We now have the final song for Eurovision 2024. Azerbaijan’s FAHREE has released his entry for the contest, “Özünlə Apar”.
FAHREE won’t be alone on stage in Malmö. He’ll be joined by Ilkin Dovlatov, who will contribute to the mugham sections — a classical form of Azerbaijani music.
FAHREE feat. Ilkin Dovlatov – “Özünlə Apar” (Azerbaijan Eurovision 2024)
“Özünlə Apar” — which translates to English as “Take me with you” — is composed by Edgar Ravin, Hasan Haydar, Mila Miles, along with FAHREE himself.
The lyrics were written by Mado Salikh and FAHREE. They mix English in the verses with Azerbaijani in the chorus.
FAHREE was selected to represent Azerbaijan at Eurovision through an internal selection process by broadcaster İTV.
Ilkin Dovlatov originally entered the selection as part of a trio alongside Mila Miles and Etibar Əsədli, making it to the top six. Although he wasn’t successful with this act, he was later brought in to add an extra sparkle to “Özünlə Apar”, and so he’ll still get the opportunity to perform on the Eurovision stage.
What are your thoughts about “Özünlə Apar”? Do you like the addition of Ilkin Dovlatov to the song? Let us know in the comments below.
Those ones who write nasty comments here about this song do not understand a one thing about music. They only want cheap dated rap or night club bang bang songs and grappy circus, pantless dude runing around roaring on stage. ESC is suppose to be a SONG CONTEST and Azerbaijan song is everything, it is chanting beautiful, stylish, great vocals… And there’s no doubt the land of fire will put on an amazing show in Malmo and qualifies and finish top10.
I think this song has more appeal than what the fans are stating. This is what is missing recently from Azerbaijan, and i think this will certainly get them to qualify. With no Turkey in the competition over the last decade and with a modern ethnic song this might do very well. I can see this as one of those songs which potentially will be better live than the studio version. If songs fall into this category , its a top 10.
Azerbaijan started with not importing MF rejects from swedisch production teams anymore with those cute 2 twin brothers last year TuralTuranX .
They didnt qualify unfortunately.
This entry is much more polished and well thought about.
It oozed my ears and soul.
I hope we will see them back in the Finals.
Quite nice, actually.
this is simply awful.
Come on Azerbaijan, give us nothing!!
Boreal? Are you a Finn? Excuse me but you don’t understand anyhting about good music.
Yaaaas!! this is great. It sounds very atmospheric and lounge inspiring. I also love that Azerbaijan’s song this year is very ethnic sounding and has lyrics in Azerbaijani!!
This is a watered down song, where it lacks from too many points which just makes it too bland.
NQ, but at least it’s not outsourced song.
Hot take but, since Azerbaijan decided to finally start sending more original entries since 2023, while supporting local artists, their songs’ quality has skyrocketed. Personally, “Tell Me More” and now, “Özünl? Apar” are my all-time favorite Azeri entries in the contest ever.
Already moved the up song 10 places. Now it’ sitting higher than Ukraine in my top.
And yet they didn’t qualify last year and I still put a question mark Over whether they will this year, although I will give credit that they are going more local and including a bit of their language for once.
I still think there’s room for improvement, but I definitely see where you’re coming from! Azerbaijan seems to have taken a more authentic route and I really appreciate that. If they add a bit more originality and freshness to their future songs, I’m sure they’ll give us some real good songs!
What a totally bizarre video, I feel like I stepped into an alternate universe for a few minutes. The song has got a nice chilled out vibe which I can get on board with.
Nice one, this can get bigger on esc stage if they do it right to deliver the message, I like this Israel and UK, inlike the rest only flashy like made for esc competing song no deep meaning, Israel, Azerbaijan and Uk are very good and are my top 3
This Is Great Song
of course this video does not help the song, but this entry has a STRONG staging potential, and azerbaijan has the budget
I only like Mr Dovlatov’s moustache.
From a country that used to deliver year after year this is extremely disappointing. Might gather some votes from the diaspora due to the ethno elements but there is no song here. I was hoping last year was just a one-time mishap but it now feels like they are on a Greece mid-10s trajectory of a country completely losing its way.
“from a country that used to deliver…”
Ehm, used to deliver overrated melfest rejects that were (deservedly) criticized.
I hope that they keep going this way, they’ll eventually find their own new footing in the contest.
I think what’s mean is that they fell from one of the most successful countries to one of the most unsuccessful ones within one year. After their fifth top five rank in a row back in 2013, they only returned to the top ten once, back in 2019. And that was mostly because of the very well staging, not because of the song.
Cute couple
I’m not usually a fan but this one is quite well done actually
It feels and looks as if from Azerbaijan, and they are handsome lads. I know people are bleating that this is boring, but I think a classily-performed song with an ethnic flavour will be appreciated by televoters. Especially given that it is the same segment as the appalling “No Rules!”.
No Rules IS A MASTERPIECE
No Rules is a masterpiece of crap.
Well said mate.
Yeah, a total masterpiece. Two 14 years old teens are trying to give a party and one of them think it’s a good idea to spread out his fluid.))
No it is not it is a joke with hairy ass. It is not a song wash your ears.
No Rules is not even a song. W95M only runs around pantless and roars. The other dude sings some but he can sing very poorly,Finland is a joke. Azerbaijan song is stylish, chanting, ethnic elements both artists have great vocals.
Really like it although I would – by far – prefered it not in english. But part of my top 10
For too long I have been angry with ITV for not utilising young talents, promising myself that I will never ever listen to our entry songs until they are locally produced. I unfollowed all platforms related to Eurovision news. And my coworker said today that our song was released and I answered: “Sorry, not interested”. Well, I said I can at least check about only one news about it and I was literally shocked seeing all the names of our local producers and musicians. When the play button is hit it is a spiritual, atmospheric tone. I loved it. I… Read more »
We say Congrats to that!!
Very well done.
And yet here you are
This is really good. Well done, Azerbaijan!
Good song from Azerbaijan. Middle Eastern beat and ethnic undertones works well. If this is performed well it will qualify. Will go down well in Malmo.
I don’t know if this entry is that competitive, but I find it very pleasant and enjoyable to listen to on repeat. Definitely one of my favs this year where everyone seems to go on the same direction musically.
Eh, it’s okay.
Nice to see actual Azerbaijani musicians, instruments, and language. It seems they have been taking onboard our complaints of being too outsourced.
The wailing female backing vocalist is my favourite part.
It’s two male vocalists.
This one would have worked better with a live orchestra, in my opinion. There is some nice music here that is sadly being drowned out by the mechanical beat. The tempo remains constantly lacklustre to allow the melodic flourishes to shine, yet somehow we never quite get the full shine that is intended. Would it have hurt the song to have FAHREE sing a higher flourishing melody in the third minute? I think I might forgive this song for sticking with the same beat if the beat was groovy enough, but it just feels like a plane slowly taxiing down… Read more »
I think this is a very clever track well done.
After the release of Armenia, the 2nd ESC24 entry with credible etnic and traditional elements.
They both soothen my ears and soul.
Yes, very much needed in this years edition.
If the artists have good vocals live and their creative teams know how to putt it well on stage.
I see both of them doing well.
My best of luck.
Congrats
I like it, it’s pleasant and showcases Azeri identity rather than a Melfest reject (with lyrics that make no sense, ala X My Heart).
I like it, BUT it doesn’t feel competitive and I’m u sure if it’s chances as of now, but best of luck Azerbaijan
What a twist at the end! I thought Azerbaijan will send something strong but this song is extremely underwhelming, and it’s for sure a non-qualifier WHICH leaves that one spot for someone we thought will not qualify to qualify. Ireland might qualify after all!
I can’t make up my mind around the fact that the Irish entry may qualify. This is horrific to my ears. I respect all artists and their work, regardless of whether I like their music or now, but this is not to qualify by any means. I would be surprised.
Of course Ireland will qualify! They are my twelve points
After last year’s NQ, I expected Azerbaijan to go back to polished Melfest rejects, but I’m glad that they didn’t go back that way.
As for the song itself, the melody is sultry and they managed to mix different sounds in a cohesive way. Also, it’s such a big surprise that they went for their native language for the first time.
What’s this? Azerbaijan is sending a song with some Azeri lyrics to Eurovision for once? It’s up in the right direction, but is it enough to qualify? We’ll have to see in May.
finally a turkic line since jamala’s 1944 apart from 1-2-3 line from san marino from 2019. the real success of this song they put together many elements successfuly without getting the song messy but an explosive point in the song is still missing.
Definitely missing, it lacks a crescendo at the end. It’s a bit flat. Otherwise, it’s not bad but that may not be enough.
Feeling disappointed, and not because of this song. The song itself isn’t bad and I appreciate the direction Azerbaijan is going in by bringing in more ethnic elements (even though I have a soft spot for their Swedish bought bops – Cleopatra!). I didn’t want to add to the political discourse, however looking over the comments here and on YouTube, at no point do I see any mention of genocide, apartheid, or any of the vile comments that gets posted when even a whiff of the Israeli entry gets posted. Why do certain countries like Azerbaijan and Serbia get a… Read more »
second time we have a mugham artist in the contest then
first time was Alim Qasimov (their most famous mugham star) as a backing vocalist for Sabina Babayeva in 2012 and part of the opening act that year
first time now though with azerbaijani lyrics
I loved Sabina Babayeva. Really could have done without the background noise tbh. It was so forced, like „quick, we’re at home, let’s throw in something that’s ours“.
Who invited Ivan Cankar?
This is incredibly flat and goes nowhere. Without the addition of the moustache guy who sings some Arabic scale notes, this would be incredibly bland. I wish the moustache guy had more of an involvement in the song, he seems like a last-minute addition, his vocals are clearly more interesting and superior than the other guy.
The lyrics sound awkward and translated, I think this would’ve hit better if it was totally in Azeri. Overall, this is like the boring distant relative of Chingiz’s ‘Truth’ from 2019.
To be honest, I could not understand any of the lyrics. Was that English? Was that Azeri? It was difficult to tell. And the rhythm was hard to grasp. It took me 2.30 minutes to do that. Overall, it’s a bit flat; that type of song cannot stand out.
It’s good and I really like the ethnic elements, however I feel like this entry will struggle to qualify.
He’s got a great very but the song is meh. It’s fine but doesn’t grab me. I think it will struggle to qualify
This is my reaction literally 30 seconds after the first listen. It’s not bad, but it’s not exciting. To be honest,, it’s a bit flat and unexciting, and it does not arouse any strong emotions. I also struggled to sync with the rhythm. It took me until 2.30 to grasp the song. It will struggle to qualify but it’s not bad in any case. The things this song (after the first listen) gave me to remember are: ethnic, ballad, flat and a bit boring, a man singing in a language I cannot understand (neither English or Azeri), another man with… Read more »
i understand the english phrases perfectly fine though, in terms of the azeri lyrics, the meaning of the title btw is ”Take It With You”
Don’t get me wrong, it was just that the music was somehow loud, he sings low, and it was not very clear to me in which language he was singing. Something with the production, I guess.
For me another song I can get behind. It starts rather low key and I feared the worst but it quickly builds up into a really strong, effective mix of styles with a lush traditional orchestral arrangement. Really really like it.
It’s okay. Doesn’t do much for me but still good of them to stay away from shopping abroad for diva pop songs. If Azerbaijan can stop this, so can everyone else. It’s not a guaranteed qualifier, but good on them for trying something.
Yes, that style and type of song are better than diva pop songs. Still, they need to work harder. This is by no chance even remotely close to what Azerbaijan can offer.
Which makes me wonder: have their motives changed? Do they just wanna be a regular participant now? Is the regime satisfied with that one win? They don’t seem to be dying to win anymore. Maybe the goal now is to look like a normal country.
Look like a normal country… don’t get me started. haha
Where is EBU on that matter?
I don’t think their motives have changed. They really don’t care about winning, or really the contest at all – they just want to host.
They do seem to have lost a little of their former determination, but I’d say that this is mostly because all the international propaganda they’ve utilised so far has actually worked. Azerbaijan as a state is much much better known on the world stage today than it was in 2011.
Formula One races, athletics championships, Olympic bids, boxing tournaments…. Baku had chased them all and got them most of the time. $$$
If they still cared about hosting though, they’d HAVE to care about winning, or at least coming 2nd. Now it seems more like they are satisfied with what they achieved, like you said they got most of what they wanted, so now the main goal seems to just remain present.
Aygun Kazimova i know, maybe if they are doing decently this year, could make eurovision more interesting for her to submit something?
she’s so versatile either, from ballads or quirky uptempo’s, she can do anything
It’s mostly Swedes again. They only added a few parts re Mugham but generously added their names among the composers and lyricists.
Who? Edgar Ravin, Hasan Haydar, Mila Miles, Mado Salikh… none of those sound Swedish.
They all are Azerbaijanis, Edgar Ravin and Mila Miles also participated in the internal selections. Mado Salikh was one of the semi-finalists of the Voice Azerbaijan. Mila Miles (real name Tamilla) was vocal couch of Efendi. Hasan Haydar is also Azerbaijani. All local production. You can check their instas:
Edgar Ravin – edgarravin
Mila Miles – milamilesm
Mado Salikh – madosalikh
Hasan Haydar – khvseveryday
All locals – that is a positive development indeed.
very good song, fully azerbaijani entry would’ve been too risky i agree, but this feels authentic enough for me personally
no swedish involvement again!!!! this is what we want from a country like Azerbaijan, (hopefully we will have their good friends Turkiye back in the contest very soon as well)
So, EBU perhaps made them change the lyrics, as the previous lyrics referred to the enjoyment of ethnic cleansing. Why do we allow this country whitewash its image by buying good songs from Sweden?
I wanted to touch upon this matter but I opt for no politics in Eurovision. But I get what you say. Obviously all went well there in the Caucasus last year. No war, no nothing.
Azerbaijan keeps threatening. There were clashes and much pressure on Armenia by Russia-Turkey- Azerbaijan trio. Maybe the news don’t reach you, but Azerbaijani dictator promises to erase Armenia on daily basis.
What are you talking about? Russia is the biggest ally of Armenia.
Not anymore. Russian-Armenian relations have greatly deteriorated.
Are you from early 2000s? Do you ever read political news? Azerbaijan is Russia’s ally. Even signed a strategic cooperation agreement a day before invasion into Ukraine. Nagorno Karabakh ethnic cleansing was the price Russia gave t Turkey and Azerbaijan to stop them supporting Ukraine. Read EU resolutions. You may be shocked.
For more than 30 years, Armenia committed war crimes against Azerbaijan, occupying more than 20% of the territory, this is not a political competition, there is no need to mislead people, during the last war, Armenia fired at the civilian population of Azerbaijan and innocent children died in Ganja, Azerbaijan fought with the military
The song itself is not too bad (although repeats Chingiz’s song Truth). Again Swedes are in the loop with only Mugham being added to the song. However, I can’t respect a country who commits war criem:s. Ban Azerbaijan.
Not quite as simple as that.
As far as I read, all of the names behind this song are Azeri songwriters…
This! I tried to post a nice respectful comment with a similar sentiment earlier but it was blocked (curious why that gets flagged and yet hundreds of other hateful comments get posted). It’s so hypocritical to have silence on Azerbaijan’s recent activities but then all hatred, ire, and political commentary get directed at one other specific county. Almost as if this site has its own agenda. That aside, the entry is not bad. I see the Chingiz comparison. Nice to see some ethnic elements come through however. That being said Armenia and Greece are definitely filling the ethnic bop void… Read more »
People don’t care about Azerbaijan as much, as Isreal. Even though the crimes are similar. Won’t support this song
This is a great song! Ethnic and pop, this is what we want from a country like Azerbaijan.
Hopefully this will qualify to the GF.
I heard the song several times now and i am literally obsessed with instrumental. Why is this so good. I even believe it could come top 5. Azerbaijan really surprised me in a good way. So my top 5 this year: Croatia ( hot baby), Spain( good message) , Azerbaijan ( amazing instrumental) , Greece (ethnic bop), Norway ( i just like it lol).
I think this has potential to be my favourite ballad of this year. Very relaxing and interesting song
A big nothing ????
Azerbaijan 7/12
Whilst I don’t think Azerbaijan (Or Israel) should be competing this year, I have to say, this tickles the spot that other songs, especially ethnic ones haven’t been doing for me.
I can see Azerbaijan in top 10. They will surely provide for an effective stage performance which will make this lovely song seem more powerful. And last but not least, both Fahree and Ilkin are good-looking men, that might bring some additional points.
Just… no.