Azerbaijan AZERBAIJAN 2022 - Nadir Rustamli - Fade To Black

[escYOUnited]

Stay
The story barely started
Can't you
Stay
Do you really want no part of this
Oh so sweet
Reverie
You back off slowly through the door
You always go and blame the weather
The weather

It hurts so fast
When love goes bad
Until at last
We fade to black

And I'm numb, numb
Numb, numb

Wait
I need some time to fix this can't you wait ?
We can't afford to miss this
You back off slowly through the door
You always go and blame the weather
The weather

It hurts so fast
When love goes bad
Until at last
We fade to black

And I'm numb, numb
Numb, numb

We're living in a memory
The present is the price I pay
Fade to black
Fade to black

It hurts so fast
When love goes bad
Until at last
We fade to black​

 

[Hayato]

I usually enjoy Azerbaijan's entries even their ballads. I would considered this song as their 7th ballad throughout the years they have participated. This is my ranking:

1. Hold Me - 2013
2. Drip Drop - 2010
3. Running Scared - 2011
4. When the Music Dies - 2012
5. Fade to Black - 2022
6. Hour of the Wolf - 2015
7. Start a Fire - 2014

Now I looked back at the 15 entries they have sent (including 2020), I am shocked at about half are legit ballads. In my mind, I always thought we have more uptempos from Azerbaijan.

And also, what's the slandering against Samir and Aisel. "Miracle" in studio cut is so much better than "Fade to Black", Samra is just not as strong as a vocalist. "X My Heart" as generic as it seems and inauthentic to Aisel, at least, it is very listenable and it's my number 1 song from 2018 contest (*BITE ME!*).

Aisel love She was my 7th, perfectly great song indeed!

 

[yulara]

ok, it's well produce, he has a voice, it's a nice ballad, but to be honest, I was so bored listening to it, the 3 minuts were so long...
it will find its audience but it's definitely not my cup of tea, sorry azerbaijan.

 

[ArmpitOfEurope]

Tbh it sounded worse after the first listening as my expectation was kinda different. However, after few listenings I can definitely state that this is a grower and might do much better than many of us expect.

Sadly viewers wont get to listen to it a few times in May

 

[Ezio]

This is Azerbaijan's worst ballad and also the worst of this year... Ugh

 

[Galandar]

Sadly viewers wont get to listen to it a few times in May

I can‘t agree more. However, it might still do well. Vocal abilities and stage presentation do also matter. Let‘s see how he delivers it live.

 

[midnightsun]

I think what I love most about the song is that it actually tells a story (however, in bad English). It builds nicely, it‘s half a musical. It reminds me a bit of Sergey Lazarev‘s Scream, which was, no surprise, my #1 in 2019. I love when a song includes a story, not so much lyricwise, but rather the development of a song, dramatic, builds nicely, optimally climbing up a minor scale.

 

[MAD20]

Bland at its finest. Giving generous 5 points for his vocals.

 

[goncalovieira]

Azerbaijan needs to change their approach about Eurovision.
Seems they are coming just to enjoy a nice time somewhere in Europe.

 

[Phoenix]

X My Heart is the tits! Iconic lyrics, iconic everything, Europe truly LOST! I think Running Scared is their only entry that leaves me cold, everything else was above average to great!

 

[ArmpitOfEurope]

Azerbaijan needs to change their approach about Eurovision.
Seems they are coming just to enjoy a nice time somewhere in Europe.

No, I think they are taking it seriously, they just have a hard time adapting in the modern era of the contest.

 

[VikingTiger]

When first listening to Fade to Black I was disappointed realizing we had another ballad. I was hoping for finally something more uptempo for 2022 - we needed it. And then, as the song was played to the end, I was disappointed that this ballad went nowhere... Nice vocals I guess. But nothing more to me.

 

[simori95]

I like it, I see potential for it to wow me on stage, but I have to admit there is definitely something missing for me.

 

[crashworld]

I think what I love most about the song is that it actually tells a story (however, in bad English). It builds nicely, it‘s half a musical. It reminds me a bit of Sergey Lazarev‘s Scream, which was, no surprise, my #1 in 2019. I love when a song includes a story, not so much lyricwise, but rather the development of a song, dramatic, builds nicely, optimally climbing up a minor scale.

Both songs suffer from bad lyrics.
Let's face it - "I SWALLOW HARD", "Though my THROAT is on FIRE". Like, HELLO?

 

[empo21]

Let's face it - "I SWALLOW HARD", "Though my THROAT is on FIRE". Like, HELLO?

I'm sorry, these are exquisite lines of lyrical excellence, especially cuming from none other than Sergey Lazarev (and by extention - Kirkorov)

 

[crashworld]

Not gonna lie, I low key hope Azerbaijan wins this year's competition since it's almost an exact replica of 2011. I would live for the total meltdown within the ESC fandom and would make an awesome dramatic ending to this year's competition since we have witnessed drama after drama for this edition. #kingnadirforthewin #azerbaijan2023 #ganja2023

 

[hijirio]

The more I listen the more I dislike it.
I just can't vibe with Nadir's voice, sorry. It sounds unnecessarily raspy to me.
And the balaban (ethnic instrument) feels so out of place, obvi they added it only for the sake of having it. So aimless.
It sucks not being able to support my favorite ESC country.

 

[midnightsun]

Both songs suffer from bad lyrics.
Let's face it - "I SWALLOW HARD", "Though my THROAT is on FIRE". Like, HELLO?

I get your point. Thunder and lightning, it‘s getting exciting isn’t a moment of glory either.
However, I‘m a sucker for ballads like these with a bit of Eastern European flavour. (Not talking about the folklore instruments)

 

[Franzilein]

Does absolutely nothing for me. I always have a hard time connecting with ballads, they are hit or miss in most cases. This is a big miss, don't find anything worth drooling over, it just drags on forever and ever and doesn't build up to something exceptionally grand either... I like how it ends on a quiet note, but that's it. 3 points?

 

[FilipFromSweden]

very cute guy

 

[Cjexplorer]

Ouch! I’m sorry Azerbaijan fans but this is not it. Not only is this the most forgettable song of this years contest but it’s offensively bland and generic. Musically it’s devoid of any real substance and I swear I’ve heard that chorus a million times. The subtle flairs in instrumentation are buried so low in the overproduced mix that I’m surprised I could make them out at all. Say what you will about Mata Hari but at least it was a fun albeit trashy bop with some culture. This says nothing about Azerbaijan at all. In fact if I heard this on the radio I’d be mistaken in thinking it was our (the UKs) latest null point endeavour. Start a fire pt.2 and at least that song had some fleeting qualities in the melody. Please next year bring something inherently unique to your culture to the contest, every country deserves a decent song