Armenia - Russia Eurovision war

I watch Eurovision for the show, for the costumes, for songs, for its weirdness, ridiculousness, for occasional talent, for the ‘gay factor’, for all the comments exchanged (online or offline), especially on Twitter, for Eurovision parties. But one of my most favourite parts of the Eurovision is the voting announcement by countries. This is a show in itself. No less entertaining, than the actual show.

This is the best time when you can observe all the country alliances, people’s preferences, cultural ties, politics, and all the subtle or not so changes in relationships.

Traditionally, as “strategic partners”, Armenia and Russia exchange top marks, the likes of minimum “8”, but more like “10” or “12”. Up until recently, this has been a fair reflection of the situation on the ground, taking into account the Soviet legacy and ties, big Armenian Diaspora in Russia, and the influence of Russian pop culture in Armenia. However...

With Armenia moving closer towards Europe, effectively rejecting new post-Soviet Russia (Putin) sponsored economic/political alliance, and the recent hike in (Russian) gas price in Armenia, the impossible happened: ‏

@unzippedblog: Headline of the day. Only 7 points from #Armenia to #Russia #Eurovision #gas
@unzippedblog: Headline of the day (2). Only 2 points from #Russia to #Armenia #Eurovision #war 

Finita la “strategic alliance”, Eurovision way.

As for the Armenia entry Dorians, all I wanted to say I have already said in my previous post. Same applies to the final. In my opinion, they are the most talented Armenian entry so far. But they were robbed a chance of any high place or win because of the choice of song. Lack of PR added to the expected outcome. Just one last example. Only yesterday I found out that they have a Twitter account @dorians_am that was so not publicised that at a time of pushing the “follow” button, they had only 70+ followers (!). And this was on the day of Eurovision final. You got the picture.

I particularly want to praise the host Sweden for putting an excellent show and stage for the Eurovision. Plus, we had both gay women and gay men kisses during this Eurovision. Thumbs up to Sweden for spreading the message across. My “douze points” for you.

Despite odds, Armenia rock band Dorians makes it into Eurovision final

Today was the Eurovision semi-final where Armenia is represented by rock band Dorians. I feared the worst.

Dorians - one of my fave Armenian rock bands. Still remember them performing in Yerevan as an "opening act" for Serj Tankian concert. That was the first time I saw them live, and here is my impression, as I posted in my Yerevan Diaries:

Dorians - more than an opening act
Absolutely loved Dorians. Always liked them via their YouTube clips, but now that I managed to enjoy their performance live, I am 'officially' their fan. Top class rock performance, in line with best young rock groups elsewhere.

So you could imagine how happy I was to learn that they have been selected to represent Armenia in Eurovision 2013.

However, I believe the choice of song (Lonely Planet) was wrong. It's a bit boring song and doesn't allow Gor and Dorians to show their full potential.

There was also scandalous lack of PR from organisers, Armenian Public TV and Armenian media outlets. Article on media.am published today headlined as Lack of Official Media Support for Armenia's 2013 Eurovision Entry.

I warned about this in past repeatedly:

On 20 April I tweeted: Since 11th April no Google Alert re #Armenia #Eurovision entry Dorians. Less than a month to go. PR #fail
On 22 April I tweeted: Don't say I didn't warn you.Scandalous lack of PR turns #Armenia entry Dorians into #Eurovision #fail.Song doesn't help either.Wake up call. 

As if there was a campaign of intentionally sabotaging Dorians.

But well done Gor and Dorians. You went through to the Eurovision final despite that song, and despite the lack of PR. Because of your talent.

You are so unlike the majority of contemporary Armenian pop stars, and so unlike the majority of Eurovision performers.

That's the reason why I like you, and will support you during the final.

Good luck!!

Yerevan Diaries: night people, sex and rock... and losers

Instead of editorial

One of the reasons why I like Yerevan at night is because all those սուտի նամուսով Armenian men and women, boys and girls are at home, sitting in front of their computers or TVs and judging others’ life OR back to sleep after yet another sex-less day. Because they are afraid of night. Night has different rules (or no rules). Rules for those who enjoy living.

Because in reality they [“սուտի նամուսով”] would love to do what others - who they judge - do with their lives, but they are afraid or fail at doing so. In fact, what they NORMALLY do would be considered much-much worse according to the same books or dogmas they use to judge others. They quite enjoy it. Then, they return to their ‘perfect’ lives, back home, and continue living... not their lives, but others’. Continue living lies.

And, yes, they are very bad at sex. They have close to “0” sex skills. And they are jealous of those, who are good at it. They want to kill ‘em.

There are two very different Yerevan: day-time and night-time. I suppose, it's obvious which one I prefer.

That’s why I absolutely loved my night outs in Yerevan. And I loved the rock concert at Liberty sq (Opera) as part of Summer Music Festival.

“Take me downtown
Take me underground” -

crowd was singing along with the Danish rock group.

That was quite a change from usual rabiz or cheap pop happenings going on there (latest example). The atmosphere was electric, free, good weird.

For a moment, I felt like Yerevan turned into one of the European capitals. I was in an alternative reality in Yerevan. The reality I prefer and will choose for instead. The rest is for losers.

Arcade Fire rock band + Google Chrome interactive video project “The Wilderness Downtown”. Yerevan experience

The Independent: "On August 30, rock band Arcade Fire, together with Google and artist Chris Milk, launched an interactive video set to the band's track "We Used to Wait." Called "The Wilderness Downtown," the online project makes use of Google Maps and Google Street View to incorporate images of the viewer's hometown into the video. Viewers begin the experience by providing their childhood address. The video experience then unfolds in multiple windows, taking viewers on a tour of their hometown to the tune of the Arcade Fire track. Users can also write a note to their younger selves in a tree branch-inspired font that is incorporated into the video. "The Wilderness Downtown" is optimized for Google Chrome and should also run on any browser that supports HTML5."
***

It worked great with my London address. Unfortunately, when I tried submitting Yerevan or more specific addresses in Armenia, the following notice came up: “Your address doesn't contain enough Street-View and/or Google Maps data to 100% enjoy this experience.”

Still, you may click this link to see The Wilderness Downtown project’s Yerevan experience: http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/#Yerevan,+Armenia

Or go to the website http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com and try playing with addresses and cities yourself.

You will have a chance to make postcards too. I did not have much time and made a simple one but from my heart :)

For more info about the project, visit http://www.chromeexperiments.com/arcadefire Overall, pretty fun experience. Enjoy!

Re: Armenia PM’s “Rock Association”

I like that Armenia PM Tigran Sargsyan loves rock music. I like that he blogs about it. But “Rock Association”? Rock should be free, if it is rock, and not a court rock. Rock should not be part of “association” with the head of government, regardless of PM’s - however good or honest - intentions. Meeting with rockers over drinks or something, listening music, discussing stuff... THAT I would understand and quite like to see. But seating on a stage, on a very different level than the rockers seat (picture below, via 517design), this is a big NO. Also, the ‘dress-code’ of quite a few of the rockers in the audience doesn’t not provide with much reasons for optimism (not to mention that I spotted one particular musician there). This is not rock. This is rock-control.

Rock Aid Armenia - Smoke on the water

I cannot believe I had no idea about this music project. Just found the link to this YouTube video via Propeller.

Must see!

“This was a joint humanitarian effort by an elite group of musicians who gathered at Metropolis Studios in Chiswick, London on July 8, 1989 for a project to raise money to help those affected by the Leninakan [Gyumri] Earthquake of 1988 that struck Armenia. Bryan Adams, Ritchie Blackmore, Bruce Dickinson, Keith Emerson, Ian Gillan, David Gilmour, John Paul Jones, Tony Iommi, Alex Lifeson, Jon Lord, Brian May, Adrian Smith, Paul Rodgers, Chris Squire and Roger Taylor.”

“Rock Against Murderer” anti-Genocide action of ‘marginal culture’ in Yerevan

UPDATE! - 23 April 2008
To be honest, I am disappointed. Advertised as "Rock Against Murderer" anti-Genocide action of 'marginal culture' (“Fans of marginal culture, Rock, libertarians, motorbikers”), it was in fact one-person's (journalist Gayane Arustamyan who wrote that article) political campaign against the current regime in relation to March 1 events. Not that I am against individual's initiative to protest and show civil initiative, quite the contrary, but I am against deceptions of public and using "alternative culture" and "genocide" as cover.

UPDATE 2! - 24 April 2008
I think my reaction and disappointment was based mainly on high anticipations re existence of “marginal culture” in Armenia. When I read the announcement that it will be a gathering of “marginal culture” representatives, I was thrilled to discover that “marginal culture” actually exists in Armenia (I hardly believed in its existence before). Therefore, when it turns out to be a different type of event under the “marginal”, “rock” and “genocide” disguise, I got disappointed. Other than that, surely I can only commend the initiative of individuals to peacefully protest under whatever slogans they prefer, regardless whether I agree with it or not. And police actions in this case were deplorable, of course (tearring off her poster etc. - see comments section below).

“Fans of marginal culture, Rock, libertarians, motorbikers” will gather tomorrow at Matenadaran, in central Yerevan, to protest all Genocides world-wide: “Rock Against Murderer”. Gathering at Matenadaran 2-4pm, then marching via Mashtots av. - Amiryan st - Republic sq to the UN HQ in Yerevan.

I was thrilled to read about this in Aravot daily today.

«ROCK AGAINST MURDERER»՝ ԿԱՐԳԱԽՈՍԻ ՆԵՐՔՈ

Ապրիլի 23-ին, ժամը 14-16-ը Մատենադարանի մոտ կկայանա մարգինալ արվեստագետների, ROCK սուբկուլտուրայի համակիրների, ազատատենչ քաղաքացիների եւ մոտոսիրահարների հավաք՝ «Rock against murderer» կարգախոսի ներքո: Ակցիան նվիրված է ցեղասպանության զոհերի հիշատակին: Եթե ժամանակին մթնոլորտ չնետվեր «Ո՞վ է հիմա հիշում հայերի ցեղասպանությունը» հայտնի արտահայտությունը, եւ ճանաչվեր ու դատապարտվեր 20-րդ դարի առաջին Ցեղասպանությունը, հնարավոր կլիներ կանխել աշխարհի տարբեր ծագերում եւ տարբեր ժամանակներում տեղի ունեցած ցեղասպանությունները: Ելնելով այդ տրամաբանությունից, Հայոց մեծ եղեռնի զոհերի ոգեկոչման օրվա նախօրյակին ռոք երաժշտության երկրպագուները հանդես են գալու հայերի, Պոնտոսի հույների, Տիբեթի ժողովրդի, Հոլոքոստում ողջակիզված հրեաների, Իրաքի քրդերի, Կոսովոյի սերբերի, Դարֆուրի բնիկների եւ ընդհանրապես ազգային պատկանելության կամ կոնկրետ հայացքների համար դաժան սպանության ենթարկված մարդկանց խմբերի դեմ իրականացված ու մինչեւ օրս իրականացվող հումանիտար հանցագործությունը եւ դրանց հեղինակներին դատապարտող ակցիայով: Հավաքը կավարտվի երթով՝ Մաշտոցի պողոտա- Ամիրյան փողոց- Հանրապետության հրապարակ երթուղով մինչեւ ՄԱԿ-ի գրասենյակի հրապարակ: Հաշվի առնելով Երեւանի եւ նրա բնակիչների նկատմամբ Երեւանի քաղաքապետի նվիրումը, հատուկ հրավիրում եմ Երվանդ Զախարյանին եւ խնդրում եմ ապահովել ազնիվ նպատակներ հետապնդող այդ միջոցառման համար անհրաժեշտ պայմաններ: Ելնելով ԱԱԾ եւ Ոստիկանությանը դիմելու նրա բացառիկ իրավունքներից, խնդրում եմ միջնորդել, որ իրավապահ այդ մարմինները բարեխղճորեն վերլուծեն նախապես հավաքած հավաստի տվյալները եւ կանխավ վնասազերծեն միջոցառումը անկարգությունների վերածելու մտադրություն ունեցող նրանց արդեն ծանոթ սադրիչներին, որ հանկարծ ցեղասպանություն դատապարտող միջոցառումը չվերածվի մարդասպանության: ԳԱՅԱՆԵ ԱՌՈՒՍՏԱՄՅԱՆ ROCK երաժշտության երկրպագու, լրագրող