“I was completely confident in my song!” Arash said today in a telephone interview, “I found out about Azerbaijan’s competition for the best song to represent them at Eurovision by chance, surfing the Internet. In one night, I finished the song I had worked on for quite some time – with just one thing missing from it: the understanding who this song could be for. When I saw AySel’s pictures, I realized – this song is for her! So Always was written specially for AySel. Why did I take part in the contest? I’m originally Azerbaijani, and I would like to have a part in this country’s confident ascent in the history of Eurovision. Frankly, I regret that I found out too late about Azerbaijan’s national selection of its Eurovision participant and missed the casting. Besides being a songwriter and a composer, I am also a performer, and I would be thrilled to be on the Eurovision stage in 2009, instead of being on the backstage.”

A total of 30 songs competed in the contest conducted by iTV, the Azerbaijani national television. The submissions came from both local and foreign songwriters and composers. The selection process proved to be very difficult, according to the jury, since many truly great songs entered into the competition. However, what concerns the winning song, the 7-member jury made of prominent figures of the Azerbaijani culture and show business including such names as iTV Director General Ismayil Omarov, Rector of Baku Musical Academy College Farhad Badalbayli, President of the Azerbaijan National Music Committee of the International Music Council Lala Kazimova, Director of the Azerbaijani public Philharmonic Hall Murad Adigozelzade, voted unanimously. The best song for Azerbaijan’s ESC representative AySel was written by Arash.

“Always – is what we were looking for! This is a 100-percent Eurovision hit song, which fits AySel perfectly. It is a romantic song, and we are sure it will become a European hit of this spring. We are very satisfied with the selection, and now the matter depends on staging a bright and spectacular show!” said Murad Adigozelzade, one of the jury members.

The 19-year-old AySel who will represent Azerbaijan in Eurovision 2009 has expressed her delight that the song selection is over, and she can begin preparing for her performance at full pace. “Frankly, I was surprised when I heard that Arash submitted his song to the selection,” AySel commented, “Of course, I have already heard the song, but I won’t comment on it for the time being. The thing is that it’s really important for me to understand how the song will sound in the final. So I am really looking forward to its recording and arrangement.”

iTV would like to express gratitude to all songwriters, composers and producers who took part in the Azerbaijani national song selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 and hopes for further cooperation with them in other projects of the channel.

OIKOTIMES!