Pour toi Arménie

"Pour toi Arménie" (English translation: "For You, Armenia") is a 1989 song written and composed by Charles Aznavour, and recorded by a group of French singers (and also a few actors and TV presenters) who were popular at the time. This charity single was intended to raise funds to help the Armenians who experienced the 1988 Spitak earthquake. It sold more than 1 million copies under the Trema-EMI label.[1]

"Pour toi Arménie"
Single by Various French artists
ReleasedFebruary 1989
Recorded1989
LabelTrema-EMI
Songwriter(s)Charles Aznavour (lyrics)
Georges Garvarentz (music)
Producer(s)Georges Garvarentz
Gérard Melet
Jacques Revaux

Background and writing

This song was entirely written and composed by Charles Aznavour and Georges Garvarentz which made a great tribute to the country of his ancestral origins and his relationship that he always have kept in his heart. After the earthquake in Armenia, he asked his singers, actors and TV presenters friends to sing with him "Pour toi Arménie", song devoted to help victims of this tragedy.[2] At the same time, in the United Kingdom, the collective band named Rock Aid Armenia made a cover of "Smoke on the Water" also for the same charitable purpose.[2]

Vocalists

The artists that composed this group were :

All the names feature on the single's cover.

Track listings
7" single
  1. "Pour toi Arménie" – 4:05
  2. "Ils sont tombés" – 4:06

The vinyl version of "Ils sont tombés" is recitated, unlike other versions.

Chart performances

In France, "Pour toi Arménie" had an immediate huge success: it went straight to number one on the French SNEP Singles Chart edition of 11 February 1989 and remained atop for ten weeks, then dropped and left the chart after 18 weeks of presence.[3] The same year, the single was certified Platinum disc by the French certifier, the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.[4] It featured for a long time in the Guinness Book of Records as it was the first single to enter the French Singles Chart at number one.[5] It was also the first appearance of Charles Aznavour on the French top 50. In addition, "Pour toi Arménie" was a top three hit in Belgium (Wallonia),[6] and debuted at a peak of number four on the European Hot 100 Singles,[7] and remained on the chart for 17 weeks.

Italian version

An Italian version of the song, with the Aznavour's lyrics adapted in Italian by Andrea Lo Vecchio, was recorded with the title "Per te Armenia" in the Fonit Cetra studios.[8][9] Together with the same Aznavour, involved artists included Fabrizio De André, Gino Paoli, Gigliola Cinquetti, Mia Martini, Milva, Iva Zanicchi, Sergio Endrigo, Dori Ghezzi, Eugenio Finardi, Enzo Jannacci, Pierangelo Bertoli, Sabrina Salerno, Mietta, Orietta Berti, I Camaleonti, Mino Reitano, Nilla Pizzi, Gazebo, Tullio De Piscopo, Gianni Bella, Franco Simone, Scialpi, Dario Baldan Bembo, Antonella Ruggiero, Lara Saint Paul, Tony Dallara, Ricky Gianco, Mario Castelnuovo, Alberto Radius, Pino D'Angiò, Christian, Memo Remigi, Gianfranco Manfredi, Francesco Baccini, Cristiano Malgioglio, Stefano Rosso, Mimmo Cavallo, Gilda Giuliani, Vivien Vee, Gepy & Gepy, Massimo Boldi, Alessandra Mussolini, Lorella Cuccarini.[8][9][10] The B-side of the single was a narrated version of the lyrics, performed by Vittorio Gassman.[8][9]

Charts and certifications

References
  1. "Pour Toi Armenie". Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  2. Habib, Elia (2002). Muz hit.tubes (in French). Alinéa Bis. p. 151-152. ISBN 2-9518832-0-X.
  3. "Pour toi Arménie – Pour toi Arménie" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  4. "French single certifications – Divers artistes – Pour toi Arménie" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 22 November 2021. Select DIVERS ARTISTES and click OK. 
  5. Alex P. King, Hit-parade, 20 ans de tubes, 2005, Pascal Ed., p. 9 (ISBN 978-2350190099) Vingt ans de tubes (Retrieved 23 April 2008)
  6. "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 12. 25 March 1989. p. 28. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 8 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  7. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 8. 25 February 1989. p. 18-19. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 8 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  8. Pastonesi, Marco (2 April 1989). "L' Italia canta per te, Armenia". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  9. Venegoni, Mariella (2 April 1989). "Cantare per L'armenia? Meglio defilarsi". La Stampa. p. 26.
  10. Giallo, Roberto (2 April 1989). "E per l'Armenia un coro dimezzato" (PDF). L'Unità. p. 18. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  11. "Eurochart Hot 100 1989" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. 6. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 17 January 2020 – via American Radio History.
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