Aisel X My Heart

Self-aware artists know that one’s first effort isn’t always the most magical one. And smart artists know that it’s better to nip and tuck while you can, even after you’ve already made your grand reveal.

And today it’s clear that Aisel is all of these things, as she and her team have amped up her song “X My Heart” with more electronically-charged production that takes the song to another level. They’re dancing into 2018 and we love them for it.

The new, revamped version, which was uploaded on Tuesday morning, comes following Aisel and her team started their rehearsals for their planned stage show.

Producer Tim Bran, who worked with Blanche on “City Lights” and with acts like Birdy and London Grammar, made the suggestion, which makes the song more interesting and unique while retaining its original melody.

The video official video clip, directed by Roula Koutroubeli, remains the same and has the new version layered over the existing visuals.

Roula, a dance theater performer and director, has built up a solid reputation in Greece over the past two decades for her work in the National Theater of Greece and Epidaurus. You may remember her work from 2004, when she was the assistant choreographer at the Olympic Games in Athens.

The video showcases Aisel’s natural beauty in a series of outdoor settings. Wearing an all-white outfit and a pair of black ankle booties, she looks fresh and pristine. Luna would be silly not to moon her up!

In a statement sent to wiwibloggs, Roula said:  “When I first heard the song I felt optimism, happiness, innocence and a tingling feeling of excitement. It was immediately clear to me that I had to use a child in this video clip. The child symbolizes the inner child of Aisel and helped me depict all the above feelings that I originally had when I heard the song.”

“When in contact with our inner child we feel that everything is possible — we can ‘cross our heart and tear down firewalls’… as the song says. I was really happy to work with the multi-talented musician and singer Aisel and I wish the best of luck to her in the Eurovision Song Contest.”

This was our reaction to the original version of the song. We’ll release a new version soon.

The song is written by Sandra Bjurman of “Running Scared” (Azerbaijan, 2011) and Dimitris Kontopoulous of “You Are The Only One” (Russia, 2016). It was recorded in London and arranged by Tim Bran of “City Lights” (Belgium, 2017), and the stage design will be looked after by Fokas Evangelinos of “This Is Love” (Greece, 2017). So yes: You can expect great things.

“X My Heart” was decided upon by Aisel herself, as well as the team behind Aisel conducting a focus group including 300 people from 31 countries that didn’t know the purpose of the song and what it was being used for. It was met with an 87% approval rating, and there’s no doubt that the Azerbaijan delegation will be seeking a similar approval rating from the juries and voters come May.

What do you think of “X My Heart”? Are you loving the revamp? Sound off in the comments below!

READ MORE AZERBAIJAN EUROVISION NEWS

142 Comments
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Michèle
Michèle
6 years ago

The chorus of this reminds me of ‘Wrecking Ball’ by Miley Cyrus

Anita
Anita
6 years ago

It’s weird how non-eurovision fans love this song, while esc fans don’t like it. But they’ll do well I’m sure.

Duane
Duane
6 years ago
Reply to  Anita

Oooo..I’m not sure about this revamp at all!! I really liked how it was.

coca_cola
coca_cola
6 years ago

I had my boyfriend listen to all 43 entries and Israel & Azerbaijan were the only two song he added on his Spotify list.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

I’m calling now, this will stay in the semis.

coca_cola
coca_cola
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

Are we listening to a different song? This will be definitely top 10 with top 5 potential.
It’s the most catchy and current uptempo song of the year

hh
hh
6 years ago
Reply to  coca_cola

Top 10. Yeah,right! In your dreams maybe.

Tris
Tris
6 years ago

Seriously, as generic as it comes, it is CATCHY, just ignore the silly lyrics (hello, you have a chicken song coming and it’s currently the bookies’ favourite).
To me, I like the positive vibes the song gives.
The whole package is rather good – a catchy song, a competent singer and a beautiful video.
I want this to go into the finals and hopefully it will, because this year’s competition is weak.

Hulu
Hulu
6 years ago

Her voice is too good for this song

Laura DE
Laura DE
6 years ago

In Eurovision cycles there are two terms that have been over used : “generic” and “dated”. And it’s clear that these terms come from people that have no idea what is happening in the music industry and then they will be shocked when they will see Azerbaijan in top 10! “Generic pop” is the absolute trend in music. Pink, Rita Ora , Kylie they all released “generic pop songs”. Even Sia released a “generic pop song”. For me Azerbaijan has one of the best entries this year: it’s current, it’s catchy, it’s contemporary and this is why it will do… Read more »

Marcelo
Marcelo
6 years ago

Out of all the “generic” pop entries (Israel is another league) that has been chosen (Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Finland, Sweden, Belarus, Malta) I have to say this is the one that I like the most and the revamp made it even better. It felt weird being in the minority when this came out, since the reaction was mostly negative. Not in my Top 10, but really close there.

brunowskii
brunowskii
6 years ago

It was already nice and now it got slightly better…

People can freak out cause Azerba’s going to qualify and do better again ;-)))

EscAU
EscAU
6 years ago

This is what Greece did last year, kept adding layers of things to something that was already finished, and the song became overworked, it was fine before. Now it’s become too stiff like a dough that’s been kneaded too much

Bgc
Bgc
6 years ago

It’s an improved arrangement but it’s still quite a generic entry, made much worse by the lyrics; who the hell thought “Misty moon, I’m your loon, Let’s rock the nation” was a good idea? “Skeletons” had some dodgy lyrics too but at least the tune was good enough to compensate, plus weird lyrics suited a weird performance like “Skeletons” whereas it just seems cheap and lazy in a generic song like this. And what also sucks is that Aisel clearly has a great voice, looking at her other videos on Youtube. If she was given a smooth, smokey, jazzy number… Read more »

Eva M.
Eva M.
6 years ago
Reply to  Bgc

Exactly. Too generic and forgetable. Not something I care to hear again.

Héctor
Héctor
6 years ago

Ugh… it still sounds cheap and generic. Azerbaijan would most probably qualify since it’s Azerbaijan, but this is getting a bottom in the Grand Final.

EmilyG
EmilyG
6 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

You should download an application called “Spotify” > browse > charts > global
Listen to the top 50 and you will find 40 “generic” songs.
This is music in 2018

Jonas
Jonas
6 years ago

Her voice sounds quite like Lady Gaga, which is probably not a good thing when people realise “hey, this sounds like Lady Gaga, only Lady Gaga’s songs are much better”.

VlaD
VlaD
6 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Lady’s Gaga latest singles where much worst than this

Salomé
Salomé
6 years ago

All my friends that are not “fans” have this song in their top3

Angela
Angela
6 years ago

Portuguese song reaction please

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

I think the song needed a revamp. I like the instrumentation and that they made it more up-beat and dance. Good job Azerbaijan!

Josh Kennon
Josh Kennon
6 years ago

*Sigh* — another country tries to “modernize” a production criticized for being “old-fashioned” by adding “modern” electro-pop beats — when the song’s relative SIMPLICITY was probably the thing that made it stand out MOST– you can’t even hear her vocal over the beats now…

D
D
6 years ago

Better, but doesn’t help the boring vocals or bad lyrics.

desfolhada
desfolhada
6 years ago

Her voice reminds Katy Perry. And Saara Alto reminds me Britney in the intro of her song.

Joe
Joe
6 years ago

Also, anything that has to do with either “City Lights” (one of my favorite ESC songs) or London Grammar (one of my favorite bands) is solid to me.

Talula
Talula
6 years ago

Nothing special …too fogetble …but she has very good voice…

jim
jim
6 years ago

It’s still generic, but might qualify if Luna moons her up XD

gj
gj
6 years ago

…and good Lord is it necessary…

Hada
Hada
6 years ago

It still has “Luna Moon Me Up”, which is the biggest killer of this song (besides the genericness of it). But sounds better.

kuoiuoi
kuoiuoi
6 years ago

Great song from Azerbaijan. They can expect a Top 15 in ESC which will be a good rank for this song !

Fast Food Music Lover
Fast Food Music Lover
6 years ago

I didn’t know they revamped it! It sounds a lot better! Surie is shooketh.

Joe
Joe
6 years ago

Y’know what? I like this a lot better! I though the first version was a perfectly catchy if unremarkable entry in the same vein as a lot of Azeri entries, but somehow these little tweaks are just enough for it to grab my attention more.

K3P
K3P
6 years ago

The strange thing with this song is that all my non Eurovision fans ADORE it.
This is why I can see it doing very well.

Anthony
Anthony
6 years ago
Reply to  K3P

Exactly. If Aisel told all those people surveyed that Azerbaijan are looking for a Eurovision song for Lisbon, it might’ve been a completely different story.

Jasmine
Jasmine
6 years ago

One of the few songs on my Spotify. Such positive vibes.

Ari
Ari
6 years ago

You can put lipstick on a pig. The pig will still be there.
I am disappointed for Aisel, mostly. Azerbaijan sent way worse singers than her (including and especially the female part of their winning duo), she could probably give really good performances with a song that has some merit.

Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Ari

Agreed with the last part, Aisel has a beautiful smoky voice and looks stunning.
An Amy Winehouse/Germany 2015 type song would have suited her much better than this lame effort.

Ari
Ari
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Yep. They failed her and now she has to cushion the blow.

Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Ari

It may teach them to stop looking to Sweden for a Eurovision entry and try comeback up with something actually from Azerbaijan. An NQ might just be what they need.

Ari
Ari
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

I agree! I want them to stay in the semis. Unfortunately, it would hit the wrong singer, but what can you do… I just hope they won’t keep talking about the “dream team”. It’s not like there was further prove needed, but at this point, it should be obvious that it ain’t a dream at all. It so ain’t. Kirkorov’s songs are as fresh as an egg salad after a day in the sun.

Ari
Ari
6 years ago
Reply to  Ari

Or was it that Greek guys’s doing… whatever, they’re two peas in a pod.

Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Ari

It’s ironic that they call it the “Dream Team”. They really aren’t.
Perhaps about 10 years ago they would have been, but not now and their outdated approach is really starting to look old.

Kirby
Kirby
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

I totally agree with you!!! It could be a golden lesson once and for all

VlaD
VlaD
6 years ago
Reply to  Kirby

They are the “dream team” because they have in a decade 7 top 7 placing with some of the most iconic Eurovision entries.
And “x my heart” is going to fly in the top 10 because it’s a great song

Marcelo
Marcelo
6 years ago
Reply to  Ari

Poor Nikki, although what you said is definitely true. Her winning performance in Dusseldorf was way less than stellar.

Mm1982
Mm1982
6 years ago

It’s going to do very well with televoting since the song is very catchy and she is very good looking.
The new version will help the song score well with the juries as well.

Noel Hoffmann
Noel Hoffmann
6 years ago

I think the previous verson was better. Because of this:
1. Russia
2. Azerbaijan
3. Australia
4. Germany
5. Greece

moioi
moioi
6 years ago

I prefer the old version but the song is still good !

DarkJoshua
DarkJoshua
6 years ago

Now I get why they’ve reuploaded the video this morning… I honestly didn’t even notice any change…

John Moynahan
John Moynahan
6 years ago

Wasn’t a fan of this originally and still not over-enthused, however this is definitely an improvement.
There is room for a danceable song in this semi-final to qualify and this could sneak through.
No top 10 in the final though!

Darren
6 years ago

It’s much better, and much more contemporary so I’ll feel a little bit better about it scoring high.
I cannot accept “Luna Moon Me Up” it’s atrocious English.
But it’s an improvement I suppose.

3enia
3enia
6 years ago

Top 10 song and with good staging top 5

AM 1996
AM 1996
6 years ago

I loved the song from first listening: very catchy and current.
The new version makes it more interesting and unique but it remains a “hit song”

Pasadena
Pasadena
6 years ago

Slight improvement, but I’m afraid not enough. In the tough SF1 Azerbaijan is really a borderline qualifier.

AM 1996
AM 1996
6 years ago
Reply to  Pasadena

“Borderline qualifier”? It’s RUNNING into top 10

Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Pasadena

Azerbaijan will never be borderline, even when it’s bad. A Semi final with Azerbaijan in it only had 9 genuine qualification spots.
It gets messy if you end up in a semi with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Australia, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Sweden, …only 3 qualifying spots.

Walrus
Walrus
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

I wouldn’t be so sure – remember 2015 when Azerbaijan barely scraped through to the final? Or that time when Greece missed the final because they sent a horrible song (Utopian Land)? I have a feeling this year we’ll see Azerbaijan and Romania both fail to reach the final for the first time.

Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Walrus

Well that would make Eurovision far more realistic in my opinion.
It’s easy to assume that some participants get more attention than others just because of the flag that they represent

Magpie
Magpie
6 years ago
Reply to  Walrus

And had the new rules apply in 2015, Azerbaijan would have missed the final.

Pasadena
Pasadena
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Yeah I don’t believe that anyone qualifies solely because it’s this or that country. Having said that, Azerbaijan has an ability to put on great stage shows. If the staging is good they may end up high in the list, but just judging from the studio cut they are a borderline qualifier. Competition is just so hard in SF1 some of the ‘obvious’ qualifiers will fail.

Ron
Ron
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

@Darren – okay you’re exaggerating. Eurovision has become highly unpredictable in many ways. Azerbaijan literally finished 10th in 2015 and barely made it to the final. Last year they finished 8th I think in their semi – so no, they’re not a certain qualifier. If Sweden and Greece can miss the final, so can Azerbaijan.
With that said – semi 1 is going to be a bloodbath. I’ve counted at least 13 songs that have a real chance of making it to the final so we’re going to see a lot of surprises.

Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Ron

Sweden’s non-qualification happened once, over 8 years ago. It’s hardly relevant to the example you gave.
Greece, yeah okay, they failed to qualify in 2016. I’ll accept that one.
But I stand by my point that certain countries are favoured for WHO they are, rather than WHAT they send. With maybe one or two small shocks and upsets, Eurovision is actually incredibly predictable.

Pasadena
Pasadena
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Had any other countries sent any of the Swedish songs from the past 7 years they would have qualified too. It’s predictable because some countries have consistently sent good entries.

Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Pasadena

Ah I wouldn’t fully agree with that. Some of those countries have sent tosh year after year and still qualified.
Russia is a prime example here.

Ron
Ron
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

@Darren – Ever since Sweden’s 2010 non-qualification, Sweden has sent some of the most competitive entries (they’ve won twice and every other entry with the exception of 2013 has finished in the top 5). Greece failed in 2016 and came very close last year (they finished 10th in their semi. As for Russia – looking at their last 5-6 entries, only 2014 (and this year) are misfires. The rest of their entries deserves the spot they got. Eurovision has improved drastically since mid 2000’s when countries like Turkey and Greece could send three minutes of silence and finish in the… Read more »

Jonas
Jonas
6 years ago
Reply to  Ron

Azerbaijan still always get some very questionable votes in the final, so I think they still cheat. That always helps.

Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

It sure does jonas 😀
Azeri results can be baffling yet nobody really raises an eyebrow even the EBU.

Ron
Ron
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

@Darren – that’s probably because the EBU is in it too. Azerbaijan is known for its “caviar diplomacy”. We all know that the only reason they stayed in the contest after their 2009 fiasco was because of their caviar diplomacy with the EBU.

Pasadena
Pasadena
6 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Sure, you might be right. But that’s a different issue then, and then we shouldn’t put Azerbaijan in the same group as the likes of Sweden, Greece and Romania.

Glenn
Glenn
6 years ago

You go on YouTube and you read 90% positive comments.
You come here and you see the same IPs writing one negative comment over the other.
The song is GREAT and it will bring Azerbaijan back to top 10

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Glenn

Yeah, because this opinion doesn’t match yours, all of our comments must be fake and from the sami IP adress. Sure. I don’t know who these People are, but I agree with them. People are getting more ridiculous everyday.

Henry
Henry
6 years ago

Still a bland generic song, nothing special.

Y tho?
Y tho?
6 years ago

Don’t fix it when it ain’t broken!
It was a very nice song I would listen to everyday and it had flow… But with these out-of-place sound effects? I guess Azerbaijan will have its first DNQ in its Eurovision record.

Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Y tho?

It’s much better than “Start a Fire” which is the worst Azeri entry to date and that managed to qualify. So I think they are safe enough.

Y tho?
Y tho?
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Well, you’re clearly forgetting the fact that this year’s Semi 1 is the strongest Semifinal ESC ever had. Given the level of other entries, it will be very difficult for AZE.
Not to mention that Azerbaijan is nearly alone in this semi because most of Ex-Soviet countries are in Semi 2. I see it VERY hard for Azerbaijan. Sorry.

Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Y tho?

Don’t apologise to me, in my opinion, Azerbaijan is long over due a non-qualification. They’ve been getting away with it for years.
Especially with this lazy attempt, with excruciatingly cringe lyrics.

Y tho?
Y tho?
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Pity though. I didn’t even pay attention to the lyrics in the first version. I just liked the music and the flow. But now that even that is gone, little is left to see AZE as an attractive song.

Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Y tho?

I agree! I will say that Aisel has a great voice and looks amazing but this is sooooooooo not the type of song she should be singing.

Leo M
Leo M
6 years ago

Georgia song is out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuCZMdfBqm4 Safe to say this isn’t going to the final.

Han
Han
6 years ago

WAITING FOR SAARA ALTO coverage from the wiwi blog team. THE new PERFORMANCE IS out

Leo M
Leo M
6 years ago

The original version was fine. I feel the late revamp was their team realising it was not strong enough to match the competition but I don’t feel the electro vibes go with the song. I honestly think Azerbaijan could lose their 100% record this year.

Coco
Coco
6 years ago

I can’t help it, but the lyric about tearing down the firewalls always makes me think about computer safety and anti-virus programmes. So cringy

Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Coco

“Luna Moon Me Up” makes me shudder completely

Coco
Coco
6 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Well, it is written by the same guy who came up with ‘this is love, rain falls from above’, so…

Darren
6 years ago
Reply to  Coco

He’s a lyrical genius! Totally worth the money #SaidNobodyEver

jxn
jxn
6 years ago

spain is winner

TIETA DO AGRESTE
TIETA DO AGRESTE
6 years ago

1. ISRAEL
2. F.Y.R. MACEDONIA
3. AZERBAIJAN

Just this!

kitty
kitty
6 years ago

I have a problem with her voice.

Roxy
Roxy
6 years ago
Reply to  kitty

Her voice is actually very good but this song is not a good fit for her voice. In fact it’s far from being fit.

M
M
6 years ago

Still not buying into those, lyrics, but at least now it might deserve to make the final for a reason other that it being “being Azerbaijan”