Azerbaijan AZERBAIJAN 2024 - Fahree ft. Ilkin Dovlatov - Özünlə Apar

[ESC United Mod Team]

 

[ArmpitOfEurope]

Needed a stronger chorus melody/hook. Still, I like it, its vibey with nice ethnic touches.
In the weak semi final 1, this can qualify, Azerbaijan usually kills the staging. The ethnic feat can be a nice moment if they stage it right.

 

[Iker]

I don't know, it reminds me a bit of Ukraine last year. Good production but a bit whatever.

I think Ukraine had a much stronger song last year and I was not even a fan of it. But yeah, I remember the reaction here as also lukewarm.

 

[Iker]

Come on, take me with yourself
The sky is narrow to me without you

Doesn’t make much sense tbh, just as the English lyrics

So Azerbaijan keeps up the tradition that began with X-My Heart. Luna make up!!

 

[Judas]

The Turkish diaspora might like this as Azerbaijan and Turkey share cultural sounds?

Turkish diaspora gradually stopped caring for this contest since Turkey's withdrawal. Serhat was dead last in German televote. Not saying it should have received points as the performance was not anything to go for, but dead last is a good indicator in regards to Turks watching/voting in Europe.

 

[aef]

Not my cup of tea at all, points.

 

[crashworld]

from me - I love the mugham chants, the arrangement, the strings and the lush production but Fahree's vocals bring it massively down, imo - His singing style feels so lacklustre, like he's unbothered with his own song - I wish this entry had a stronger entrant to lift it to another level.

Your comment pretty much nail it for me. The production is actually pretty lush after repeated listens. Someone mentioned the strings part is a reminiscence of Madonna's "Frozen" and it's a spot-on. But the way Fahree sings the song, makes it so emotionless. Makes it difficult for me to truly enjoy the song.

 

[Laepo1]

Why don't they just sing it in azeri lol the English lyrics are so meh and it kills the song's vibe.

"Hold my heart in your hands
Do you have what it takes?"

like, yeah, hands. you just mentioned them

 

[toinou03]

It's cute. It's not very competitive indeed and the video makes me worry about the vocals in Malmö. But it's a good move to have a song in Azerbaijani with ethnic elements.

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

from me after a couple of listens. It's not amazing but for me it is pleasant enough and very far from the worst song this year. I generally haven't liked Azeri entries in the past, and this is actually one of their best ones for me.

 

[musicfan]

This seems very underrated here. Obviously worth well more than a 6. I suspect Mati Hari was much more liked here yet I think that was a weak dance song in a year with some great ones.

 

[ESC94]

The Turkish diaspora might like this as Azerbaijan and Turkey share cultural sounds?

Of course, that´s why televoters always rank first. *IRONYOFF*

Let´s see how some countries that often voted for due the diaspora ranked the Azerbaijani songs in the final:



2014 - 25/25
2015 - 22/26
2016 - 23/25
2017 - 23/25
2019 - 13/25
2021 - 17/25
2022 - 23/24



2014 - 25/25
2015 - 20/26
2016 - 24/25
2017 - 23/25
2019 - 10/25
2021 - 17/25
2022 - 25/25



2014 - 25/25
2015 - 20/27
2016 - 25/26
2017 - 25/26
2019 - 12/25
2021 - 19/25
2022 - 22/24



2014 - 22/25
2015 - 17/26
2016 - 20/25
2017 - 17/25
2019 - 12/25
2021 - 18/25
2022 - 23/24



2014 - 26/26
2015 - 20/26
2016 - 22/25
2017 - 21/25
2019 - 14/26
2021 - 13/25
2022 - 22/24



2014 - 20/25
2015 - 18/27
2016 - 23/25
2017 - 22/25
2019 - 7/25
2021 - 16/25
2022 - 19/24

Doesn´t look that good, right?? I guess we should finally put this "Turks voting for Azerbaijan as a substitute for Turkey" to the realm of myths.

 

[han-g]

Of course, that´s why televoters always rank first. *IRONYOFF*

Let´s see how some countries that often voted for due the diaspora ranked the Azerbaijani songs in the final:



2014 - 25/25
2015 - 22/26
2016 - 23/25
2017 - 23/25
2019 - 13/25
2021 - 17/25
2022 - 23/24



2014 - 25/25
2015 - 20/26
2016 - 24/25
2017 - 23/25
2019 - 10/25
2021 - 17/25
2022 - 25/25



2014 - 25/25
2015 - 20/27
2016 - 25/26
2017 - 25/26
2019 - 12/25
2021 - 19/25
2022 - 22/24



2014 - 22/25
2015 - 17/26
2016 - 20/25
2017 - 17/25
2019 - 12/25
2021 - 18/25
2022 - 23/24



2014 - 26/26
2015 - 20/26
2016 - 22/25
2017 - 21/25
2019 - 14/26
2021 - 13/25
2022 - 22/24



2014 - 20/25
2015 - 18/27
2016 - 23/25
2017 - 22/25
2019 - 7/25
2021 - 16/25
2022 - 19/24

Doesn´t look that good, right?? I guess we should finally put this "Turks voting for Azerbaijan as a substitute for Turkey" to the realm of myths.

I said might and I didn't say might because it's Azerbaijan but because this is a cultural music that Turkey also has meaning the Turkish diaspora might connect to this. There was no need to be so sarcastic

 

[ESC94]

I said might and I didn't say might because it's Azerbaijan but because this is a cultural music that Turkey also has meaning the Turkish diaspora might connect to this. There was no need to be so sarcastic

And I wrote this to show that you "might" be wrong with your assumption.

 

[ESC94]

Today it was turn at the ESC kompakt songchecks 2024.

ESC-Songcheck kompakt 2024 (9) – Aserbaidschan: „Özünlə Apar“ von FAHREE feat. Ilkin Dovlatov - ESC kompakt

Aserbaidschan hat seinen Act für den Eurovision Song Contest auch in diesem Jahr wieder intern ausgewählt. Allerdings hat die Rundfunkanstalt Ictimai immer wieder Zwischenstände durchgegeben, so da…

esc-kompakt.de

The verdict of the bloggers:

Benny - Incredibly boring and the English lyrics are really bananas. Leaves me absolutely cold as a ballad. It gets plus points however for the traditional musical elements, for which Ilkin is mainly responsible.

Berenike - „Özünlə Apar“ has some very beautiful moments, I like the bridge where it´s sung in Azerbaijani and where arrangement only consists of strings, as well as the strings towards the end and the arabic influenced vocals in the background. But in between the arrangement is too monotone for me, only drums and some sound effects, which are also way too dominant. It feels for me as if someone compulsively wanted to give this song something modern and poppy. This way it doesn´t give me the feeling of a succesful mixture, but an impression that is neither fish nor fowl.

Douze Points - I really like the dynamic final with the electronic beat and strings. The traditional Mugham singing fits great. The way until then is a bit song sadly. Til then some may have already lost interest.

Flo - After a few entries that didn't really get off the ground, FAHREE and Ilkin Dovlatov are promising representatives for Azerbaijan. Purely on paper, the influences of the local language and traditional instruments paired with the electro beat are a good result. But for me the song doesn't really get going and I can't get into the track. With a coherent performance that also transfers the complexity into the production, making it into the final is likely possible.

Manu - English as a disruptive factor? At least that's how I felt at first. Modern, relaxed pop music combines here with ethno elements. This is certainly nothing new for Eurovision, but it still works well. The more I hear the song, the more on board I am. Ilkin Dovlatov's mugham singing fits in wonderfully and gives me goosebumps. I now give it – and the trend is upwards.

Max - I think Azerbaijan is finally getting closer to what may also reflects the country's taste in music. Nevertheless, the country doesn't quite manage to take off the ESC glasses and is trying to put a hybrid into the race that should satisfy everyone. In fact, I like this a lot more than what Azerbaijan otherwise sends to the ESC. Gladly more of it and gladly more daring!

Peter - I like the intense ethno-mix, only got to know Mugham through FAHREE and Ilkin. What I can understand and comprehend from the lyrics produces a nice closeness to the song with me. Only the melody and chorus appear rather prim and redundant, but the power ballad is beautifully prodced and the interpretation of FAHREE is elegant, urgant and also credible.

Rick - I really like the modern production and the relaxed beat in combination with the country's typical elements. The whole thing creates a clear unique selling point that Azerbaijan can benefit from this year. I'm actually just worried about FAHREE's charisma. In the music video it seems as if he has had very little experience in front of the camera so far, which could really hurt the song. Overall a solid post and finally there are lines in Azerbaijani.

 

[Wynnter]

I'm intriqued by the atmosphere it's building up, but that's pretty much where my interest stays. It doesn't feel memorable, it kind of just walks along without doing much, and even when it tries to elevate in some fashion, it only falls flat. The singer also doesn't build any connections with his voice and singing that I could latch onto. This will live or die depending on the staging, but even then qualification is a question mark.

points

 

[Sammy]

this turned out to be a fader for me... I still like the ethnic elements, but it lost its charm a bit.... or for the moment.

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

This has grown on me

 

[Bakinka]

Aisel's and Mila Miles-Etibar Asadli-Ilkin Dovletov's songs after revamp:

 

[BernadetteCydonia]

Aisel and Luna at the chess off store or whatever

 

[gingerale]

Call me 2019 but Game of Chess is hot stuff.