Story of Charles Aznavour's "For you Armenia"

by Jean Eckian

Published: Tuesday December 13, 2011

Aznavour and Garvarentz. Jean Eckian

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. "

For the song and video from the time link to  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbrdCijip4Q.