Jony has long been an artist high on the wishlists of Eurovision fans across Eastern Europe. The Baku-born singer made an impression during the last season of Russia’s The Masked Singer franchise. However, Bakh Tee — the director of Atlantic Records Russia — has revealed that Jony has consistently declined all offers to sing at Eurovision in recent years.
Born Cahid Hüseynli, Jony moved to Russia at the age of six after first growing up in Azerbaijan’s capital city. Debuting on the Russian-language music market in 2018 with “Pustoy stakan”, Jony’s career has gone from one high to another. He quickly signed to Atlantic Records Russia, one of the major labels fusing pop and rap in the country.
In 2021, he broke through nationally after he won the second season of the Russian adaption of The Masked Singer. Cast as the Crocodile, he managed to impress both the audiences and the judges — including Philipp Kirkorov. Afterwards, Jony often appeared in the eyes of Eurovision fans as a potential act at the contest.
Jony declined to go to Eurovision despite offers
In an interview with Nadezhda Strelets, Atlantic Records Russia director Bakh Tee revealed that Jony had previously ruled out going to Eurovision. When talking about Jony’s perspectives as an artist, Bakh Tee said:
“Jony has super big perspectives [as an artist], but he just refuses. He even refused Eurovision two or three times. In general, it is interesting. They offered him for Russia and Azerbaijan, but he did not just simply refuse, he would have liked it, but it didn’t particularly fit, let’s say that, his schedule.”
On top of that, he said that as a label they would not influence Jony to go to Eurovision if he had no appetite for it. Bakh Tee added that as a musician he himself did not like to influenced by label bosses either.
Both Azerbaijan and Russia have yet to present any details with regards to their selection process. In recent years, Azerbaijan has been relying on local talent, which has seen the selection of Chingiz Mustafayev and Efendi.
Russia’s second public broadcaster VGTRK (formerly RTR) has relied heavily on the Dream Team — a group of Greek and Russian producers under the lead of composer Dimitris Kontopoulos and Russian superstar Philipp Kirkorov — for its efforts since 2014. But the rumour mill has also been pointing in the direction of Armenia when it comes to the next Dream Team effort, as multiple Armenian publications have reported that New Wave winner Saro has been receiving proposals from the Dream Team.
Would you like to see Jony at Eurovision in the coming years? Who else would you like to see representing the two countries? Let us know in the comments down below!
sorry but who? lool
Given that part of the vitriol Manizha got domestically was because she was ethnically Tajik, I can see why an Azeri might be hesitant to represent Russia. However, I really thought he was going to be Azerbaijan’s representative in Turin.
Russia is a such a wild card, maybe they’ll choose internally or through national final. Knowing the broadcaster in charge, it’ll be internal selection behind closed doors most likely.
Azerbaijan always buys their songs so I doubt they’ll have anything else than plastic pop as usual.
Very omnious to say “he did not just simply refuse, he would have liked it, but it didn’t particularly fit, let’s say that, his schedule” when Jony is already known as a homophobic in Russia. Keep out and stay out!
*SPOILER* Here’s the lyrics from Azerbaijan’s 2022 entry; I’m a God Dictator, I’m a dictator, I rule All of your secrets, I want them There’s no stopping me now I’m a God Playing the game of desire Ain’t gonna leave no survivors Would you stab me now? Just like Caesar The army of soldiers Just like Caesar The army of soldiers I start an empire Undercover I am a dangerous lover Drinking my poisonous water And you’re under my rules Mesmerizing Moving my soldiers, you are trying You can’t resist, try to fight it Got a story to tell? Just… Read more »
Oh well the Azeri lyrics didn’t come through as they should have, here’s the english translation, let’s just imagine it’s sung in Azeri:
“We win with bought out votes, you’ll regret not obeying our laws”
He is so beautiful and so is his voice.
He is one of the newest talents and his songs are gaining popularity amongst already known singers but it would be downgrading for him to go to Eurovision with acts who embrase certain things and even his label knows. Also I guess he has pressure as he might win (quite easily) and it would affect his schedule even more, let the man have some freetime!
can we FINALLY have zivert
I think it’s time for a sergey lazarev return. or maybe because belarus aren’t competing this time around, zena, liza misnikova or helena meraai could represent russia.
Russia has countless singers that could be amazing representatives. Sergey has already had his time twice and he placed 3rd both times he participated. I think it’s enough of him. I’d like to see something different compared to the typical songs they usually send, on the same line of Manizha this year, maybe continuing to sing in Russian.
manizha was one of the worst russian songs of the last decade so I’d prefer them going back to normal good pop with brilliant clean staging.
That was the most Russia thing that russian has ever send to ESC
this just confirms you have no taste lmao. imagine disliking manizha and wanting Sergey to return…gross
how about a brand new artist for the country with the largest population competing in esc… no one wants ANOTHER sergey comeback chile
I love returning artists and I and many other people would love a polina, tolmachevy or sergey return. also, i mentioned helena meraai and liza misnikova as new artist.
we are really tired of him… and kirkorov… it’s a shame that it will most likely be another song by him ugh.
casual viewers wouldn’t really care about any of them returning, sergey usually brings quality song and staging so people would like it.
It would be a diminishing return. Extremely unlikely Sergey can improve on 3rd place. Most casual viewers remember more than we give them credit for. Plus dedicated fans are tiring of Kirkorov. A return of Sergey could see a return to the audience booing loudly for Russia.
kirkorov’s songs (including the ones he did for sergey) were essentially forgotten about the day after the contest. it’s all great gowns beautiful gowns in aretha franklin’s words, but nothing that sticks as they’re completely dated, with zero commercial value, and fully reliant on the performance.
Who the heck is him? Maybe some here would like to see him in ESC but I think that what people does want is to see Zivert finally in the contest @VGTRK
I think it will be Zivert or Nikita Kiosse
so he wants to do ESC but the schedule is too busy? I am confused by this article and quotes.
In any case, we don’t really care…
Since Eurovision takes place around May, artists would need to clear their schedule for the months of February until the end of May (a total of four months) to focus just on Eurovision, so I understand why he can’t do it despite wanting to do it.
That’s not really true. It’s possible to be juggling different things at the same time. In May 2009, Malena Ernman was flying between Moscow and Stockholm all Eurovision week to fit in some opera work back at home. Her daughter was not pleased.
his loss not ours !
yaaaawn. regarding possible russian candidates, you guys should check out FEDUK. 🙂 he is great in my daydreams he is gonna go to Turin representing Russia
i love feduk but i want to see zivert represent russia finally
Hoping for Zivert, too! Sadly, we won’t see her in 2022, as she will be touring in Germany by the time Eurovision takes place 🙁
Typical male pop-rapper. There’s nothing particularly special about him.
That doesn’t show up very often at Eurovision, but rap is very hit or miss, mostly the latter
Never heard of him