Last year she sang an ode to an Egyptian queen, but this year Efendi could be taking a different direction. Azerbaijan‘s singer for Eurovision 2021 has revealed the titles of the six songs in the running to be her entry for Eurovision 2021.
Efendi shared the news through the Azeri fan organisation INFI Azerbaijan. The six song titles are:
- “Breathing You”
- “Manifesto”
- “Mata Hari”
- “Owe You Pretty”
- “Ratata”
- “When I Am Gone”
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“Mata Hari” appears to be a reference to the legendary Dutch exotic dancer of the same name, who was executed after being found guilty of spying for Germany in World War I.
Of the six songs, two are ballads and the other four are up-tempo songs. One of the songwriters behind Efendi’s 2020 entry “Cleopatra” is also behind one of the six songs.
INFE Azerbaijan also notes that the titles of the songs are not fixed and could still be changed.
How will Efendi’s song for Eurovision 2021 be selected?
At the beginning of the year, broadcaster Ictimai TV opened submissions to find Efendi’s song for Rotterdam. Well over 150 songs were submitted and from that the broadcaster selected a shortlist of those six songs.
A special focus group made up of music experts and fans will assess the shortlisted songs and determine the song Efenfi will take to Rotterdam.
Efendi’s journey to Eurovision 2021
Samira Efendi has long been on many fans’ wishlists to represent Azerbaijan at Eurovision. She was reportedly one of the shortlisted acts in 2019, and was finally given the ticket to Eurovision in 2020.
After much hype and speculation, Efendi’s song for Eurovision 2020 was confirmed as “Cleopatra”. The song came with a bold music video, which promised an equally thrilling live performance at Eurovision.
However, little over one week after “Cleopatra” was released, the EBU announced that, sadly, Eurovision 2020 would not go ahead. But Ictimai TV didn’t want to let go of their diva. Just two days after the cancellation, Efendi confirmed that she would be back at Eurovision 2021.
What do you think? What song title sounds the most promising? Should Efenfi perform another song like “Cleopatra” or go with a ballad? Tell us your thoughts below!
Uhm I hope they don’t withdraw too (please don’t get political about this, I’m neutral about the conflict), because there is 5 days left until the deadline and there’s no information…
Noo. No way a song like “Cleopatra” that was so chessy. Since Samira’s voice and talent is not as strong as Safura and Sabina Babayev’s, she have to select the best song to save her from ending up on the bottom. I hope the next year Ilhame Qasimova will present us. And after next Manana Japarize will be.
So excited for this bumper half-dozen of songs. This could be as epic as Roxen/Romania songs from last year.
I see the Mother Theresa ballad didn’t make the final shortlist then.
Once again some countries show a total lack of inventiveness and no search for originality and uniqueness. After Cleopatra, why not bet on Mata Hari. The title was drawn by Random.org in a list of famous women? Then I hope “Ratata” is not a rip-off of Roxen’s ‘rakata’. Whatever, after “La la love” and “Uh la la” I think you can’t do any worse.
Rakata was Eden Alene, not Roxen.
Actually, they both had a song called Rakata, so if this is a knock-off, it could be of either.
So they even keep us guessing about which knock-off they are knocking off!
Wasn’t Roxen’s “Rakata” just a song lyric from “Cherry Red”?
True that, thanks! Rakata was a hook, but not the title. Still, the potential inspiration could come from either song.
Mata Hari sounds really promising (although I believe the title will be changed), I love how they went on with powerful historical female figures. Whichever song they choose, I’m really confident about Efendi’s performance. She’d been my favorite candidate for years, and I’m really happy to see her finally do it. I loved Cleopatra, and I can’t wait for the next song. Good luck Efendi!
mata hari is the Azerbaijan entry
Mata Hari sounds like my winner not even knowing how it sounds lol
So they released 6 song names with no further info and then stated the song names might change in the future.
What’s the point?
This is pretty much insider info. The Azeri delegation never publicly reveals information about their entry. That’s why we have titles only.
Mata Hari is a girl like me, girl like me, girl like me…
It would be funny if she went from one historical figure to another.
Hope for the Pokemon song!
lol 😀
Efendi’s Ratata is in the top percentage of Ratatas
MATA HARRRRRRRRI
LA LA LALA LA LA LALA
Mata Hari. Peaked my interest here.
Just not Ratata… I know EXACTLY what it is.
Mata Hari and Ratata sounds like trashy Eurovision pop songs title from early ’00s and i’m here for it
What minority’s votes Efendi is fishing this year?
Mata Hari / I remember 1976 for Norway….
Getting Efendi to sing a ballad at Eurovision is like getting my accountant to fix my toilet. I’m sure he could do a decent job but still…
Ha ha ha… this made me laugh so much! 🙂 I don’t know how versatile Efendi is, so I can’t comment much on her specifically. Just based on her captivating presence in Cleopatra, I’d probably prefer uptempo from her as well.
Still, this does remind me how much most fans (this isn’t directed to you but to fandom in general) prefer uptempo songs. So far, a lot more uptempo songs have been announced or hinted (Lithuania, Israel, Ukraine, Greece, Moldova, Slovenia, probably Iceland, vs. only France and Albania), yet nobody complains about there being too many. 😉
Most of these titles sound like it could be really interesting entries!
Except for ‘breathing you’ which sounds like the forced covid ballad you just knew would come this year.
I have a feeling that it will be Mata Hari and I guess the songwriter of Cleopatra is also behind this song.
Mata Hari, Ratata and Manifesto sound to me the most promising.
I really hope we’ll get a 20/30 second snippet of each song..
“Ratata”? All I can think about is the Pokemon….
Ratata was a queen like me just like me o just like me..
Like Mata Hari!
Lalalala Lalalala
Lalalalala, Like Mata Hari!
Breathing you and When I’m gone are confirmed to be the two ballads in question
The way Ratata already sounds like an Eden Alene reject, i–
it’s a word and words can be similar you racist dumbass
Like Mata Hari
La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la, like Mata Hari!
From Cleopatra to Mata Hari
I’m already here for Mata Hari – based on absolutely nothing than who it’s about! You can even sing “Mata Hari” to the tune of “Cleopatra”!
It’s indeed, there are some references which will surprise all of us if mata hara is chosen