This evening, the semi final of the Azerbaijani selections was held at the Buta Palace in Baku. In all, six participants competed and three of them qualified for the final, which will be held at the end of February.
The land of fire, Azerbaijan, has held its semi-final for the Eurovision Song Contest and six contestants performed their songs hoping to be one of the lucky names to continue on in the Azerbaijani selection. The acts were:
• Azad Shabanov – Smile (Lyrics: Zahra Badalbayliya / Composer: Vüsal Qarayeva)
• Ülviyye Rahimova – In Love (Lyrics: Ülviyye Rahimova / Composer: Sergey Guliyev)
• Meryem Shabanova – I’ve Had Enough (Lyrics: Meryem Shabanova / Composer: Meryem Shabanova)
• Elli Miçiyeva – Up, Up (Lyrics: Elli Miçiyeva & Taulina Melikova / Composer: İsa Melikova)
• Milk & Kisses – I Am On Fire (Lyrics: Dilare Kazimova & Feride Nelson /Composer: Dilare Kazimova & Feride Nelson)
The successful names were chosen by an expert jury who also chose Azerbaijan’s 2008 Eurovision Song Contest act, Samir & Elnur’s Day After Day. The successful names are:
• Milk & Kisses – I Am On Fire (Lyrics: Dilare Kazimova & Feride Nelson /Composer: Dilare Kazimova & Feride Nelson)
• Safura – Söz Ver (Promise Me) (Lyrics: Günel Musayeva və Zəhra Badalbayliya/ Composer: Elvin Musayeva)
• Meryem Shabanova – I’ve Had Enough (Lyrics: Meryem Shabanova / Composer: Meryem Shabanova)
Ex-Eurovision Song Contest winners Ruslana and Aleksander Rybak promoted their newest albums by performing some songs. Aysel was also interviewed about her experiences at the Eurovision Song Contest last year in Moscow during the show. She finished third with her co-singer Arash.
The final of the Azerbaijani selection will be held at the end of February and it will be broadcast on İçtimai TV again. It was also announced that this selection may change to a performer choosing another song if a better song is submitted to İçtimai TV.
