The Wiwi Jury — our in-house team of music unprofessionals — is reviewing and rating the 37 competing songs in Eurovision 2025. Next we review Azerbaijan, who have chosen Mamagama with “Run With U”.
Are we running along with the trio? Read on to find out!
Mamagama – “Run With U” (Azerbaijan Eurovision 2025)
Review: Mamagama – “Run With U”
Pablo: Hello FIFA! “Run With U” screams of early-10s pop-rock that would feature in the pause menu of every videogame from the era. A throwback vision to a future featuring some folk flourish, it’s a pretty fun listening that combines West and East in a compelling way. However, I’m finding myself desiring a bit more from this package; with a risk of fading into the background if not able to stage it properly. It’s an entry that feels like, had it been reworked a tiny bit more, Mamagama could have turned good into great. However, a massive step ahead of past tries that could still turn the right way.
Score: 6.5
William: This is one of the better produced tracks of the year and it’s finely-tuned for the radio. But whenever it ends I completely forget it. This may simply be because this style and sound is already firmly owned by Daft Punk, so anything similar just seems derivative. The artists seem somewhat subdued and reserved, a reality that might harm them on stage. Having a well-produced song is one thing. Being able to deliver it with charm and pizzazz is something else entirely.
Score: 4.5
Ruxandra: This song was a surprise for me. It’s the perfect recipe for delivering something both modern and authentic in an original way. The traditional parts are well-placed and enough to make the song original, without taking over its vibe. The pop influences bring a retro vibe that fits perfectly. It’s not just modern pop with some traditional elements thrown in—it’s a full-on groovy sound, with a touch of retro-futuristic glam. And bonus points for the falsetto in the chorus, which brings back the funky vibe of Michael Jackson’s early releases — made me think about “Off the Wall”. This is definitely one of the feel-good anthems of the year.
Score: 9.5
Tom: I can’t help but feel a little disappointed with “Run With You”. It doesn’t particularly go anywhere. During the first verse I was hooked, happy and ready for an epic chorus to hit me, but it never arrived? During the second verse I felt the same and then yet again, the same bland chorus, and then it ends!!! From such a positive start it goes nowhere. I am not angry, just disappointed. I will be shocked if this makes it to Saturday.
Score: 5
Azerbaijan Eurovision 2025 ranking
In the Eurovision 2025 Wiwi Jury, we have 17 jurors but only have room for four reviews. The remaining scores are below:
|
Andreas: 8 Antranig: 5 Bernardo: 6 Burak: 7 Cinan: 4.5 Deban: 6.5 Jonathan: 6.5 |
Jordi: 5 Lucy: 8 Scarlett: 5 Simon: 5.5 Suzanne: 5 Tomas: 7.5 |
We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a high of 9.5 and a low of 4.5.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 6.07/10
What do you think of Azerbaijan’s Eurovision 2025 entry? Share your own score and review for Mamagama’s “Run With U” below!
This has very little to offer, it just is very much of a medicore a song can be. Not bad, not good, certainly not great, it just is.
NQ
Underrated…
But this kind of songs don’t have usually many fans.
I hope they can set a good staging to appeal the televote, because I think these songs tend to be more valued by the jury and without it they might struggle in the SF.
1. Lithuania (7.75)
2. Cyprus (7.5)
3. Azerbaijan (7.5)
4. Czech Republic (6.75)
5. Spain (6.75)
6. Latvia (6.75)
7. Italy (6.75)
8. Australia (6.75)
9. Switzerland (6.75)
10. The Netherlands (6.75)
11. Greece (6.5)
12. Norway (6.5)
13. San Marino (6.5)
14. Poland (6.5)
15. Estonia (6.25)
16. Ukraine (6.25)
17. Slovenia (6.25)
18. Denmark (6)
19. Iceland (5.5)
20. Luxembourg (5.25)
21. Norway (4.25)
22. Israel (4)
This song is the most professionally structured and recorded of the season, yet I find it uninteresting beyond that. It is a four-chord song throughout, so it has to rely on groovy rhythms, hook melodies and the saz to keep listeners interested. I think it really works well as a radio track, but I feel it might be a non-qualifier at Eurovision because it doesn’t stand out enough. I’m sure it’ll do well on streaming downloads though, it’s a great track. Fun spot: There are musical callbacks in the song to some previous Azerbaijan entries at ESC. These are fun… Read more »
I quite like this, especially the instrumental break and I commend Azerbaijan for sticking with local talent instead of outsourcing. Deserves to qualify and do well.
My favourite of all 18 of Azerbaijan’s entries since their debut.
Wow
When the music review dies,
Hold me, just unfold me,
It hurts so fast,
It’s just too hard to hear,
Maybe teardro-o-ops stain our eyes when we’re running scared,
But the music is always on my mind,
And I won’t sleep tonight,
I’m so so cursed, like Cleopatra and Mata Hari, I cross my heart, and wait.
(Yes I know I missed some out, but 18 years is a long time!)
Hour of the Wolf for me, it still makes me cry (in a good way)
You know, if it wasn’t for Efendi I’d totally be with you on this one.
I still get obsessed over Mata Hari from time to time. Sucha song! 🙂
This is my fav of the year 🙂
“Groovy sound,” sure. But “full-on?” Nah. This song is pleasant, but I want more from it. And that could come from many different directions. Harder? Funkier? More ethnic flavor? Sure, any of those could do. But what it really needs is a proper climax of some kind. I get to the last few seconds, and when I realize that the song is over, I feel a bit cheated. The song is still good playlist fodder in a field that isn’t all that deep. But there’s unmet potential here. #16
one of the best
Way better and slicker than other hyped bops such as Strobe Epileptics and Yawncination.
As well as C’est La Lalalalala….
absolutely!
I think the staging of this song will make or break it to qualify for the final. At the moment for me there are 10 stronger songs in their semi final. I await to be surprised.
I think they have something up their sleeve. If they repeat Amsterdam performance then it’s straight back to Baku sadly.
18th place: Azerbaijan: I don’t find anything fundamentally wrong here. The song is a basic pop song, with a distinctive vocal style and some ethnic elements in the chorus. It is a solid track that I don’t mind when it’s on. The ethnic instrumental makes it more appealing. Overall a good enough entry.
this being rated higher than italy is wild
AZERBAIJAN – Every year, we have one song I totally forget about before being reminded of its existence, and this year, it’s Azerbaijan. There is nothing eregious in this composition, but there’s nothing that draws my attention either. The structure doesn’t offer anything extra. There isn’t even a bridge or the third chorus. The song just does its two sets of verses and choruses, and it’s done. The lyrics about flirting are also average. The most interesting parts are certainly the post-chorus instrumental breaks, which add some authenticity and charm. Its main asset is certainly the charisma of the band,… Read more »
Azerbaijan – This is a song that I enjoy, I think it’s nice and unfortunately it’s one of those ones where because I constantly listen to my top 10 on loop (well… almost), it just gets a little lost in the pack. However when it does come on, I’m reminded of how nice and groovy it is. Not sure of its chances on qualifying, I can only wish them luck. 6/10
Azerbaijan 5,5/12
24. Azerbaijan – Mamagama – Run with U – 6.5/10 – perfectly pleasant pop, with a classic vocal delivery, there is little wrong with this track, it’s got a nice groove, a nice build and a nice chorus with a nice musical interlude. Overall, it is nice track.