AZERBAIJAN – The 2018 Azeri representative, Aisel gave an interview to NEWS24.AZ, the video of which is available in this post. Her bid for 2018 Eurovision edition didn’t make it to the final but the singer was not surprised after a dramatic process from her internal selection until the song selection and her stage performance. It was after all the first non-qualification for the country in the Grand Final.
Speaking with Teymur Mammadov from the news portal, Aisel speaks about X MY HEART the song which was written and produced by Dimitris Kontopoulos, Sandra Bjurman and Tim Bran. A song which was forced to her although she made some proposals to Ictimai, which were all rejected.
The song was in a very inclined-stream pop format. I have no connection with this type of song. In general, I do not listen to such songs. I find it more difficult to understand. I had a hard time because I didn’t have a format. Even now I do not feel in harmony with that song. I would like to compose my own song. Unfortunately, it was not received. It is a competition in the pop genre and has its own genre. Therefore, it was recommended that they write a song and present it to us. The team consisted of very good people. We still have a relationship.
Aisel says that her participation in Eurovision 2018 had nothing to do with her. She had no say in anything. She wasn’t even sad when she saw she is not going to the Grand Final, although her personal friend and stylist, Anar Agakishiyev was sad and crying.
ABOUT THE SONG
“X My Heart” (pronounced “cross my heart”) is a song performed by Azerbaijani singer Aisel. The song was released as a digital download on 17 March 2018 by k2id Productions. The song was written by Sandra Bjurman and produced by Dimitris Kontopoulos and Tim Bran. The song is an uptempo dance-pop song, which, despite its nature, is about Aisel’s late husband.
The song represented Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, after Aisel was internally selected by Azeri broadcaster İctimai Television in November 2017. The name of the song was announced on 3 March 2018, while the song itself was released on 4 March 2018.[2] The song competed in the first semi-final, held on 8 May 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal, where it failed to qualify for the final, marking the first time Azerbaijan failed to qualify for the grand final.
