COMPOSER ARMEN MARTIROSYAN: "WE WILL BRING THE EUROVISION TO ARMENIA FROM OSLO"
Marine Martirosyan

Februa ry 25, 2010

– As far as we know Nadezhda Sargsyan has suggested you to write
a song for Emmy and Mihran for the Eurovision long before. Why did
you change your decision? By the way, in a recent interview Nadezhda
Sargsyan said a lot of people had committed to write a song for Emmy,
and you were one of them. However she did not answer our question
what happened. Did Eva’s producer pay you more?

– Last fall I heard that Emmy would represent Armenia in the
Eurovision 2010 competition. However I did not know that there would
be a preliminary song competition. I knew that Emmy would be the one
to go there and I received a call from Nadezhda Sargsyan. She said
she wanted to propose a suggestion. Several days later I visited her
with my friend David Bekjanian and we talked in their balcony. I
was very happy to have the opportunity to write a song for Emmy,
who had grown up in front of my eyes. At that time Emmy was in the
US. There was an opportunity that I might leave for the US with
another business. I though this would be a good opportunity and I
could start working with Emmy there. Unexpectedly I caught sickness
and was in bed for two months. In the same period I received a call
from Moscow to write a song for a singer named Eva Rivas. At that time
I did not know anything about this name. At that time I did not know
Valeri Saharyan and did not know anything about Tashir either because
I was staying at my summer house, where I did not have a phone, TV or
Internet. I was alienated from everything there. I refused and told
them that I was writing a song for Emmy. Later, it was in the middle
of December, I had no news from Emmy and Nadezhda. Tell you frankly
as I was sick and I did not hurry, because usually I work fast. For
example, I wrote a song for Inga and Anush in February, even though
they chose another song. I did not worry because I thought Emmy and
Nadezhda were busy to call me. At that time I received a call from
Moscow again; I received this call from Valeri Saharyan. He told me
that Emmi already had 4 songs for the Eurovision 2010. "Your name is
missing in the list of those songs," said Valeri and again suggested to
write a song for Eva Rivas. I did not give a positive answer because I
had to talk to Nadezhda first. Valeri told me I had to answer quickly
as they had to decide whether to participate or no as they did not
have a song. I arranged a meeting with Nadezhda. She told me they had
their songs ready. I told Nadezhda about Valeri Saharyan’s proposal as
well. I thought she would feel sorry, but she did not and said that I
could work with them and that’s OK. Thus, I started working on Eva’s
song. I did not want to speak of this because I was afraid this issue
might be misused. Because there were gossips about me last year, for
example there were rumors that Inga and Anush did not have 20.000$
to pay me to write a song for them, and other foolish gossips… I
wrote that song for Inga and Anush for free. Friendship and bridges
cannot be ruined because of a Eurovision competition and I will write
a song for Emmy and will make a present to her.

– The results of the voting for Eurovision 2010 still seem to be
suspicious. Even more, Nadezhda Sargsyan is going to bring a court
case.

– Nadezhda Sargsyan has the right to draw under question the work
of technical facilities such as the sms voting. Due to the fact that
everywhere in the city, in shops, cars and everywhere people listen to
the Apricot Stone I believe that we have really won the competition by
sms voting. We have hit all the records in the Internet. Our song was
considered the most tagged song in the world in Youtube and reached
the 85th place among the 100 places. This is a very high rank. This
is a song competition. And if Nadezhda thinks the sms voting was not
fair, she is doing a good decision to apply to courts. I would do
the same too be in her place.

– Don’t you think that it is very strange that 6000 people vote for
a participant and only 4 people vote for the other one?

– I think that they have not written the last zero of these figures of
all the participants. It is my opinion. They have not written the last
zero. It is very strange that the number of the people who participate
in the sms voting is very low. I am petitioning all the participants
of the competition to publish the results of this competition.

– What is Eurovision?

– The Eurovision is a competition like many other competitions. It
is important for Armenians maybe due to the fact that it gives an
opportunity to an artist to perform for millions of people. From
this point of view the competition should not be underestimated. It
is a wrong opinion that an artist may have a career growth through
the Eurovision. Yes, maybe the artist gets a good experience how to
perform songs in front of a huge audience. I have been present at the
Eurovision only once, during Andre’s participation. All we worried. We
had strange feelings. The artist appears in front of millions eyes
and faces.

– Is it the reason why the singers from Armenia don’t perform well
as usual?

– An artist should be ready psychologically first of all. I am working
with Eva intensively now. Neither of the previous participants was
perfect. I don’t want to say names. It’s the Eurovision’s character
to make the audience professional to certain extent. They focus
their attention on the performance. Such concentration on the song
is characteristic to professional musicians.

– Why do our people perform badly? Is it a reason of not being used
to live performance?

– Of course no. The singer representing France in Athens made
many mistakes. There may be different reasons. Always there can be
technical difficulties. At that time the singer may not hear the song
normally or the lights may be very bright, etc. The right decision
is to figure out fast and correct the mistake. The second reason
is the belief. I am telling that the participants should stay apart
from public discussions. Especially talented artists are emotionally
vulnerable. Sometimes there may be posts in the Internet, which are
insulting the singer, including the signer’s race and color, etc. In
order to be able to perform well a singer should work and train hard,
perform live concerts. One of the preconditions I have for working
with Eva’s group is the requirement that she has to sing live. We
have a professional who is working with Eva. I won’t tell the name
of this person, one day Eva will say this name.

– How can you explain the public mistrust toward Armenia’s choice
for Eurovision? Generally what is the reason why we say that we won’t
win all the time we see the winner of the preliminary competition?

– I have always been a winner in my life. Every time I took a part
in a competition I was sure that I would be the winner. One’s belief
is born from his/her feeling and education. Even in this age when I
have a grandchild, I studied English for two years. When you work on
your skills, you trust yourself, and when you are involved in such
a competition which has certain principles of evaluation, you should
move forward and do as much as you can, do your best for the purpose
of your victory.

– Why are the songs for the Eurovision different from ordinary songs?

Are there any standards?

– This issue has been discussed very much. There are some stereotypes,
according to which the song should not be very deep and should be
fast. I understand when I hear this idea from an ordinary person,
but I don’t understand it when I hear it from an artist. At low levels
the taste is directed by the artist. I think that even at a low level
competition such as the Eurovision it is possible to form an opinion.

Why not? One can bring a high level song and raise the level of the
competition. I don’t think it may seem ambitious.

– What are the principles you rely on when writing a song for the
Eurovision? Do you rely on domestic or international principles?

– Both. I can’t polarize what I feel. Everything is lightened
immediately and I see even every detail and make it harmony and
melody. It is like techniques that I can use to write a song. I will
speak of a little secret and it is the first time I am telling it. If
this song was not for the Eurovision there would not be chorus in it;
I put the chorus because the song is for this competition.

– Did the song suffer because of it?

– Of course no. Simply it was my will to win. Maybe they would
not see any difference if I did not put the chorus, but of course
professionals would appreciate us. I have included it in order to
make the song brighter and more visible.

– How are you preparing for the competition? As far as I know during
your promotion tours you will plant apricot trees in different
countries.

– Currently Eva’s producer Valeri Saharyan is preparing the promotion
tours. By the way, if there are any people who are willing to help
us as they can, our doors are open for them. And everyone should
remember that not Eva is being represented in the Eurovision but
Armenia. In this case the love to the motherland is higher than the
human category. Due to this love I could resist the differences.

– What are your expectations before the Eurovision?

– I believe we will bring the Eurovision to Armenia from Oslo.