Back in February, we broke the news that Russian music maestro Philipp Kirkorov and Greek composer Dimitris Kontopoulos were behind Azerbaijani act Aisel. And over the past few months the elegant songstress has been traveling all over Europe recording demos. Some of these demos included songs in her native language, piano-led jazz tracks and mainstream pop tunes.
And today Aisel’s team have revealed that she ultimately decided on the track “X My Heart”. In a statement sent to wiwibloggs, she said:
“X my heart” was my favorite song from the first moment I heard it. The music gave me a positive, uplifting feeling while performing it has a power that made me enjoy every second in the studio. I feel a strong connection with the lyrics of the song, since believing in myself made me overcome several difficulties I had in my life. This is a message I want to send to everyone: believing in yourself can make you “stronger than cannonballs”.
The song is written by two authors who have experienced success at the contest. Swedish songwriter Sandra Bjurman won with her composition “Running Scared” for Azerbaijan back in 2011, and Dimitris Kontopoulos won the viewers vote in 2016 with Russian entry “You Are The Only One”.
Aisel’s song was recorded in London, and arranged by Tim Bran, the man behind the production of Belgium 2017’s “City Lights”. His mainstream credits include production for The Verve, London Grammar, and Bloc Party.
Stage director Fokas Evangelinos will take charge of Aisel’s performance and set design. The Greek guru has powered winning acts such as Helena Paparizou and Dima Bilan. More recently, he worked on Sergey Lazarev in 2016 and Demy in 2017.
The music video for Aisel’s song has been filmed, and we will update you as soon as it is published.
What do you think? Are you excited that the Dream Team is working with AISEL? Would you prefer her to stick to her jazzy roots, or branch out? Share your thoughts below!
I don’t have high expectations here, but maybe they will surprise us.
Woow!! I’m so excited. Come on, Azerbaijan. 😀
No one could ever expect Euphoria from a cheezy author like G:sson so who knows if Kirkirov surprises us
Very good comment. Yes, we should hope for the best.
I am not excited about the writers. They have made two of my least favorite Eurovision songs ever. But I am excited about the arranger! Hopefully it is good.
“stronger than cannonballs”. in Aisel’s message – obv lyrics from song so sounds more like a dance track?
I think that it will be an ethno ballad. I read it somewhere. We will see tomorrow. 🙂
Read where?
I saw Aisel’s rehearsal of her song on Twitter and there are some native Azeri instruments
could still be fast or slow song native instruments don’t really give much of a clue…
were they playing fast? 😀 😀
I really HOPE it won’t be an ethnic ballad. We need some good pop this year and the authors can give us this.
It will not ethno ballad. I follow her esc news every day. Ethnic ballad wasn’t choosen from the jury. Be sure.
so you think uptempo Hazar?
It can be Dani
But you think uptempo anyway?
It sounds very promising. I have a good feeling about this!
Let it be a good song Azerbaijan! There aren’t many stands out this year.
Looking forward to the release!
Any clue to tempo? Anyone 😀
Bring it on Azerbaijan. I have very high expectations for this entry. Azerbaijan always comes up with something good anyway.
As a Turk, I really wish there were Azeri lyrics in the song like rumours suggested. Regardless I am excited considering DiHaj was a breath of fresh air. Good luck to my Turkic friends!
Sounds promising, but that don’t mean anything can’t wait to hear song.
“I feel a strong connection with the lyrics of the song, since believing in myself made me overcome several difficulties”
I read somewhere that Aisel is a widow.That her husband died a year ago from cancer.Maybe this is what she means.
Lol. Aisel isn’t widow. She has never been married. It is false information.
Well its not false. She is 27 years old but she is a widow, I double checked. Her husband was a jazz musician and died from cancer.
that’s sounds very promising : Kontopoulos has very strong melodies and Tim Bran made an amazing production last year at the Belgian entry
It has to be good. It’s Azerbaijan. They always have interesting entries. Definitely looking forward to this.
I’m so hyped. LOL. Can’t wait. I love Azerbaijan’s Eurovision songs, so I’m sure this one is going to be very good.
“stronger than cannonballs”
Lea michele cannonball anyone?
OMG! I’m so excited for this. Azerbaijan always sends good songs.
The dream team created Shady Lady in 2008. Are you scared or what?
Sounds promising. I think it will be something special even the title of the song is different from other songs. She can win. I can’t wait
Knowing who the composers are, I feel like this is going to be a tryhard cheesy piece of dated pop. But the way it was chosen make have some faith. So, we’ll see tomorrow.
Stunning girl.Just bring out the song ?
Super!!!! gloss, glitch, money, gold, shining aspiration….it’s all Azerbaijan. I think they are going after their second victory. Greetings from Armenia
sounds promising 🙂 Azerbaijan always brings good production!
So let’s wait and see uhum.
Oh no, this article reminded me Running Scared is a thing.
I hope it will be good, although (and you can despite me) it would be nice to see them flop with such a “dream team”. :p
Are people really hopeful of this song? With Kontopoulos behind it with cheesy songs and lyrics like “Shine”, “You are the only one” and last years Greek tragedy, I have a feeling you’ll all be disappointed. But I guess it’s Azerbaijan, so even if it’s “generic” people will love it…
I think you mean “But I guess it’s SWEDEN, so even if it’s “generic” people will love it…” Because in the last 2-3 years Azerbaijan has been under a lot of criticism, especially in 2016 and people definitely didn’t immedeately buy what the country was selling. Skeletons had a warmer welcome because of the edgy idea and the Azerbaijani producer. And it’s really convenient for you to list the bad songs Kontopoulos made and not list the good ones. To remind you 2016 Russia was 3rd BTW. It’s all about placement and what Europe prefers, not you specifically.
Go back and look at Kontopoulos discography. Cheesy pop songs badly produced for the masses. Heck, I love pop music I think that’s one of the reasons I love Eurovision so much. My favourite this year IS a pop/dance song but I can’t believe people fall for the distasteful music he produces year after year. I didn’t list the good ones? Name me a good pop song of his, not one of the cheesefest songs he produces. Russia 2016 didn’t deserve it, the audience was pulled in by the ‘show’ but I applaud them, they manage to do it every… Read more »
Hold me was second. It was relly best song of 2013.If you mean his song in 2017 (Greece) it was bad. Because greek singer can’t sing at all. It depends of singer and performance too. Also Sandra always writes good lyrics
The Greek singer of 2017 was perfectly fine. She has hit after hit, but when the song is not good enough people tend to blame the artist for it. Demy is a really good vocalist, just stupid management on the whole “love” part of the backing vocalists that I can say was awful. The whole song was awful. Unfortunately Kontopoulos is stuck in the past when he used to write brilliant songs for Ukraine & Greece but the music scene has changed dramatically and he’s just a bystander to it all. I’m hoping for a good pop song here, we… Read more »
Hopefully the lyrics aren’t crazy metaphorical like last year. Can’t wait!
“Aisel’s song was recorded in London, and arranged by Tim Bran, the man behind the production of Belgium 2017’s “City Lights”. His mainstream credits include production for The Verve, London Grammar, and Bloc Party.”
Okay now I’m PUMPED.
I got excited over this too. It means whatever the song will be like, we will still get classy production.
Why? Classy? You really like that word. Is UK the new Sweden?
When will they do it for themselves?
It has little to do with UK but you should check this guy’s portfolio. I did and I was surprised to see some of my favorite songs there. I mean London Grammar, Birdy, La Roux… I really like all of them. And also City Lights, I think it was the best studio cut last year.
And I really wish they could do it for themselves as well, I love a lot of stuff that comes from UK. I guess they are not pushing very hard for Eurovision.
Here comes the real bop,hopefully, since Cyprus was a huge disappointment.
Sounds really good and with the competition so far being non-existent she will probably have an easy route to the final
The first semi final has harder competition tho.
Wait, so it wasn’t actually written by Kirkorov? Not that I like the Greek better, but the Swedish songwriter might mitigate the nightmare.
The title leaves little hope, though
Like “X Burger”?
> Are you excited that the Dream Team is working with AISEL
NO
If they get it right YES absolutely 😀