Azerbaijan looks for its Eurovision 2017 song

By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan’s public broadcaster ITV has announced an open call for its Eurovision 2017 song.

The broadcaster is inviting submissions from songwriters from which it will select the song for Kiev.

Composers should submit their audio and lyrics as well as some basic information about themselves. The maximum duration of each song is three minutes.

Also, song must meet the contest's rules:  http://www.eurovision.tv/upload/2017/2017_ESC_rules_EN_FINAL_PUBLIC-08-07-2016.pdf

Those wishing to participate in the selection can send their applications before February 10 ,2017 to the email address: [email protected]

Azerbaijan has been one of the most consistently successful countries in modern Eurovision. Since debuting in 2008, Azerbaijan has always qualified for the final, and placed in the top 10 six times, including Ell & Nikki’s 2011 win with "Running Scared" .

While the country has almost exclusively opted for Azerbaijani singers, the broadcaster frequently uses songs written by foreign composers, including Swedish and Greek songwriters.

Diana Hajiyeva will represent Azerbaijan in the Eurovision 2017 Song Contest. Diana Hajiyeva, known by her stage name Dihaj, is a singer based in Baku who is known more recently for her experimental-pop style of music.

Azerbaijan will act in the first semi-final, which will also see performances of Montenegro, Finland, Georgia, Portugal, Belgium, Sweden, Albania and Australia.

Cyprus, Slovenia, Armenia, Moldova, Czech Republic, Latvia, Iceland, Greece, Poland will perform in the second semi-final.

The Big Five and the host country are directly qualified to the final. Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom will vote in Semi-Final 1. Germany, Ukraine and France will vote in Semi-Final 2.

Forty-three countries will participate in the Eurovision 2017 that will take place in the International Exhibition Centre in Kiev, Ukraine, following Ukraine's victory at the 2016 contest in Stockholm with the song "1944", performed by Jamala.

This will be the second time the contest has taken place in Kiev, after 2005, and the fourth Eurovision event after hosting the Junior Eurovision Song Contest's in 2009 and 2013.