When Lyrics are More than Words: Zemfira’s Concert in Yerevan

It becomes hard to breathe as the pulse starts beating faster with every second and the euphoric feeling is taking over the whole body, but not because of running a marathon or climbing stairs, but because of Zemfira’s presence on the stage.
Not only the audience at Hrazdan Stadium but also people from distant buildings with their phones’ flashlights witnessed the long-awaited Zemfira’s concert in Yerevan. The epic entrance of the guitars, drum kit and Zemfira’s magnificent voice immediately took the audience’s breath away. Everything about the start of the concert was quite simple yet powerful and beyond imagination. The first notes of the first song of the concert “Dramatique” already touched strangers, friends, loved ones and fans who shared deep emotional moments with the artist under one starry sky in Yerevan during the concert.
“I’m an absolute God. I’m billions of years old.” (original. “Я абсолютный бог, Мне миллиарды лет”). Zemfira’s long-term fan Alisa Petrosyan describes that especially these lines from the song “Dramatique” can demonstrate the artist’s real personality and boldness.
Zemfira gained recognition in the early 2000s, after releasing her second album “Forgive Me My Love” (Прости меня моя любовь). In 2008, she won an independent Steppenwolf prize in two categories.
Though Zemfira was mostly known among Russian audiences, her mark on Armenian fans was quite strong. In the early 2000s, for post-Soviet Armenians, Zemfira’s songs became a lifebuoy for escaping from reality with her songs and sharing the feelings of change, self-expression and uncertainty. Zemfira’s songs about love, identity, loss, connection and other themes have the power to transfer the listener into another dimension where they can find comforting space and nostalgic feelings. She was not just a musician, but a poet whose lyrics healed souls and whispered truths.
Petrosyan mentions that growing up in Moscow, seeing Zemfira’s face on posters and billboards all around the streets was inevitable. She remembers that at that time, listening to Zemfira’s song, “Chamomile” (Ромашки), marked the official introduction to the artist and a deep connection with her songs. As Petrosyan notes, “Her performance didn’t just touch me, it was like meeting someone you have known for a long time.” Zemfira had the power to make the audience feel everything and nothing all at once.
Another fan from the early 2000s, Naira Allakhverdyan, speaks about Zemfira’s uniqueness that differentiates her from other rock artists. As she says, “her songs felt like a warm hug, a genuine and real connection that the artist could offer to her audience without artificial performance.”
Zemfira’s concert in Yerevan felt like a collective recognition and memory. Her modest outfit, minimalist visuals and stage spoke louder than any words. It is this simplicity and her unforgettable presence that add more flavor to the concert.
Diana Tigranyan, who has been one of her dedicated fans for a long time, mentions that Zemfira’s concert was a dream that became a reality. Zemfira was not just an artist for her, but a “medicine” and healing process from hard times in life. “We cried, we laughed, we experienced different emotions during the concert,” she adds .
Zemfira’s concert was also culturally significant for Armenia. For many years, the weight was only on local pop artists who were performing during festivities or concerts. However, in recent years, there has been progress in inviting global artists and musicians who fill the concert halls with integrity and connection. For Zemfira’s concert, fans visited Armenia from abroad to be a part of something monumental. This shows that Armenia is gradually becoming a destination for international artists where music unites everyone regardless of nationality.
Zemfira’s great experience with the audience reflected in her Facebook post that Yerevan stole her heart with its warmth and hospitality. Gagik, one of her young fans, ran to the stage and tightly hugged her throughout the song “You want?” (Хочешь?).
Nostalgic, memorable and intimate. For many, the night will be remembered in these three words.