AZERBAIJAN – On Saturday afternoon, we had the pleasure and honour to chat with Eldar Gasimov, the man who along Nikki brought the first-ever Eurovision trophy in Baku. During the interview, we had some interesting news moments.
First of all, Eldar reveals that the day after their victory, his and Nikki team surprised them with a tour in the city zoo with a huge limo. When he returned in Baku he was literally crying as he realised what he achieved, but it was amazing to see more than 3,000 people waiting for them in the old Baku airport. The most painful was for him to accept the dozens of roses!
Regarding EUROVISION: EUROPE SHINE A LIGHT, Eldar reveals that he and Nikki recorded a special version of RUNNING SCARED while right now he is preparing new songs with a Greek and Swedish authors. At the same time, he is hosting a morning TV show for national television and he is participating in various social charity programs for people with cancer.
Last year, the national history museum asked him to sign the envelope with the stamps issued in 2011 with his face after Eurovision victory.
Regarding the 2020 Eurovision entry CLEOPATRA by Efendi, Eldar is clear that this isn’t his music style but he finds it catchy.
Bu the big question is: Will Eldar return to Eurovision? He is not thinking this is the time to do so but if it happens it will definitely be a solo act as he can not handle the responsibility for someone besides himself. He cannot forget how much he panicked (although we never saw it) when Nikki forgot her lyrics from the ABB song when hosting Eurovision in Baku.
Was Eurovision a milestone for the city of Baku and the country? Definitely yes, Eldar says because, besides the new venue and infrastructure, interaction with other nations broadened the mentality of the people while the world met the Azeri way of life and thinking.
Eldar Gasimov is the great-grandson of Azerbaijani actor couple Honoured Artist of Azerbaijan Abbas Mirza Sharifzadeh and People’s Artist of USSR Marziyya Davudova, and the grandson of People’s Artist of Azerbaijan actress Firangiz Sharifova.
Gasimov began singing when he was very young and has taken part in several concerts in various cities of Azerbaijan and Russia. Between 2001 and 2005 he received professional training in music and learned to play the piano.
Eldar Gasimov graduated from Baku Slavic University with a double major in international relations and regional geography. Since 2010, he has been a graduate student of international relations at the same university. He speaks Russian and German fluently and is also proficient in English.
