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STORY OF CHARLES AZNAVOUR'S "FOR YOU ARMENIA"
by Jean Eckian
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-12-13-story-of-charles-aznavour-s--fo
r-you-armenia--
Published: Tuesday December 13, 2011
That day, on Wednesday, December 7, 1988, it was 11:41 am in Armenia
41 (8:41 am in France - December 6: 23:41 pm in Los Angeles), when a
terrible roar burst from the bowels of the earth to the surface of the
cities of Leninakan, Spitak and Kirovakan, heralding the deadliest
earthquake ever known in Armenia. Nearly 25,000 fatalities, 20,000
injured, thousands of orphans, entire cities to rebuild ...
In Los Angeles, composer George Garvarentz was still in the studio,
listening to the recording of a movie soundtrack. He knew nothing
of the disaster that hit Armenia. Aida, his wife, just heard the
terrible news in a TV flash. Upset, she decided not to immediately
tell Georges so as not to disturb him in his work. Only the next day
on the flight Paris-Los Angeles, he would learn the news. From that
moment on, Georges Garvarentz, famous composer of many successful
iconic French songs, already thinking about writing music. But first
he had to see Charles to prepare the lyrics, then set them to music.
While Georges records in Los Angeles, Levon Sayan, agent and friend
of the author of "They fell," was in a plane en route to Paris from
New York and heard the news from Armenia on his arrival in Paris.
As soon as he arrived in his apartment, Sayan rushed to the phone. At
the other end, Charles Aznavour. Ideas come. Should we organize a
concert? Create an association?
The association is eventually created and named "Aznavour for
Armenia". Levon uses Armenian friends, among them, Daniel and Nora
Artinian, Barsikian Alain Dominique Adjian, and his wife Anne-Marie
Sayan, to help set up the foundation. Raffi Bakian helps run it.
Race against time
Upon return to France Garvarentz finds Aznavour. They work all night
writing what would become the song "For you Armenia".
The media widely covered the event. Charles Aznavour is solicited
from all sides. He announced the creation of the association, the
next day awash in parcels, checks and offers of help.
At the same time, the idea to appeal to French artists has made its
way. "For you Armenia" is one response of France to call for help
made by the Armenian friend.
A team of artists was formed around Levon: Gerard Melet, brothers
Raffi and Patrick Shart and this author.
Miracle happens
For nine hours, Aznavour and Garvarentz spared no effort working on the
sing while Henri Verneuil brought together a number of leading French
artists. And then the miracle happened. This gathering of artists
offered the best of themselves when the last three notes of the song
rose up inside the recording studio, as a moment of grace, the word
"Hayastan". For sure, that day, Ararat shed a snow slide as a tear.
It only took a month and a half, between the creation of the song
and recording the disc, so that finally the song and the clip could
enter every home. In a huge show of solidarity of the French public,
nearly two million copies of "For you Armenia" were sold and allowed
the Association Aznavour for Armenia to act in the best assistance
to the victims, including forty-seven schools, three orphanages and
a home built.
Patrick Chianti, Captain of Lyon Fire Firefighters who worked in Spitak
"After the earthquake I heard from a server of a large hotel-restaurant
of Yerevan, and then one day, nothing. I often think the people
who live in difficult conditions in this climate can be so rude,
especially to children. I still have in mind the memory of a child who
came to offer me a ticket at the airport. I refused, but he insisted
so much that I took it. In exchange all firefighters present gave
him candy, caramels, chocolate and jam rations that we had, and this
child left with a bag that he could hardly bear. Do not think that
firefighters are insensitive to the plight of people they provide
relief. I always keep the ticket from this child in my wallet, and
I often think of that kid who had nothing and wanted to give me the
little that remained to him, just to say thank you! "
Lena Bagdassarian, 25
"I love the French language. It is a beautiful language. I will
briefly tell you about December 7, 1988, the day of the catastrophic
earthquake that struck Armenia and especially my home town of Gyumri.
I was two and I was at my maternal grandmother's. My father and
mother were at work. I only remember my city covered with dust, ruins
and victims. A city which was the cultural center, with theaters,
hotels, schools. All this I learned in the literature, my parents,
grandparents and my teachers. I will stay in Gyumri for the rest of my
life. The French were the first rescuers. Then we saw Madame Danielle
Mitterand, wife of the president, Charles Aznavour, Mother Teresa
and Louis-Simon Manoukian. One day I will write poems about my city,
before and after the earthquake. You never forget the bad days.
by Jean Eckian
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-12-13-story-of-charles-aznavour-s--fo
r-you-armenia--
Published: Tuesday December 13, 2011
That day, on Wednesday, December 7, 1988, it was 11:41 am in Armenia
41 (8:41 am in France - December 6: 23:41 pm in Los Angeles), when a
terrible roar burst from the bowels of the earth to the surface of the
cities of Leninakan, Spitak and Kirovakan, heralding the deadliest
earthquake ever known in Armenia. Nearly 25,000 fatalities, 20,000
injured, thousands of orphans, entire cities to rebuild ...
In Los Angeles, composer George Garvarentz was still in the studio,
listening to the recording of a movie soundtrack. He knew nothing
of the disaster that hit Armenia. Aida, his wife, just heard the
terrible news in a TV flash. Upset, she decided not to immediately
tell Georges so as not to disturb him in his work. Only the next day
on the flight Paris-Los Angeles, he would learn the news. From that
moment on, Georges Garvarentz, famous composer of many successful
iconic French songs, already thinking about writing music. But first
he had to see Charles to prepare the lyrics, then set them to music.
While Georges records in Los Angeles, Levon Sayan, agent and friend
of the author of "They fell," was in a plane en route to Paris from
New York and heard the news from Armenia on his arrival in Paris.
As soon as he arrived in his apartment, Sayan rushed to the phone. At
the other end, Charles Aznavour. Ideas come. Should we organize a
concert? Create an association?
The association is eventually created and named "Aznavour for
Armenia". Levon uses Armenian friends, among them, Daniel and Nora
Artinian, Barsikian Alain Dominique Adjian, and his wife Anne-Marie
Sayan, to help set up the foundation. Raffi Bakian helps run it.
Race against time
Upon return to France Garvarentz finds Aznavour. They work all night
writing what would become the song "For you Armenia".
The media widely covered the event. Charles Aznavour is solicited
from all sides. He announced the creation of the association, the
next day awash in parcels, checks and offers of help.
At the same time, the idea to appeal to French artists has made its
way. "For you Armenia" is one response of France to call for help
made by the Armenian friend.
A team of artists was formed around Levon: Gerard Melet, brothers
Raffi and Patrick Shart and this author.
Miracle happens
For nine hours, Aznavour and Garvarentz spared no effort working on the
sing while Henri Verneuil brought together a number of leading French
artists. And then the miracle happened. This gathering of artists
offered the best of themselves when the last three notes of the song
rose up inside the recording studio, as a moment of grace, the word
"Hayastan". For sure, that day, Ararat shed a snow slide as a tear.
It only took a month and a half, between the creation of the song
and recording the disc, so that finally the song and the clip could
enter every home. In a huge show of solidarity of the French public,
nearly two million copies of "For you Armenia" were sold and allowed
the Association Aznavour for Armenia to act in the best assistance
to the victims, including forty-seven schools, three orphanages and
a home built.
Patrick Chianti, Captain of Lyon Fire Firefighters who worked in Spitak
"After the earthquake I heard from a server of a large hotel-restaurant
of Yerevan, and then one day, nothing. I often think the people
who live in difficult conditions in this climate can be so rude,
especially to children. I still have in mind the memory of a child who
came to offer me a ticket at the airport. I refused, but he insisted
so much that I took it. In exchange all firefighters present gave
him candy, caramels, chocolate and jam rations that we had, and this
child left with a bag that he could hardly bear. Do not think that
firefighters are insensitive to the plight of people they provide
relief. I always keep the ticket from this child in my wallet, and
I often think of that kid who had nothing and wanted to give me the
little that remained to him, just to say thank you! "
Lena Bagdassarian, 25
"I love the French language. It is a beautiful language. I will
briefly tell you about December 7, 1988, the day of the catastrophic
earthquake that struck Armenia and especially my home town of Gyumri.
I was two and I was at my maternal grandmother's. My father and
mother were at work. I only remember my city covered with dust, ruins
and victims. A city which was the cultural center, with theaters,
hotels, schools. All this I learned in the literature, my parents,
grandparents and my teachers. I will stay in Gyumri for the rest of my
life. The French were the first rescuers. Then we saw Madame Danielle
Mitterand, wife of the president, Charles Aznavour, Mother Teresa
and Louis-Simon Manoukian. One day I will write poems about my city,
before and after the earthquake. You never forget the bad days.