian Public Television, who are responsible for organising Eurovision. This year, the company has decided to “democratize” the selection of our song - albeit with a uniquely Armenian slant…
20 entries have now been submitted, ranging from Hayko, a well known singer, - to R.P, a new, but very unique act. The first two rounds of selections will basically take 4 selections from a jury ( yes, a jury ), and 2 selections from a public SMS vote. Leaving a total of 6 acts.
[…]
OK, so here goes.. If the jury wants Hayko to represent Armenia ( as part of a pre meditated plan ) then it’s simple - they vote Hayko through in the first round of finals, no matter who the public vote for, they can simply vote Hayko through at the end, as they get the last word.
What a joke. Do the organisers of this “selection” really distrust the Armenian public so much that they would not allow them to select their own entry? The fact is , rumours have been spinning for a while that the entrant has already been decided, the election is just to show the EBU that we are “democratic”.
Sound familiar?
Sad.
Sorry but F U C K hayko!!!
I mean seriously, something should be done to stop that asses to present Armenia outside!!!
Comment by Melo — February 26, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Hayko to represent Armenia in Eurovision 2007
26.02.2007 13:52 GMT+04:00
Comment by Onnik — February 26, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
Incidentally. Georgia will be entering Eurovision as well this year. It was meant to have done so last year as well, but lacked the necessary funds — 500,000 Euros, to be precise (ouch, is that how much money someone is going to spend on Hayko?). Anyway, this year, Sopho Khalvashi will be representing Georgia. From what I gather, the Georgian public will vote on which song she’ll sing from five possibilities, all of which are available to view and listen to on YouTube.
Only watched four of the five videos so far, but I like the one in what I assume is Georgian which I’m including below. The other three were in English. There’s more on the promo campaign behind Khalvashi here.
Comment by Onnik — February 26, 2007 @ 5:20 pm
amen melo. only you do the f***ing
Comment by artyom — February 26, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
BTW: Melo is another Leninakantsi. Maybe straight speaking is something people from Gyumri are renowned for, although I daresay many Yerevantsi will agree with the comments as well.
Comment by Onnik — February 26, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
the ethos is still there iguess onnik, even on the other side of the atlantic. anywho, i watched this guy’s singing and it made me almost vomit and was it not for my other duties I would certainly do it. shame on these corrupters’ of good sense and dare i say beauty. why is it? why oh why?
Comment by artyom — February 26, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
Actually, Hovik, of four blogs that have dealt with the “choice” of Hayko to represent Armenia, ALL are horrified. So, you attack me, but miss the obvious. Three other sites were shocked and outraged first. They were.
Life Around Me
Life in Armenia
Blogrel
I merely put all the posts together.
Still, didn’t take you for a Hayko fan. The mind boggles. Maybe you like cheesy crooners, huh?
Comment by Onnik — February 26, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
Looks like Georgia has chosen Fantasy Land as it’s entry. As One Step Further says, it’s a retro-disco track and perhaps too retro for my taste and liking, but anyway.
Still, I really liked “My Story” which to be honest was probably too good for Eurovision and not really the kind of thing that your typical Eurovision viewer would listen to. Apart from Abba and Céline Dion, noteworthy musical acts rarely come from Eurovision.
Anyway, am including both videos below, and the MP3s can be downloaded at the following addresses.
I still like the one sung in Georgian, however, although it probably isn’t a good idea to enter a song sung in anything other than English.
The official Georgian Eurovision site is at http://www.eurovision-georgia.ge while Armenia’s is at http://www.eurovision.am.
Comment by Onnik — February 26, 2007 @ 9:09 pm
Eurovision is almost like good old Soviet “Estrada”. Actually, this contest made me think that European Union is a kind of Soviet Union with developed light industry and modern home design. Again, standards for laws, standards for vegetable size (this is even worse than the USSR) and standards for singing to generate s new artificial Euro-identity.
Hayko is more than Eurovision deserves…
Comment by Armen — February 27, 2007 @ 1:39 am
Armen, I have to agree with you regarding the worth of Eurovision. Could never stomach watching it in the past, and nothing will make me do so now.
Anyway, long and short of it is that Hayko is pretty much the stuff Eurovisions are made of. It’s why most music lovers steer clear of it in the first place.
On a brighter note [for Armenia, but not music lovers that is], Eurovision is usually so shitty that Hayko might well have what it takes to win.
Comment by Onnik — February 27, 2007 @ 2:00 am
Onnik, you are right. A nicely fitting Eurovision act has to be crap. I couldn’t stand to listen to the previous Armenian entry to the contest, and apparently it had a high ranking. If this Hayko music is really talentless and shitty, we may have a winner in our hands.
But the issue here is not Hayko or his crappy music. It’s the failure of the Armenian movers and shakers to play by the rules. The rules are that the contestant has to be chosen by the audience. In this case, the input from the audience was zero.
Comment by nazarian — February 27, 2007 @ 9:52 pm
Actually from what I recall from the previous Eurovisions, The European countries themselves would come up with some simple, silly and not strong at all songs and singers. Remembering German’s representative and several other European counties’ I had the impression that they just look at it through fingers, it’s another occasion to gather and have fun. So now, Eurovision doesn’t really seem to be a serious stuff as to worry much about the quality.
As a country which’d participate for the first time, Armenian did everything to enter the final. But now with Andre winning a ticket to the final, we thought just follow the rest – to make fun, sending there someone who needs fame and promotion and who is also closely linked to the people responsible for organizing it here. Why not? “Akhperutyune masnakcelua Evravideniayin”. If only that “akhberutyun” had a bit of talent to be in the best 10. But who knows, now I’m getting more and more assured that one doesn’t need to be talented as to appear there. So won’t get surprised if Hayko wins. Be it even Emin Davidov, it’s all politics, countries grant high points to the countries they are closely related strategically.
I have known about Hayko going to Eurovision about a month before this. My sources were trustful. And all the show staged with audience voting was just for promoting the kids there. Only links-relatives-friends-acquaintances matter here.
Comment by Zarchka — February 27, 2007 @ 10:54 pm
The Georgian singer singing in Georgian was absolutely wonderful! What a lovely and enchanting voice! What graceful style! What beautiful music!
Unfortunately, the Armenian singer Hayko’s musical selection and presentation, gently put, was dull and uninteresting. I cannot help but think of all the exquisite Armenian songs and music we have. Why not share them with the world?
Comment by Knarik O. Meneshian — March 1, 2007 @ 7:35 am
wow! what a strong feeling for Hayko…Let the guy go and sing, how is he harming anyone? what are you worrying about?
Comment by Frieda — March 1, 2007 @ 8:14 am
In my opinion, Hayko doesn’t have a proper voice; a deficiency, which he tries to compensates by miscellaneous “glglots” and “nvnvots”. The reason why he was pre-selected long before the formal “contest”, is his self-offered participations in Robert Kocharyan’s pre- and post-election campaign shows and his ties with the ruling gang, including Alexan Harutyunian (a “former” defendent in the “October 27″ 1999 Armenian Parliament Massacre, before the overturn of the political situation in May 2000).
What can I say, Hayko fully suits the current “values” reigning in today’s Armenia. Vano described it as “Gyadaneri Zhamanak@” - The Time of the Scoundrels.
I think Emmi & Hayer, Anoush & Inga Arshakian sisters, Aramo, Arame, Ani Christy or Razmik Amian could do a muchbetter job for Armenia in the Eurovision. However not Hayko!
Comment by Hye Azad — March 1, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
Thanks a lot Onnik for the links; I downloaded Sopho Khashvaki’s songs, especially “On Ajarian Motives” in Georgian and found it absolutely fantastic. That’s how a nation with self-esteem, should represent itself. Te che` Hayko! Or, last year’s Monghol-Tatarian “neynim-mougham” sung by gharabaghtsi Andre… I don’t know when will we come out of this swamp.
Comment by Hye Azad (Arevmtahye Hayrenaser) — March 1, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
I didnt know that EUR 500.000 is paid per entry. I guess that money could be invested somewhere else as I think that money comes from taxpayers’ pockets. What a waste.
On teh other hand I liked how Finns mocked the whole thing last year.
Comment by haik — March 1, 2007 @ 8:24 pm
Haik, I guess 500,000 Euro is not the cost as such, but when you consider all the visible and hidden costs — the national competition, preparing and shooting videos, recording the song, publicity etc, travel expenses (last year Andre went with a load of people from H1, including their friends and relatives, it comes out pretty high.
The participation fee itself is not so high and appears to vary depending on the country. Here’s the details as it pertains to Georgia not entering last year.
Comment by Onnik — March 2, 2007 @ 12:05 am
I remember Armen Arzumanyan (exec. of H1) telling me last year, that they have spent about $100,000 US on Andre. Now, although I dislike both Andre andHayko, Andre at least has energy and can move/dance pretty well… but Hayko! Give me a break… I mean - I can’t stand Europvision with its mediocre songs, etc., but if somebody’s going to represent the whole of Armenia - s/he better do it well! And I don’t see how this less then mediocre singer Hayko is going to do it!
Comment by Observer — March 2, 2007 @ 1:08 am
hi all, turns out almost all Eurovision songs are already on the YouTube - take a look at this: http://warily-w.livejournal.com/79939.html
Comment by Observer — March 5, 2007 @ 12:40 am
HAYKO ,IF YOU WERE FROM ANYWHERE I WILL SAY VERY GOOD SONG. AS YOU ARE ARMENIAN,I AM REALLY CONFIRMING THE SOUL OF GURDJIEF. WHERE ARMENIAN BLOOD IS PRESENT ,YOU EXPECT THE BEST.KEEP GOING HAYKO,YOU WILL DO IT.
POR ESO Y MUCHAS COSAS MAS QUE VIVA ARMENIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EDUARDO, EL TIGRE MUREKIAN.
Comment by eduardo murekian — May 10, 2007 @ 2:18 am
Good-day,I hope you are good health. my name is clodet,I live in Tehran. I want of Hayko Armenian singer news & I want Hayko address email.
how can I say with Hayko. Please inform to me as soon as possible.
Thank of you.
Clodet Mooradian
Good-day
Comment by clodet — November 12, 2007 @ 8:53 pm