January has been a busy month in Armenia, with AMPTV revealing the twenty songs that will compete in Depi Evratesil 2018. But things will only get busier in February with today’s news that the semi-finals of Depi Evratesil will take place on 19 and 22 February with the grand final on 25 February. From the twenty competing acts only one can go to Eurovision. Armenia is a nation of Eurovision fans, so we’re fairly certain this is going to be intense.
The field for Depi Evratesil includes many familiar faces. After representing the country as part of Genealogy in 2015, Tamar Kaprelian returns as a solo artist. Asmik Shiroyan is a fan favourite from last year’s Depi Evratesil, a show which also introduced us to the likes of Amaliya Margaryan and Gevorg Harutyunyan. There is also Mger Armenia who finished as runner-up to Inga & Anush at the Eurovision 2009 national final and is aiming for the Eurovision trophy.
AMPTV have confirmed that Depi Evratesil will consist of two semi-finals taking place on 19 and 22 February. Ten songs will compete in each semi-final, with the exact running order of both shows to be revealed on 12 February. Five songs from each semi-final will progress to the grand final, which will take place on Sunday 25 February.
The winner of Depi Evratesil will be determined by 50% televote and 50% international jury. AMPTV has opted to use an international jury to develop an idea of what the international community will appreciate.
Fans have already had their say in our Depi Evratesil poll. Currently, Tamar Kaprelian is our readers’ favourite to win the competition with her dual language song “Poison (Ari Ari)”. She leads the poll with 3,730 votes — that’s 22.02% of all votes cast.
Sevak Khanagyan is a close second with his Armenian ballad “Qami”, securing 3,064 or 18.09% of the votes.
Rounding out the top five are Robert Koloyan, Asmik Shiroyan and Kamil. There is still time to vote for your favourite in our poll, so get to it!
Are you excited for the live shows of Depi Evratesil? Who will follow in the footsteps of Artsvik to become the second Depi Evratesil winner? Let us know in the comments below.
qami and the younget girl song are just breathtaking, QAMI NEEDS THIS
Please, choose wise. Sevak performs very well, but it is a song contest. He will not climb high on the scoreboard with this song. Armenia may leave Sevak and choose internally by giving him a killer song. He will just nail it. Now Asmik and Tamar have better chance to stand out. Please, do not send a performer. Armenia has a great performer last year, but she flopped. Flopping will harm Secak’s career. Don’t do this to this promising performer. He has a long way to go.
Speaking of Armenia, Iveta Mukuchyan just released a new music video and IT SLAYS!
Monitoring of social medias and betting odds unfortunatly prove that main fight is going to be between Sevak and Kamil unfortunatly. I do respect Asmik, she is a great performer, her song sounds fun but forgetable MelFest ordinary act. Tamar stands no chance aswell as Sevak’s army of fans is really huge while Kami is doing the best promotion no matter how much some groups bash her for certain reasons. She will do well in televoting if jurors don’t put it somethere in the bottom she stands all the chances to win. IMO the optimal (scorewise) choice for Armenia is… Read more »
As far as I did my own research, people aren’t happy with Kamil. Well, some may do, as they take Eurovision not seriously and they are tired of endless years when Armenia send good songs, but the jury gives low points. So, now they wanna mock the jury. Sevak may have more views, as he is quite famous in Ukraine. So, his views may exceed that of the others. You might have paid attention that most of the comments are either in Armenian or Russian. He also partoook in the Russian Voice. I think, however, that Europe won’t get his… Read more »
Somehow agree after all those media attacks on Aram MP3 when he was hot favorite in 2014 proves that Armenia is not in the plans of ESC mafia. But withdrawl is not the best thing Armenia should have done! As for me Armenian Public Television must make Depi Evratesil a comercial project just like Melodifestivalen, to offer better quality so the raitings of Depi Evratesil in Armenia would be higher than the raitings of Eurovision (just like in Sweden). Geting isolated is worse than bad results in Eurovision. Just look what kind of fame had Sirusho, Inga Anush Arshakyans and… Read more »
And if you live in Armenia you must have noticed that Sevak has much more fans in Armenia than Tamar does. Sevak affords concerts in big venues full of people but Tamar simply can’t afford it!
People need to understand that it is a song contest. Yes, tbh Aram was robbed indeed. He had the best song (I thought Conchita’s song was very touching, but not as strong). Aram was given the first number to perform and his homophonic statements ruined his career in Europe. I am sure that Armenia will long wait for its victory like Finland. Sevak’s dong is good, but Armenia has two better songs to choose. Those will definitly attract more viewers who will vote. It’s really annoying to see how Eurovision organisers do everything from preventing claiming the victory. Not partaking… Read more »
I hate when national finals have more than one song I really love. “Poison” and “Qami” are both amazing entries in my opinion and I would have loved to have seen both in Lisbon. (Can we just replace one of them with whatever meh song Malta picks soon? lol)
Qami is the best song song for me. I fell in love with it, since I heard it in the second batch of 5 songs. Still my favorite. Close second is You & I.
It’s Tamar or Sevak for me. Asmik’s song is nice but it would be a shame to have such a Swedish song from a country that has always sent songs that could only come from them. “You and I” could be from any country.
(Off topic: have you listened to Tayanna’s song “Lelya” in this year’s Vidbir ? It’s great.)
BTW, how big is Yerevan’s largest convention facility in case the winner of Depi Evratesil ends up taking the Galway Crystal Pill Mike on 13 May?
The venue that hosted Junior Eurovision can accomodate 11,000 people. I believe the executives of Eurovision made a statement that the venue is capable of even hosting the ESC back in 2011. With that said, I don’t think any of Depi Evratesil acts are winning material.
With additional seats the Sport-Concert Complex of Vazgen Sargsyan can accomodate up to 15,000 people.
Sport complex is named after Karen Demirtchyan not Vazgen Sargsyan!
@sokhak – no it can’t. It pretty much maxes out at 11,000 with the two venues combined. And, you got the name wrong of the venue too.
Please Armenia, send either Asmik or Tamar. They have the best songs and they can most certainly get you to the final.
Asmik , Tamar , Kamil
They are my faves. One of them should be the winner …,
im ready for asmik to take my weave.
SEVAK is the best for Armenia 😉
Amazing voice, Beautful song 😉
I’m SO excited!! There are so many amazing songs! 1. Tamar – I honestly love Tamar’s song. It would be perfect for both Armenia and Eurovision. Major props for having some lines in Armenian 2. Asmik – A super catchy and fun song! Asmik’s voice is incredible too. I’m sure she’d so well 3. Kamil – Woooo go Kamil!! Kamil’s song is actually pretty catchy and hilarious, and I love it so much! Plus, ever since I was 5 and started watching Eurovision, I’ve always wanted Armenia to send a joke entry, so… Go Kamil! 4. Maria’s Secret – This… Read more »
SO many good choices here. Asmik and Tamar are the obvious standouts but Sevak is the one with the song that could do really well at Eurovision. Amalya also has a great voice.
If Armenia pick Kamil, it would be unforgivable. What a waste that would be!
My top3 is:
1. Sevak Khanagyan
2. Tamar Kaprelian
3. Asmik Shiroyan
I would be satisfied with any of those 3, but Sevak would probably end up in my personal Top5… Pure class!
This national final is full of great songs. Since their comeback in 2013, the only Armenian entry I’ve liked was LoveWave, so I’m very very happy and hopeful about their entry this year.
Armenia seems to do really well on even years 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016 were all AMAZING. Ironically, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017 were either average or terrible. Seems like 2018 will continue the trend.
Why couldn’t they just make a supergroup out of Tamar, Asmik, Kamil and Amaliya Margaryan and get Thomas G:Son to write their song.
Because Armenia is above basic producers. They have a rich culture, they have extraordinary vocal talents, and they achieved all of their best results thanks to Armenian songwriters.
@Polegend – Preach!
I’m sure he would write a hit song, one that already exists.
We don’t need foreign stimulation ! Better not to win!
I really want them to send Kamil. I miss fun acts on Eurovision. It could be something entertaining like Verka Serduchka.
And besides, Verka placed second and Conchita placed first, so maybe Kamil could bring a Yerevan 2019!
It would be a crime to not send Tamar
In my opinion, I think that the essence of Armenia are those folk and house-made sounds, and Europe loves it! It moves you around cultures and society, culture that Armenia should show to Europe. I fell in love with Armenia 2008, 2009, 2016 and 2017; so I think that Tamar Kaprelian should WIN DEPI EVRATESIL and classificate to the Grand Final just for bringing the real essence of Armenia!
Greetings from Barcelona! (I’m not stoned, I wish)
I hope Armenia don’t go down the cheap and tacky route and go for the sheer class that is “Qami”.
I’m afraid Mger is going to win the ticket.
Anyone but him plsss
There is an international jury!! That won’t happen!
Tamar Kaprelian FTW! 😀
There are some really really good songs on Depi Evratesil. Here are my favorites: 1. Asmik – You & I 10/10 – I really hope this wins the ticket to represent Armenia. 2. Tamar – Poison (Ari-Ari) 9/10 – It’s catchy, it’s fun and the lyrics are easy to follow. 3. Kamil – Puerto Rico 8.5/10 – Say what you will, but this is a really fun entry. 4. Sevak – Qami 8/10 – Quality entry 5. Robert – Get Away With Us 7.5/10 – I really like this song. It needs a revamp and some polishing, but it’s a… Read more »
ASMIK FOR THE WIN !
I hope Asmik will win. She is the best.
My top 3 are
1 Asmik 10/10
2 Sevak 9.5/10
3 Maria’s Secret 8/10
Kamil FTW!!
Tamar’s my hope. If they send that drag queen, at least it’ll clear up some room for another song to make the grand final.
Please please armenia choose an uptempo song. I’m already afraid we will get more ballads than last year
Tamar or Hasmik? I prefer Tamar, but Hasmik’s sing is more uptempo. Let’s help Armenia to choose the best one.
We only have 1 slow song out of the 4 and looking at the NF’s I don’t see many ballads with the potential to win
Plus to be honest I think the winner will either be You and I or Poison which are both quite up beat.
We had 4/6 ballads by last time this year!!
This year we have 1/4 ballads!!
Your fear is disingenuous
I think Nina’s mainly scared about the unwarranted hype on here in the comments around various Salvador copycats (“You”, “Secrets & Lies”). That, combined with Ireland, Greece, the Netherlands & Portugal almost certainly going downtempo.
”secret and lies” and ”You” have like NOTHING to do with Salvador. There aren’t any similarities… That’s like saying, that ”Hey Mamma” sounds like ”Heroes” just because it’s fast. It’s nonsense…
@thespb01 just because the song is slow or it’s a ballad, it doesn’t mean it’s an “Amar pelos dois” copycat, please. Portugal 2017 was the kind of a ballad that I don’t think we will ever get to hear in Eurovision again. That was different and very special. The songs you’ve mentioned have nothing to do with Salvador’s song.
I’m from Portugal and im def scared we will send a downtempo song. Because of Sobral, everyone thinks that a ballad is the best formula to follow. It was masterpiece ballad, a one chance thing, not to mention most songs were fast food and this year it will be the opposite. People are more close minded than ever, not to mention the old fart that’s super cocky now and will be in the jury…god help us. Our disgusting directors dont invite the croatian composer again because they know he’d give us an uptempo poppy jam. Even Piçarra was afraid of… Read more »