From Sheram to Hima, and now … Qele qele

By Carlos Jose Bourdjian

Azad-Hye Special

On the occasion of Sirusho's participation as the Armenian star in Eurovision 2008

Eurovision International Song Contest: Belgrade 2008

20 May – First Semi-Final (Sirusho will perform).

22 May – Second Semi-Final (Not related with Armenia).

24 May – The Final. (Sirusho will perform if she passes the First Semi-Final).

With her sweetest smile, beautiful voice and eyes full of life she captured the hearts of millions of Armenians in different ages. Being very young, she controls the stage without any effort. No voice trembling or hand shaking. She is only 21 with three best selling albums and several national and international awards, including Best Female Artist for both years 2005 and 2007 in the Armeian National Music Awards. She sings, she dances and she even composes her own songs, besides composing to other artists as well.

She is Siranoush Haroutunian or simply Sirusho, Armenia's representative in this year?s Eurovision International Song Contest.

Her talent is not a coincidence. Sirusho comes from two artist parents. Both of them are Honored Artists of Armenia. Her father, Hrachya Haroutunian is a major actor in ?Dramatigagan Theatre? (Drama Theatre) besides his contributions in several Armenian movies. And her mother, Suzan Markarian is a well-known and beloved singer, who started her career in the early eighties, during the golden age of the Armenian Estrada. She used to perform with big artists such as composer Robert Amirkhanian, Aram Satian and toured with Konstantine Orpelian?s Big Band all around the world. She is still active and recently is working on a new album, besides being Sirusho?s manager.

At the age of 2, Sirusho was able to sing complete songs and her favorite was ?Qele qele? by famous composer Gomidas. She says ?When I was a child I didn?t dream to become a star. I used to sing during my mom?s concerts or when people asked me for some occasions. It was not particularely difficult to do that, because I only felt the music and sang the right note, but I remember how people were amazed. I couldn?t figure out the reason. Later I realized that people?s cheers and applauses were the starting point of a career that lead me from one success to another?.

She began composing music and lyrics at the age of seven in both Armenian and English. She was nine years old when she won her first award in a contest of young talents.

The album ?Sirusho? was released when she was just thirteen. It included songs written by famous Armenian composers like Arthur Krikorian, Edgar Ganjumian, Alla Levonian, Ruzan Kalsdian and others. At that time she used to accompany her mother and take a role in her concerts with a song or a duet performance. She kept winning people?s ?Bravo?s and ?Abris? (Well done) that helped her to overcome the fear of the stage and feel confident to advance on the path she has chosen, besides being a student (in school no 114 in the capital Yerevan, named after writer Khachig Dashtents).

Year 2005 was a turning point for Sirusho. The extreme success of her second album ?Sheram? and its big sales brought her the award Best Album of the year. In the same year she was recognized as Best Female Artist too.

?Sheram? included 10 Armenian folk songs written by famous Kusan Sheram in a new contemporary arrangement, while preserving the old flavor. It is thanks to her that Kusan Sheram songs were heard again among the young and even conquered other age generations. The song ?Shorora? was a big hit. The video clip showed how mature Sirusho has turned to be. She was no longer that little girl. Her lively performances of ?Du im musan es? (You?re my inspiration) and ?Qezanits mas chunem? (I don?t have anything from you) astonished Armenians all over the world.

After ?Sheram? she toured the world with her mother bringing vibrant Armenian pop and folk music to Canada, U.S.A, France, Belgium, Greece, Germany, Lebanon, Egypt, Georgia, Russia, Jordan, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Poland, and elsewhere. This time Suzan Markarian participated in her concerts with few songs and duets.

After graduating from Yerevan school # 114, Sirusho decided to continue her education at the State University of Yerevan. She is currently a senior student majoring in International Relations, looking forward to graduating this spring.

In late 2005 she received the award for Best Female Artist at the Armenian Music Awards held at Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. One year later she received a similar award at The Armenian-Russian Diaspora Music Awards ?Dashir 2006? held in Moscow.

Sirusho always tried to bring something new and fresh in her choices of music, genres, beats and mixing different elements together. This was the concept that her third album ?Hima? brought in spring 2007. The single ?Hima? hit the charts to reach number one for several weeks and it proved to be a breakthrough in Armenian music unleashing a unique way of mixing Soul and R&B with Armenian instruments such as duduk, dhol and zurna. Besides her compositions the album included songs by Roupen Hakhverdian, Hayko and DerHova. Her gift to her fans was a special track at the end of the CD, a special karaoke version of ?Hima? with the lyrics printed in the booklet so that everybody may enjoy singing it as she did while recording sessions.

On 14 November 2007 Sirusho?s candidacy to represent Armenia at Eurovision 2008 International Song Contest was approved by the Artistic Council of the Public Television and Radio Company of Armenia. The contest will take place in Belgrade, capital of Serbia in May 2008. Four songs were written by four Armenian composers especially for this event. All lyrics were written by Sirusho herself. And on 17 March 2008, the song ?Qele qele? was chosen during a voting by Armenian viewers.

?Qele qele? starts with a traditional Armenian duduk intro where Sirusho displays her voice abilities to be followed with a dance rhythm mixed with dhol and zurna. The song is even topping the top three songs of all participants in Eurovision 2008 due to the vote of internet viewers.

In April 2008 Sirusho went to a promo tour for ?Qele qele? all around Europe. The song was performed at the ?Dashir 2007? music awards in Moscow, where Sirusho received a special award together with Dima Bilan, the Russian candidate for Eurovision 2008.

She also released a special pack of CD/DVD including the original version of ?Qele qele?, together with some dance and club remixes plus the video clip directed by Hrach Keshishian.

During one of her interviews she said: ?I will represent Armenia with Qele qele, the song that people liked and voted for it. I like it very much as much as I like the first song I used to sing during my childhood, the original Qele qele by Komidas written in early 1900; what a coincidence?.

Sirusho will perform ?Qele qele? in the semi final night on 20 May 2008 and hopefully will perform it once again in the final on 24 May 2008. Besides the dancing show on the stage she will be accompanied with Dikran Bedrossian, Goga and Razmig Amian as back vocals.

We, as Armenians in Diaspora wish all the good luck to Sirusho in this event.

I personally have big hopes on ?Qele qele? to be a winning song and what will matter to Armenians now is to prepare or even build a new concert hall for next year?s Eurovision Song Contest, Yerevan 2009. That?s why Armenians in Europe you should vote hard to make this dream come true.

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The lyrics of Qele, qele with Sirusho's handwriting

A quick review of the album ?Hima?

Note that all music and lyrics were written by Sirusho besides all back vocals made by her, except where mentioned.

?Hima? (Now)
A special blend of R&B together with Armenian dhol and zourna. A kind of bizarre dance/love song with teasing lyrics. Originally performed for the first time in Aleppo ? Syria during her concerts in February 2006. The video clip has a dancing ethnic atmosphere. What I like about this song is how Sirusho?s sensual voice flows together with the strange rhythm. Once the track begins the rhythm will not allow you to stop until the end.

?Heranum em? (I?m leaving)
First released in November 2006 and soon became a No.1 hit, especially after it was performed in Vartuhi Vartanian?s benefit concert ?Tebi Yergink? same year. Very strong and touching lyrics together with a nice arrangement by Murzo make this track a very romantic one. It is worth to mention how lovely does the piano sound by Vahakn Hagopian. ?Heranum em? was performed live during National Music Awards last February in a completely new acoustic version with a different melody and nice improvisations that received the attention and appreciation of the audience. She was accompanied by pianist Vahakn Hayrabedian.

?Ser e sa? (That?s love)??
An ethnic dance track that displays the voice abilities the singer has, especially during the chorus when her voice mixes with back vocals made by Dikran Bedrossian and Razmig Amian, whose voices project a kind of African flavor. The track starts with an intro of Armenian shvi to be followed with the touches of Edward Haroutunian playing on percussions. A special dance love tune in an oriental atmosphere.

?Sere mer? (Our love), music by Hayko.
Originally released in 2004. One of the great songs Hayko wrote. This was a hit even before ?Sheram? was released. Here Sirusho proves that she is no longer that teenage girl living in a world of fantasies and happy-ending stories. She is heartbroken but still believes in the big L.

?Qami? (Storm)
This was also premiered during Aleppo concerts. Another dance track in the world of R&B and a bit of Hip Hop too. What is remarkable here are the sudden pauses between the notes. Be ready in any minute for an unexpected rhythm or pause. If you listen carefully you will find a slight flavor of oriental ?Darbuka? mixed with the rhythm.

?Mez vochinch chi pajani? (Nothing will tear us apart) Homage to Vartuhi Vartanian.
In 2006 Sirusho has lost one of her best friends, the Armenian pop singer Vartuhi Vartanian. They used to be like two sisters and nothing could come between them except the tragedy that fate brought (Vartanian died in car accident). The song is dedicated to her. She describes a world where she feels lonely and worried. She excapes from reality to a new world, where she yearns to find her soul mate. Vartuhi is there waiting for her. She wants to feel her heartbeats but she is unable to feel her. Sirusho transforms her feelings of anger and anxiety into impressive and touching notes. What is remarkable here is the background choir that accompanies Sirusho?s voice during its climax and the lovely sound of the strings that keep playing beautifully all the time. The track suddenly ends leaving the listener in an undecided world?..Thanks for Arman Berberian for the nice arrangement he made.

?Kisher? (The night), music and lyrics by Roupen Hakhverdian.
Sirusho sings a lullaby to her lover. A fairy tale where she steals the moon and brings it to him. But her song is the only way to express how much she loves him. She is even ready to do the impossible. The acoustic guitar of Garo Sarafian and the back vocal of Dikran Bedrossian keep the song in a magical world.

?Yete imanayir? (If you only knew), duet with Roupen Hakhverdian. Music and lyrics by Roupen Hakhverdian.
A very romantic love song in an acoustic mood as well. The traces of Hakhverdian strong lyrics is obvious. The different way of singing and tone difference between voices of Sirusho and Roupen Hakhverdian makes this duet very sensual. The song was performed at the 80th anniversary of the Armenian Radio and 50th anniversary of the Armenian Television in November 2006. The acoustic atmosphere is provided by guitarist Hagop Chaghatsbanian.

?Mayrig? (Mother), music by Arsen Krikorian, lyrics by Mane Hagopian.
A homage to all mothers and especially hers; Suzan Markarian. Once again Arman Berberian comes with another unique arrangement where he uses the sound of the cello played by Levon Arakelian to make the song more touching and deep especially when the video clip displays images of Suzan and Sirusho during her childhood. This is Sirusho's gift to her mother for being always by her side helping and guiding her to make her mission in show business smoother and easier.

?Arjani e? (He is worthy), duet with Sofi Mkheian.
He hurt you and broke your heart going with another girl, but he loved you once and lived only for you. Is he worth your love? A love conversation between two nasty girls. The poor boy in this story keeps suffering between two flames. The arrangement of DJ Serjo makes this track more to dance but in trance beats. Once you see the video clip you will see how nasty the two girls behave. They reminded me of the movie ?Thelma & Louise?.

?Miayn qez? (Only for you), music and remixed by Hayko and lyrics by Vartan Zadoian.
?Miayn qez? was first released few years ago with its original version in R&B and topped the charts for many weeks. The song became very popular in a short time and people liked it for its simple words and meaning. It says ?yes sirum em miayn qez? (I only love you). Usually Sirusho ends her concerts with this track and makes sure that the audience is singing with her by passing the microphone over and over to them. She says: ?This song is dedicated to all people who are in love and there is no one who can claim not to be so?. What you will hear in this album is the remixed version made by Hayko with the help of DJ Serjo. They added special effects to Sirusho?s voice to make it more a club dancing tune.

Bonus 3 English tracks.
“Have you ever?”
A sudden change of music style where it starts with Jazz till meets Soul. Everything here is sensual. The lyrics, the music, both back vocals with the main voice which in this case are the same. Everything goes smoothly till the unexpected notes during the modulation. For a while you think she is definitely singing false, but she isn?t. ?Have you ever felt what I felt, did you love the one who cherished your love, did you have to leave like I did, if you did then pain is what you felt?. Enjoy this heartbreak ballad.

“Running”
What do you expect when you mix acoustic guitar with Armenian duduk under a slightly soft easy going rhythm? ?Running? speaks about life with its ups and downs and different experiences. In this track Hayko manages to mix all these elements together with keeping the sound of duduk alive all the time, played by the soloist of “Time Report” Vartan Krikorian.

“Don?t know why”
Another heart-breaking ballad. What you will find is words of sorrow and regret with feelings of loosing your love without being able to let it go. But what hurts more is being unable to bring the loved one back, not even by going through the time. I always believed that this song has a hidden story based on the author?s life. Originally performed during the Annual Music Awards, exactly after Sirusho was recognized the Best Female Artist of year 2005.

Sirusho's website: http://www.sirusho.am/

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“Qele,?qele” in YouTube:?

The same song in Sirusho's website with different clip is available here.

Upper-left photo: Performing Qele qele on 17 March 2008 after it was voted by Armenians.