esctoday.com, Netherlands
April 1 2007
Hayko launches revamped site
Armenia: Meet Hayko
Having qualified automatically for the finals, this year Armenia will
be represented at the Eurovision Song Contest by Hayko with his
romantic ballad Anytime you need.
Hayko was chosen at the Armenian national final by a professional
jury. The competition was open to songwriters from all over Europe.
At the same time Hayko was also selected as the favorite by the
Armenian televoters, something that did not have any direct influence
on the selection of the entry by the jury, though.
Hayko is one of Armenia’s biggest music stars. First he was trained
at the music school by T. Chukhadjyan. Before attending the Yerevan
state Conservatory, he was educated in the music college under the
guidance of Romanos Melikyan. Having been awarded the first place at
the Moskva 96 (Moscow 1996) Music Festival, Hayko achieved more
victories in the following years. In 1997 he won the 1st prize at the
Big Apple Festival in New York. In 1998 he was acknowledged as the
best singer-songwriter at the "Ayo" competition. In 1999 Hayko
released his first album, called Romances in which Armenian urban
songs were included. In the same year he was nominated for the best
singer award in Armenia, followed by 2002 nominations at the National
Music Show, in the categories the Best Singer, the Best Musical
Project and the Best Album. A year later, in 2003 he released his `
best of’ album on DVD, and gave his first solo concert at the `Alex
Theatre’ in Glendale, California USA.
Returning home with the energy he received from his American fans,
Hayko gave a solo performance in Yerevan in May 2003 and recorded his
` Live Concert’ DVD. In the same year he released his first album
written by himself, Norits (Again), and received the best singer
award at the Armenian National Music Awards. A year later, in 2004
Hayko released his fourth album In One Word, followed by his 2006
Best singer Award at the Armenian National Music Awards.
Hayko’s big efforts and decisive steps in his career established him
as one of Armenia’s biggest singers and songwriters. The Music of
Anytime you need is composed by Hayko, himself. The lyrics of the
song are written by Karen Kavaleryan who is a well-known songwriter
for the Eurovision Song Contest. Kavaleryan was the author of the
lyrics of Russia’s 2006 and 2002 Eurovision entries Never let you go
and Northern Girl. This year he has achieved a remarkable double as
along with the Armenian entry he has written the lyrics of Belarus’
Eurovision song Work Your Magic.
Anytime you need is predominantly in English. The chorus in the
Armenian language, which will be heard at the contest for the first
time. Along with two other automatic finalists Armenia has chosen
it’s position in the running order: Hayko will perform second last at
the final.
Hayko’s revamped official site can be found here. In his site we are
informed that he is planning ”crazy tours all over the world", so
stay tuned!