Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019

Azerbaijan participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 with the song "Truth" performed by Chingiz.

Eurovision Song Contest 2019
Country Azerbaijan
National selection
Selection processInternal Selection
Selection date(s)8 March 2019
Selected entrantChingiz
Selected song"Truth"
Selected songwriter(s)Borislav Milanov
Trey Campbell
Bo J
Pablo Dinero
Hostess
Chingiz Mustafayev
Finals performance
Semi-final resultQualified (5th, 224 points)
Final result8th, 302 points
Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2018 2019 2020►

Background

Prior to the 2019 Contest, Azerbaijan had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest eleven times since its first entry in 2008.[1] Azerbaijan had won the contest on one occasion in 2011 with the song "Running Scared" performed by Ell/Nikki. Since their debut in 2008, Azerbaijan has had a string of successful results, qualifying to the final and placing in the top ten each year until 2014, including a third-place result in 2009 with the song "Always" performed by AySel and Arash and a second-place result in 2013 with the song "Hold Me" performed by Farid Mammadov. However, in 2018, Azerbaijan placed eleventh in the semi-final with the song "X My Heart" performed by Aisel, making it the first occasion that Azerbaijan did not participate in a Eurovision final since their debut in 2008.

Before Eurovision

Internal selection

On 20 November 2018, İTV organised an internal audition round where over 40 artists attended and four potential performers were shortlisted: Chingiz Mustafayev, Leman Dadashova, Samira Efendi and Tofig Hajiyev. On 24 November 2018, the broadcaster called for interested local and international songwriters to submit their songs by 7 February 2019.[2] On 8 March 2019, İTV announced that Chingiz Mustafayev would represent Azerbaijan, performing the song "Truth". The selection of Chingiz as the Azerbaijani Eurovision contestant was based on the decision of İTV and a national jury panel. "Truth" was selected from over 350 submissions from songwriters in a similar broadcaster and jury decision method.[3]

"Truth" was written by Chingiz alongside members of the songwriting team Symphonix International, Borislav Milanov, Trey Campbell, Bo J, Pablo Dinero and Hostess. The song was presented the same day the selected song and artist was announced via the release of the official music video.

At Eurovision

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big 5" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. On 28 January 2019, a special allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in. Azerbaijan was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 16 May 2019, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.[4]

Once all the competing songs for the 2019 contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the shows' producers rather than through another draw, so that similar songs were not placed next to each other. Azerbaijan was set to perform in position 18, following the entry from North Macedonia, closing the semi-final.[5]

Semi-final

Azerbaijan performed last in the second semi-final, following the entry from North Macedonia. At the end of the show, Azerbaijan was announced as having finished in the top 10 and subsequently qualifying for the grand final. It was later revealed that Azerbaijan placed fifth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 224 points: 121 points from the televoting and 103 points from the juries.

Voting

Voting during the three shows involved each country awarding two sets of points from 1-8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting. Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency. This jury judged each entry based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act. In addition, no member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member as well as the nation's televoting results will be released shortly after the grand final.[6]

Points awarded to Azerbaijan

Points awarded to Azerbaijan (Semi-final 2)
Televote
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
Jury
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
Points awarded to Azerbaijan (final)
Televote
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
Jury
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

Points awarded by Azerbaijan

Split voting results

The following five members comprised the Azerbaijani jury:[6]

  • Rashad Hashimov – Chairperson – composer
  • Emir Useynov – choreographer
  • Tunzale Agayeva – author, composer, singer
  • Ulviyya Karimova – film director
  • Yalchin Jabbarov – producer
Split voting results from Azerbaijan (Semi-final 2)
Draw Country Jury Televote
E. Useynov T. Agayeva U. Karimova Y. Jabbarov R. Hashimov Average Rank Points Rank Points
01 Armenia17171717171717
02 Ireland15131310151614
03 Moldova315615108311
04  Switzerland9688992210
05 Latvia121131236515
06 Romania5315443812
07 Denmark1412129141413
08 Sweden69516161283
09 Austria104913111116
10 Croatia11511141213101
11 Malta7214655656
12 Lithuania1614162710192
13 Russia11111112112
14 Albania484584774
15 Norway13161011131565
16 Netherlands8107767438
17 North Macedonia2723221047
18 Azerbaijan
Split voting results from Azerbaijan (final)
Draw Country Jury Televote
E. Useynov T. Agayeva U. Karimova Y. Jabbarov R. Hashimov Average Rank Points Rank Points
01 Malta6294621074
02 Albania495694716
03 Czech Republic1921222171418
04 Germany25232118162223
05 Russia11111112112
06 Denmark14181617201919
07 San Marino7171013713210
08 North Macedonia5114553883
09 Sweden1310619181520
10 Slovenia222225157413
11 Cyprus101271038317
12 Netherlands11141311101647
13 Greece12314385625
14 Israel23152516212115
15 Norway161615141918101
16 United Kingdom22252021242524
17 Iceland352424141112
18 Estonia17241820232321
19 Belarus151387410165
20 Azerbaijan
21 France24191722252414
22 Italy8711926556
23 Serbia18202315132022
24  Switzerland961212111238
25 Australia204323129211
26 Spain218198221792

References

  1. "Azerbaijan Country Profile". EBU. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  2. "Eurovision 2019 - Chingiz (Azerbaijan)". ESCKAZ. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  3. https://www.facebook.com/EurovisionCoverage/posts/10156179175876305
  4. Jordan, Paul (28 January 2019). "Eurovision 2019: Which country takes part in which Semi-Final?". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  5. "Exclusive: This is the Eurovision 2019 Semi-Final running order!". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  6. Groot, Evert (30 April 2019). "Exclusive: They are the judges who will vote in Eurovision 2019!". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
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