On Thursday she released a sensational teaser of her Eurovision 2017 song “Fly with Me”, giving fans hope that she would deliver one of the songs of the year. And on Saturday Armenia’s Artsvik did exactly that with the release of her official music video.

Her song mixes traditional sounds and instrumentation with contemporary production, creating something that’s at once dreamy and mystical. The light and inviting opening lets Artsvik show off her smooth, jazzy vocals. After that we move into tribal territory with strong ethnic sounds that grow in intensity as the song progresses, all leading to a very dramatic and thrusting ending. This song doesn’t follow a predictable formula. It’s bold without being over-the-top and moves through a variety of moods without losing its singular identity — a difficult balance to strike. This is among the most experimental and original songs of the year.

Depi Evratesil — Armenia’s long and intense national selection process — has clearly brought out the best in Artsvik, who seems more confident and poised than ever before. Her voice has always been strong, but she’s strengthened her presence and given herself a style overhaul. She has moved from schoolteacher to star and — with her modern styling and sharp make-up game — now embodies the diva we previously spied through her voice.

Artsvik – “Fly With Me”

Whilst AMPTV received over 300 submissions from around the world, they went with a safe pair of local hands. Its Armenian composers Lilith and Levon Navasardyan were behind both Aram MP3’s “Not Alone” and Iveta Mukuchyan’s “LoveWave“.

“When I first wrote for Aram MP3, it was quite challenging for me, as I was new to Eurovision,” Lilit says in a statement sent to wiwibloggs. “With Iveta, I was much more confident, but still had a lot to learn. This time, as soon as I heard Artsvik’s voice, I knew what to do. Her voice is… diverse, her vocal range is very wide and the color of her voice is unique and beautiful. I tried to capture and pass that sense to everyone who will listen to this song.”

“As any song composed by Lilit, ‘Fly with Me’ is extraordinary and experimental, out of this world,” says lyricist Avet Barseghyan says he wanted to create something special for this song. “Sometimes I actually believe that Lilit gets her inspiration from another universe. While writing the lyrics, we wanted to share the message that no matter our differences, we have a universal value that unites us all — love.”

Co-author David Tserunyan may be a familiar face for many of you. He presented Armenia’s points during the recent Melodi Grand Prix final in Oslo.

“The first time we heard the song, Artsvik’s unique voice transported us into a fairy word, so we knew that the lyrics had to reflect that,” he says. “We had written four different versions of the lyrics and in the end the team and Artsvik chose ‘Fly with me’. The girl in this fairy tale is the metaphoric symbol of love that embodies our colors, our stories and our voices that make us who we are. The lyrics are light and easy to understand, but they carry a universal message — love is one for all of us.”

Read more Armenia Eurovision news

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Anait S
Anait S
7 years ago

Artsvik is the best.

Dnmrk
Dnmrk
7 years ago

Boticelli Ibragim Abdul Mohammed ibn Azerbaijan)

Piro
Piro
7 years ago

I don’t know why are you keep talking about Iveta, she is plastic.
Artsvik is natural, and look at the swiss girl, so simple, and elegant.

david
david
7 years ago

for me the best song in the contest.
oriental pop, melody, lyrics and video(with ballet)
good luck Armenia, bonne chance, buona fortuna, viel Glück!!

Erik
Erik
7 years ago

Seriously, people. stop comparing. EVERY Eurovision song resembles one that has been released in the past. And besides. why is addapting things from asia and afrika so bad? Don’t you guys have japanese restaurants in your country? wtf? It makes no sense to say that. You either love or hate it. Imo this is at least different and they are trying. It won’t win, I’m sure, Italy probably will, and that’s even a song I personally hate. But what does it say? Don’t bash on a song that’s at least bringing something to Eurovision that other countries don’t. I mean,… Read more »

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
7 years ago

Certain qualifier I guess. Nice work!

Boticelli
Boticelli
7 years ago

Its pure Plagiarism!

BEGINNIG 2014 AZERBAIJAN(START A FIRE)
MIDDLE 2016 ARMENIA (LOVE-WAFE)
END 2016 THE UKRAINE (1944)
BUT IF GENEOLOGY DID QUALIFY I AM SURE IT WILL QUALIFY EITHER..UNFORTUNATELY..

ITALY IS THE BEST AS USUAL! VOTE FOR REAL SONG 🙂

godblessazeriblockheads
godblessazeriblockheads
7 years ago

Oh, again these azers blockheads, bless their hearts, bitching about ‘Fly with me’ sounds like ‘Azeri 2014’ ‘Start a fire’, forgetting that ‘Start of fire’ is a swedish song.. Not to mention – they are completely different.

Zebb
Zebb
7 years ago

Finally have listened it! I like music here. It feels like the song has come from their 09′ field but it misses the height, mostly because of her vocals – it’s not even about pronounciation, it’s rather faceless on this artsy entry. With cool staging I’d like to see it in final again, though.

slow down brother
slow down brother
7 years ago

The beginning of the song sounds so much like AZE 2014. The rest is mehh.

Jake
Jake
7 years ago

The pronunciation is unfortunate and there is no hook to the song. If this was 50% of other countries it would be a definite non-qualifier. But if Lonely Planet and Geneology could make the final so can this. I’m sure the production will be top notch.

Betty
Betty
7 years ago

@ fikri – ”what right does armenia has to steal elements from africa and asia?”

Agree with you.

Armenia – Chinese
Romania – Swiss
Italy – Japanese video

I don’t like that.

YAAAAAS
YAAAAAS
7 years ago

This is really bad tbh

CharlieChan
CharlieChan
7 years ago

Dude at first I was so hyped about this song when the snippet came out. I loved the desing, the lyrics and the music. Somehow after this part, the song turns asian and seems to be less an Eurovision song, and more of a song played in a Chinese restaurant. It seem that they thought of doing sth like 1944 but instead of inspiring in WW2, they got inspired by Kung Fu Panda.

Ulrik
Ulrik
7 years ago

I hope this comes in the finale.

Esclover
Esclover
7 years ago

I did not like this song at all and the presentation looks like copy of Turkey 2005 . Singer has a nice relaxing voice but that is all anyway at least Armenia did not send a singer with many botox and lip fillings, silicones , nose job etc this year. It looks like ITALY is gonna win !!!!!

Aygul
7 years ago

0:28 Dilara Kazimova (start a fire ????????2014) coppy??

fikri
fikri
7 years ago

i find it kinda pretentious tho. like, what right does armenia has to steal elements from africa and asia?

Rhingo
Rhingo
7 years ago

Rather than liking it I find it interesting. It reminds me a bit of Jamala but without the feels…
For now I am not optimistic.

Music is the key
Music is the key
7 years ago

Good, original song. Interesting instrumentation.

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

Interesting…

Youslay
Youslay
7 years ago

After listening to this song a few times, I still think it’s bad cultural combination of different Chinese traditional songs. And yep, I’m a person with Chinese descent.

Cupcake
Cupcake
7 years ago

I like it. It’s good and different. A little bit mysterious. 🙂

NickC
NickC
7 years ago

I like it, but I have 2 issues with it:

1- Lack of a real chorus
2- Artsvik’s lack of charisma and appeal as a performer.

It will qualify, possibly lower end of left side of scoreboard in the final. It will do better than “Face the Shadow” but worse than “LoveWave”.

fikri
fikri
7 years ago

it’s alright.

Ian
Ian
7 years ago

This song is really cool, but a bit too divisive and unique to probably win the contest.

Antranig Shokayan
Editor
7 years ago

I love the variety of reactions on these comments. From “potential winner” to “no chance to qualify”, I’ve read it all! 😛

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
7 years ago

Definitely not worth the wait. The song does not suit the singer before and seemed to have been written with no plan in mind. I have no idea what it is trying to accomplish. Similar to Azerbaijan last year, this might qualify just because it is Armenia sending it.

Bruno
7 years ago

This is a potential winner IMHO.

escAU
escAU
7 years ago

This ethnic song is better than Hungary’s, it’s more accessible

-_-
-_-
7 years ago

Armenia starts to give me a bore, especially with Lillith as songwriter I can see the pattern (slow building, explosive/risen tempo afterward).

With all the hypes, I get disappointed with this

PP
PP
7 years ago

Prediction for running order
I semi
1.Montenegro 2.Finland 3.Azerbaijan 4.Portugal 5.Belgium 6.Georgia 7.Australia 8.Albania 9. Sweden 10.Czech Republic 11.Cyprus 12.Iceland 13.Slovenia 14.Moldova 15.Armenia 16.Latvia 17.Greece 18.Poland
II semi
1.Romania 2.Russia 3.Serbia 4.Hungary 5.Malta 6.Macedonia 7.Ireland 8.Denmark 9.Austria 10.The Netherlands 11.San Marino 12.Bulgaria 13.Switzerland 14.Belarus 15.Norway 16.Croatia 17.Estonia 18.Israel 19.Lithuania

Radomir
Radomir
7 years ago

I hate the fact that while better songs will stay in semifinal Armenia will pass just because it’s Armenia. This song is so boring and meaningless. ._.

Pink Pussycat
Pink Pussycat
7 years ago

This song is unlike any other on this year contest. I’m sure it will do well. Armenia somehow always scores high regardless the song.

Möhrant
Möhrant
7 years ago

Another weird, but wonderful entry from Armenia. I love the traditional sounds they’ve put into their song. Should be an easy qualifier with good staging and vocals (which we know Armenia can do).

Charli Cheer Up
Charli Cheer Up
7 years ago

Its very artsy. I love it! The setting and the choreo is very alluring too.

Esc Shane
Esc Shane
7 years ago

WATCH MY SEMI FINAL 1 QUALIFIERS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMShTj_i2sU

art
art
7 years ago

William when would be released your reaction? I think you gonna love this

Colin
Colin
7 years ago

@Loo – They cannot give Ireland “deathspot” yet AGAIN! They deserve to have a decent position for once.

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

If I follow the traditional pattern with male acts, female acts, genres, uptempo, midtempo, ballads, favorites, not favorites etc. I think the running order will end up something like this. This will not be right order, but you will see the same pattern in the real one. Especially if Björkman is the one making it. Semi 1 1. Montenegro 2. Albania 3. Azerbaijan 4. Australia 5. Georgia 6. Sweden 7. Finland 8. Belgium 9. Portugal 10. Latvia 11. Cyprus 12. Iceland 13. Moldova 14. Armenia 15. Czech Republic 16. Slovenia 17. Poland 18. Greece Semi 2 1. Macedonia 2. Ireland… Read more »

art
art
7 years ago

It’s for me not finished song too . But it’s giving you vibes and you wanna listen to it again and again. It’s gonna do well because after a week everyone gonna like this

luminol
luminol
7 years ago

It is different, it has some ethnic elements, it will have a classy and effective staging. On the other hand, it doesn’t build up, I don’t get anything powerful from it. It gives me a confusing oriental vibe, it seems like a half finished project. A downgrade from last year. It will qualify though.

maggy
maggy
7 years ago

btw she can became the eurovision next top model too ….. she has an unique beauty

Ern
Ern
7 years ago

Perhaps she should have sung it in Armenian.

maggy
maggy
7 years ago

i am waiting for wiwi reaction .love it . there is 1000 way to do great staging for this song. will see.

Hebbuzz
Hebbuzz
7 years ago

Is it only me but the first lines listen as ‘Start a fire’ LOL

I expect a great staging, with nice dance routine, like Sertab choreografy.

Hebbuzz
Hebbuzz
7 years ago

Contender for top 5!

Praise to Armenia for again sending something very different and daring.
This will easily qualify.

I only hope Artsvik’s voice live will be less harsh than she was during her live perfomances during the preselections.

maggy
maggy
7 years ago

good job……. you gonna love this song after 4 or 5 time replay and after you will listen to it again and again .

chessguy99
7 years ago

This just might not qualify. Its a fine song, but lacks impact, perhaps the staging may help. But, to many countries that regularly support Armenia are in the other semi.

GØRAN
GØRAN
7 years ago

why?! why did u give us a high expectations with bringing music very laaaassst then with trailer 😀 50 seconds and then its like phh..BORING!
0/10 sorry..