Armenian entry wins Junior Eurovision Song Contest

By Asbarez | Tuesday, 23 November 2010

MINSK (Combined Sources)–Armenia won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday as Vladimir Arzumanyan, a 12-year-old from Armenia, who sang his song "Mama," beat Russia into second place by one point, forced Serbia into third, and left Georgia and host country Belarus in fourth and fifth.

"Mama" brought Arzumanyan a total of 120 points from tele-voting and jury voting after the show that featured 13 other contestants. The victory gave Armenia its first ever win in the pan-European contest and was celebrated far and wide throughout the Armenian world, from Armenia's capital Yerevan to Arzumanyan's home city Stepanakert, to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium where Armenian artists performing at an Armenia Fund Benefit Concert Sunday hailed the victory.

Speaking to reporters after the victory, Arzumanyan said he had dreamed of winning the competition and wanted "a brother" as his reward for winning. "I want a brother, my mother promised me that if I'd win!" he was quoted as saying by the contest's official website www.junioreurovision.tv.

His mother was also present at the press conference and was especially happy for his song, according to junioreurovision.tv. "He's from a small village in Armenia, so that's especially a big win for us," she explained.

Even after winning the largest pop music contest in Europe, Arzumanyan humbly said he still doesn't think of himself as a star. "Stars are only in the sky, I'm only human," Vladimir told the press.

This was Armenia's third time participating in the annual contest, which was held for its eight time this year. In 2007, Armenia's entry, Arevik, finished in second place in dramatic last-minute voting that brought Belarus to the top by one vote. In 2009, Armenia's Laura Hayrapetyan tied for second with Russia. 

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