Playing a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan isn’t always a straightforward process — especially when you’re working with a sea of dancers, countless lights, and massive cameras. But Efendi — Azerbaijan’s Eurovision 2021 star — managed to pull it all together for her Eurovision 2021 music video.

In the one-minute clip that follows, you’ll see some of the other faces that helped give the video life — from directors and choreographers to make-up artists and sound technicians. You’ll see these various experts tending to some minute details — from pinning the back of Efendi’s outfit to straightening dancers’ hair.

Behind-the-scenes on Efendi’s “Mata Hari” music video

In the music video Efendi takes on the role of seductress, recounting the story of how Mata Hari supposedly used her wiles and charm to gain secret information from high-ranking French officials. Efendi mentions these details from the start, singing “I’m a spy, I uncover all of your secrets, I want them.” She also defers to Mata Hari’s method of espionage as the “playing the game of desire… would you fall for me now?”

Efendi has previously made it clear that she wanted to offer a vision of strength for women all over the world. On the day she revealed her music video, she said:

“It is very important to talk about strong women in order to remind our beautiful ladies that despite the fact that we still live in a world full of prejudices, a woman can do anything and female power cannot be compared with anything.”

“And if suddenly you do not have enough inspiration now, let the stories of strong women in history become the source of that very charge of energy with which you can cope with everything and achieve even bigger success. There is a queen in each of us and I want to remind you that it’s time to release her.”

Are you loving Efendi’s song? Do you think the video captures the game of seduction? Let us know down below!

Comments on this post are now closed.

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Constança
Constança
2 years ago

Eurovision is about music , no matter wars or conflicts , worry more about listening to the music and helping those who like to go to the final in May.

FFF
FFF
2 years ago
Reply to  Constança

Very true, but I doubt this will get into the final. Here’s the countries I guess will qualify:

Ireland, Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta, Norway, Romania and Ukraine

Princess Diana
Princess Diana
2 years ago

Eurovision is a song contest and it’s all about music.

Micky
Micky
2 years ago
Reply to  Princess Diana

but we are not blind nor careless

Ron
Ron
2 years ago
Reply to  Princess Diana

Belarus and their song about bunnies, Telmachevy sisters, Polina Gagarina and every other Russian SONG that was booed send you their warmest greetings. Eurovision is apolitical song contest as long as it fits the narrative EBU wants to push for.

raylee
raylee
2 years ago

There is no page publishing kind of articles, you guys are crying and nobody cares. keep crying until May 22 because she will be on that stage, you should not watch the show if you are disturbed that much. To write hate comments 7/24 about every articles about the country and bullying the People that like the entry will gain you nothing.

Last edited 2 years ago by raylee
Reverb
Reverb
2 years ago

Checking Efendi’s Instagram should be easy for everyone. The pictures of her dressed in military attire and posting about Aliyev’s victory are right there. People might not be able to prove she was instigating hate speech, encouraging people to kill Armenians because insta stories don’t last, but I can rightfully say that she is an unashamed nationalist supporting a dictator. The only difference between her and Galasy Zmesta is that ICTIMAI is smart enough to avoid the type of in-your-face propaganda that BTRC went for. And that’s where the double standards of the fandom become evident. It’s easy to dislike… Read more »

Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
2 years ago
Reply to  Reverb

Thank you. It’s baffling how so many people (rightfully) call out Belarus’ entrant for their actions but as soon as someone says anything about Azerbaijan’s entrant it’s now taboo? Make it make sense

acp
acp
2 years ago
Reply to  Reverb

Where are you from? Just curious

Reverb
Reverb
2 years ago
Reply to  acp

mainland Sweden. nice try Jan

acp
acp
2 years ago
Reply to  Reverb

Oh ok I was just asking… I completely agree with everything you said that’s why I wanted to know from where you are

Reverb
Reverb
2 years ago
Reply to  Reverb

which brings me to this website. Wiwibloggs should be absolutely ashamed for not only promoting her but for actually prioritizing her and giving her the type of attention they are not giving to other artists. Other websites and media have been much more sensitive to issues like that, issues that are not only political but cultural as well. I would at least hope you had the gut to actually ask her about these issues in a future interview and then deal with the ridiculous answer I’m sure you’d get. You are a disgrace and until I see THAT type of… Read more »

Reverb
Reverb
2 years ago
Reply to  Reverb

War is war. No sides here. Armenian artists mourned and called aggression out. Azeri artists, with Dihaj as the ONLY exception, rejoiced and celebrated national victory and military perfection like we’re in the 19th century.

Michael
Michael
2 years ago
Reply to  Reverb

The Eurovision news sites should at least acknowledge the crap things Efendi has said and social media and, even if it is unlikely to get her disqualified, we should at least make it so she should be held accountable. Dihaj being the only Azeri contestant to express regret for the violence makes me like her even more.

acp
acp
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael

Oh I didn’t know about Dihaj! What did she say? Do have link or something?

Ron
Ron
2 years ago
Reply to  Reverb

Please sign the petition change.org/ban-efendi

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago
Reply to  Reverb

They both rig the elections so that only the dictator can win.

Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
2 years ago

Efendi: “There is a queen in each of us (unless you are Armenian, of course.)”

MYY
MYY
2 years ago
Reply to  Ashton Schier

Unnecessary..

raylee
raylee
2 years ago
Reply to  Ashton Schier

She never spoke like this way. Stop making up things to bully her. She doesn’t even know your existence but you are crying all the time

Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
2 years ago
Reply to  raylee

girl there is so much evidence to prove that she has said things like this. google is your friend here. and I like Mata Hari. but Efendi is a scummy person.

MYY
MYY
2 years ago
Reply to  Ashton Schier

And what exactly did she say, Ashton?

Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
2 years ago
Reply to  MYY

once again, google is your friend here. I’m frankly not bothered enough to root up everything Efendi has said, especially when you are just as able to do so.

Lebanese esc fan
Lebanese esc fan
2 years ago
Reply to  Ashton Schier

It’s funny how quick this fandom was to cancel hooverphonic while conveniently failing to acknowledge terrorfendi’s actions. Glad atleast someone is calling her out on her bullsh*it.

Micky
Micky
2 years ago
Reply to  Ashton Schier

Do you mean this? Could you translate it for us please?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHaPx5gn_81/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
2 years ago
Reply to  Micky

does it need a translation? also see the hashtags of:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGhVu-DnD84/

it was my impression that we as a fandom were against trrorism and promoting it, but I guess not.

Last edited 2 years ago by Ashton Schier
raylee
raylee
2 years ago

Silly haters are coming i can feel them 🙂

Ralf0711
Ralf0711
2 years ago
Reply to  raylee

silly haters ? do you mean the people who critizise the singers strong support for the azerbaijan despot and her openly homophobia ? i woul d call them silly haters. hate is on the other side.

MYY
MYY
2 years ago
Reply to  Ralf0711

Oh, come on.. where did she say anything homophobic?

No need to dislike.. I’m just curious. Do you have any proof that she said anything against the LGBT community?

Last edited 2 years ago by MYY
raylee
raylee
2 years ago
Reply to  MYY

Hi MY, she didn’t say any homophobic things, she even used pride stickers and lgbt flag in her insta stories before. Also hater People are trying to show her like the worst person ever and they lie about her all the time but they have no proof forir what she did. If her country is in a war of course she has right to support her country, other side artists did the same but People are tend to see only this country’s faults, they close their eyes to the other side’s faults. This hate will gain nothing to them, they’ll… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by raylee
Michael
Michael
2 years ago
Reply to  raylee

“She has the right to support her country” meaning taking a picture with her horrible despot and calling Kim Kardashian a terrorist. You guys sound exactly like racists when they’re called out using the excuse of “you’re only saying that because you disagree”.

raylee
raylee
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael

She can call political figures terrorist because all theese People (both sides) were in a war and kim donated army so she was a political figure too. Just like armenians call them terrorist, they do the same. She didn’t call entire nation and there were no racism, she called a person that word and if somebody is donating an army to buy bombs, that is the true word to describe that person. Yes, it is not cool a current eurovision artist talk stuff like that but that is not a reason to be disqualified. Iveta raised a forbidden flag front… Read more »

Michael
Michael
2 years ago
Reply to  raylee

She did no such thing. She only donated to the Armenia Fund, which is simply to promote Armenian development. So, yeah, what she said was still awful, either she was completely ignorant as to what Kim Kardashian donated, or she thinks donating money to Armenia=terrorism. If Efendi would’ve only called Armenia’s PM a terrorist, it wouldn’t matter. I did not support Iveta flying the Nagorno-Karabakh flag, and her explanation was crap, but that’s not comparable. Also, why did she pose with her despot in a “V for Victory” celebration? Other Eurovision stars have never done anything as propaganda supporting as… Read more »

Princess Diana
Princess Diana
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael

Because our territories had been under occupation for 30 years and we finally won and we, Azerbaijanis, as a nation, have every right to celebrate our victory? Please note: Efendi has not done anything as propaganda or anything provocative on the Eurovision stage.

Michael
Michael
2 years ago
Reply to  Princess Diana

There’s a difference between celebrating victory in a war (which Eurovision artists shouldn’t do regardless) and taking a picture with your “president” in a way that is clear propaganda. Why do Azeris constantly dodge questions related to Aliyev?

Princess Diana
Princess Diana
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael

Well, most of us do love Aliyev and you don’t like him. That’s why we dodge these questions. Will you like the fact that we love him? What you guys don’t understand is that we don’t like some officials, but we do like Aliyev.

Michael
Michael
2 years ago
Reply to  Princess Diana

He is the only divisive/dictatorial leader of a country in ESC that never gets any criticism from Azeris, despite the fact that he’s more dictatorial than Putin and Lukashenko, he constantly race-baited Armenians before the war, has family members controlling the most powerful industries of Azerbaijan, and he only became president thanks to his father. Eurofans from Belarus, Russia, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Turkey and virtually every Western European country have criticized their leaders at some point. So, no, I dislike your country’s slavish respect for him.

Princess Diana
Princess Diana
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael

I can name a bunch of things why we Azerbaijanis like him if you want, but I don’t think Wiwibloggs is the right place for that. You don’t really know the environment, that’s why you don’t understand. If you’re really interested, I can mail you or so.
But then again, he’s not your president, but if his people like him, then be sure they have reasons.

Michael
Michael
2 years ago
Reply to  Princess Diana

Whatever reasons you have are going to sound like the excuses people made for Trump. Let me guess, he’s helped Azerbaijan’s economy grow and has provided security and stability. Whatever. Those barely matter when most of the wealth is going to his cronies and “security” means arresting people who opposed him. Do you know the name Khadija Ismayilova? Even when his disgusting comments about Armenia are brought up, you just pivot and change the topic, why can’t you denounce that at least?

Princess Diana
Princess Diana
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael

Man, he is not your president. He is our president, and if we don’t complain, it means we’re doing just good. Regarding what he says about Armenians, the Armenian leaders say the same about Azerbaijanis. These things shouldn’t be our concern when it comes to Eurovision. Azerbaijan has not sent a political song (see: Belarus), Efendi has not used Eurovision for provocation (see: Iveta Mukuchyan waving NK flag). Can we just focus on songs and Eurovision instead of our president?

raylee
raylee
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael

As you Said, Donating a found is not terrorism, if she would call the PM that word it wouldn’t matter. Yes i agree and i know that kind of posts are not cool but still there is no reason to be disqualified i’m sorry. When her country won a war if she describes that situation a victory, and if she just called a celebritiy that word those kind of things are not a reason to be banned.. I wouldn’t do the same if i was her, but still those excuses are not Enough for be banned.. Also if she was… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by raylee
Michael
Michael
2 years ago
Reply to  raylee

I don’t expect Efendi to be banned, I just want her to explain those posts. Put pressure on her to say what she meant. Iveta might have crossed the line with flying the Nagorno-Karabakh flag, but I don’t really care what she does now that she isn’t Eurovision representatives. Samra also said some crap things, but she’s not at Eurovision. As for Sirusho, that sounds really bad, when did she make that video? I think people don’t obsessively follow ESC acts when they aren’t at ESC.

raylee
raylee
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael

I’m sorry i thought you were one of the People Who supports ban petition.. Sorry for tag you! Yes of course she can explain the post.. And sirusho did this in 2016, you can watch the music video of Zartonk and see her with Guns and guerilla clothes also the lyrics are so racist and insulting

Princess Diana
Princess Diana
2 years ago
Reply to  Michael

The explanation of her posts is that she mentions Karabakh is Azerbaijan, and she calls a separatist regime established in her country and a terrorist regime. Well, if I were her, I wouldn’t do this, but you can’t say what she said was wrong and she did that out of the ESC stage. As for Kim Kardashian, I don’t know if you’re informed or not, after her donation (also she called her followers to support Armenia in the war), the second largest city of Azerbaijan, 50 km away from the conflict zone was hit with missile attacks and many people… Read more »

raylee
raylee
2 years ago
Reply to  Ralf0711

She said nothing homophobic she even used pride stickers in her insta stories and she is not homophobi. You always claim bad things about her but you have no proof for the things you Said. Your asses burning out just because she is Azerbaijani and Azerbaijan is participating and you are trying to find excuses to bully her. Also if it is about homophobia, we have seen Armenian artists about that. Did you also critizise them? No because this community is two-faced

sam
sam
2 years ago
Reply to  Ralf0711

do you not remember the gay, straight, or bi line from cleopatra last year?

Michael
Michael
2 years ago
Reply to  Ralf0711

Efendi has said crap things before, but just because she supports Aliyev doesn’t make her homophobic. Polina Gagarina participated in pro-Putin propaganda for his election in 2018, and he’s famously homophobic, but all indications say that she doesn’t agree with homophobia.

MYY
MYY
2 years ago

I really appreciate the fact that even under the current circumstances, the participating countries, artists, delegations worked really hard and delivered us great music videos, each different on their own.