INTRODUCING 2010: ARMENIA
esctoday.com
April 6 2010
All songs for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 have been selected.
During the weeks between the national final season and the actual
Eurovision Song Contest, we will introduce all 39 entries in random
order. Part nine of the series is dedicated to the Armenian entry.
Basic information
Performer: Eva Rivas
Song: Apricot stone Language: English
Music: Armen Martirosyan
Lyrics: Karen Kavaleryan
Draw: 2nd in the second semi final
The song
Apricot stone is a mid-tempo/up-tempo pop song with ethnic influences
in the arrangement. Through the lyrics, the singer tells that she is
longing for her home, when she realises how cruel the world can be.
Her motherland is symbolised by an apricot stone, which was given to
her be her mother, as the fruit is believed to be native in Armenia
and has therefore become a symbol of the country.
May God bless and keep my cherished fruit Grow my tree up to the sky
Once I waved my home goodbye I just wanna go back to my roots
Apricot stone Hidden in my hand Given back to me From the motherland
Apricot stone I will drop it down In the frozen ground I’ll just let
it make its round
The performer
Eva Rivas has Russian and Armenian roots and she grew up in
Rostov-on-Don. She has been singing since her childhood joining
the music group Arevik at the age of only nine. The ensemble was
very successful and won various awards in Russia. Soon, the singer
also started working as a model and competed in beauty contests on
homeground. In 2005, she won the first prize in the annual Armenian
Song of the Year gala.
Since 2008, she has been working with an Armenian production team and
she is currently recording her first album. Her song Tamam ashkhara,
whose video clip was directed by Bookhadir Yuldeshev, was released
last year and it was received well.
In 2010, Eva Rivas entered the Armenian national final for the
Eurovision Song Contest. She won the national selection with her song
Apricot stone and will therefore be the country’s fifth representative
in the competition.
The songwriters
The Armenian entry was written by Armen Martirosyan (music) and Karen
Kaveleryan (lyrics), who both have Eurovision Song Contest experience.
Armen Martirosyan composed Armenia’s debut entry in 2006. Without
your love finished sixth in the semi final and eighth in the final
performed by André. Karen Kaveleryan keeps the record in having
written songs for the most different countries. He co-wrote the lyrics
for the Russian entries in 2002 (Northern girl, 10th place) and 2006
(Never let you go, 2nd place) and wrote the Belarusian lyrics in 2007
(Work your magic, 6th place), the Armenian lyrics in 2007 (Anytime you
need, 8th place), the Georgian lyrics in 2008 (Peace will come, 11th
place) and the Ukranian lyrics in 2008 as well (Shady lady, 2nd place).
The national final
The Armenian national final was held with nine acts competing. Eva
Rivas won the televoting by a landslide and finished second in the
jury voting and was therefore chosen as Armenian representative for
Oslo. The jury favourites were Emmy & Mihran with Hey (Let me hear
you say).
Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest
Armenia took part in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time
in 2006 and has become one of the most successful countries since
finishing in the top ten on every occassion. Their best result was
a fourth place in 2008, achieved by Sirusho with the song Qele qele.