YEREVAN, 5 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. Singer, songwriter, producer, musical arranger, actor…Popular French-Armenian singer Yesayi Altunyan has many Armenian fans. Yesayi, who has written songs for many renowned French performers, has come to Armenia to present his new song “Je n’oublie pas” (I Won’t Forget), which is dedicated to the 100^th anniversary commemorating the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.

“Armenpress”’s correspondent met with the singer and talked about his past, his roots, as well as the Armenian Genocide and other issues.

Michel Legrand was impressed…

It was wonderful to work with Michel Legrand. At the time, I was a young musician. A famous producer in Paris decided to create a new musical comedy starring Michel Legrand, who had been offered to change the old musical arrangements of his music. They decided that I was the one to do it, and they sent me Legrand’s recordings. I arranged the music in a week. Legrand listened and said: “I want to meet that boy.” Days later, he asked me how I write such music, and I told him I’m Armenian, to which Legrand said: “Oh! I didn’t know that. I’m also Armenian, 25 percent.” I told him that we are linked to each other because our greats had transmitted the same thing to us and that’s why we share the same feelings. I feel the pain of all Armenians in my heart.

…I still haven’t been able to collaborate with Charles Aznavour

Unfortunately, I still haven’t been able to collaborate with him, but I’ve written a song for his daughter. You know, I used to sell tickets to Aznavour’s concerts when I was 16 years old. I earned some money for my first recording and bought my first piano. At the time, I was studying at the art school and would work on the weekends.

“I Won’t Forget”: Armenian Genocide

In early February, I presented my song “Je n’oublie pas” (I Won’t Forget), which is dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and to the memory of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. My family members have told me what happened in 1915, and I feel the same pain that they do. I had to convey my message for the 100^th anniversary, and so I wrote a song dedicated to the memory of the 1.5 million Armenian victims. I won’t forget what happened. My ancestors also survived the Armenian Genocide. The Turks must apologize to the Armenians. In my song I say that I won’t forget. This song means a lot to me. It’s not only for the Armenians, but also foreigners so that they’ll know what happened to the Armenian people.