The latter obviously has more elements of the East in it, but until someone can actually define Armenian pop music and create a new sound, Armenian music either sounds Western or Middle Eastern. Perhaps that’s a sign of what Armenia is as a geographic entity, I don’t know. Besides, fusion is not a bad thing — all nations do it — and the secret is to make it similar but also different at the same time.

Given our neighbors that would make sense as well, and to be honest, this song has achieved that. Incidentally, the composer of the song is apparently a Canadian-Armenian DJ, Der Hova, who is also a blogger. Perhaps he can weigh in on the argument although I know he’s already posted about attempts to make Armenian pop music sound more “Armenian.” I guess one main issue is first of all define what is “Armenian” away from church choirs, lamenting duduks and Komitas or Sayat Nova (both of which were also active in other national folk genres).

None of those, however, are particularly good tunes to dance to and anyway, even Armenian folk songs from specific regions of Turkey have their overlaps in Turkish and Kurdish. Incidentally, one visiting ethnomusicologist says that traditional Armenian music has more similarities to Kurdish than anything else, but one supposes the Turkish and Persian influences will also be there as well. And vice-versa.

Artur, if you didn’t get my hint, I will be more clear–you are giving way too much importance to this guy. This blog is actually starting to read like it is his own with all the lengthly, temperamental comments he leaves. But it is your blog, the Internet is a free realm, and you can do whatever you want.

Once more, for the third time, I have of course no problem with promoting bloggers, just not the same ones over and over. Then again, it is only my opinion, and at the end of the day it shouldn’t really matter. I keep making the mistake of occasionally leaving comments on these blogs.

Good luck,
Christian

On the other hand who cares, Eurovision is a big joke.

Anyway, specifically I consider that there is a lot to learn from this region and development is all interlinked. I don’t think we should view it as some kind of competition, but I do believe there are successes and failures we can all learn from each other. Besides, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Russia… we’re all linked.

Also, you DID NOT push me to start blogging. In fact, it was first Matt Malcomson, but I refused. Then Emil Danielyan and Transitions Online and I started on Blogrel before setting up my own. You did, however, add to suggestions to place Adsense on my blog after Nazarian first made the suggestion in order to make it self-sustainable.

However, you prefer to remain isolated from the general blogging community which is your right, but for sure don’t start slamming lists because you’re not on them on the pre-text of promoting unknown bloggers. You’ve never done that while Artur and I have made a specific point of doing so.

I just wanted to say something about Onnik’s blog. I don’t know if it is the most popular or not, but there is one unique way that it is different from the rest of not just blogs (that I know, obviously I don’t know all) but also news agencies. Basically, Onnik’s blog is the only one that treats Armenia as part of the whole world and not just a tiny spot on it. Of course, he restricts it to Caucasus, but that is good enough for a blog. I appreciate this a lot, and would only wish if others especially news agencies with a bigger budget talked about the whole world instead of just Armenia. A lot of the problems that Armenia is facing today are not “Armenian” problems. Some of them (gas, dolor, etc) are world problems some are regional (corruption etc) and perhaps some are typical to Armenia only. But understanding those problems globally will make it easier to solve them.

Also, misinformation is just so widespread in Armenia because of this lack of foreign news. Like for instance someone recently told Armenianow that basically he doesn’t feel human anymore because he cannot take taxi because the price went up. Yeah what a nice definition of being human. Anyway, I think this is just a result of misinformation, believing that others have a much better life while the reality is just not that way. People take taxis only in Hollywood movies simply because in reality it is just expansive and it has nothing to do with having a human life. At any rate, the point is that Armenia is part of the world and it should be viewed as part of the world, and so far among all the news outlets I know, Onnik’s seems to be the only one where you get a somewhat global view of Armenia.

I recently was trying to find an Armenian site that talked about the earthquake in China and all I found was the message that Serj sent them. Right, that is the most important thing.

Having said this however, I was pleasantly surprised by her 2005 album. Just wonderful stuff, a lot of forgotten Armenian tunes, and I might even get it soon.

Go Sirusho!

Onnik - they’ve used your photo without credit!!! I just complained, but it looks weird.

By the way 50% cell phone penetration is still lower than in some small countries where it has reached higher than 100%. In any event there is a convergence happening between wireless, hi-speed, etc.

And AH is right - there is far too much money spent on cigarettes in Armenia.

Regardless, and although it might not be a very popular thing to say, she does come across as very sweet despite some rumors circulated to the contrary.

I hate Eurovision, although the quality has improved since the entrance of the top stars from the countries of the former Soviet Union, and while I hope people vote for who they like the most, good luck to Sirusho.

Wow, never thought I’d ever say that.