Nadir Rustamli is the most recent winner of The Voice of Azerbaijan. With the full support of fans from the land of fire, and a hardworking team behind the scenes, Nadir is ready to win more hearts in Torino at Eurovision 2022. His emotional ballad “Fade To Black” was one of the last entries of the contest to be revealed.

Scroll down for the “Fade To Black” lyrics

Azerbaijan in Eurovision 2022: Nadir Rustamli “Fade To Black”

Nadir Rustamli comes from Azerbaijan — the land of fire. He was born on the 8th of July 1999 in Salyan. His father is a neurologist and his mother is a linguistics teacher. He has two other siblings. 

His musical career started in 2018, when Nadir finished as the runner up at the International Youth Vision competition. In 2021, he was pranked by his friends. They submitted an application on his behalf for The Voice of Azerbaijan. Not one to miss out on a dare, Nadir rose to the challenge and competed with soulful renditions of Bruno Mars, The Four Seasons and Sam Smith’s hit songs. However, what really made him stand out were his Eurovision covers. His versions of maNga’s “We Could Be The Same” and Duncan Laurence’s “Arcade” remain favourites among Eurovision fans.

Although he only wowed two of the four judges with his first audition, week after week, he touched the hearts of Azerbaijanis through the television screen and eventually went on to secure a landslide televote victory. Although Eurovision wasn’t on the cards during his stint on The Voice of Azerbaijan, the stars were aligned in his favour. He was mentored on the show by Eldar Gasimov, the winner of Eurovision 2011. Nadir’s vocal coach, Mila Miles, is also no stranger to shaping the voices of leading Azeri stars — Samira Efendi and Sona Azizova have all been vocally coached by her, and now she has another promising prodigy on her hands: Nadir Rustamli.

What do “Fade To Black” lyrics mean?

A person that lives in the memories of the past often sacrifices their future. No matter how comfortable it feels by living in the memories of ‘the good old days’, or the tragic past, it is important to face the future because those memories are gone. Emancipating yourself from the past allows you to welcome brighter days ahead — even when the road to freedom may appear challenging. Fears, insecurities and pitfalls of the past often hold you back, and can make you numb. Release yourself!

This message is what Nadir conveys through his Eurovision entry, singing: “We’re living in a memory, the present is the price I pay”. Although the song is essentially a sad love story, hope lies ahead.

In a recent chat with wiwibloggs, Nadir said: “We received 302 songs, and [of the shortlist] I connected immediately with ‘Fade To Black’. I know that you think that I am only 22 years of age, but when I sing this song, it fits with my personal story — and I hope that the Eurovision community connect with the meaning behind the song and my performance.”

“Fade To Black” lyrics – Nadir Rustamli (Azerbaijan Eurovision 2022)

Written and composed by: Andreas Johansson, Anderz Wrethov, Sebastian Schub and Thomas Stengaard

Stay
The story barely started
Can’t you
Stay
Do you really want no part of this?
One so sweet
Reverie

You back off slowly through the door
You always go and blame the weather
The weather

It hurts so fast
When love goes bad
Until at last
We fade to black

And I’m numb, numb
Numb, numb

Wait
I need some time to fix this, can’t you wait?
We can’t afford to miss this

You back off slowly through the door
You always go and blame the weather
The weather

It hurts so fast
When love goes bad
Until at last
We fade to black

And I’m numb, numb
Numb, numb

We’re living in a memory
The present is the price I pay
Fade to black
We fade to black
We’re living in a memory
The present is the price I pay

It hurts so fast
When love goes bad
Until at last
We fade to black

What do you think of the “Fade To Black” lyrics? How will Nadir Rustamli fare at Eurovision 2022 for Azerbaijan? Let us know in the comments below.

19 Comments
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There is a light guiding my way
There is a light guiding my way
1 year ago

This is the “Alcohol you” level of abstractness in the lyrics.
The only thing I could guess (based on the music video) is that it’s a self-talk. However, the exact meaning of it still remains a mystery to me. Deban’s explanation from the article doesn’t help either (are you even sure you got it right?). I don’t completely cross out the possibility of there actually being some message, but, unfortunately, have to conclude that the lyrical implementation of it is rather poor… Or just beyond my intellectual capacity to grasp the abstract.

Leif
Leif
1 year ago

For me it’s the line about the weather. That just doesn’t make any sense. As in none. And just to be sure we heard it correctly, he repeats it.

I actually do like the song well enough, especially that last minute… but these lyrics are so distracting. If the song didn’t pretend to be meaningful and deep I might not mind so much but… that definitely diminishes the song’s emotional appeal.

Azan
Azan
1 year ago

I enjoy listening to this song, it is so peaceful! I love the high notes at the end!

justafan
justafan
1 year ago

I understand that the lyrics make no sense at all. But when I don’t pay attention to the lyrics and I just listen to the music and his voice, I have to admit I deeply enjoy the song. Vocally it’s a really demanding song and I hope he can deliver those high notes at the end.

Jo.
Jo.
1 year ago

paying attention only now…these lyrics are REALLY bad!

sam
sam
1 year ago

this gives massive azerbaijan 2018 vibes. first azerbaijan announces they’ve selected an amazingly talented artist who specializes in a certain genre of music. then hype them up as a potential winner only for the song to be released and shocker! it’s a swedish produced song with cringy, poorly written lyrics, the tiniest touch of azeri instrumentation that was likely added a couple days before the release, and most importantly both songs have not respected the artists’ talent and musicality, which both aisel and nadir have, and instead (in my opinion) done a huge disservice to them. hopefully azerbaijan can step… Read more »

Martin
Martin
1 year ago
Reply to  sam

Aisel was one of my favourite artists in 2018. She is very talented. But the song didnt respect her talent. I hope one day she will come back.

sam
sam
1 year ago
Reply to  Martin

i completely agreed. i remember being so excited when they announced her because her voice was so stunning and perfect in a jazzy song. i thought that salvador’s victory inspired azerbaijan to go in a different direction, just like i thought italy inspired azerbaijan this year. they are great at generating excitement yet the final product always falls way below expectations

Im so fab
Im so fab
1 year ago
Reply to  sam

Azerbuyjan 2018 was written by mainly Greek-Russian team.

Azerbuyjan will qualify. They did the mistake to not bribe or buy enough sims back in the 2018. They won’t accept another elimination. And they will go dirty to avoid it.

Jamie
Jamie
1 year ago

This song is such a mess, completely unmemorable. And it will probably qualify because it’s AZ. Shadyyyyy

Im so fab
Im so fab
1 year ago

They literally bought 302 random songs from Sweden / Greece / Whatever and hoped one of them is good. I guess it didn’t work out.

Jonkonfui
Jonkonfui
1 year ago

It is hilarious when singers explain their songs. They get so intense.

Polegend Godnova
Polegend Godnova
1 year ago

the shadiness of deban choosing what most consider the worst lyric of eurovision 2022 for the article’s title, i’m cackling. also cackling at the effort to find a meaning to this nonsense, and at nadir’s attempt to convince us he had a say about anything in this.

Im so fab
Im so fab
1 year ago

Once again, Azerbuyjan will make sure to pay the juries properly and buy enough sims to qualify easily. Bring the cash $$$

Nobody Important
Nobody Important
1 year ago

Did Google Translate write these lyrics?

raylee
raylee
1 year ago

According to the odds this is %63 qualifying. That would happen only if juries appreciated song and he has a good live but nobody knows. Could be Azerbaijan’s second NQ.

Polegend Godnova
Polegend Godnova
1 year ago
Reply to  raylee

oh it will probably nq. juries will flock to vote for australia which has the same song but with a meaning and with a performer who has connection to it. unless they go back to their bribery ways, but they should find better ways to make use of their shrinking gdp.

raylee
raylee
1 year ago

Yes i have no doubts about Australia , i already i see it as a jury winner in the grand final. Like ”Proud”. I mean , it’s not unexpected or impossible at all

Polegend Godnova
Polegend Godnova
1 year ago
Reply to  raylee

i really hope not. juries should be able to appreciate songs that aren’t dramatic piano ballads.