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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.
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.