The prince charming of Armenian pop - Armenian Reporter

Right: Hayko at aconcert in Yerevan.Far right: Haykoat age two.Hayko, uponhis return fromEurovision inFinland. Photo :TV Mol.to go to cafés, restaurants, andclubs. I like good food. I play tenniswith my brother. I am alwaysin action,” he says.A sought-after bachelor, Haykoappears alone in public. “I amvery much unattached romantically,but I strongly desire to findmy love, get married, and settledown. Perhaps it will happen inthe United States. That countrybrings me luck in love, since Ihad fallen in love there and hada girlfriend,” says Hayko. He isdefinitely a heartthrob. He laughsself-consciously when I mentionthis. However, besides hisgood looks, he always maintainsthe profile of being a well-manneredand respectable man. “I ama common Armenian man, whorespects everyone. I was educatedto be like this. I always try hardto do everything that is right andsuitable for an Armenian man,”says Hayko.European tours followEurovisionEurovision was clearly the mostambitious project of Hayko’scareer. He was already a well establishedname before the contest.But why would a singer withhis status need to participate inEurovision? Hayko admits thatit was a very big risk. “Even myproducers asked me not to go toEurovision, because I already wasa well known singer and did notneed that. The responsibility ishuge, because you are representingyour country and it wouldhave been too bad had I not sangwell, or achieved a lower rank.”(He came in eighth.) However,Hayko thought that an opportunitylike that is given only once ina lifetime and wanted to live theexperience.“I was sure of myself,” saysHayko. “I had faith in my friendsaccompanying me. My producerArthur Janibekyan together withArmenia’s Public Television dideverything to ensure that it allwent well. My show was stagedby the well-known Alain Sichov. Ithink that we all had a dazzlingperformance because pop singersGoga, Tigran Petrosyan, Arthurfrom the Opera and Ballet Theater,and Ara Torosyan, a master in musicalarrangements, who are all myvery dear friends were by my side,”says Hayko.“Songs are born withsinging, and then itoccurred to me whydon’t I start singingsome of my own songs?”At Eurovision Hayko’s performancewould determine the futureof his singing career. “I wasvery well prepared. As soon as wewere in Helsinki, it became clearthat we had a good chance to competefor first place, because everyonewas talking about our showand performance.” Eurovisionlaunched a series of new concertsin Europe for Hayko. It providedthe young Armenian singer withthe heartthrob looks access to abroader audience, a European one.“I am invited for concerts all overEurope,” says Hayko.Hayko’s European tour will culminateby solo concerts in theUnited States at the beginning of2008. fC10 Armenian Reporter Arts & Culture 11/10/2007