Armenia's Naregatsi Orchestra Faithfully Covers System of a Down's 'Aerials'

Armenia's Naregatsi Orchestra posted a cover to YouTube last week of rock band System of Down's 2002 song "Aerials" performed with traditional Armenian instruments. The classical interpretation went viral after receiving praise from System of a Down's lead singer, Serj Tankian. Watch below!

"Aerials," composed by Tankian and System of a Down guitarist Daron Malakian, originally appeared on the band's 2001 record, Toxicity. Released as the second single from the sophomore album in June of 2002, the track hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks and Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, peaking at No. 55 on the Hot 100.

As all members of the hit alternative rock act are Armenian themselves (including bass player Shavo Odadjian and percussionist John Dolmayan), the traditional instrumental interpretation conveys a special significance for the group and its fans. As reported by website The PRP, Tankian commended the cover online, widening its audience to viral measures:

"Armenia's Naregatsi Orchestra shared the ... cover of System Of A Down's 'Aerials' online this week and earned high praise for it from band frontman Serj Tankian himself. Given the usage of traditional instrumentation, it's not hard to see why Tankian has fallen for the cover, as he and the group have long been champions of Armenian culture."

Naregatsi Orchestra's performance of the song features instruments like the qanun, a box zither instrument, along with the guitar-like kamancheh and double-reed woodwind, the duduk. All are traditional instruments found in Armenia and throughout much of the Middle East.

Vocalist Tankian seemed quite pleased with the cover version on the day it debuted, tweeting a link to the performance online to his nearly half-million Twitter followers: 

This is hands down my favorite cover of Aerials! Here’s the young & very talented Naregatsi Orchestra - Peace, Serj https://t.co/AEILRihhR3

— Serj Tankian (@serjtankian) June 9, 2016

Watch the Naregatsi ensemble's cover of the tune here:

For more information on the Naregatsi Orchestra, visit the Naregatsi Art Institute's website at www.naregatsi.org.

We want to hear from you. Let us know what you think of the Armenian traditional "Aerials" rendition in the comments section below.

TagsNaregatsi Orchestra, System of a Down, Serj Tankian