In recent weeks hype has been building over her bid to win Depi Evratesil 2018 — Armenia’s national selection for Eurovision.

And today Tamar Kaprelian revealed more details about her entry in an exclusive chat with wiwibloggs.

“The title of our song is ‘Touyn Ari’,” she tells us. “It means ‘Poisoned’ and plays on Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.”

And while nothing Tamar touches could ever be called a tragedy, she assures us it will share some qualities with the iconic play.

As she says: “It has drama, for sure.”

“Touyn Ari” lyrics

Tamar sent the rumour mill into overdrive on October 19 when she posted a snippet from a songwriting session on Twitter.

“[Facetime] writing session,” she said. “What could we be working on?”

A quick listen revealed an upbeat, ethnic song — perfect for Eurovision, along with lyrics to the verses, which we attempted to decipher through the low-res upload.

Today Tamar has confirmed the final lyrics to some of the verses to us, and they work very well indeed.

Tamar’s team for Depi Evratesil

In 2015 Tamar was perhaps the most telegenic of all the members of Genealogy, the six-person group that represented the country in Vienna with “Face the Shadow”. She went on to win our annual search for Eurovision’s Next Top Model, with our readers declaring her the artist most likely to succeed as an international superstar in the years ahead.

Since then she’s strengthened her lifelong relationship with Armenia even more, setting up the Nvak Foundation, a summer music programme that works with young people in the country.

In fact, some songwriters from Nvak co-wrote her song, along with Tamar, DerHova and Sebu.

DerHova, you’ll know, wrote Sirusho’s “Qélé, Qélé” — which remains many Eurofans’ favourite entry from Armenia ever, and which achieved fourth place back in 2008.

Sebu is part of the Los Angeles-based indie pop duo Capital Cities, who watched their debut album In A Tidal Wave of Mystery reach number 67 on the Billboard 200 in 2013.

But there’s more. Arthur Gourounlian, her choreographer and creative director, has worked with Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud and Cheryl Cole. Colour us excited!

Tamar Kaprelian interview

The “New Day” singer, who will pass through London briefly on business on Monday, has kindly invited wiwibloggs to stop by for a catch-up.

Naturally we’re keen to find out all about her Depi Evratesil song. But what else do you want to know? Let us know your questions down below and we’ll do our best to get you some answers.

READ MORE ARMENIA EUROVISION NEWS

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TygaARM
TygaARM
6 years ago

TAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR GO WITHIN YOURSELF TO FIND THE ENERGY.
The hate propaganda has begun obviously and some people simply CANNOT see Armenia win, they are full of hate. But do not focus on the negative, go within yourself to release your energy – and just BLESS us with your Magic. The result is the way… <3
YES SIRUMEM QEZ TAMAAR – and Love to all of you haters you deserve a lot of it 🙂

Oganesyan
Oganesyan
6 years ago

So do you enter a song to get into Depi? I dont remember that from last year. Is it different? Will we hear the song during Depi?

Arnald
Arnald
6 years ago

Why is she going alone ??? (((( What about Genealogy ???

Armen Yeritsyan
Armen Yeritsyan
6 years ago

It is not a ballad, which is good! But we all know how ethnic songs end up in Eurovision. Most of them do not even qualify for the final. And I do not think that it qualifies DE. Anyway, good luck Tamar Jan, and give us good songs besides Eurovision ;)) Don’t forget your fans

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

What about Origo?

tamar kaprelian
tamar kaprelian
6 years ago

hey Armen: the song has ethnic elements – i.e. we use some ethnic Armenian instruments. But I will not be singing Komitas on the stage. 🙂

I think that people are going to be refreshed by our entry. It sounds like a pop hit.

Erik Vardanyan
Erik Vardanyan
6 years ago

I loved Tamar in 2015. Hey but srsly? couldn’t she pick a better composed than Der Hova? And we all know why Qele Qele made a good result in 2008 ;)) that was not abt the song at all.

tamar kaprelian
tamar kaprelian
6 years ago
Reply to  Erik Vardanyan

Hey Erik: a good artist- and a smart one- is careful on the team he/she builds around him/her. It is more important than you think. And yes- DerHova is insanely talented. As is Sirusho.

George Geo
George Geo
6 years ago

Lyrics & Title didn’t impress me at all. Hope the song will be something to listen to.

Trobl
Trobl
6 years ago

Just send System Of A Down lol

Avat
Avat
6 years ago

I always wanted Tamar to represent Armenia in ESC. Geneology wasn’t but an artificial project where Tamar simply couldn’t show what she is made of. Id prefer her to perform country ballad staff as it really suits her but her team is wise as this year’s winner most likely will be an uptempo entry as Eurovision recently has become very annoying full of ballads and midtempo stuff here is why Moldova with an avarage stuff did so well last year. P.S. Tamar dont pay attention to cyber army of other contestants making black P.R. You are great singer-compser underrated in… Read more »

tamar kaprelian
tamar kaprelian
6 years ago
Reply to  Avat

Avat: cyber-bullying is such a thing! people be cray.

NodikoGEO
NodikoGEO
6 years ago

I am sure it will be another eurovisiony pop-folk dance track by them which’s old-fashioned already. They need to try sth contemporary and different, I really don’t like their approach to Eurovision. Out of all the entries they have sent in years I liked only 2014 (Not alone), the rest is just meh, there’s no originality/creativity. Good luck.

Anna
Anna
6 years ago
Reply to  NodikoGEO

All right!!! Do you really think that Georgia’s entries were contemporary??? They were old fashioned ballads in many cases. Actually we got top 5 two times, and you?
Don’t through shadow on a country, when your country isn’t brilliant at all.

Elene
Elene
6 years ago
Reply to  Anna

At least we do not steal other nations’ music to achieve a good result unlike you. Ouch. (:

Anna
Anna
6 years ago
Reply to  Elene

Oh my Goshhh, please stop arguing. Armenia is one of the few countries that keeps sending songs with OWN cultural features.
Go cry and relaxx 😛

Anna
Anna
6 years ago
Reply to  Elene

And yeah, who has been sending songs composed by swedes for over years ?

Elene
Elene
6 years ago
Reply to  Anna

I didn’t know Tamar Gachechiladze was a swede, since when?? Please.. You’re just lucky to have a strong diaspora which adds extra points to your results for the same stuff you’ve been sending over the years with some turkish/azeri music mix. just don’t!

Anna
Anna
6 years ago
Reply to  Elene

Come on,I didn’t mention Tamara, just see your 2013, 2015, 2016 entries.
And remember we have been living in South Caucasus for thousands of years, we have our own culture, stealing others music or culture is typical to nomad tribes. Just saying 😉

NodikoGEO
NodikoGEO
6 years ago
Reply to  Anna

@Anna My comment wasn’t about Georgia. You might disagree with my opinion, alright.

Anna
Anna
6 years ago
Reply to  NodikoGEO

If that comment was made by a bulgarian, a belgian or a swede (they sent amazing and modern songs in recent years), I would have understood. In a nutshell, before criticizing just one second look at your entries. Byee

Erasmus
Erasmus
6 years ago
Reply to  NodikoGEO

Seriously? Armenia always sends one of the most original song every year: Fly with me, LoveWave, Not Alone, Face the Shadow all very original.

Mark
Mark
6 years ago
Reply to  NodikoGEO

Oh, yeah… Nice advice from a country which doesn’t qualified this year to the Grand Final. And yeah, “Keep the Faith” was such a modern song *laughs*

NodikoGEO
NodikoGEO
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

This article was about Armenia, so my comment was about THEIR participation in Eurovision. But if we’re talking about my country, alright. I also didn’t like “Keep the Faith”, it was old-fashioned and rather boring. But at least we’ve sent some interesting/modern entries before Tamara, even tho they didn’t quite do well. Perhaps we would also achieve better results if we had huge diaspora in Europe just like Armenia. 🙂

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  NodikoGEO

omg, stop fighting you people, I liked both Midnight Gold and LoveWave, both very original. All countries send good and bad music sometimes, even your all-precious Sweden (“I can’t go on” is kinda flat).

Alex
Alex
6 years ago

Woooo !!! cant wait, i love tamar 🙂
from France

tamar kaprelian
tamar kaprelian
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex

<3

mad-professor
mad-professor
6 years ago

Hold up – that Sebu? Safe and Sound is still a bop, and their EP earlier this year was pretty good too.

tamar kaprelian
tamar kaprelian
6 years ago
Reply to  mad-professor

YUP! he is INCREDIBLE.

EscAU
EscAU
6 years ago

Wait is depi evratesil this year a final with original songs in it? Or is Tamar competing the same way artsvik did

tamar kaprelian
tamar kaprelian
6 years ago
Reply to  EscAU

DE format is different this year. Each act submits their original song.

KESC
KESC
6 years ago

She is soo overrated imo. She could not even sing Face the Shadow, where she did have to do a single move, how will she sing a song, where she will dance as well?!

Inga was the only one from the group, who could really sing. You could barely hear the others’ voices.

tamar kaprelian
tamar kaprelian
6 years ago
Reply to  KESC

yyyyyyy are you hating on me 🙂 you know what the problem was with FTS? Too many people singing at the same time.

So, the dancing thing. I get what you are saying. Most of my career, I have been behind a piano. But I promise, the dancing will be tasteful.

Mario#Vision
Mario#Vision
6 years ago

Hope she wins & goes to Lisbon! <3
Good Luck! <3

tamar kaprelian
tamar kaprelian
6 years ago
Reply to  Mario#Vision

XO

beccaboo1212
6 years ago

Speaking of what’s happening with Armenia, I’m still waiting for that country to confirm participation for Junior Eurovision 2018.

ninasublatti
ninasublatti
6 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

who tf cares

beccaboo1212
6 years ago
Reply to  ninasublatti

Listen Nina. Armenia is one of the most successful countries at JESC, and they never missed an edition ever since their 2007 debut. They won in 2010, hosted in 2011, and never crashed out of the Top 10 during their appearances. The 2018 edition is just around the corner, and there’s still millions of young singers aged 9-14 still waiting to represent at Junior Eurovision.

beccaboo1212
6 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

I meant: “There’s still millions of young singers aged 9-14 still waiting to represent Armenia at Junior Eurovision.”

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

It will be in November 2018, almost a year ahead. Calm your teeth, woman.

beccaboo1212
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

That’s exactly what I meant! When I claimed that next year’s JESC is just around the corner, I meant that it’s almost a year away.

Also, last time JESC was held in Belarus, we learned that Armenia won. It’d be cool if next year saw history repeat itself.

Escfan96
Escfan96
6 years ago

She is vocaly weak, if she’s going to sing and dance at the same time – that would be another flop for her country.

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Escfan96

Qele qele had all these characteristics and it didn’t flop. 🙂

KESC
KESC
6 years ago

But Tamar isn’t Sirusho! Sirusho was vocally on point, but that was not the case with Tamar. 😉 The only member of Genealogy, who was really vocally on point, was Inga.

Mark Beckenbreur
Mark Beckenbreur
6 years ago
Reply to  KESC

I love Tamar’s voice.. and you are stupid hater.

beccaboo1212
6 years ago
Reply to  Escfan96

FYI, Tamar isn’t weak, vocal-wise.

Erasmus
Erasmus
6 years ago

I love how the whole team is Armenian and not Swedish… 🙂 I’m really happy to see her back. I want to ask her: How would she describe the song in 3 words:)

tamar kaprelian
tamar kaprelian
6 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

YAS. great question.

NickC
NickC
6 years ago

That sounds really exciting. A bit like Bulgaria last year- they are going for the complete package.

Jamaraqueer
Jamaraqueer
6 years ago

CHOREOGRAPHY: She mentions that she’s working with the guy who worked with Girls Aloud, Cheryl, etc.. Does this mean she is going to be doing some really complicated moves on stage? Is she already training for it?

tamar kaprelian
tamar kaprelian
6 years ago
Reply to  Jamaraqueer

nothing crazy complicated. just tasteful and fun.

Nancy G
Nancy G
6 years ago

derhova?!?! please ask tamar if the song will be similar to qele, qele — ethnic dance!!!!

tamar kaprelian
tamar kaprelian
6 years ago
Reply to  Nancy G

it’s going to be ethnic and modern.