Today, the first rehearsals for the 62nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Kyiv, Ukraine. One of this afternoon’s performers was Dihaj from Azerbaijan. This was Dihaj’s first time in the Exhibition Centre; she and her delegation would have been checking the sound, lighting and prop positioning. Camera angles will also have been tested. This is was the first time we’d get to see her staging as a snippet of all rehearsals is shared online, however, Azerbaijan’s rehearsal has now been leaked in full by OGAE Azerbaijan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KD1wLhEKDc&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop
Azerbaijan: First Rehearsal (Highlights Recap)
15:08 CET // As stated in the press release, the choreographer and stage director is named as Naila Mammadzada, whose portfolio includes the interval acts for the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest and the closing ceremony for the 2015 European Games.
15:10 CET // The staging includes a man in a mask and a ladder which, according to the press release, symbolises the emotional distance between the two lovers.
15:27 CET // Azerbaijan’s staging has certainly caught everyone’s attention. A deep story surrounding the song is being told with the unique staging.
15:35 CET // “Thank you for the horse Azerbaijan.” – Stage director.
Diana will be performing “Skeletons” for Azerbaijan this May in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. The song was selected after a call for songs was made at the start of February. The song which is performed in English was written by Isa Melikov and Sandra Bjurman. Isa Melikov has a long history of involvement in Azerbaijani Eurovision entries, having been part of the team behind their 2009 entry as well as their winning entry in 2011.
Who is Diana Hajiyeva?
Diana Hajiyeva was born in Baku in 1989. She has shown an interest in music throughout her life, having attended a music school from an early age. She has previously attempted to represent Azerbaijan as a solo artist in 2011, and was also one of the backing singers for the country at the 2016 contest in Stockholm, Sweden. In recent years she has performed as part of the group Dihaj.
[tw-accordion class=””] [tw-accordion-section title=”Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest “] Azerbaijan debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008, they were represented by Elnur & Samir with the song “Day After Day”, they finished 8th in the final. In 2011 Azerbaijan won the Eurovision Song Contest represented by Ell & Nikki and their song “Running Scared”. The song scored a total of 221 points, receiving only three sets of 12 points from Malta, Russia and Turkey. In the past three years Azerbaijan has failed to reach the top.10 in the final a position that Azerbaijan never placed lower than between 2008 and 2013.[/tw-accordion-section] [/tw-accordion]
