I first came across Sirusho (Siranush Harutyunyan, Սիրանուշ Հարությունյան) when I found the music video for PreGomesh. It was my first exposure to Armenian music and I was very interested in this new person I’d discovered. But, like with so many other things, I never truly got around to looking into her other tracks. I’ve finally decided to change that though and here is her first album, the self-titled ‘Sirusho’, that was released in 2000 (I couldn’t find an exact date) when she was only 13.
Listening through it, you definitely get that “this is a child singing” feel, but it’s also very clear that “this kid’s got some serious talent” as well. Like, if I didn’t know about her long career already, I would not be surprised by it in the slightest. In a general way, she reminds me of Selena in the sense that they were both talented young singers who went on to become the voice of their culture/nation/etc. Unlike Selena though, Sirusho’s parents were already famous and well established in their own right and her mother, Syuzan Margaryan, was one of the most popular singers in the country in her own time.
Speaking of her mother, I really enjoyed the tracks she featured on here (only one is listed officially, but you can hear her on others as well) because I like to listen and compare familial voices when you have more than one singer in the family. I don’t know why, I just find it interesting. Also, now I want to check out her mom’s music too because her voice is equally as lovely!
As for the tracks, they’re definitely good, even exceptional for her age and for being her first album (she won her first award at age nine… nine!). Now, personally, I can’t say I would put any of them on a general, everyday playlist, but I can totally see putting them on a more specific genre or style playlist - for example, Մայրիկ (Mayrik) would be perfect for a slow R-n-B, jazzy type song list. And, of course, with the quality of this first album, I’m really looking forward to the rest!
Note: There aren’t a lot of photos from when she was younger, so enjoy some shots from around Armenia instead. They are (in order of appearance): Zvartnots Cathedral, Sevan Lake, Khor Virap, Tatev Monastery, Gyumri, Yerevan at night, Sardarapat Memorial, Debed Canyon, Mount Aragats, Yerevan during the day
Track Listing:
1. Մայրիկ (Mayrik) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg_YnxeBMq0
2. Լուսաբաց (Lusabac) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJQO9SiioI4
3. Կղզի (Kghzi) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUstDpEIlRY
4. Հայաստան (Hayastan) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9se2zxuqOrQ
5. Գաղտնիք իմ (Gaghtniq Im) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5bxdXgeSMs
6. Երևան (Yerevan) ft. Syuzan Margaryan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqrAhGVZZE0
7. Մեր փողոցում (Mer poghocum) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imOymJOC1kQ
8. Թող հնչի երգը (Togh Hnchi Ergy) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFTOqwknfsk
9. Կախարդական Երկիր (Kaxardakan Erkir) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTKqKcFMINQ
10. Ով եմ ես (Ov em es) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpGhoURFROA
To learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirusho
