Singer song writers Ruben Hakhverdyan and Davit Amalyan today referred to the recent controversy surrounding the Tashir 2011 music awards and the infiltration of show business into the daily lives of Armenians.

Criticism was levelled at the awards winners for accepting lavish prizes from the sponsors at the glitzy ceremony held in Moscow. Many of the winners have responded by criticizing their critics and arguing that they have every right to accept such prizes.

The two composers agreed that people in Armenia are obsessed with “pop” stars, both musical and on TV serials, and that such commercial content is being pushed by the TV stations.

Mr. Hakhverdyan noted that when you turn on the TV in Armenia it seems that everyone in the country is either dancing or singing and that people have not much else to talk about.

He lamented the fact that ads throughout Yerevan show the faces of these run of the mill pop stars rather than the real heroes of the nation like Monte Melkonian, Dushman Vardan, and others. “

Wouldn’t it be preferable if our children learnt to look up to these guys rather than some corny singers,” asked Hakhverdyan.

The outspoken singer/composer went on to say that today in Armenia many believe that if you wear a tie that means you’re an intellectual.

“Oh sure, you can also put a tie on a monkey, make it wear a suit, and then put it in the parliament. The monkey might even say that he is an intellectual and that he is defending the rights of the people. Some just might believe what that monkey says,” joked Hakhverdyan.