Anyone following Vahe, Stephanie, Inga, Tamar, Mary-Jean, or Essaï on social media is well aware that the group reunited this past week to rehearse, shoot postcard footage, and learn more about their Armenian heritage. On Monday, however, five of the members had another very important affair to attend to. The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, personally hand-delivered the foreign-born singers of Genealogy an Armenian passport, effectively making them all Armenian citizens.
Essaï Altounian, the Genealogy member representing Europe, shared his joy on Facebook, stating:
Today I’m so proud to have become an Armenian citizen. I am honored that our President [Serzh Sargsyan] gave me the brand new passport with his own hands.
Posted by Essaï Altounian on Monday, April 27, 2015
Tamar Kaprelian, Genealogy’s American singer, also shared her pride.
This happened today. Became an #Armenian citizen. Thank you Mr. President. I am beyond honored.
Posted by Tamar Kaprelian on Monday, April 27, 2015
In a press release from broadcaster AMPTV, it was explained why the artists were granted citizenship.
Being of Armenian origin and carrying Armenian genetics, Genealogy members have been granted Armenian citizenship which they applied for earlier.
During the meeting, President Serzh Sargsyan showed his support to Genealogy members and encouraged the band for representing Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest. He highlighted the importance of unity and togetherness. “If we are all gathered around one goal we will always succeed. I am sure you will accomplish [this] because you are united and you are sharing one goal.”
Although the singers have returned to their respective home countries, we are excited to see them meet up and perform in Vienna next month!
Read all of our Armenia news here
Follow Genealogy on Facebook.
Photo: Essaï Altounian
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on your blog?
MELO, your vote DOES NOT MATTER ANYWAYS, and making such a comment is only telling about how naïve you are about this contest in general. If this show was not all political, then EUROVISION would have been in Armenia for at least twice already. However, when commenting on a political issue, you better understand and read then comment. thank you.
Why Armenia misuse the contest as political, they changed the song name after the EBU ban. It was previously called Dont Deny (WHAT to DENY?) Quite simple, the genocide, I will not vote for this for sure, hope no one would..
@Noah – Actually this web blog is about everything in connection with Eurovision. There have been thousands of posts on this blog about topics not related to the musical aspect of the singers that take part in Eurovision but their personal matters. This post falls in the latter category.
The rest of your argument just falls flat. They can’t possibly ban a country because their juries did not give their top votes to your favorites. In fact Armenia did give high points to the Netherlands who came second.
@Danny – I don’t think throwing words in the air is going to help you make your case. There is absolutely no reference to Azerbaijan or Turkey in the music video and the song cannot be seen as political because it makes no explicit or implicit political references. If there is one country that should have been banned long ago from Eurovision was Azerbaijan given their violations in 2009 and in 2013.
How can a competition between countries not be political? The whole concept of Eurovision is about politics even if many do not want to see it. Various countries pushing forward various elements of their agenda. If some countries talk about war is because there are quite a few open and dormant conflicts in Europe. Ukraine can’t participate because it is facing a brutal war. You can’t just turn a blind eye to all is happening or to what has happened in the past and is not yet even acknowledged and pretend everything is ok. Germany recognised the Holocaust; Serbia, Croatia… Read more »
i really dont like countries which always brings politics to Eurovision.For example Armenia,Georgia.. really this countries should be ban! and i cant understand why the EBU didnt ban armenia this year. Because everyone knows this song is too political. Look at the video-clip everyone is talking about the hate against Azerbaijan/Turkey. Eurovision should be against politics, also we should not forget that this years title is “Building Bridges” and not “dont forget the passt” or “Rezognice what our enemies did to us”..!! i really hope and im sure that armenia will not get any votes from the juries.
Dear @YoungsterJoey, it isn’t relevant. Those other news, as you said, are for “their new albums/songs/videos or interviews”. See, no passports, no national pride included or anything similar. These are, as I wrote on earlier Armenian newsflash here on Wiwi, are just blatant PR stunts. Wiwi fells for it, but hey, what you can do… Someone else mentioned below that Armenia & Azerbaijan are taking this contest (ESC as a whole) as a pride contest and “which di*k is bigger” kind of thingy, so that has to stop! Especially after Armenia’s last year jury votes (because the other favorites should… Read more »
Whoa, some people need to stop talking out of their ass. It’s okay when silly things like Eurovision are being discussed, but if you’re going to talk about the Armenian Genocide or Armenia (any country, for that matter) in general, do some research and be respectful. That goes for you, Mario and JTEuroFan, those comments were painful to read.
That was a really nice and appropiate gesture from Armenia, congrats to the members of Genealogy, they must feel very honored.
That’s nice. There song is still my least favourite though.
Alex, I still don’t see how the president awarding these individuals citizenship is political. You must not forget that Armenia is a very small country so for the president to award a citizenship is not uncommon. It has happened many times before. You can’t really put Armenian president on the same pedestal as Germany’s chancellor. If let’s say Angela Merker was awarding citizenship to the German singer in eurovision that would seem sort of silly. As for the song, I do agree that while the song makes no explicit statements, it leads people to believe that it’s about the genocide.… Read more »
This is glam! What a nice idea <3
@Leon:
How is being awarded the citizenship on means of “genetics”, directly by the president, to the members of a group that performs a song formerly known as “don’t deny” not political? It is about a song contest, alright. It states explicitly that no political contents are allowed. The esc-spirit comes from conciliation and friendship between the countries (especially after WWII). Mere provocative actions as performed so often in the past by various countries, especially the caucasian ones, do not comply with this idea of a peaceful Europe.
@Alex – I absolutely do not understand why this is against the “spirit of esc”. There is nothing political, nationalistic or anything wrong with awarding people citizenship of the country they were supposed to be part of to begin with. Let’s talk about that “open-mindedness” in esc again.
This is exactly why the EBU should be more restrictive in banning countries from eurovision, maybe give them penalties of no participation for 3 years or so. Armenia, alongside with Azerbaijan and other countries, misuses the Song Contest for political messages. This nationalism in the Armenian case is clearly against the ESC-spirit, as are unfree jurors, bought votes and rigged televotings. A further example for bad behaviour is last year’s diplomatic (!) incident between Russia and Azerbaijan. As an impartial Eurovision fan, I want to watch a fair, peaceful contest. Those countries could take an example on Russia: even if… Read more »
That’s pretty sweet, nice gesture.
Although to Noah: Not sure what you meant. This story is relevant to ESC since it involves people in this year’s ESC. I wonder if you have the same view when they report or provide updates on artists from previous years such as their new albums/songs/videos or interviews.
I really do not know why this piece of news is RELEVANT to this year’s ESC. I really do not know.
I think it’s perfectly fine that they were all given Armenian citizenship as it is lawful for them to have one because they really are Armenians and proud of it and the countries they come from either honor dual citizenship or allow for nationals of other countries to become residents of their countries and receive almost the same rights as citizens (mind you, there are still other countries that allow people to be residents but don’t give them almost the same rights as citizens).
It smells like North Korea. This is too much pride for a nation and it’s a bit disturbing. Must be the trauma of the genocide. Pretty understandable.
That’s actually a really touching gesture. Great job, Armenia.
Nice!
I hope the world (not just parts of it) acknowledges the Armenian genocide and honors the huge amount of life lost via music and other forms of art.