Running Scared (Ell & Nikki song)

"Running Scared" is a song performed by Azerbaijani duo Ell & Nikki. It won the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 for Azerbaijan, held in Düsseldorf, Germany.[1] The song was performed in, and qualified from, the first semi-final on 10 May. It was performed in the final on 14 May, and won with 221 points. Ell and Nikki were the first mixed-gender duo to win the contest since 1963 and the first winners from Azerbaijan.

"Running Scared"
Single by Ell & Nikki
ReleasedMarch 2011
Recorded2011
GenrePop
Length2:59
Songwriter(s)
Eldar Gasimov singles chronology
"Running Scared"
(2011)		 "Birlikdə nəhayət"
(2012)
Nigar Jamal singles chronology
"Running Scared"
(2011)		 "Crush On You"
(2011)
Eurovision Song Contest 2011 entry
Country
Artist(s)
As
Ell/Nikki
Language
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
Finals performance
Semi-final result
2nd
Semi-final points
122
Final result
1st
Final points
221
Entry chronology
◄ "Drip Drop" (2010)   
"When the Music Dies" (2012) ►

Background

Prior to the release of Running Scared, neither singer had performed in a duo. According to Eldar Gasimov, at the initial stage, both singers were unsure of the success of such a project.[2]

Production and selection

Running Scared was chosen from among 70 submissions coming from both Azerbaijan and abroad which were received by ITV within four weeks from January 10.[3] Eldar Gasimov stated that the song was a perfect common ground for the singers' varying styles, voices and spirits.[4]

The authors of the song are Stefan Örn, Sandra Bjurman from Sweden together with Iain Farquharson from the UK. Örn and Bjurman are also authors of the song "Drip Drop", which represented Azerbaijan at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010.[1]

Acoustic and remix versions of the song were made by German DJ Azzido Da Bass in late April 2011.[5]

Running Scared set a new record for lowest average score on a Eurovision winner, earning 5.26 points per jury and breaking the previous record held by Helena Paparizou's My Number One, the 2005 winner.

Music video

The official videoclip for Running Scared was released on 11 April 2011 and was directed by Tarmo Krimm.[6] It was preceded by a promotional video released earlier in March. Krimm, who was also the producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 held in his native Estonia, won the right to direct this videoclip after submitting his proposal in February 2011.[7]

The video was shot in southern Crimea,[7] the videoclip features Ell taking photographs of Nikki as she appears sitting on a cliff with a Labrador Retriever and taking a ride on a cable car. These scenes are interrupted by shots of Ell and Nikki singing both separately and together. In the end, Ell is shown climbing up the cliff while Nikki looks at him tenderly, and the joined couple sings the final chorus standing face-to-face.

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] 22
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 37
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[10] 7
Germany (Media Control AG) 33
Iceland (RÚV)[11] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[12] 41
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 59
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[14] 99
Russia (Digital Chart)[15] 10
Slovakia (IFPI)[16] 50
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 11
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[18] 61

References
  1. "Eurovision Azerbaijan - Eldar & Nigar will represent Azerbaijan with the song "Running Scared"! (Download the original song in the continuation of article)". Eurovisionaz.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  2. Воробьёва уложила на лопатки лондонская домохозяйка. Ekspress (in Russian). Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  3. "Azərbaycanı "Eurovision-2011" Mahnı Müsabiqəsində "Running Scared" mahnısı təmsil edəcək". itv.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  4. "Azərbaycanın "Eurovision-2011" müsabiqəsindəki mahnısı açıqlanıb". Apa.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  5. ""Running Scared" mahnısının akustik və remix versiyaları hazırlanıb". İTV (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  6. ""Running Scared" mahnısının klip çəkilişləri artıq başa çatıb". İTV (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 11 April 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  7. (in Russian) Режиссер клипа азербайджанского дуэта Eldar & Nigar оценил шансы наших представителей на "Евровидении 2011". Day.az. 1 May 2011.
  8. "Austriancharts.at – Ell/Nikki – Running Scared" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  9. "Ultratop.be – Ell/Nikki – Running Scared" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. "Ultratop.be – Ell/Nikki – Running Scared" (in French). Ultratip.
  11. "RÚV - Vinsældalisti Rásar 2". RÚV. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  12. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ell/Nikki". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  13. "Dutchcharts.nl – Ell/Nikki – Running Scared" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  14. "Romanian Top 100". kissfm.ro. 2011-05-15.
  15. "Трижды платиновая". 2M. Lenta.ru. 2012-04-06.
  16. ds. "IFPI Slovakia Track Info: Eldar & Nigar, "Running Scared"". Ifpicr.cz. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  17. "Swisscharts.com – Ell/Nikki – Running Scared". Swiss Singles Chart.
  18. "Running Scared by Ell and Nikki - Music Charts". acharts.us. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
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