SYSTEM OF A DOWN MAY REPRESENT ARMENIA AT EUROVISION 2009?

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.06.2008 14:24 GMT+04:00

After Armenia received its best result in Eurovision Song Contest ever
this year with Sirusho, the world-famous rock band System Of A Down
shown a keen interest in representing the country in Russia next year,
independent French journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net.

However, the soloist of the American band, Serj Tankian, has openly
stated in a recent visit in Finland that this will be under one
condition: if the lyrics of his song mention the Armenian Genocide.

"Eurovision would be an excellent way to make this theme known. We
must seriously think of this," Tankian said in response to a question
posed by Finnish News Agency.

System Of A Down is very politically active and are noted for the
liberal political views expressed in their songs, tackling myriad
subjects including the War on Drugs, religion, drug use, and especially
censorship. They have actively campaigned to get Turkey to recognize
the Armenian Genocide and the subject is often-tackled in their
songs. They are also a part of the Axis of Justice, a non-profit
political activist organization fighting for recognition of the
polemical issue, believed to have taken part in the early 20th
century. Ironically, the band has many Turkish fans as well.

Previously similar themes have been tried at Eurovision with mixed
success. In 1976 Greece sent the song Panaghia mou, Panaghia mou
about the invasion of Cyprus, in 1993 Bosnia-Herzegovina performed
Sva bol svijeta about the war in the region, and it is also believed
by experts that the 1996 United Kingdom entry Ohh Ahh Just a little
bit also has a hidden message about genocide.