One of the contemporary artists of our time Erna Yuzbashyan, who
currently lives in the U.S., has come to Yerevan to record a new album
and film some clips. The new album will be titled “Anthology of
Armenian contemporary song” and will be composed of the works by famous
Armenian composers such as Constantine Orbelyan, Robert Amirkhanyan,
Artur Grigoryan, Khachatur Avetisyan and Ruben Hakhverdyan.
Our interview with Erna Yuzbashyan took place in her half-destructed
apartment where it seemed like the memories were still alive. Director
Hrach Keshishyan was in the middle of filming a clip for the song
called “Melody”. “We will try to make a nice clip. Erna has no video
clip. She only has old songs. The clip has practically no plot and what
we want to create is an image of reminiscences and feelings,” said
Hrach Keshishyan.
“168 hours”: Many artists perform the song “Melody” written by Artur Grigoryan….
Erna Yuzbashyan: I was the first one who performed that song about 20
years ago. I don’t want people to compare me with others. Let others
sing too. No matter how they sing, my interpretation of “Melody” will
be different. Every one has their own style. I really had an emotional
experience while singing this song.
“168”:You really do sing your songs with feeling. You leave the
impression that the person singing is a wise and judgmental woman who
has answers to many questions in our lives.
Erna Yuzbashyan: No, that is not true….I am very emotional. I can even
say (she laughs-N.H.) that my emotions are ahead of me. That bothers me
a lot. Perhaps the best way is to move forward using your brain, but I
always do what my heart tells me to. Then I regret doing what I have
done, but there is no other way for me.
“168”:Do you sing in America?….
Erna Yuzbashyan: I earn my money by singing in restaurants. I consider
myself happy because I am doing something that I love. I can not do
anything else besides singing. I sing many types of songs-French,
Arabic, Persian. What’s surprising is that not only the Armenians, but
also the Russians remember me. They come to the restaurant and request
some of my old songs like “100 hours of Happiness”, “Song has a soul”,
“Smile”. My audience of the 1980s still remembers me.
“168”: Do you follow-up on the success of your colleagues like Suzan Margaryan and Nadezhda Sargsyan?
Erna Yuzbashyan: We have contact with each other. We have always had
respect for one another. We have never competed against each other.
When Orbelyan asked me to sing in his band, I told him that I would not
go without Nadya. Is there any competition there? I think that
competition does not make one happy.
“168”: How would you describe a happy woman?
Erna Yuzbashyan: A woman must be loved. The important thing for a woman
is not to love, but rather to be loved. A woman who is loved is the
only kind of woman who can flourish and live each day to the fullest.
“168”: Is there a new love which awaits you after the unsuccessful relationships?
Erna Yuzbashyan: I don’t think so. A woman, in general, man must be
self-confident, he needs to believe in himself a little more than
usual. The people surrounding that individual will feel that and will
start to look at him differently. One must first love himself for
others to love him. I am certain of that. I think that my misfortunes
and my failures in relationships are a result of me not loving myself
enough.