Talking about the “Eurovision” International Song Contest in a defiant tone has become a kind of fashion among us. Every time, we say and repeat that it’s not worth participating in this “frivolous” and “unserious” competition, but every time, we send new singers to this contest with new impulse and new hopes that this time, we will win a higher place. And we do. Ranking the fourth and almost constantly being in the top ten can be considered a success, especially given the representation staff of the contest and the permanent participation in the contest by the countries that have a significant role in the European stage.
This year, it did not work out. The reasons, of course, are numerous, and although we are trying to find good reasons and mitigating circumstances, however, the main and fundamental reason was our presented song. No matter how we talk about the contest with contempt, if we participate, we need to participate with dignity as much as possible, because it is ridiculous to ignore the contest and to go and take the last place in the same contest. No matter how we say and repeat that the art and politics should not be mixed with each other, anyway, it does not work out. Especially, it does not work with the “Eurovision”. And we, the Armenians, along with our broadcasters, are also among the ones who politicize the “Eurovision”. If our broadcaster is calling on the voters to vote for our favor rather than for the favor of the best song, thereby they politicize the contest. In this case, the politics and patriotism is the same thing.
The idea was really a good one: five Armenians from different continents have joined and all five of them are singing one song. But agree that the most important thing in the genre of song is not the idea but the fulfillment of the idea. The staging was also successful. There were five continents, there were good-looking five singers arrived from five continents, but … there was no song. The song was missing. I, certainly, am not a musician to give an exhaustive assessment to the song written and presented by Armen Martirosyan, but also agree that “Eurovision” is not only for the music-lovers but also the amateurs like me, whose scores also play a role in determining the winner. Among the five Armenian artists representing five continents, your humble servant is familiar only with Inga Arshakyan. While the male and female singers representing other countries are quite popular and loved in their countries. First, they win in their home country and then try their efforts in the “Eurovision”.
Why don’t we send those whom we love and who present and represent us decently, moreover, with their own song? We love and appreciate Anush and Inga Arshakyans mostly for their original performance of the folk songs, but they presented a song in the “Eurovision Song Contest” that contained no folk elements. The performance of other countries’ singers showed that it is possible to sing a song in English, preserving the national identity. Sirousho and Aram MP-3 preserved it. Therefore, we collected a comparatively high score. If our society likes Tata above all, then why they do not give at least one chance to Tata to represent our country in the “Eurovision”. And if Sona Shahgeldyan wins a brilliant triumph in Jūrmala, why she should not try her efforts in the “Eurovision” too. Or, we are afraid that she will leave us with shame with her poor Russian and vulgar Armenian. Others are not ashamed of their Satanists and homosexuals, while we are ashamed of our ordinary.
And eventually, why do we not send the best singer known in Armenia to “Eurovision”? I suggest sending the singer best known in Armenia this year. I also suggest the involvement of people in determining the best singer of Armenia. Let people also get involved by voting just like it is done in the “Eurovision”. And let the winning song and the singer represent Armenia to the “Eurovision” contest. I know many people would blame me, saying that I am giving too much significance to the “Eurovision”. I would agree if we would give up participating in the contest. If we participate, we are obligated to take it seriously. Because this is not the case, when the participation is important. We are more in the “Eurovision” than the usual and ordinary participant is. To the point, thanks to our songs and our singers. Hence, we cannot be satisfied with the mediocre results in the contest.
Voskan YEREVANTSY, Aravot 20.06.2015
