People are summoned in Azerbaijan for voting vor Armenia

BAKU (RFE/RL) — It’s a simple song competition. Or is it?

The Eurovision Song Contest has long promoted itself as an event where national audiences in Europe and beyond can put politics aside and enjoy a long night of entertainment performed in the spirit of friendly competition, if not necessarily musical mastery.

But as Eurovision’s reach has traveled further east, old political rivalries are muddying the contest’s claim on good clean fun.

Rovshan Nasirli, a young Eurovision fan living in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, says he was summoned this week to the country’s National Security Ministry — to explain why he had voted for Armenia during this year’s competition in May.

“They wanted an explanation for why I voted for Armenia. They said it was a matter of national security,” Nasirli said. “They were trying to put psychological pressure on me, saying things like, ‘You have no sense of ethnic pride. How come you voted for Armenia?’ They made me write out an explanation, and then they let me go.”

A total of 43 Azeris voted for the Armenian duo Inga and Anush, and their song, “Jan-Jan.”

Nasirli, like others, used his mobile phone to send a text message expressing his preference, little imagining his vote would eventually result in a summons from national security officials. (By contrast, 1,065 Armenians voted for the Azerbaijani team, apparently without consequence.)

Simmering Tensions

Azerbaijan and Armenia remain locked in a protracted dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, a predominantly ethnic-Armenian enclave located within Azerbaijani territory. Relations between the two countries are poor, even as they appear to be nearing a breakthrough on Karabakh.

The official antipathy can frequently trickle down to personal bias among ordinary Armenians and Azeris. But not always.

In the case of Eurovision, Nasirli said he preferred the Armenian entry because it sounded “more Azeri” than his country’s own submission, a duet featuring Arash, a pop superstar born in Iran and based in Sweden:

“I voted for Armenia to protest the fact that Arash was representing Azerbaijan. Also, the Armenian song was closer to Azerbaijani style than Arash’s song,” Nasirli said.

Selection scoreboard for armenian participants in Eurovision 2009

Uzogh placed a table with the results of selection of armenian participant for Eurovision 2009.

Once more,congrats to Inga and Anush who won with the song “New dance”

Singer	Jury score	SMS	Sum	Final result		Number of SMS received
Iren			0			91
Hasmik Margaryan			0			62
3 The Beautified Project		2	2			223
4 Gayane Arzumanyan (Hay-ya)	4	1	5	3		173
Marta Bukbulyan			0			55
Anush and Inga Arshakyan	12	12	24	12		5 416
7 Oxigen			0			9
8  (Artem Avun)			0			82
9 Shprot	6	7	13	6		1 055
10 Hayk Kasparov			0			50
11 Arman Harutyunyan			0			57
12 Guzh			0			23
13 Lilu		4	4	2		353
14 David Minasyan	1		1			90
15 Mher	7	10	17	10		4 493
16 Dorians	10	6	16	8		874
17 Bambir	5	8	13	7		1 134
18 Hripsime Hakobyan	2	3	5	4		272
19 Davo			0			100
Tigran Petrosyan	8	5	13	5		494
21 Sergey Grigoryan	3		3	1		127

No Grammy for Isabel Bayrakdarian

Unfortunately, Isabel Bayrakdarian -shortlisted for Best Vocal Performance Grammy Nomination with Komitas’ songs was not selected as a winner. Anyway, in my opinion, it was good chance once again  present armenian ethnomusic to the world, like Jivan Gasparyan and Ara gevorgyan done.

The 2009 Grammy nominees and winners.

BEST CLASSICAL VOCAL PERFORMANCE

Winner-“Corigliano: Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems Of Bob Dylan,” Hila Plitmann (JoAnn Falletta; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)

“Fussell, Charles: Wilde,” Sanford Sylvan (Gil Rose; Boston Modern Orchestra Project)
“Gomidas Songs,”  Isabel Bayrakdarian (Eduard Topchjan; Serouj Kradjian; Chamber Players Of The Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra)

“Maria,” Cecilia Bartoli (Adam Fischer; Orchestra La Scintilla)

“Terezín: Theresienstadt,” Anne Sofie Von Otter (Christian Gerhaher & Daniel Hope; Bengt Forsberg & Gerold Huber)
More on Grammy

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2008/12/grammy-scorecar.html

Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan punished Jorge Arce.

Yes,he did it!!!
Our Vic Darchinyan once more proved that he is a great boxer.
Congratulations Vic from all armenians around the world!

Undisputed super flyweight champion Vаkhtang Darchinyan punished Jorge Arce with powerful left hooks from the opening bell on his way to an 11th-round knockout Saturday night.

Darchinyan retained his WBA, WBC and IBF belts with the victory over the determined but outclassed Arce.

Arce’s face was covered with blood and his knees were buckling as he took punches on the ropes in the closing seconds of the 11th round. The ring physician examined a gash near the fighter’s right eye and determined he should not come out for the 12th.

Sarah Palin has unwittingly taken a prank call from a comedian posing as French President Sarkozy

Palin takes prank call from fake French president

MONTREAL (AP) — Sarah Palin has unwittingly taken a prank call from a Canadian comedian posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy and told him she may make a good president in eight years.

The Republican vice presidential nominee discussed politics, the perils of hunting with Vice President Dick Cheney, and Sarkozy’s “beautiful wife,” in the telephone call released Saturday.

When the caller told Palin she would make a good president, she laughed and replied: “Maybe in eight years.”

Palin campaign spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt confirmed she received the prank call.

“Governor Palin was mildly amused to learn that she had joined the ranks of heads of state, including President Sarkozy and other celebrities, in being targeted by these pranksters. C’est la vie,” she said.

http://chemarina.livejournal.com/16448.html

Obama. Another step.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenians For Obama joined political leaders and fundraisers earlier this week at U.S. Senator Barack Obama’s first major event in Los Angeles since he became the presumptive presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. The fundraiser, held on June 24th at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, drew together political leaders and Hollywood stars and provided an opportunity for Senator Obama to learn more about the 500,000 Armenian Americans who live and work in and around the City of Angels.

In his remarks to those in attendance, the presidential candidate emphasized the urgent need to change the environment in Washington.