Taken from the upcoming Calm KAOSS! EP.
Listen: mute.ffm.to/karyyn-ck
‘ODAR’ - meaning other in Armenian - is KÁRYYN’s interpretation of the folk song ‘Odaroutioun’, a song passed down through generations, often sung at gatherings in her grandparents’ house in Aleppo, Syria.
Written by Avetik Isahakyan, a prominent Armenian lyric poet, writer and political activist, the words to the song were originally from a letter written to his family, whilst in political exile, and later turned into a song adopted post-genocide to represent the Armenian’s plight. Known as a patriotic song, most commonly sung by men, KÁRYYN’s interpretation poses a critical examination of what it means to live in otherness.
“Our Armenian language is an ancient written alphabet, found in the illuminated manuscripts, a language on the endangered language list today,” KÁRYYN explains. “The language is threatened further due to the refugee crisis caused by the genocide, and by the crisis which moved and destroyed one of the largest Armenian communities during the 2011 Syrian war. When we speak and sing in Armenian, it is an act of survival and activism. A language from as far back as the 5th century, only Sanskrit and a few others are older.”
The video include the lyrics in the Armenian alphabet as well as their english translation.
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L Y R I C S : A R M E N I A N
Օտարութիւն
այդքան
տարով
կուլամ
կարօտով
Մեր խնդիրը
լուծուի
շուտով
համբերէ
հոգիս
համբերէ
Երկիր մը
ունինք
մենք
Հայաստան
ինչու
ապրինք
օտարութեան
ամբողջ յոյսը
մեր հայութեան
համբերէ
հոգիս
համբերէ
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L Y R I C S : E N G L I S H
Living away in otherness
for so many years
I cry with nostalgia
a painful yearning
may our problems be speedily solved
be patient, my soul, be patient
be patient, my soul
other, other, other
We have a country,
Armenia,
why must we live in alienation?
the whole hope of Armenians,
be patient, my soul, be patient
be patient, my love, be patient
be patient, my soul, be patient
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C R E D I T S
Song: ODAR
Directed & performed by K Á R Y Y N
Edited by K Á R Y Y N & A.S.H.
Video synthesis: A.S. H.
Cello performance: Andrew Carter
Director of Photography: Adrian Hernandez
Lighting: Benedict Cooper
Sound engineering & arrangement: Steve Nalepa (Airspace)
Location: Vardan Gallery
Special thanks to Airspace, Anis Marks, Ryan Colburn & Nio
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F O L L O W K Á R Y Y N
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/ karyyn1111
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www.karyyn.com