Despite being small in comparison with recent venues, the Dilijan Amphitheatre has been chosen as the setting for the 27th Eurovision Memories Song Contest. However, it won't be the smallest venue ever, as that title was taken by Ross's House, the venue in Bath for EM09.

Despite there is a city stadium, the Dilijan Amphitheatre is usually the venue for the festivals and concerts of the city: decorated with Roman statues, overlooking the Aghstev River Valley, and artistically minimalistic in most senses. AraratTV will set up a modern stage in the proscenium of the venue; and fans and delegations will sit in the marble chairs in front of it. A screen will be set up in Dilijan's Town Square so that more people can watch the event live.

The bid from Dilijan defeated that of several other cities:
 - Jermuk (The city was too small to host the event and access was difficult)
 - Gyumri (The city was deemed 'not enough attractive' to host the event)
 - Yerevan (The bid was basically a repetition of EM02, something AraratTV wanted to avoid)
 - Sevan (This summer city was not going to shine on winter)
 - Stepanakert (For being located de jure in Azerbaijan, it would have triggered controversy)

And thus, the second Armenian city to host the show will be the Armenian Switzerland!

Բարի Գալուստ Դիլիջանում (Bari Galust Dilijanum)! Welcome to Dilijan! 
Dilijan, the development center of Northern Armenia, has been chosen as the host city for the 27th edition of the Eurovision Memories Song Contest. AraratTV reviewed applications from Yerevan, Gyumri, Jermuk, Sevan, Stepanakert and Dilijan; but ultimately decided on the latter one to stage the show, even in spite of many rumours that the contest would come back to Yerevan (the Armenian capital city, that hosted EM02).

Dilijan (pronounced Dee-lee-john/djahn) is a beautiful town of a bit less than 15 600 inhabitants located in the province of Tavush, 68 kilometers northeast of Yerevan, and 108 kilometers south of Tbilisi (Georgian capital). With an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level, it boasts a perfect microclimate that earned it the nickname of "the Armenian Switzerland". The summers are cool, the fall is beautiful thanks to the forested surroundings, and the winter is perfect for skiing in the alpine mountains that encircle the town. It is renowned for several other reasons as well:

 - It is one of the most important resorts of Armenia.
 - It is surrounded by a forest reserve, classified as a National Park.
 - It is the home of numerous Armenian artists, composers and filmmakers.
 - It features some traditional Armenian architecture.
 - From 2013, it will be the country's financial capital (the headquarters of the Central Bank are already located there).
 - Its microclimate makes it a zone with a favorable oxygen regimen, unique landscape features and curative mineral water.

Its stone and wood buildings blend almost perfectly with the beautiful reserve that surrounds the town; the zone itself has served as inspiration for many artists and retreat for lots of people from surrounding countries. It lies in a mountainous valley of the Aghstev River, totally encircled by forested mountains that have alpine meadows on their tops. 


With its size, Dilijan will become the smallest city ever to host the Eurovision Memories Song Contest.

How to get there?
International guests, artists and staff may arrive to one of the nearest airports: either the Zvartnots International Airport (Yerevan, Armenia) or the Tbilisi Airport (Tbilisi, Georgia). These airports have connections with most of the important European airports, but the busiest routes (hence, the more affordable) are from Paris and Moscow to Yerevan (via Armavia). 

If you arrive to Tbilisi, you must take the E-117 Route towards Marneuli/Sarvan (K. 44), before taking the E-001 Route until you get to Bagratashen Bridge (K.76) which marks the border between Georgia and Armenia. Then, its name will transform to M-6. You'll go by several Armenian important cities, like Alaverdi (K.116) and Vanadzor (K.161), where you'll have to take the M-8 route. Finally, after 197 kilometers, you'll get to Dilijan.

If you arrive to Yerevan, the M-4 route will take you through 100 kilometers of great sceneries, including the cities of Hrazdan and Sevan, and the famous Lake Sevan. Buses, taxis and minivans cover this route, specially those going towards the Northeastern city of Ijevan. On the road, prior to you arrival to Dilijan, you will be surrounded by a thick forest and some roadside shops that sell apples, sour plums and pears... Or you can take them from the forest yourself!

As soon as you arrive to Dilijan, you'll be breathing an oxygen-rich air that smells like pine and oak trees; and you'll be tasting crisp water that comes from natural mountain springs. Forest wildlife includes bear, wolf, rabbit, hedgehog, weasel and tons of birds. You might spot one on your way to the town!

What to do?
Dilijan is the perfect place for spa tourism and ecotourism, so don't expect a busy nightlife and lots of urban traits. Just don't. Dilijan's city centre is the Old Town, marked by Sharambeyan Street: here you can find every bulding with the traditional Armenian architecture and style; and they are home to several hotels, craftsmen workshops, inns, cafés, a gallery and even a museum (complete with 3000-year-old archaeological bronze items)! If you're more of an adventurous kind of person; you can hike or bike in the Dilijan National Park... You'll be rewarded with breathtaking views, rich biodiversity and medicinal mineral water springs.

There's not a lack of restaurants, so you can enjoy the best Armenian and Georgian delicacies. But remember too that you would never starve.... Whenever someone enters an Armenian household, they must be welcomed with a meal and a drink (most likely vodka, this time of the year).  A sweet kind of lavash is common in this area.

Inside the city, besides visiting the Old Swiss-like City that is the reason of Dilijan's nickname; you can visit the villas and memorials nearby. Or you could just enjoy the tranquility of the Getap Café.

Near Dilijan you can find the monasteries of Haghartsin, Goshavank, Jukhtak Vank and Matosavank; must-see places for their architectural and artistic value, besides their beautiful views and their collection of khachkars. There's also the option to visit some Molokan villages, in the highway towards Vanadzor.

What to take as souvenir?
The best souvenirs from Dilijan are the local-made crafts that you can get in the shops of Sharambeyan Street (above left image). In fact, you'll most likely find them crafting their next work when you visit them. The Revik wood working studio is a must-see; and there are several painting workshops that could be fun. There's also an special type of carpet that could look amazingly good in your home. On the other hand, the new Central Bank Center (above right image) is currently opening its doors to modern businesses that could have what you want.

However, the best souvenirs are the memories you'll take with you. It's all your choice!

Where to stay?
The participating delegations will stay in the luxurious Best Western Paradise Hotel (above left image), with all the necessary facilities to make their stay memorable. The fans and other involved people can stay in one of the many inns, hotels or villas inside and around the town (above right image). Or, as many tourists do, you could stay in Yerevan and make one-day escapades. The offer is enough to host all the EM-related visitors.

Unlike many of its counterparts, Armenia hardly got to achieve a high position in the scoreboard after their first win (and also, first win of the contest overall) on EM01.  In fact, just twice they came on the top 3; and just 10 (out of  24) times they managed to go into the final. And coincidentially enough, the two entrants that came on the top 3, are the same ones that we call today, the Armenian winners: Inga & Anush and Sirusho.

The four songs that have made them shine involve folk elements (three times Armenian folk, and Greek folk once); mixed with some influences from the European music scene: "Menq Enq Mer Sarerë", "Erotas", "Im Anunë Hayastan E", and the main character now... "PreGomesh". In an exciting night, Sirusho managed to get Armenia its second win after a wait of 25 editions.... On EM26, held in Gothenburg, Sweden.


ABOUT THE VOTING
With 169 points, "PreGomesh" became the third winning entry with most points in EM history, just behind EM11's "Kom" (representing Sweden, 202 points) and EM12's "A Night Like This" (representing the Netherlands, 173 points).  It also had the second largest winning margin (that is, difference of points between the winner and the runner-up): 32 points, also shared by EM23's "Las Puertas del Pasado"; and surpassed by the 36 points margin of EM20's "Agony".

PreGomesh received an average of 5,452 points; which accounts for 45,43% of the possible maximum points (which would have been 384 with 31 participating countries besides Armenia).  Interestingly enough, the other Armenian winning entry, "Menq Enq Mer Sarerë", has the highest average and maximum-points-percentage: 7,455 points and 62,12%, respectively.

"PreGomesh" was not a surprise win, as many had it as favourite, and specialists had labeled it as a very possible winner, next to Germany (who came 2nd), Ireland (3rd) and the United Kingdom (5th). In the grand final, it leaded (except for a few moments) the scoreboard from the start, and earned 7 sets of 12 points (coming from Andorra, Finland, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland), more than any other country.

With this win, "PreGomesh" also became the 8th winning song to not have a single word of English; and marked the 13th a country wins with a song on its national language. In fact, only Armenia, Ireland, Italy, Spain, San Marino, the United Kingdom have had all their wins with songs in their national languages. Lastly, it is quite remarkable that the Armenian language is part of the select group of only 6 winning languages (the others are English, Italian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish).


ABOUT THE ARTIST
Siranush Harutyunyan (Սիրանուշ Հարությունյան), better known by her stage name, Sirusho (Սիրուշո), is one of the most important artists of the Armenian music scene. Having started her career in Canada at the age of 7 and released four albums so far, she is very popular among the Armenian diaspora and the Eurofans community. She has also toured many countries, including Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Poland, Russia, Spain, Syria, Turkey and the United States.

She has participated once in the Eurovision Song Contest (Belgrade 2008), giving Armenia its best result so far (4th, 199 points) with the upbeat folk song "Qélé Qélé". In the Eurovision Memories Song Contest, she has already represented Armenia three times: on EM02 with the Greek language laïko song "Erotas" (3rd, 72 points); on EM11, featuring her mother Syuzan Margaryan, with the ballad "Oror" (13th, 88 points); and this last time with "PreGomesh" (1st, 169 points).

She was born on January 7, 1987 (age 26) in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia; in a family of Armenian Honored Artists (title invested by the Armenian government to recognize outstanding characters of the Armenian artistic scene): Hrachya Harutyunyan (actor and director) and Syuzan Margaryan (singer).

She has written most of her songs since she was 7 years old, whilst the composition is usually done by renowned Armenian composers. Her first album, Sirusho, placed her name in the commercial world with only 13 years old (2000). Her second album, Sheram, (2005) received numerous awards and earned her the title of Best Female Artist of the Year. In 2006 she made the charts again with the hit "Mez Vochinch Chi Bajani" (which participated in the Armenian National Final for EM11), a song dedicated to Varduhi Vardanyan, the most famous Armenian female artist of the XXth century.

The album Hima (2007) best describes what Sirusho represents in the Armenian Music: a breakthrough. This album incorporates soul and R&B elements, with the traditional Armenian instruments, like the duduk (brass instrument), zurna (high-pitch brass instrument) and dhol (drum). In 2008 she was for the fourth time named Best Female Artist of the Year, and was selected for Eurovision, where her song "Qélé Qélé" became a hit and earned the most sets of 12 points (8). And in 2009, she released "Erotas", as a hommage to her Greek fans; got married with Levon Kocharyan; and partnered up with Jelena Tomašević and Boaz Mauda to perform "Time To Pray".

In 2010 her album Havatum Em was released; and since then, she has released other two singles, "I Like It" and "PreGomesh" that will be included in her upcoming 2013 studio album. She has also participated in festivals, live concerts and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

ABOUT THE SONG
"PreGomesh" (ՊռեԳոմեշ) is a song composed by Sirusho and written by Avet Barseghyan (who you might remember as the male host of the 2011 Junior Eurovision Song Contest), that took Komitas Vardapet's "Lorva Gutanerg" as inspiration (Komitas is recognized as the father of Armenian Modern Classical Music). The title has a symbolic meaning, as it comes from the word "Գոմեշ" (Gomesh) and the onomatopoeic "Պռե" (Pre). The former means 'Buffalo', and the latter is the sound made in order to make cattle move. The buffalo represents the capacity of overcoming any obstacle in our lives, and here, it specially symbolizes the Armenian spirit and history.


The intro is actually a piece of "Lorva Gutanerg", but then it fades into some special sound effects that open the way for a duduk and Sirusho's voice. Then, it changes into a dance/club background beat that incorporates a faster tempo in the bridge and changes to a much stronger rhythm in the chorus, which in turn ends with a small upbeat dhol (Armenian drum) section. The video, shot in location near Yerevan, includes several outfits and choreographies that are somehow related to the Armenian tradition.

To end this article, here are the lyrics and the video of the song. Enjoy!

LYRICS IN ARMENIAN (WITH TRANSCRIPTION)
Ել ու թող իմանա աշխարհը, (Yel u togh imana aškharhë,)
Որ արդար է քո ճանապարհը, (Vor ardar e k'o čanaparhë,)
Ել ու թող, որ ազնիվ կռիվդ, (Yel u togh, vor azniv trrivd,)
Երկնքում հաստատի պատիվդ: (Yerknk'um hastati pativd.)

Պռե՛գոմեշ (Prre! Gomesh)
Ա՛ռ հա՛ գոմեշ (Arr ha! Gomesh)
Պռե՛րե՛ գոմեշ (Prre-re! Gomesh)
Ա՛ռ հա՛ գոմեշ (Arr ha! Gomesh)
Տա՛ր հա՛ գոմեշ (Tar ha! Gomesh)
Պռե՛րե՛ գոմեշ (Prre-re! Gomesh)

Նա անհնազանդ է ու քար, (Na anhnazand e u k'ar,)
Աչքերում ապրում է լուռ պայքար, (Ač'k'erum aprum e lurr payk'ar,)
Կյանքը հողի հետ մենամարտ, (Kyank'ë hoghi het menamart,)
Հաղթահարում է իր հոգով անպարտ: (Haght'aharum e hi hogov anpart.)

Մեկն է բնության օրենքը (Mekn e bnut'yan orenk'ë)
Կամքն ուժեղ գտնում է ելքը (Kamk'n užegh gtnum e yelk'ë)
Ու շարունակում տալ սերունդներ, (U šarunakum tal serundner,)
Մեկն է բնության պահանջը, (Mekn e bnut'yan pahanǰë,)
Որ մտքից հանի նահանջը (Vor mtk'ic' hani nahanǰë)
Չի կարող երբեք նա հանձնվել... (Č'i karogh yerbeq na handznvel...)

Ել ու թող իմանա աշխարհը, (Yel u togh imana aškharhë,)
Որ արդար է քո ճանապարհը, (Vor ardar e k'o čanaparhë,)
Ել ու թող, որ ազնիվ կռիվդ, (Yel u togh, vor azniv trrivd,)
Երկնքում հաստատի պատիվդ: (Yerknk'um hastati pativd.)

Ել ու թող իմանա աշխարհը, (Yel u togh imana aškharhë,)
Որ արդար է քո ճանապարհը, (Vor ardar e k'o čanaparhë,)
Ել ու թող, որ ազնիվ կռիվդ, (Yel u togh, vor azniv trrivd,)
Երկնքում հաստատի պատիվդ: (Yerknk'um hastati pativd.)

Պռե՛գոմեշ (Prre! Gomesh)
Ա՛ռ հա՛ գոմեշ (Arr ha! Gomesh)
Պռե՛րե՛ գոմեշ (Prre-re! Gomesh)
Ա՛ռ հա՛ գոմեշ (Arr ha! Gomesh)
Տա՛ր հա՛ գոմեշ (Tar ha! Gomesh)
Պռե՛րե՛ գոմեշ (Prre-re! Gomesh)

Ցավն են անցկացնում դանդաղ (C'avn en anc'kac'num dandagh)
Սարերից հոսող ջրերը պաղ, (Sareric' hosogh ǰrerë pagh,)
Տաք արյունը գույնն է բախտի (Taq aryunë guynn e bakhti)
Բռնած ուղիդ ոչինչ էլ չի խախտի... (Brrnats ughid voč'inč' yel č'i khakhti...)

Ել ու թող իմանա աշխարհը, (Yel u togh imana aškharhë,)
Որ արդար է քո ճանապարհը, (Vor ardar e k'o čanaparhë,)
Ել ու թող, որ ազնիվ կռիվդ, (Yel u togh, vor azniv trrivd,)
Երկնքում հաստատի պատիվդ: (Yerknk'um hastati pativd.)

Dhol solo and vocal improvisation

Պռե՛գոմեշ (Prre! Gomesh)
Ա՛ռ հա՛ գոմեշ (Arr ha! Gomesh)
Պռե՛րե՛ գոմեշ (Prre-re! Gomesh)
Ա՛ռ հա՛ գոմեշ (Arr ha! Gomesh)
Պռե՛գոմեշ (Prre! Gomesh)
Ա՛ռ հա՛ գոմեշ (Arr ha! Gomesh)
Պռե՛րե՛ գոմեշ (Prre-re! Gomesh)
Ա՛ռ հա՛ գոմեշ (Arr ha! Gomesh)
Տա՛ր հա՛ գոմեշ (Tar ha! Gomesh)
Պռե՛րե՛ գոմեշ (Prre-re! Gomesh)

Ել ու թող իմանա աշխարհը, (Yel u togh imana aškharhë,)
Որ արդար է քո ճանապարհը, (Vor ardar e k'o čanaparhë,)
Ել ու թող, որ ազնիվ կռիվդ, (Yel u togh, vor azniv trrivd,)
Երկնքում հաստատի պատիվդ: (Yerknk'um hastati pativd.)

Երկնքում հաստատի պատիվդ: (Yerknk'um hastati pativd.)

Երկնքում հաստատի պատի... (Yerknk'um hastati pati...)
Երկնքում հաստատի պատի... (Yerknk'um hastati pati...)
Երկնքում հաստատի պատիվդ՛ (Yerknk'um hastati pativd!)

ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE LYRICS
Arise, and let the whole world know
That your path is just fair
Arise, and let your fair fight
In heaven approve your honour

(Prre, Arr ha, Prre-re, and Tar ha, are all onomatopoeics for the sounds farmers make to make the cattle move)

Prre! Buffalo!
Arr ha! Buffalo!
Prre-re! Buffalo!
Arr ha! Buffalo!
Tar ha! Buffalo!
Prre-re! Buffalo!

He is disobedient and courageous
In the eyes of silent struggle
A lifetime duel with Earth
Overcomes his unbending soul

The law of nature is one for all
The strong soul finds a way
And continues to breed (reproduces)
The requirement of nature is one
So that one does not think about
Retreating and/or giving up

Arise, and let the whole world know
That your path is just fair
Arise, and let your fair fight
In heaven approve your honour

Arise, and let the whole world know
That your path is just fair
Arise, and let your fair fight
In heaven approve your honour

Prre! Buffalo!
Arr ha! Buffalo!
Prre-re! Buffalo!
Arr ha! Buffalo!
Tar ha! Buffalo!
Prre-re! Buffalo!

They slowly relieve pain,
The cold waters from a mountain stream
Hot blood is the colour of fate
Does not violate the path chosen for thee

Arise, and let the whole world know
That your path is just fair
Arise, and let your fair fight
In heaven approve your honour

Dhol solo and vocal improvisation

Prre! Buffalo!
Arr ha! Buffalo!
Prre-re! Buffalo!
Arr ha! Buffalo!
Prre! Buffalo!
Arr ha! Buffalo!
Prre-re! Buffalo!
Arr ha! Buffalo!
Tar ha! Buffalo!
Prre-re! Buffalo!

Arise, and let the whole world know
That your path is just fair
Arise, and let your fair fight
In heaven approve your honour

In heaven approve your honour

In heaven approve your ho-
In heaven approve your ho-
In heaven approve your honour

Today the first details about this amazing contest appeared. All the groups taking part have to create a name for their group and start the search for the song which will represent them in the first round of the contest. According to the rules, every member can propose up to three songs and using Eurovision voting they can decide upon the winner which will represent them in the 1st round.

In the 2nd round only 6 groups will advance. Official rules of the contest will be published next week.

A few weeks ago the submission period for a new contest started and 7 groups were formed. Sadly not everyone heard about our intentions and that's the reason we're giving another chance for TEAM no. 8 to be created. The first 3 people that will submit will form the new group. The rules regarding the contest will be published soon!