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Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest

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Template:Infobox song contest country

Azerbaijan has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 14 times since making its debut in 2008, after İctimai Televiziya (İTV) became an active member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). İTV had broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest in previous years, purchasing broadcasting rights from the EBU. Azerbaijan was the last country in the Caucasus to debut in the contest and the first to win.

Azerbaijan has won the contest once, in 2011, with Ell and Nikki and the song "Running Scared" setting the record for the lowest average score for a winning song under the 12-points voting system, with 5.26 points per country. The country achieved five consecutive top-five results in the contest between 2009 and 2013, finishing third (2009) and fifth (2010) before their 2011 win and fourth (2012) and second (2013) following their win. In 2018, Azerbaijan failed to advance from the semi-finals for the first and to date only time.

History

[edit]

Prior to Azerbaijan's debut, broadcaster AzTV expressed interest in participating in 2007, but EBU rules did not allow this as AzTV was not an active member of the EBU. AzTV was denied active EBU membership on 18 June 2007, as it was considered too connected to the Azerbaijani government.[1] On 5 July, İTV became a full EBU member,[2] and on 15 October, it was given permission to take part in the contest by the EBU.[3]

Azerbaijan's debut at Eurovision in 2008 proved to be successful, with Elnur and Samir placing 8th with 132 points. In 2009, Azerbaijan achieved an improvement on their 2008 debut, coming third and receiving 207 points with the song "Always" by Aysel and Arash.

Azerbaijan's first Eurovision win came in 2011, when Ell and Nikki triumphed with "Running Scared".[4][5] With their entry only receiving 5.26 points per voting country, Azerbaijan holds the record of the lowest average score for a winning song under that voting system (in place from 1975 to 2015).

The country managed another two consecutive top five results, with Sabina Babayeva finishing fourth with 150 points in 2012, and Farid Mammadov second with 234 in 2013, but in 2014, Azerbaijan failed to place in the top ten for the first time since their debut, finishing 22nd, the country's lowest result in a Eurovision final to date. Azerbaijan has since failed to reach the top ten on five occasions, coming 12th in 2015, 17th in 2016, 14th in 2017, 20th in 2021 and 16th in 2022. 2018 saw Azerbaijan's first non-qualification, with "X My Heart" by Aisel failing to progress from the first semi-final. In 2019, Chingiz brought Azerbaijan back in the top ten for the first time since 2013 by finishing eighth with the song "Truth".

Popularity of the contest

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Since Azerbaijan's debut in 2008, the contest has been extremely popular in the country. After placing in the top 10 at its debut in 2008 and also ending in the top 5 from 2009 to 2013, the contest became a matter of "national pride". The high importance of the contest within the country became evident in 2013, when the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev launched an inquiry into his country failing to award Russia any points in the 2013 final.[6] Since 2009, the contest has consistently been the most watched show on Azerbaijani television, despite the fact that the contest is broadcast at midnight local time due to the time difference from Central European Time. Azerbaijan issued a postage stamp dedicated to Ell and Nikki's win in 2011.[7][8]

The country spent Template:Currency (Template:Currency) on hosting the 2012 contest, including building a completely new arena for the event.[9] As of 2022, this is the largest amount of money ever spent by any host country on organising the contest.[10]

Participation overview

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Table key
1
 Winner
2
 Second place
3
 Third place
X
 Entry selected but did not compete
Year Entrant Song Language Final Points Semi Points
2008 Elnur and Samir "Day After Day" English 8 132 6 96
2009 Aysel and Arash "Always" English 3 207 2 180
2010 Safura "Drip Drop" English 5 145 2 113
2011 Ell and Nikki "Running Scared" English 1 221 2 122
2012 Sabina Babayeva "When the Music Dies" English 4 150 Host country[lower-alpha 1]
2013 Farid Mammadov "Hold Me" English 2 234 1 139
2014 Dilara Kazimova "Start a Fire" English 22 33 9 57
2015 Elnur Hüseynov "Hour of the Wolf" English 12 49 10 53
2016 Samra "Miracle" English 17 117 6 185
2017 Dihaj "Skeletons" English 14 120 8 150
2018 Aisel "X My Heart" English Failed to qualify 11 94
2019 Chingiz "Truth" English 8 302 5 224
2020 Efendi "Cleopatra" English[lower-alpha 2] Contest cancelled[lower-alpha 3] X
2021 Efendi "Mata Hari" English[lower-alpha 4] 20 45 To Be Announced
2022 Nadir Rustamli "Fade to Black" English 16 106 10 96
2023 TuralTuranX "Tell Me More" English TBD Qualified

Hostings

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Year Location Venue Presenters Image
2012 Baku Baku Crystal Hall Leyla Aliyeva, Eldar Gasimov and Nargiz Birk-Petersen

Awards received

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Marcel Bezençon Awards

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Further information: Marcel Bezençon Awards
Year Category Song Performer Composer Place Points Host city Ref.
Template:ESCYr Press Award "When the Music Dies" Sabina Babayeva Anders Bagge, Sandra Bjurman, Stefan Örn, Johan Kronlund
4
150
 Template:Country data Azerbaijan Baku
[11]
Template:ESCYr Artistic Award "Hold Me" Farid Mammadov Dimitris Kontopoulos
2
234
 Template:Country data Sweden Malmö
[12]
[edit]

Heads of delegation

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Year Head of delegation Ref.
2008–2011 Adil Karimli
[13]
2012–2014 Husniyya Maharramova
[14]
2015–2016 Tamilla Shirinova
[15]
2018 Leyla Quliyeva
[16]
2019 Husniyya Maharramova
[14]
2020 Leyla Quliyeva
[17]
2021–2022 Isa Melikov
[18][19]
2023 Vasif Mammadov
[20]

Commentators and spokespersons

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Year Commentator Spokesperson Ref.
2006 Unknown Did not participate
[21]
2007 Murad Arif and Leyla Aliyeva
[22]
2008 Husniyya Maharramova and Isa Melikov Leyla Aliyeva
[23]
2009 Leyla Aliyeva and Isa Melikov Husniyya Maharramova
[24]
2010 Husniyya Maharramova Tamilla Shirinova
[25]
2011 Leyla Aliyeva Safura Alizadeh
[26][27][28]
2012 Konul Arifgizi and Saleh Bagirov
[29]
2013 Konul Arifgizi Tamilla Shirinova
[30]
2014 Sabina Babayeva
[31]
2015 Kamran Guliyev Tural Asadov
[32][33]
2016 Azer Suleymanli
[34][35]
2017
[36]
2018
[37]
2019 Murad Arif Faig Aghayev
[22][38]
2021 Murad Arif and Husniyya Maharramova Ell and Nikki
[39]
2022 Murad Arif None[lower-alpha 5]
[40][41][42]
2023 Azer Suleymanli Narmin Salmanova
[43][44]
Template:Col-3

Stage directors

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Year Stage director(s) Ref.
Template:Esccnty Rennie Miro & Filip Adamo
[45]
Template:Esccnty Fokas Evangelinos
[citation needed]
Template:Esccnty Åsa Engman and Nicoline Refsing
[46]
Template:Esccnty Ambra Succi
[citation needed]
Template:Esccnty Roine Söderlundh
[citation needed]
Template:Esccnty Naila Mammadzadeh
[citation needed]
Template:Esccnty Fokas Evangelinos
[citation needed]
Template:Esccnty Mads Enggaard, Konstantin Tomilchenko & Aleksandr Bratkovsky
[47][48]
Template:Esccnty Mads Enggaard
[49]
Template:Esccnty Mads Enggaard
[50]
Template:Esccnty Mads Enggaard
[51]

Photogallery

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Kuipers, Michael. "Azerbaijan not joining after all", ESCToday, 18 June 2007. 
  2. ^ News Eurovision Finland 2007 Новости Евровидения 2007 Финляндия.
  3. ^ Eurovision Song Contest | Belgrade (Serbia) 2008 – Articles.
  4. ^ "Azerbaijan's Eurovision rebirth", 16 May 2011. 
  5. ^ Sperling, Daniel (14 May 2011). Azerbaijan win Eurovision Song Contest 2011.
  6. ^ "Eurovision: Azerbaijan probes Russian 'nul points'", BBC News, 20 May 2013. 
  7. ^ Ell & Nikki (2011) IN POST STAMPS.
  8. ^ Stamps on Azerbaijan's Eurovision-2011 win issued.
  9. ^ Petersen, Christian (3 December 2014). Eurovision 2014 was the second most expensive ever.
  10. ^ Revealed: Eurovision budgets are getting smaller (en-GB) (2022-05-11).
  11. ^ Winners of the Marcel Bezençon Awards 2012 (27 May 2012).
  12. ^ Winners of the Marcel Bezençon Awards 2013 (19 May 2013).
  13. ^ Granger, Anthony (18 January 2009). AySel to represent Azerbaijan.
  14. ^ a b Granger, Anthony (26 January 2019). Azerbaijan: Husniye Maharramova Returns as Head of Delegation.
  15. ^ Granger, Anthony (22 September 2016). Azerbaijan: Tamilla Shirinova Dropped as Head of Delegation.
  16. ^ Granger, Anthony (7 December 2018). Azerbaijan: Head of Delegation Dismisses Report of Artist Reveal in Two Weeks.
  17. ^ Granger, Anthony (28 January 2020). Azerbaijan: Leyla Quileyeva Returns As Head of Delegation.
  18. ^ Granger, Anthony (16 August 2020). Azerbaijan: Isa Melikov Named Head of Delegation for Eurovision 2021. Eurovoix.
  19. ^ Robyn, Gallagher (16 February 2022). Azerbaijan: The Voice winner Nadir Rüstemli will sing at Eurovision 2022. Eurovoix.
  20. ^ Granger, Anthony (2 January 2023). Azerbaijan: Over 200 Songs Submitted for Eurovision 2023. Eurovoix.
  21. ^ Kuipers, Michael (17 May 2007). Azerbaijan to debut in 2008?.
  22. ^ a b Granger, Anthony (28 April 2019). Azerbaijan: Murad Arif Returns To Commentary Booth After Thirteen Years.
  23. ^ Floras, Stella (7 May 2008). Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan: Elnur, Samir & Ruslana in Istanbul. "ESCToday.com.
  24. ^ Montebello, Edward (8 February 2011). Malta: Azerbaijani TV host is a jury member. "ESCToday.com.
  25. ^ Klier, Marcus (2009-03-23). Eurovision Live: Draw of the running order. ESCToday.
  26. ^ Schacht, Andreas (14 May 2011). The 2011 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final!. "Eurovision.tv.
  27. ^ Кто будет объявлять баллы на "Евровидении 2011" от Азербайджана?. Day.Az (8 May 2011).
  28. ^ Leyla Əliyeva: "Yoldaşımla İctimai Televiziyada tanış olmuşuq, o rejissor, mən aparıcıyam". Modern.az.
  29. ^ Roxburgh, Gordon (26 May 2012). Running order for the voting tonight. "Eurovision.tv.
  30. ^ 'Eurovision 2013' Mahnı Müsabiqəsinin birinci yarımfinalı (1-ci hissə) (az). İctimai Television (15 May 2013).
  31. ^ "Eurovision 2014": Azərbaycan təmsilçisi finalda yarışmaq hüququnu qazanıb (az). İctimai Television (7 May 2014).
  32. ^ Vranis, Michalis (23 May 2015). Big Poll Commentators: Here are the Semi-final 1 results. ESCToday.
  33. ^ "Good evening Vienna" – Voting order revealed. European Broadcasting Union (23 May 2015).
  34. ^ Cavadsoy, Şahin (9 May 2016). AZƏRBAYCAN DİLİNDƏ "EUROVİSİON"U O, ŞƏRH EDƏCƏK (az).
  35. ^ "Eurovision 2016" yarışmasının 1-ci yarımfinalı İTV-də canlı yayımlanacaq (az). Trend News Agency (10 May 2016).
  36. ^ Voting order and spokespeople for Grand Final 2017. Eurovisionary (13 May 2017).
  37. ^ "May we have your votes please?". EBU (11 May 2018).
  38. ^ Eurovision 2019 Spokespersons – Who will announce the points? (18 May 2019).
  39. ^ İTV "Eurovision-2021"də şərhçilərinin adını açıqladı (az) (8 May 2021).
  40. ^ Granger, Anthony (2022-05-10). Azerbaijan: Narmin Salmanova Spokesperson For Eurovision 2022 (en-GB).
  41. ^ Jabbarov, Elvin (2022-05-01). AVROVİZİYA 2022 ŞƏRHÇİSİ MURAD ARİF OLACAQ (az-Latn).
  42. ^ Grace, Emily (2022-05-06). Azerbaijan: Murad Arif To Commentate On Eurovision 2022 (en-GB).
  43. ^ Mammadli, Hussein (2023-05-04). Avrovi̇zi̇ya 2023 şərhçİmi̇z Azər Süleymanli olacaq (az).
  44. ^ Mammadli, Hussein (2023-05-04). Avrovi̇zi̇ya 2023-də Azərbaycanin səsləri̇ni̇ Nərmi̇n Salmanova açiqlayacaq (az).
  45. ^ Eurovision winning stage directors to direct Carousel's performance in Tel Aviv (2 May 2019).
  46. ^ An acrobatic performance for Azerbaijan (en-gb) (2014-05-02).
  47. ^ Євробачення-2019: Костянтин Томільченко поставив номер для учасника від Азербайджану (19 May 2019).
  48. ^ High-tech staging for Chingiz at Eurovision Song Contest 2019 (uk) (15 May 2019).
  49. ^ 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: Mads Enggaard Staging Director For Efendi's Eurovision Performance (en-GB) (2021-03-20).
  50. ^ 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: Mads Enggaard Staging Director For Efendi's Eurovision Performance (en-GB) (2021-03-20).
  51. ^ Mammadova, Elmira (2023-03-26). Azərbaycanın Mads ilə əməkdaşlığı davam edir (az).[permanent dead link]

References

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Template:Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest Template:Eurovision Song Contest


Cite error:
  1. ^ If a country had won the previous year, they did not have to compete in the semi-finals the following year.
  2. ^ Contains the Japanese mantra "Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō".
  3. ^ The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  4. ^ Contains one repeated chant in Azerbaijani
  5. ^ Narmin Salmanova was supposed to announce the results, but due to alleged technical difficulties, the contest's executive supervisor Martin Österdahl announced them instead.
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