Tweet
Daniel Decker back again
Beyond Politics: American singer campaigns for Armenian Genocide recognition through songs
Becker has made it his mission to bring awareness about the Genocide to non-Armenians through his songs
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter Published: 09 October, 2009
While currently many people are sure that the Armenian authorities should not open the closed border unless Turkey recognizes the Armenian Genocide, for the past eight years an American artist, without raising any noise or getting involved in politics, has made the genocide a message in song.
In 2001 singer and composer Daniel Decker for the first time heard Armenian composer Ara Gevorgyan’s popular work called ‘Mush,’ and as he says, “I immediately fell in love with it.”
‘Mush’ made Decker find Gevorgyan, and their collaboration started, and it continues up to now. Decker confesses that at the moment he has more Armenian friends in Armenia and California (where he currently lives) than non-Armenian.
Recently Decker was again in Armenia where he collaborated with Gevorgyan on a new song called ‘Love Each Other’ (Siretsek Zmimyants), which is about peace in the world.
Decker remembers that a few years ago the music of ‘Mush’ impressed him so much, that he immediately wanted to write lyrics for it.
“I knew that it was the melody that I wanted to use and I proposed the idea of turning it into a song that tells a story, so I chose the story of Noah and Ararat,” Decker says.
Gevorgyan and Decker renamed ‘Mush’ ‘Noah’s Prayer,’ and they presented it for the first time in 2002, during the Independence Day of Armenia’s first republic (May 28), at an open-air concert held in Sardarapat memorial.
“It was really an amazing experience to sing it in Sardarapat, for the president and the Catholicos,” Decker says.
He says that he started studying the Armenian History during writing lyrics for this song.
“I started reading about the Genocide and it really gripped me because as an American I never heard of it before and I started talking about it to my family, friends and other Americans. Most of them had never heard of it before,” Decker recalls.
The musician says that in his next song – ‘Adana’ he considered it to be his duty to tell about the “forgotten Armenian Genocide.” He sang this song in 2005, at the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
“This is not the kind of song that you think, oh this is gonna be a hit, it is not something you expect to be played on the radio. I just thought to encourage Armenians a little bit, that's why I tell that God has not forgotten about the Armenians, one day he will wipe the tears from their eyes,” Decker says.
‘Adana’ was translated into 18 languages and sung by different singers, including a Turkish singer.
“It is important for Turkish people to know the truth about their own history and maybe some of them will learn what happened from this song,” Decker says.
Now he tries to inform representatives of other nations about the Armenian Genocide.
“Wherever I go I address the issue bringing more awareness about it to non-Armenians. My songs have been a great vehicle to push the issue,” he says.
Currently Decker works on his new album, which will be have only Armenian songs. He says with pride that he is the first American who will release an album with only Armenian songs. Half work of the album is already done, and the singer hopes to finish the rest by spring.
“If I am supporting Armenia, if I am trying to help the Armenian people, my next step is to sing songs in their own language, to show honor to them. I wanted it to be something that would lift the Armenian spirit. Typically Armenians don’t know that I sing in Armenian so during the concert I say I prepared a little surprise for you and I start “erb vor bacvin drnern huso” and then they go crazy because it is somebody showing honor to the Armenian culture,” Decker tells.
After finishing the works connected with the album (preliminary to be called ‘Armenian by Choice’), the singer plans to have his first solo concert in Yerevan.
Becker has made it his mission to bring awareness about the Genocide to non-Armenians through his songs
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter Published: 09 October, 2009
While currently many people are sure that the Armenian authorities should not open the closed border unless Turkey recognizes the Armenian Genocide, for the past eight years an American artist, without raising any noise or getting involved in politics, has made the genocide a message in song.
In 2001 singer and composer Daniel Decker for the first time heard Armenian composer Ara Gevorgyan’s popular work called ‘Mush,’ and as he says, “I immediately fell in love with it.”
‘Mush’ made Decker find Gevorgyan, and their collaboration started, and it continues up to now. Decker confesses that at the moment he has more Armenian friends in Armenia and California (where he currently lives) than non-Armenian.
Recently Decker was again in Armenia where he collaborated with Gevorgyan on a new song called ‘Love Each Other’ (Siretsek Zmimyants), which is about peace in the world.
Decker remembers that a few years ago the music of ‘Mush’ impressed him so much, that he immediately wanted to write lyrics for it.
“I knew that it was the melody that I wanted to use and I proposed the idea of turning it into a song that tells a story, so I chose the story of Noah and Ararat,” Decker says.
Gevorgyan and Decker renamed ‘Mush’ ‘Noah’s Prayer,’ and they presented it for the first time in 2002, during the Independence Day of Armenia’s first republic (May 28), at an open-air concert held in Sardarapat memorial.
“It was really an amazing experience to sing it in Sardarapat, for the president and the Catholicos,” Decker says.
He says that he started studying the Armenian History during writing lyrics for this song.
“I started reading about the Genocide and it really gripped me because as an American I never heard of it before and I started talking about it to my family, friends and other Americans. Most of them had never heard of it before,” Decker recalls.
The musician says that in his next song – ‘Adana’ he considered it to be his duty to tell about the “forgotten Armenian Genocide.” He sang this song in 2005, at the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
“This is not the kind of song that you think, oh this is gonna be a hit, it is not something you expect to be played on the radio. I just thought to encourage Armenians a little bit, that's why I tell that God has not forgotten about the Armenians, one day he will wipe the tears from their eyes,” Decker says.
‘Adana’ was translated into 18 languages and sung by different singers, including a Turkish singer.
“It is important for Turkish people to know the truth about their own history and maybe some of them will learn what happened from this song,” Decker says.
Now he tries to inform representatives of other nations about the Armenian Genocide.
“Wherever I go I address the issue bringing more awareness about it to non-Armenians. My songs have been a great vehicle to push the issue,” he says.
Currently Decker works on his new album, which will be have only Armenian songs. He says with pride that he is the first American who will release an album with only Armenian songs. Half work of the album is already done, and the singer hopes to finish the rest by spring.
“If I am supporting Armenia, if I am trying to help the Armenian people, my next step is to sing songs in their own language, to show honor to them. I wanted it to be something that would lift the Armenian spirit. Typically Armenians don’t know that I sing in Armenian so during the concert I say I prepared a little surprise for you and I start “erb vor bacvin drnern huso” and then they go crazy because it is somebody showing honor to the Armenian culture,” Decker tells.
After finishing the works connected with the album (preliminary to be called ‘Armenian by Choice’), the singer plans to have his first solo concert in Yerevan.
