Three years without Aznavour: The renowned chansonnier would have turned 97 today
Today, May 22, marks the birthday anniversary of legendary French-Armenian singer and songwriter Charles Aznavour. One of most popular and enduring Armenian singers, Aznavour sold between 180 and 200 million records during his lifetime, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He was dubbed France's Frank Sinatra, while music critic Stephen Holden described Aznavour as a "French pop deity".
In 1998, Aznavour was named Entertainer of the Century by CNN and users of Time Online from around the globe. He was recognized as the century's outstanding performer, with nearly 18% of the total vote, edging out Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. Jean Cocteau once said: "Before Aznavour despair was unpopular".
Charles Aznavour was born in 1924 to a family of Armenian immigrants in Paris. A world-renowned singer and musician, he has also earned praise for his humanitarian work. In 1989, he gathered more than 80 showbiz friends, including Minnelli and Dionne Warwick, to record “For You, Armenia” song, which raised funds for victims of the 7 December 1988 Armenian earthquake.
He continued to raise funds for Armenia and founded the Aznavour Foundation to help “Armenians all over the world, so they in turn help Armenia to become a self-sufficient country,” he said. He served as Armenia’s ambassador to Switzerland, and its representative at UNESCO in Paris.
In a career spanning over 70 years, the legend recorded more than 1,200 songs, released 294 albums, performed over 1,000 concerts in 94 countries worldwide and starred in over 60 movies. He sold 180 million records during his lifetime.
“I’m not afraid of death, I am just happy that I live, see, hear, feel and enjoy the surrounding world,” said Aznavour in his biography.
.jpg)
The singer died on 1 October 2018 at the age of 94. The national homage ceremony to bid farewell to the renowned singer was attended by France's President Emmanuel Macron and Armenia’s leaders.“Some heroes become French by spilling their blood. This son of Greek and Armenian immigrants, who never went to secondary school, knew instinctively that our most sacred sanctuary was the French language,” and used it like a poet, Macron said at the ceremony. “In France, poets never die,” he added, standing before the coffin.
.jpg)
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:
Newsfeed
17:07
Winter military draft starts in Armenia on November 25
The winter conscription for compulsory military service starts in Armenia on November 25 to run through January 31, 2025.
The...
Source Panorama.am
16:45
Russian spokeswoman told not to comment on ballistic missile strike live on air
Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova received a phone call during a live press briefing on Thursday telling her not to...
Source Panorama.am
16:33
Belgian politicians call for immediate release of all Armenian prisoners held in Baku
In the backdrop of the COP29 currently taking place in Baku 20 members of the Belgian Federal Parliament, the Flemish Parliament, the Walloon...
Source Panorama.am
16:06
Armenia thwarts large-scale drug smuggling attempt
Officers of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC) have foiled an attempt to smuggle some 1,600 grams of cocaine into the country as part...
Source Panorama.am
15:33
Armenian government reduces financial aid for Artsakh refugees
The Armenian government on Thursday approved a decision to reduce financial aid for the displaced Artsakh Armenians.
Starting from...
Source Panorama.am
14:45
Percival Everett wins National Book Award
Percival Everett has won the $10,000 National Book Award for fiction, one of the US’s most prestigious literary prizes, for James, his...
Source Panorama.am
14:35
Pyunik v West Armenia match canceled
An Armenian Premier League match between FC Pyunik and West Armenia has been canceled.
The 17th round match was scheduled for November 21....
Source Panorama.am
14:06
Armenian Foreign Ministry denies cooperation with Azerbaijan on water management
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry has denied claims of cooperation with Azerbaijan on transboundary water resources management.
In a social...
Source Panorama.am
13:36
No rain in sight for rest of the week
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions from Thursday to Sunday.
Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country...
Source Panorama.am
13:06
Pashinyan thanks dismissed officials for cooperation
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed gratitude to the dismissed top government officials for joint work and wished good luck to...
Source Panorama.am
12:36
Armenian church marks Presentation of Virgin Mary
The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Thursday, November 21.
According to tradition,...
Source Panorama.am
12:15
Luxembourg's parliament demands immediate release of all unlawfully imprisoned persons in Azerbaijan
Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies has adopted a resolution condemning the Azerbaijani government’s sanctions against the freedom of...
Source Panorama.am
12:00
Davit Khudatyan appointed minister of territorial administration
Armavir Governor Davit Khudatyan has been appointed Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure.
Armenian President Vahagn...
Source Panorama.am
11:45
Australia launches bill to ban social media for children under 16
Australia's centre-left government on Thursday introduced a bill in parliament that aims to ban social media for children under 16 and...
Source Panorama.am
11:30
Armenia's Andranik Avetisyan wins gold at World Military Wrestling Championships
The 37th World Military Wrestling Championships kicked off in Yerevan, Armenia, on Wednesday, bringing together 400 participants...
Source Panorama.am
11:10
Leopard missing for two years spotted in Armenia's Tavush
A leopard, that lost its front paw and disappered from Armenia's Vayots Dzor Province in December 2022, has been spotted in...
Source Panorama.am
17:09
Armenian political analyst warns of risk of nuclear war
Political scientist Stepan Danielyan has warned of an imminent threat of nuclear war after the Russian nuclear doctrine change.
President...
Source Panorama.am
16:45
Rain, snow expected in parts of Armenia
Rain and snow are forecast for some parts of Armenia on Wednesday, overnight Thursday, late on Sunday and next Monday.
Clear weather is...
Source Panorama.am
16:22
GM Robert Hovhannisyan qualifies for FIDE World Cup
The European Individual Chess Championship 2024 has concluded.
GM Aleksandar Indjic from Serbia became the champion, scoring 9 points...
Source Panorama.am
15:46
Cher reveals she lost her virginity at 14 to get revenge on boyfriend
Cher has revealed she lost her virginity at age 14 as an act of revenge against her teenage boyfriend, The Independent reports.
In part...
Source Panorama.am
15:32
Political analyst: Azerbaijan transported weapons to Nakhichevan 5 times in 4 days
Political analyst Sergei Melkonian, a research fellow at the Applied Policy Research Institute (APRI Armenia), says Azerbaijani planes carrying...
Source Panorama.am
15:04
Azerbaijan attempts to distort Energy Charter goals in lawsuit against Armenia
Azerbaijan is attempting to distort the content and goals of the Energy Charter Treaty by trying to link it to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,...
Source Panorama.am
14:32
Armenian MP calls for tough response to destruction of Artsakh heritage
Opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan calls for a tough international response to Azerbaijan’s destruction and desecration of Armenian...
Source Panorama.am
13:52
Arpine Sargsyan appointed Armenian interior minister
Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan on Wednesday signed a decree to appoint Arpine Sargsyan as Armenia’s new interior minister....
Source Panorama.am
13:30
November 20 is World COPD Day
World Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) Day is marked annually on November 20.
World COPD Day is organized by the Global...
Source Panorama.am
13:06
Yerevan to spend some 549.7 million drams on New Year celebrations
The Yerevan Municipality will spend 549.7 million drams on the upcoming New Year celebrations in the Armenian capital, Deputy Yerevan Mayor...
Source Panorama.am
12:34
Pashinyan names pick for new minister of territorial administration
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has named Davit Khudatyan as his pick for Armenia's new minister of territorial administration and...
Source Panorama.am
12:15
Amnesty International urges Georgia to respect right to peaceful assembly
Reacting to the news that police in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, have violently dismantled a protesters’ tent camp, Denis Krivosheev,...
Source Panorama.am
12:05
'Dictators release political prisoners only when they face consequences,' lawyer says
Azerbaijan, a country often criticized for its authoritarian governance and human rights abuses, is hosting the 29th United Nations Climate...
Source Panorama.am
11:30
Armenia blocks Artsakh movie from nomination for Oscars
By Harut Sassounian
TheCaliforniaCourier.com
In my last week’s article I criticized the government of Jordan for buckling under...
Source Panorama.am
Videos
17:32 20/02/2023
Artur Vanetsyan: I think you'll see me more often at various events in future
17:35 20/02/2023
Armenian expert: U.S. stance on Karabakh remains unchanged
13:59 09/02/2023
Premature births increase in Artsakh due to stress
12:43 09/01/2023
Snow-covered Yerevan
15:41 15/12/2022
Gegham Stepanyan calls for sanctions against criminal Azerbaijan
11:45 29/11/2022
Memorial plaque honoring Yeghishe Charents inaugurated in Yerevan
