A clip of System of a Down’s Serj Tankian singing with his old man in Armenian has resurfaced, and for good reason - it's bloody unreal.
The footage shows the duo belting out ‘Bari Arakeel,’ an Armenian folk tune from Serj’s dad, Khatchadour Tankian’s, debut album from 2009.
The pair sing in Armenian and it’s a beauty with all the harmonies. Fans who’ve only just stumbled across the clip are pointing out how much of this sound Serj has brought into SOAD’s style.
“He literally brought these scales and sounds into metal music. This is how it should be,” said one commenter.
“I fully understand SOAD now, and it's beautiful,” added another.
A third agreed: “You can hear the inspiration in Armenian folklore.”
On top of that, others have highlighted their special father and son bond.
One fan said: “Singing with dad.... golden.”
“We can see where his talent comes from,” another wrote.
“The way Serj looks at his father is what makes this video great,” said a third, and we’re with them on that one.
This isn't the only time the pair have performed the song together.
Back in 2011, at the Beirut Rock Festival in Lebanon, Serj brought his father on stage to sing the song live.
“Every time he sang it, I would sing along with him,” Serj said.
He’s been a big inspiration in my life.
“When I had to make the crossover to music, he was my biggest inspiration and the most positive support,” Serj added, while inviting his father to join him on stage.
In Serj’s book ‘Down with the System: A Memoir (of sorts)’, released earlier this year, he reflected on the deep respect he has for his father, especially considering what he grew up with in Lebanon.
He recalls hearing bombs drop outside their home during the Lebanese civil war, before moving to LA at the age of seven.
He was on track for a solid career in business and law before making his above-mentioned switch to music with the support of Khatchadour. It’s amazing to see how tight these two are, especially through their shared love of music.
