The beautiful Samra from Azerbaijan has just completed her second rehearsal of her song “Miracle” at Eurovision 2016 to a mixed reception. It’s clear that the delegation from Azerbaijan are trying every little thing to make this performance a success – complete with trying multiple costumes on stage.
The positive lies within the staging and styling. The LED screens and back wall are lit up with golden geometric shapes and Samra and her dancers are styled in metallic gold costuming. It’s expensive, it’s fierce, it’s typically Azerbaijani and it works. Samra herself had one costume change – owning a white lace bodysuit in the first run-through and a golden jumpsuit with a gaping hole for her chesticles in the second and third run-throughs.
However we heard during the first rehearsal that Samra was feeling ill, therefore her voice was not up to par. We do hope that Samra’s health improves in time, because her voice still isn’t where it needs to be to even qualify for the final.
Azerbaijan: Second rehearsal at Eurovision 2016
Azerbaijan: Samra interview after second rehearsal
Samra’s press conference after first rehearsal
Read all of our Eurovision rehearsal reviews
Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)
Its basically all down to Samra recovering her voice. The performance qualifies for sure with a good vocal.
One of the strongest staging presentations in the first semi if you take out all those with their screens! Unfortunately her vocal is horrific. I still think she could scrape through, it is Azerbaijan after all. It’s gonna be close though as other countries have turned up and improved immensely.
That gold jumpsuit has to be one of the tackiest things I’ve seen at Eurovision. Maybe they’re hoping it will distract from her disastrous vocals?
The performance is actually quite good. But the song and that voice…
I hope Azerbaijan don’t prevent another, more deserving country from qualifying.
If it’s gold, it’s typically Azerbaijan. They think that they can buy everyone and everything. This contest hshould not become so cheap ( San Marion and Malta are taken over by their money (triple award of 12 points). Hope she will improve her vocals, as after all she is the winner of The Voice. She has qualified her nationals, since the process there is not open enough to give a way for the talented guys who can represent Azerbaijan better. It’s all typical of a country which has a dictator. I’m really sorry for those Azerbaijani performers who will be… Read more »
Ana Malhoa wannabe!
It sounded much better than it did in the first semi-final, but the whole show (song and staging) is just outdated. This would have been great before 2009 eurovision, but not in 2016. Creativity is what counts. Also, I’d like to advise people not to put more fuel in the fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It would be much better if Europeans could bring them together not bring out a rivalry. I read a review this morning (not here) that these two countries are in it to outshine one another, which even if true, shouldn’t be promoted. Azerbaijan should sit… Read more »
I don’t actually see anything wrong with this performance
@Toms Tell me, why should Armenia be banned? For not appreciating (another imported from Sweden) song… and bad performance? By the way, the Armenian secret services have never summoned and interrogated people only because they voted for a favorite song in a song contest. Azerbaijan did..in 2009.., and yet, they are still among us. Stop being politically correct..
Ranking the studio versions, Miracle was in my top 10, but this performance is disappointing.
@fikri: Exactly! It’s too good!
Either I am deaf or the rest, but it wasn’t that bad at all…
I feel sad for her. She really sounds bad and it looks as if she has received little financial support in terms of staging.
Believe it or not, it is starting to look like semi final two might be stronger than semi final one!
This might not be place to comment, but if both countries – Armenia and Azerbaijan – end in finals and AGAIN all Jury members give last place to each other, they should be banned for next 5 years. This is obviously act of hate and politics. There is no any way that 5 people put good song in last place without some instructions before. Seriously – ban for 5 years.
God, this is so horrible..
barbara dex candidate
Really different from I what expected …
horrible, and she looks like crap
I am sad because the studio version is my jam.
They should really try to improve this before Tuesday.
And yeah ….. Tho rivals in real life, Armenia and Azerbaijan do share the same love for sparkly bodysuits, even the patterns on both of the bustiers is the same.
In this neighborly battle, I have to say that with Iveta’s live performance Armenia pushed Azerbaijan off a cliff.
We got to pray for a miracle)) to have a final without Azerbuyjan. But i think they’ll go through.. They can do it even with a donkey on stage.
Time to take a break from advancing to the grand finals now, Azerbaijan.
@fikri it is not Azarbuyjan’s song but as it happens every year – the swedish one.
From a definite qualifier before the show turns into a big flop…..
even my browser crashed when I tried to add a comment!
Azeri what you have done? this girl had to stay home for at least 3-4 years till she’ll learn it by heart how to stay in tune. no miracle for you and her this year. I hope you haven’t trashed her future career with this ESC affair.
too bad, I wanted with all my heart that she’ll deliver (as a miracle). don’t do it again, Azeri! pick up mature singers! don’t destroy your upcoming stars!
Like the song says it’s going to take a Miracle to save her now
azerbaijan song this year is too good to not be in the finals. 🙁 hopefully the voice, which a LOT of people complaining about, will improve come tuesday.
Wait, is Samra a crossdresser wearing Armenian clothes? Reminds me a lot of Iveta.
No AZ this year..
Honestly, I think it’s time Azerbaijan rethink their strategy towards Eurovision. Every year it’s the same story. Azerbaijan pays a crapload of money to have non-Azeri’s from around the world – put together Azerbaijan’s Eurovision entry. The song-writer, song producer, song composer, music video producer, dancers on stage, etc….are 99% of the time foreigners and not Azeri’s. Since Azerbaijan’s entry in Eurovision, just 1 song was actually written and composed by an Azeri. Every other song (including this year), Azerbaijan have had to pay other people from other countries (mostly always Sweden) to write and compose Azerbaijan’s Eurovision entry. Come… Read more »
Iveta and samra have some pretty similair outfits…
The voice is not good!
This was painful to listen to…
isn’t it always convenient that when an artist’s vocals are off, they are always sick? (seems to happen at least once a year)
Absolutely Horrible!
How is this garbage from Azerbaijan even in Eurovision?