Armenian - Mihran Kalaydjian's Official Blog

Mihran Kalaydjian Playing Cherished Moments

July 19, 2014

Mihran Kalaydjian Playing Cherished Moments

I walk on the sand, Colored corals crunch under my bare feet,
the waves crash in distance and the wind whistles your name,
I think of you, I think of our times, when you were so close to me,
when our passion lit a hot bonfire of never ending flames.

I think of your voice, your whispers through my lonely nights,
I think of the many times you told me ,that you’ll always be here,
You will never go away and I still remember your honeyed Words
to cherish what we have, I still think of the time, you whispered
Passion is not forever, and I replied in my soft voice ,’OUR PASSION NEVER DIES’.

How wrong I was, and how right you were, Now I Know, that you
were right,Now,that you are gone, Now, that you are not here with me.

Will Obama Hide Behind Erdogan’s Hypocrisy?

May 9, 2014

By Mihran Kalaydjian, CHA

Marketing/Media Writer, Strategist and Consultant

It’s that time of the year again when Armenians across the world—but especially in the United States—await the annual White House statement on the Armenian Genocide, which, since 1981, has never actually used the word “Genocide.”

This will be President Obama’s sixth such statement, the last five of which clearly veered from his campaign promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide and used euphemisms to characterize what actually happened and played into the an almost century-long campaign by Turkey to deny the events of 1915. Essentially, the president who campaigned for “change” himself became complicit in the crime of Genocide by unabashedly denying it as an apologist for Turkey.

This year, however, two recent statements make us wonder whether Obama’s April 24 statement will be different—different bad or different good?

Earlier this week, US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern said that the White House was planning to issue a statement that would signal a change in US policy regarding the Armenian Genocide. He did immediately add that he was unsure whether the word Genocide would be used or not, signaling that whatever the vernacular not much change was coming down the pipeline.

Then on Wednesday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, issued a verbose and absurd statement, which in a nutshell was adeptly characterized by the ANCA as “repackaging denial.” Using the tried and true “shared suffering” argument articulated by Turkish officials for decades, Erdogan offered condolences to the descendents of Genocide survivors—almost a century too late.

In 2009, Obama chose Turkey as the destination of his first official visit and during public appearances urged the government and citizens of Turkey to come to terms with their past. Then in a defeatist move, the Obama administration took to pushing the State Department-crafted Turkey-Armenia protocols, which was inherited from the Bush Administration, but nevertheless was embraced by the then Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Did Heffern preview a “change” in US policy based on his knowledge that Erdogan was about to issue an announcement? Does the Obama Administration view Erdogan’s feeble attempt at, once again, rewriting history as a sign that Turkey is heeding his call and coming to terms with its past?

One thing is clear: If any mention of Erdogan’s statement finds its way into Obama’s April 24 statement, then it cements the reality the US is unable to advocate for justice and human rights around the globe and is a victim of Turkey’s imposed gag rule on the Genocide, further perpetuating US’s complicity in the crime.

Will Obama hide behind Erdogan’s/Turkey’s hypocrisy? As Americans we hope that he will NOT!

Messig Tchouldjian – International Singer Known for h Charismatic Performance and Powerful Voice

March 20, 2014

By Mihran Kalaydjian, CHA

Consultant, Strategist, and Writer

Messig Tchouldjian is a major role player in my musical cultivation. He is integral to keeping Los Angeles and the greater Armenian Diaspora entertained for over two decades. He is also a champion for the Armenian cause, keeping the ideology of a true Armenian Hero alive within his songs.

In our household, Messig’s rhythm-filled music provided a soundtrack to my early life. Normally my father would play the vinyl records of a handful of Armenian artists. Manuel, Paul Baghdadlian, Harout Pamboukjian, Adiss Harmandian, along with a few unknown others, filled the house with music. Music plays a big role in my life to this day. Armenian music is where I got my musical roots from. I started playing piano when I was three years old, and by age fourteen I was already playing two instruments, including the guitar, and the drums. At last count, I play three today.

Just as long as I have been studying and playing music, the music of Messig Tchouldjian offers a unique blend of western musical influences, most notably the pounding drums of our early drummer, Hrair Aprahamian, and the classical Armenian tones played on instruments more common to rock bands than Armenian orchestras. This was a unique sound for its time.

He is known for his unique and powerful voice; Messig Tchouldjian is even more loved for his down-to-earth and fun-loving personality. He interacts very comfortably with guests of the resort and often churns out tune after tune for them while they enjoy their meals. The various song selections from Messig Tchouldjian add just the right Charismatic Performance flavor and are enough to satiate the guests’ musical palates, guaranteeing them the time of their lives while they dine.

Like the sun rays falling on the sea horizon and making it gold… music fell upon Vishnu in his childhood itself – Messig Tchouldjian An outstanding vocalist who has the most bewitching and captivating voice that is guaranteed to give you goose bumps.

“Messig Tchouldjian gave what I can only describe as one of the finest performances I’ve ever witnessed on stage. His was no mere act; He had fully become the character of Elle and I found myself completely drawn into his claustrophobic world.

If you ever get the chance, go and see his coming perform live – you will come away knowing that for a short time, you indeed went to a better place.”