The Countdown To Eurovision continues and in just two weeks from right now, all of Europe will be preparing themselves for the first of the semi finals at Copenhagen’s B&W Hallerne at which 16 countries will compete for one of the ten places on offer for the Grand Final. Two nights later, it’s the second of the semi finals before the big Grand Final on May 10.
The excitement is building, all the entries are prepping, dance routines are being memorised, staging elements finalised and those vocals polished. The Azerbaijanis are stuck right in the middle of the pack for the first of the semi finals, so let’s see if Dilara Kazimova can deliver on her song title and ‘start a fire’.
DILARA KAZIMOVA : Start A Fire
We’ve seen an increase in the number of artists from reality TV shows representing their countries at Eurovision in recent years, but that number seems to have slipped back markedly this year. Azerbaijan is doing something a little different this year, however, with Dilara Kazimova (her country’s representative) a contestant on the Azerbaijani version of ‘The Voice’ (‘Holos Krayiny’) right now. Whether she’s shown a degree of favouritism from the judges because of her Eurovision role – or indeed whether she’ll be disqualified because of it – remains to be seen, but her Eurovision song ‘Start A Fire’ is gorgeous. A beautifully performed piano ballad, with heartfelt vocals and just the right amount of Eastern European instrumentation; a sound at once unique and international. No wonder it’s within the top ten in Eurovision betting. ‘Start A Fire’ should sail through to the Grand Final.
http://youtu.be/ipQswujA5gw