Elnur & Samir
- Azerbaijan's
debut singers
at Eurovision Song Contest 2008
ÓExclusive interview by
OGAEMALTA.com
1. How do you feel
as the first singers to represent Azerbaijan
at the Eurovision Song Contest?
Elnur: We're surprised,
definitely. Now we're exploring the world of
Eurovision that's
completely new for us.
We're happy, but more mature at the same
time, as we feel the flag our country that
we're carrying to Belgrade, and this is a
huge responsibility.
2. The song which
you will perform at the Eurovision is full
of contrasts - the good and evil - the Angel
and the Devil. Why did you feel like
presenting such theme at the Eurovision Song
Contest?
Samir: Well, we both think that
it's great idea to perform in accordance to
what we're thinking about. We're not too
religious, but we believe in God. I think
everyone has his own appearance of God. I
personally think that everything that
surrounds us is created by God, and is to
carry the positive energy to humans. There's
too much of evil outside this window, but
that's only the absence of Good. In our song
we tried to show the struggle between Good
and Evil. I think this is the key-message
for the modern world, as people are
forgetting about many important things,
while thinking of money, fame and
competition.
3. How long did it take you to decide who
will perform the 'Devil' and who will
perform the 'Angel'? Any similarities to
your characters?
Elnur:
one evening :) we were friends before
Eurovision, and when we met once we realized
that I have a wish to perform as an Angel,
and Samir wants to make performance of
struggle between Angel and Demon. This is
how we turned our wishes into performance
you can catch at Eurovision.
4. Your
performance on stage was full of symbolisms.
Can you please explain to us what were the
messages which you tried to send out during
your song?
Samir: well, I think there're not so
many of them: spilled wine, Mugham and the
great fall down in the end. Spilled wine
characterizes bad behaviour with women, when
you use women's weakness to unleash your
evil side. I think that's definitely
negative thing that's happening all around.
As we know Devil is an Angel that was in
Heaven before. Mugham* is our National
element of culture. And in our song we turn
Evil back to roots of Good and knee him in
front of God.
[*wikipedia:
During Mugam, the singers have to transform
their emotions into singing and music. It is
a highly complex form of art music (as
opposed to folk music) with specific systems
and concepts of musical expression that
demand of its performers a very high
standard of professionalism. This is not to
say that traditional folk music is any less
demanding in terms of skills or values!]
5. Will you keep the same performance for
Belgrade in May? And can you please
introduce us to your backing dancers?
Samir: Yep, they are a professional ballet
called "A6". Their names are Alyona, Irina
and Inna. We love them as they're a part of
our Eurovision family. Of course
Irina is my favourite and she's performing
with my Devilish character :)
6. How long does it take you to prepare
your make up and costumes before the song?
Elnur: mostly, it takes us about 2
hours. It's really difficult to make our
hair and Samir's face. The lens is problem
too, but we're almost professionals now in
lens replacement.
7. Do you plan to continue your singing
career as a duet after Eurovision? Or will
you go solos again? Any plans for
joint-albums?
Elnur: I have a plan. I think I will
participate in pop, and I'm really
interested in creating something ridiculous
in music like new music genre. As we're
travelling together we create a lot of
things that are both mine and Samir's. We
plan to record this sound ideas too. By the
way Samir has a lot of tracks that're
unreleased by now, and I think that's the
first thing he will do before we start to
cooperate in the music field.
8. What do you think about the other
competitors taking part in this year's
Eurovision Song Contest?
Samir: we don't think about them too
much. We think about improvements that we
implement into our song after each and every
promo tour.
9. What do you think about the Maltese
entry, VODKA and the Maltese singer MORENA?
Elnur: We have performed twice
together. Once at Ukrainian National
Selection, then at Latvian one. I think she
spreads a great energy that reflects with
positive reactions in audience. One more
thing I'd like to mention is that she's cool
and not usual. I never met people from Malta
before, and now I will think of them only
with the prism of Morena's image – positive
and joyful.
10. Can you please send a message to the
Maltese Eurovision fans and the readers and
visitors of OGAEMALTA.com?
Elnur and Samir: Vodkaaaaa… Maltese,
we wish you good luck, and we'll be happy to
meet you at Maltese or Belgrade stages.
