Back in November Azerbaijan revealed that pianist, vocalist and composer Aisel would represent Azerbaijan at Eurovision 2018.
And today the stunning singer gave Eurofans plenty to chew on, revealing that she’ll release her song on the 4th of March.
Arriving at the song has been a labour of love — and miles. As her teams explains to wiwibloggs, she’s spent the past few months traveling Europe and recording demos, which included songs in her native language with ethnic flair, jazz tracks and mainstream pop tunes.
Ultimately — and in conjunction with music experts at home and abroad — she narrowed down her vast selection of songs to her three personal favourites.
Well aware that Aisel needs to appeal to a broad selection of tastes, her team conducted a focus group that included 300 people from 31 countries. Unlike in Germany, where fans and music experts knew they were working on Eurovision material, none of the participants in the Azerbaijani screening were told why they were listening to the songs, what the songs would be used for or who the singer was. They simply rated like or dislike.
From all that data a winner emerged — and one that received 87% likes. It will drop on 4 March at 12:00 CET.
Despite earlier reports from local media in Azerbaijan, we can confirm that there will not be any Azeri lyrics in the song. It’s in English.
Azerbaijan’s Eurovision 2018 postcard
Aisel’s travels have also taken her to Eurovision 2018 host country Portugal, where she filmed her postcard in the small town of Monsaraz.
In a statement sent to wiwibloggs, she said: “I feel that what you will see is going to be very authentic, beautiful and ‘uplifting’, just as the experience I had in Portugal those days!”
“I was very lucky that my postcard was shot outside Lisbon in a truly extraordinary place called Monsaraz. The unique experience of Monsaraz wound up with the ballon flight above the biggest artificial lake in Europe and endless green fields.”
“I have to admit that before the flight I was excited and at the same time little afraid… though by the time we started floating in the air the fear disappeared and I truly enjoyed this wonderful journey.”
“Last but not least, the crew was amazing, very kind and helpful! I can’t wait to see the result of the postcard.”
Are you looking forward to hearing Aisel’s song? Which genre do you hope that she went for? What do you think of their approach to the focus group?
I look at that jumper and know this ain’t gonna be no Skeletons. Oh well most of the other acts are terrible this year too. Prove me wrong Hunty.
@William Adams. Do you have a clue to the basic tempo of the song – ballad or uptempo?
Awww… I am so sad it won’t have the Azeri lyrics. That would be so awesome, man. But I am sure it’s going to be a very good song. Azerbaijan always comes back with something good.
And one of the three songs was composed by Azeri composers, in the native language with ethnic jazz vibes. But it gathered the least “like” percentage by viewers.
Therefore, Ictimai Tv’s production team opted for the song that is loved by most people (87%) strategically thinking.
(Un) fortunately the channel chose a safe road again.
To be fair they listened to a range of European tastes and it is the Eurovision song contest.
Yes. They listened to different songs. But Aisel preferred three of them as article mentioned. One song is fully native, while the other two is said to be in jazz and pop styles.
Actually listeners disliked the native one.
I am referring to INFE Azerbaijan’s news.
So rejecting the (disliked) native sing was a smart choice not really taking the safe road but the smart road 😉
Yes, actually. If I were in a production team I would also choose the smart way. Being native does not guarantee quality. But as a music lover I am not in favour of going to Swedes every year. Their songs (mostly) sound overproduced and unoriginal.
The ‘Dream Team’ are non-Swedes right?
Greeks. My bad…
It is mostly about Swedes.
I have not heard quality songs by Dream(killers)team? yet.
I hope I am wrong this time.
Especially, this celebrity guy Krikorov. I spent my childhood seeing Krikorov singing sh*terpieces.
Shady Lady?
Work Your Magic?
You’re the Only One?
Hold Me?
Exactly. The only Shady Lady was okayish. The rest are for my vomit break.
???
:’D
Based on this quote: “In a statement sent to wiwibloggs, she said: “I feel that what you will see is going to be very authentic, beautiful and ‘uplifting” it sounds like a ballad
Aisel’s referring to the postcard filmed not the song. What you will ‘see’
This looks promising so far. Looking forward to hearing the song!
For William: are the Azeri sources giving you a basic clue to whether it’s ballad or uptempo?
I really hope it won’t be a ballad.
Me neither. William, William where for art thou William? 😀
My post appeared late below and in wrong place??
Apologies for duplicate post.
RIP at no azeri lyrics, i hope the song is good at least.
RIP to 35 songs that will be in English then
Me neither. William, William where for art thou William? 😀 😀
Love their selection process. Hope it works out!
I’m confident this will be yet another bop. The Azeri language isn’t very musical (no offense), so I’m not mad at the 100% English lyrics.
Second time this year that I agree with you 100%
She has had a long time to work on this song so it should be good. I haven’t liked Azerbaijan’s efforts so much in the last two years and it used to be one of my favourite countries. I hope they come back with something special!
Sounds goods and well-thought, let’s see what Azerbaijan brings on 4th March. “Skeletons” was love at first listen.
Turkey and Bosnia & Herzegovina! I want them both back.
That was meant to address @KESC actually.
Good luck to Aisel and Azerbaijan! <3
It sucks we won’t hear any Azeri but I like how she picked her songs. Having a blind assessment was smart. I have hopes for this.
No one in Europe that takes part in a blind assessment would ever vote a song in any other language that English/Italian/France.
um.. portugal 2017 won js. and ukraine 2016 in crimean tatar
It would be nice to hear some Azeri of course. But I always expect good songs from Azerbaijan and they never disappoint. Probably one of my favorite Eurovision countries. Dfinitely looking forward to this.
PS. She’s so damn hot!! LOL
Azerbaijan always sends good songs to Eurovision, so I trust them. Can’t wait! 😀
I always expect good things from Azerbaijan! We need some standouts this year. Hope for some good songs at the last minute! (Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Australia)
Could be good, but sad they skipped on some Azeri flavour…let’s hope it’s not just some retread/reject Swedish written Melfest reject…. 😉
Wikipedia says: Her song will be in english and azeri
That was what azeri media reported at first yes. That statement has been debunked now though.
Any entries made in Wikipedia is editable.
We have spoken with sources close to Aisel’s team, and her song does not include any Azerbaijani words
Wiwipedia
I thought it was written by kirkorov?????
Kirkorov wrote Moldavia
And Azerbaijan
that’s disappointing I was really looking forward to Azeri lyrics, so it wont be unique anymore.
How does that make a song unique?
I’m trying to figure that out myself. I like how she consulted people from all over the continent to help her out. That was really smart.
”will not be any Azeri lyrics in the song. It’s in English.”
Then goodbye!
I guess that’s like a farewell to all 30 countries that will sing in english this year.
Good bye?
Thank God I would say
Is that a dig on Romania? Cause they ditched the two favorites with lyrics in Romanian and picked Goodbye instead?
She is so hot!
AND ALSO TELL ME WHERE YOU GOT THE SOURCE
OFF TOPIC: Is the UK revamping, yes or no because I’ve been checking BBC radio 2 and surie’s twitter page i can’t find any key information, i just cant trust reality snaps
Can SOMEONE answer me
PLEASE
THANK YOU
The method Azerbaijan used to choose their entry is the best IMO
+ no “Eurovision experts”,exactly as the audience that watches Eurovision every year
+ not knowing who the singer is, exactly as in Eurovision, were the average viewer doesn’t know the background of the singer.
+ simply having to like or dislike the song, because this is the feeling you get from a song not rating it.
> Are you looking forward to hearing Aisel’s song?
No.
> Which genre do you hope that she went for?
Post-avantgarde ethno-folk jazz. But she didn’t.
Is there anything you like in this year’s contest? Excuse me, but all of your comments are negative, like seriously… ._.
AWS, Balkanika and Mikolas Josef.
I’m negative because this year is seriously awful. And Azerbaijan is always awful, sorry not sorry.
Post-avantgarde- ethno-folk-jazz, yeah, I like that 😀
very pretty woman. Looking forward to hearing the song. Azerbaijan always have good songs.
She is amazing . I hope we will love her song.
Wait, what? No Azeri lyrics? Well that’s a disappointment. 🙁
Hope the song is great though! C’mon Azerbaijan, Belgium, Australia etc, we need some real bops to save this year’s contest.
I hear you. What a bummer! I was very excited to hear some Azeri in Eurovision.
It is close to Turkish
I’m aware of that, thanks. What I meant was that since its debut Azerbaijan has always sent English songs, and nearly all of them composed by foreigners and that a song truly Azeri in heart would be nice to have in Eurovision. I think it’s the time. I adored the Belarusian entry last year for example, it was their first song in their native language.
Beside sadly we don’t hear Turkish anymore too. So why not some Azeri to spice things up?
Exactly, but let’s wait for the final song.
I really hope Turkey returns to the contest as well.
I wouldn’t hold my breathe. They can’t even put a team together to compose their own entries. Sorry, but since their 2008 entry all of their other entries have been composed by Swedes and Greeks.
So? I won’t claim that you’re an Armenian, but I can’t find any other reason why would someone care about the nationality of the songwriters of Azerbaijani ESC entries. That’s beyond ridiculous. What matters is the final product they present to us and they always send good songs (ofc it’s the matter of taste). If you like the particular song the nationality of the songwriters is the last thing you should think about. Like 90% of people who watch Eurovision in May don’t even care about who are the actual composers behind the songs, a lot of people don’t even… Read more »
@Rayne – the point behind my post was….if they can’t put together a team to write their songs how in the world are they going to introduce an Azeri language song? A Swede won’t know how to write a song in Azerbaijani, same with a Greek. And, I actually disagree with you. If every country was to purchase a song from the Swedish music factory, we wouldn’t have the diverse Eurovision that we have today. Diversity is more important than how catchy a tune is (which is what I think you mean by “a good song”).
Ron, can you please permit us to worry about foreign composers for our country? Not you. Whenever I visit this site I witness your whining aggression and Steve’s suffocating self pity. Aisel chose three songs and one of them was composed by Azeri team with ethnic jazz vibes. But it got the least percentage comparing to other two songs. So, Ictimai TV’s production team opted for a song that is liked by 87% percentage. I would like to hear local composers all the time for my country. But at the same time, I understand that, that team at least has… Read more »
@Ay Jo – I’m not sure which of my comments where “whining aggression”, but I literally wrote a factual statement. And if my comments bother you so much, don’t read them.
I tend to agree with Ron, and I am an Azerbaijani. What can you do when you have no talented folks in the country; gotta pay others to do it for you. Pathetic, right.
I do care about the nationality of the composers. Because I want to hear the unique voice of every country. It’s a known fact that Azerbaijan imports songs for Eurovision. I’m not saying that because I don’t like your song. Actually I do, they are all decent songs. But I know how rich your musical heritage is, I know that music is a big deal in Azerbaijan and I want whole Europe to know that. Blame me for that if you want. I’d like to hear something different than Swedish standards. That would save us from watching a very monotonous… Read more »
I personally do not care whether its local or foreign composers who did the song. I just want me a good song. :p
Azerbaijan always send good entries to Eurovision, so let them do whatever they want. It’s one of the most successfull Eurovision countries of 2010s. They’re pretty good at it. Drip Drop, When the Music Dies, Running Scared, Hold me, Skeletons – they all were decent entries. I am sure this one will also be very good. SO EXCITED! *O*
I agree they are all decent songs but they were almost never in my top 3. To each his own, I guess. It was nice and intriguing for the first few years but then it got too predictable and fans probably got bored. Look how poorly they did in recent years compared to earlier.
Yeah. Azerbaijan 2014, 2015 and 2016 weren’t as good as their previous efforts. They were pretty average compared to earlier. But I LOVED Skeletons. That was such a cool song and the performance was EPIC!! I expect something much better from them this year.