Ruben Hakhverdyan: Yerevan's singer-songwriter, from "Navak" to "Mer Siro Ashuny"
For many people in Yerevan, Hakhverdyan's songs are the city itself: its nights, its snow, its dogs. Here is who he is and the recordings to start with. Spotify and Armenly list him as Rouben Hakhverdyan.
By The Armenly team. Written November 11, 2026.
- About The Armenly team — The people who build and check the Armenly catalog of Armenian music.
Key findings
- Ruben Hakhverdyan (Ռուբեն Հախվերդյան; Рубен Ахвердян) was born in Yerevan on December 3, 1950. He is a poet, guitarist, singer and songwriter [1].
- He is one of the founders of bard music in Armenia. "Navak" ("Boat") is his best-known children's song, and "Mer Siro Ashuny" ("The Autumn of Our Love") one of Armenia's best-known love songs [1].
- His first album, Songs of Love and Hope, came out in Paris in 1985 [1].
- He worked in Armenian state television from 1968 to 1989, first as an assistant director and then as a director [1].
His life
He was born in Yerevan to the linguist Levon Hakhverdyan and the translator Sona Ayunts, studied at the Yerevan Fine Arts and Theater Institute from 1969 to 1974, and worked in Armenian state television until 1989, when he left to work as a free artist [1]. He has performed in France, the United States, Ukraine, Italy, Lebanon, Germany, Iran and Syria, among others [1].
He has said the songs that influenced him most are "Eleanor Rigby" by the Beatles, "Amsterdam" by Jacques Brel and "It's a Man's World" by James Brown [1].
His best-known songs
"Snow" (Dzyun), "The Dogs" and "In the Nights of Yerevan" (Yerevani gishernerum) are among his best known [1]. "Snow" and "Star-Spangled Night" were used in the 1976 cartoon Found Dream, which is still popular in Armenia [1].
- Yete imanayir — Rouben Hakhverdyan — "If you knew," about 211,000 plays
- Gisherva astghazard yerknqum — Rouben Hakhverdyan — Star-Spangled Night
- Dzyun (Live) — Rouben Hakhverdyan — Snow
- Yerevani gishernerum — Rouben Hakhverdyan — In the Nights of Yerevan
- Im poqrik navak — Rouben Hakhverdyan — the boat song
- Sa Yerevann e — Rouben Hakhverdyan — "This is Yerevan"
- Gtnvatz yeraz — Rouben Hakhverdyan — "Found Dream"
Duets and covers
Sirusho recorded "Yete imanayir" with him in 2008, and the Los Angeles singer Harout Pamboukjian made a whole album of duets with him in 2000. "Mer Siro Ashune" is often covered.
- Ete Imanair — Sirusho, Ruben Hakhverdyan — about 405,000 plays
- Tzer Knchouhin — Harout Pamboukjian and Rouben Hakhverdian — from their 2000 album
- Mer Siro Ashune — Elena Yerevan — The Autumn of Our Love
Albums
- Songs of Love and Hope (1985)
- Destiny (1994)
- This is Yerevan (1997)
- Yerg (2000), named Best Alternative Folk Album at the Armenian Music Awards in 2001
- For the Children from 0 to 100 Years Old (2002)
- That Our Mountains Are Not Left Orphan (2014)
- Testament (2017)
- Rouben Hakhverdyan — all his songs on Armenly
Questions people ask
Who is Ruben Hakhverdyan?
An Armenian poet, guitarist, singer and songwriter, born in Yerevan in 1950, and one of the founders of bard music in Armenia.
How do you spell Ruben Hakhverdyan in Armenian and Russian?
Armenian: Ռուբեն Հախվերդյան. Russian: Рубен Ахвердян. In English you will also see Rouben Hakhverdian.
What is "Mer Siro Ashuny" about?
The title means "The Autumn of Our Love." It is one of Armenia's best-known romantic songs.
Which Hakhverdyan songs are for children?
"Navak" ("Boat") is the best known, and his album For the Children from 0 to 100 Years Old collects more.
Sources
- [1] Ruben Hakhverdyan — Wikipedia, read November 11, 2026
Cite this page
The Armenly team, "Ruben Hakhverdyan: Yerevan's singer-songwriter, from "Navak" to "Mer Siro Ashuny"." Armenly, November 11, 2026. https://armenly.com/guides/ruben-hakhverdyan
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