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Armenia And Diaspora Relations Spoofed In Music Video

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  • Armenia And Diaspora Relations Spoofed In Music Video

    ARMENIA AND DIASPORA RELATIONS SPOOFED IN MUSIC VIDEO
    By Liana Aghajanian

    ianyan Magazine
    http://www.ianyanmag.com/2011/12/09/armenia-and-diaspora-relations-spoofed-in-music-video/
    Dec 9 2011

    Update: As of Friday, 1:30 p.m PST, the video has been taken down.

    I wanna be a spyurqahay. Or do I? That's what a just released spoof
    video from the CivilNet media channel of non-profit and think tank
    Civilitas Foundation tries to address. The four minute video features
    an Armenian take on "Billionaire," a hit song by American singer Bruno
    Mars and Travis McCoy of alternative hip-hop Gym Class Heroes (although
    he might be alternatively known for dating pop star Katy Perry).

    Seated on Northern Avenue in Armenia's capital Yerevan, a street
    mocked for its monstrous, lavish and mostly empty sky-high buildings
    built for Armenian Diasporans who like to vacation in the Republic
    during summer, Hayk, a lonely, guitar-strutting local Armenian dreams
    about becoming a spyurqahay, or one of the millions of Armenians who
    compromise a world-wide diaspora, with high concentrations in Moscow
    and Los Angeles, or more specifically, the city of Glendale.

    The video highlights cultural differences and social norms between
    Armenians in the diaspora and local residents, opening the song with
    the line "I wanna be a spyurkahay so freakin' bad, have some facial
    hair I never had," an ode to how quickly diasporan Armenians can be
    spotted and singled out when in the country.

    It then launches into a comedic depiction of Armenian lives abroad,
    where paintings and photographs of beloved Mount Ararat hang on
    every wall. Thanks to the Armo-rap styling of Narek Markarian and
    Sergey Sargsyan, better known as the Armenian Comedy duo, we get an
    explanation of what life as a diasporan who visits Armenia must be
    like, complete with courteous hellos from taxi drivers who charge
    inflated rates ($50 in this case) to unsuspecting visitors and the
    perceptions that wealthy diasporans (read: all), own two to three
    houses each, have opportunities to sing with Serj Tankian, of System
    of a Down fame, and date perhaps the world's most famous Armenian at
    the moment, newly-single Kim Kardashian.

    The video has produced a mix reaction on CivilNet's own public
    Facebook page. "That's degrading and insulting to diasporans and
    local Armenians. Civilitas will do just about anything for a few
    'likes' these days," writes one Facebook user, while others are
    asking what the purpose of releasing such a video might be. Still,
    many are finding it funny enough to share.

    Meanwhile, it seems like many have already fulfilled their dreams of
    becoming spyurqahays - egged on by worsening socio-economic conditions
    and rising poverty levels, Armenia faces a massive emigration problem,
    that is depleting the country of its population, who are seeking
    better opportunities elsewhere.

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