Genealogy (band)

Genealogy was an Armenian supergroup that was formed to represent Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. Five of the six members come from a different continent of the Armenian diaspora whose families once spread all over the world after the Armenian genocide of 1915.[1] The five artists from the diaspora also symbolize the five petals of the forget-me-not (official logo of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, commemorated in April 2015), while the center of the flower is represented by the sixth artist, based in Armenia.[1]

Genealogy
Genealogy at a Eurovision Song Contest 2015 rehearsal(L-R: Tamar Kaprelian, Vahe Tilbian, Inga Arshakyan, Mary-Jean O'Doherty Basmadjian, Essaï Altounian, and Stephanie Topalian)
Genealogy at a Eurovision Song Contest 2015 rehearsal
(L-R: Tamar Kaprelian, Vahe Tilbian, Inga Arshakyan, Mary-Jean O'Doherty Basmadjian, Essaï Altounian, and Stephanie Topalian)
Background information
OriginArmenia
Years active2015
Past membersEssaï Altounian (Europe)
Tamar Kaprelian (Americas)
Vahe Tilbian (Africa)
Stephanie Topalian (Asia)
Mary-Jean O'Doherty Basmadjian (Oceania)
Inga Arshakyan (Armenia)
Websitewww.genealogyofficial.com

The group performed the song "Face the Shadow" in the contest. The song was originally called "Don't Deny", but organizers changed it later to the present title, as it was deemed too political (hinting at Armenian genocide denial).[2][3] The song represented Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 on the final held on 23 May 2015, finishing 16th overall, with a total of 34 points from only 8 countries including a maximum 12 points from Georgia.

Members

The first member of the group, Essaï Altounian, a French Armenian, was announced on 16 February 2015.[4] The second member of the group, Tamar Kaprelian, an American-Armenian singer, was announced on 20 February 2015.[5] The third member being Vahe Tilbian, an Armenian-Ethiopian singer, was announced on 23 February 2015.[6] The fourth member was Stephanie Topalian, a U.S. born Armenian-American-Japanese singer residing in Japan. Her father is Armenian-American and her mother Japanese; her membership was announced on 27 February 2015.[7] The fifth member is Mary-Jean O'Doherty Basmadjian, an Australian opera singer of Armenian descent. Her membership was announced on 3 March 2015.[8] The sixth member is Inga Arshakyan, who also represented Armenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, along with her sister, Anush.

On 28 April 2015 the five Armenian diaspora members of the group, the American Kaprelian, the Australian O'Doherty Basmadjian, the Ethiopian Tilbian, the French Altounian and the Japanese-American Topalian, became Armenian citizens and at the end of an audience with President Serzh Sargsyan were given their Armenian passports by the President.[9] The sixth member Inga Arshakyan already carries Armenian citizenship.

Continent Country Artist Birth date Date announced

Africa		  Ethiopia Vahe Tilbian 17 February 1980 23 February 2015

Americas		  United States Tamar Kaprelian 28 October 1986 20 February 2015

Asia		  Japan Stephanie Topalian 5 August 1987 27 February 2015

Europe		  France Essaï Altounian 5 November 1980 16 February 2015

Oceania		  Australia Mary-Jean O'Doherty Basmadjian 2 April 1982 3 March 2015

Armenia		  Armenia Inga Arshakyan 18 March 1982 12 March 2015

Discography

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
ICE
"Face the Shadow" 2015 47 Non-album single(s)

After Eurovision

After Eurovision, Tamar Kaprelian from Genealogy released a collective single "The Otherside" featuring a number of other singers who were in the final including Elhaida Dani, Elina Born, Maria-Elena Kyriakou and fellow Genealogy member Stephanie Topalian. Tamar also competed in Depi Evratesil 2018 with the song "Poison (Ari Ari)", for which she was a favorite to win. She was eliminated in the semifinal.

Essaï Altounian was a judge in Depi Evratesil 2017, where he mentored Artsvik to victory. In 2019, he was a member of the "Wall of the World" panel on the CBS talent competition The World's Best.

References
  1. "Eurovision Armenia: Geneaology will fly to Vienna!". esctoday.com. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  2. William Lee Adams. "Armenia: Eurovision Supergroup Genealogy will sing "Don't Deny"". Eurovision 2015 Predictions, Polls, Odds, Rankings - wiwibloggs. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  3. Arka News Agency: Armenia changes name of its Eurovision entry from “Don’t Deny” to “Face the Shadow”
  4. Marco Brey. "Armenia: First artist of Genealogy known!". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  5. Marco Brey. "Armenia: Second artist of Genealogy known!". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  6. Marco Brey. "Armenia: Third artist of Genealogy known!". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  7. Marco Brey. "Armenia: Fourth artist of Genealogy known!". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  8. Marco Brey. "Armenia: Fifth artist of Genealogy known!". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  9. Jiandani, Sanjay (28 April 2015). "Eurovision Armenia: Genealogy meet the president of Armenia". Esctoday. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
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