Dilara Kazimova releases her song in Azerbaijani
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijani entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 released a brand new version of her soulful ballad 'Start a Fire'.
Dilara Kazimova released a long-waited version of the song in her native language.
The Azerbaijani version is called "Bir qigilcim" (A single spark). Dilara wanted to make it from the first moment she heard the song.
"The story that tells my song is very close to me and to my country. I couldn't miss a chance to translate it into Azerbaijani," Dilara said.
Meanwhile, Dilara came to delight her Hungarian fans in Budapest on April 17.
Dilara came to Hungary as part of her promotional tour in five countries after visiting the Netherlands and Lithuania. She will go to Russia, Georgia, and Malta afterwards.
In Budapest, Dilara met with her fellow contestant Andras
Kallay-Saunders, and they gave few press interviews together.
Together they visited the hit morning show "Ma Reggel" to talk
about the Eurovision Song Contest, and then headed to the live TV
show Kivansagkosar to add some spice on air with Dilara's entry
song 'Start a Fire'.
Dilara also gave an interview to "Hirado" news TV program and
visited local radio stations for some more Q&A sessions.
Dilara's still had some energy left to have an online interview at
adal2014.hu on the same day.
Earlier in Lithuania, Dilara performed jointly with Lithuanian representative at the contest Vilija Mataciunaite at the TV show "Two stars".
Dilara started her promotional tour in Lithuania with a performance at the local TV version of the show, "Battle of the Choirs", on April 13. Then, she participated at the live show on the TV channel TV3, where she presented her song "Start a Fire".
During her tour in Russia, Dilara will sing at the official Russian Eurovision pre-party in Moscow. Numerous "star" fans of the contest and the previous years' participants will be present at the party.
During the tour, Dilara will perform at local TV and radio stations and meet the representatives of local media; she will also get acquainted with her fans and light up the stage with popular local musicians.
Dilara's strong and exciting voice will compete in the first semifinal of the ESC in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 6, while leading bookmakers consider her among the top five contenders.
The gifted singer will add traditional soul to the "Start a Fire" modern ballad.
An established artist who is quite popular in Azerbaijan, Dilara is about to attract a wider European audience. Dilara's operatic training gives her impressive vocal diversity and permits a repertoire that ranges from soul and opera, jazz, and pop.
The singer has already participated twice in the national selection of Eurovision, reaching the final stage in 2008 and 2010. She is also the prizewinner of the "New Wave 2010"contest in Yurmala, Latvia.