"This is a competition where purely voice capabilities are not enough; only dancing, moving freely on the stage, scene manners, costumes - all these together only can become decisive in the victory"
Written by: Armen Martirosyan
Lyrics by: Catherine Bekian
The honour to represent Armenia for the first time at the Eurovision Song Contest belongs to 26-year-old singer Andre, a native of Karabakh. Karabakh- origin singer Andre will soon appear on Euro stage. "I was so excited at first when I learned the news of my participation. Then I realized what a tremendous responsibility it is, after all I am going to represent not Andre's personality but the country, and that is very serious," says Andre.

At the age of six, he enrolled at the Stepanakert Komitas Music School to learn the piano. Three years later Andre wrote his first song, 'Prayer', which he dedicated to God. Andre sang in The Children of Artsakh youth ensemble which performed to different audiences. At the age of 15, performing as an individual for the first time, Andre took part in the 'Road to Renaissance' competition, which marked the real starting point of his career as musician.

"After long efforts we received the right for participation. We are the first in the South Caucasus with the right to represent ourselves; Georgia and Azerbaijan are still negotiating," says general producer of the Public TV Hrach Keshishyan. Armen Martirosyan's "Without Your Love" was chosen from 20 submitted songs as the one Andre will perform. The singer's candidacy was chosen by the H1 Arts Council. Keshishyan says the Council has taken into account the fact that Andre has been named the best singer for two years and that he stayed on the first place at the Hot Ten program for 18 weeks.

"This is a competition where purely voice capabilities are not enough; only dancing, moving freely on the stage, scene manners, costumes - all these together only can become decisive in the victory, and Andre is among those unique singers with us who has not only high level performance but also artistic characteristics," says Grigoryan. Though Eurovision is a first for Armenia, competition is not new to Andre. Musical achievements of Andre include participation in the festivals Voice of Asia, Golden Skif, Shanghai festival, Championship of Performing Arts, he was twice awarded as best Armenian singer of the year.

Keep your fingers crossed for Andre and your hearts open for the beautiful love song which is a mixture of modern and ethnic elements, which is very touching and fascinating, amazing and melodic. The composer of the song is the Conductor of Jazz Orchestra of Armenia Mr. Armen Martirosyan, the arrangement and instrumentation is done by a "miracle man", one of the best representatives of the music field in Armenia Mr. Ara Torosyan (Murzik).

What is it about these Euro-virgins? Is it because they're fresh, willing, naive, innocent? Not ground down by the commercialisation of being watched by millions one night, only to stoop to local bar karaoke/topless dancing the next? Is it because they try that little bit harder, encumbered as they are with a bill at the end of the contest that triples their national debt?

Whatever the reason is, bless 'em, because Armenia have arrived with an agreeable slice of ethno-pop-pap which is exactly what you want. Unfortunately for them Andre has to open proceedings (that is, after the inevitable brash pain that is Helena), and this goes a way to explain why my prediction machine suggests this will miss out on a final place, but I'm still not completely convinced this is the case.

Matt Bianco-attired Andre does cut a sort of dash which should go down well in the hall. I also feel I have to raise special mention for the well-put together video for this song, which contains an early contender for the most ridiculous imagery award. It starts out with hail on a staircase (fair enough, it can happen), then there's a woman holding a fish (not quite sure what that means), then there's poltergeists opening and closing drawers, topped off by a pile of burning pomegranates.

Now by all accounts Andre has received death threats recently because his song has been deemed "too Western" for some Armenian sensibilities, but I have to say that to date I've never before come across burning pomegranates, nor young woman in chiffon holding fish on the BBC (mind you, I wouldn't put it past Channel 5). And I'm sure you'll agree that singing three minutes of inconsequential pop to an audience too pissed to care, is reason enough to risk your life. Good luck Andre.
  
 

Andre loves...King Rollo

"King Rollo was a child-like King who was always in need of advice and assistance from his friends" Andre fondly remembers.."Among these were Cook the cook, his neighbour Queen Gwen, King Frank the magician ; and his sage cat, Hamlet".
Andre was especially entranced by the way Rollo walked. "His legs would rotate outwards when walking, until they were at right-angles at the sides of his body" Andre may have said, but didn't " I spent years in traction trying to emulate him." he also didn't add.
   
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

Without Your Love

Drumming hearts
And your silent words of love
They still remain
In the shades of night
Will you go?
Will you ever save my storming soul?
I need to know

Should I live, should I die
Without your love?
Should I smile, should I cry
Without your love?
Should I fall, should I fly
Without your love?
All I can is only living for you
Breathing for you

What I lose, what I find
Without your love?
What I say, what I hide
Without your love?
What I have in my mind
Without your love?
Tell me what I have to do?
Since I love you

Fly with me
Take my wings and dream away
The stars will lead
To the heavens' way
One's for sure
There's a thousand ways
To say goodbye
What you decide?

Should I live, should I die
Without your love?
Should I smile, should I cry
Without your love?
Should I fall, should I fly
Without your love?
All I can is only living for you
Breathing for you

What I lose, what I find
Without your love?
What I say, what I hide
Without your love?
What I have in my mind
Without your love?
Tell me what I have to do?
Because I love you
“The choreography is about a man who loves two women,” explained Andre’s choreographer. “He wants to love the woman he is with but he is tempted by the other woman and, even though it’s a sin, he wants to play.”