Azernews.Az

BAKU – Azerbaijan sealed an impressive win at the Eurovision song contest intensely watched by tens of millions of people across Europe, for the first time in the over five decade-long history of the annual pop extravaganza.

The victory of the Azerbaijani duo, Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal, known as Ell and Nikki, at the 56th Eurovision contest held in Dusseldorf, Germany on Saturday makes the resource-rich former Soviet republic the Eurovision host next year.

Despite rainy weather, thousands of cheering fans celebrated Ell and Nikki’s win all night long, singing, dancing and waving flags.

Television viewers and the jury from 43 European nations named their love song, "Running Scared", as the best one among 25 songs presented at the Eurovision 2011 final. The 30-year-old Jamal, a mother of two who lives in London, and Gasimov, 21, an international relations student in Azerbaijan, won with a 32-point lead, gaining a total of 221 points.

Italy’s Raphael Gualazzi took the second spot with his song "Madness of Love". He was followed by Eric Saade of Sweden with the song "Popular".

Azerbaijan received the top 12 points from Russia, Turkey and Malta, and 10 points from Ukraine, Greece, Croatia, San Marino, Romania and Moldova. 8 points for Ell and Nikki came from Cyprus, Iceland, Austria, Poland, Georgia, Albania, Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal, and Estonia.

Azerbaijan gave 12 points to Ukraine, 10 points to neighboring Georgia and 8 points to Greece.

After the Azerbaijani duo was declared the winner of the contest, and the two thrilled singers rushed to the stage, an interesting detail was that Nigar was holding fraternal Turkey’s flag instead of the Azerbaijani flag. Though the development was welcomed in Turkey, which did not proceed to the Eurovision final, it made some in Azerbaijan unhappy. The Azerbaijani performers, however, later described their victory as "a gift to the whole Turkic world".

Following the song contest, the victorious Azerbaijani singers performed for European media the "Hey, my dear motherland Azerbaijan" song, who has gained worldwide acclaim owing to Muslim Magomayev, the late Azerbaijani-born singer known across the former Soviet Union and beyond.

Eldar and Nigar, who returned to Azeri capital Baku early on Monday morning on a chartered plane of the state airline AzAL, were greeted by hundreds of people upon arrival, and even traffic was blocked in some areas of the city. Azerbaijani flags were seen carried by fans and on cars, with the "Running Scared" song played back by many drivers.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, who hosted the Eurovision 2011 winners later on Monday, congratulated them on their tremendous success.

President Aliyev termed Eurovision as the world’s most outstanding song contest, saying Azerbaijan’s win was "an historic victory".

"This is a victory of the Azerbaijani youths, people and state," Aliyev said. "It will be embedded in history. And you have already gone down in history. Azerbaijan has said its piece in Eurovision history."

The European Union Delegation congratulated Azerbaijan on its victory as well.

"That was a stunning performance by the Azerbaijani duo Ell & Nikki, which touched hearts of the millions of people in Europe and demonstrated to the whole world what a rich culture and musical traditions the Azerbaijani people have. I sincerely congratulate the singers, the Azerbaijani people and I join in their joys," said head of EU Delegation Roland Kobia.

Kobia expressed confidence that the organization of the Eurovision contest in 2012 in Baku will be a landmark event, which will draw an increased international attention to the country well before the event.

"This will be a golden opportunity for Azerbaijan to show to the world the resolute and sweeping modernization of its society," the EU ambassador added.

"Around 800 million people live in Europe; we were able to show them our culture and now we will be able to show them our traditions," said a report by the public broadcaster, which aired the show in Azerbaijan.

An Azerbaijani lawmaker said that the result proved that the country was capable of integration with Europe.

"Azerbaijan needs such victories. It unites the nation," lawmaker Ganira Pashayeva told the French news agency AFP.

Meanwhile, the European Broadcasting Union announced tentative dates for next year’s contest, saying it was expected to take place on May 22, 24 and 26.

Azerbaijan has participated at Eurovision since 2008. The country ranked eighth in 2008, third in 2009 and fifth in 2010.

World media on Ell and Nikki’s triumph
Deutshe Welle: After 25 crackling live performances at Düsseldorf's Esprit Arena, the votes are in: Azerbaijan leave Germany as victors of 2011's Eurovision after Ell and Nikki wowed European juries with "Running Scared."

An estimated 125 million people worldwide tuned in to see duo Ell and Nikki crowned Eurovision winners at this year's festival with 221 points. Their romantic ballad "Running Scared" was mentioned by fans and critics as a potential winner.

BBC: Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal of Ell/Nikki were voted Europe's favorites, after scoring 221 points with their love song, Running Scared. It is the first time that Azerbaijan has won the contest in its 56-year history, having only joined Eurovision in 2008.

Associated Press: Azerbaijani representatives beat out the much-hyped Irish twins and 23 other finalists Saturday to secure their nation's first-ever win in the Eurovision Song Contest.

In the past three years, Azerbaijan has finished in the first 10 at the songfest, but have never before reached the top.

Azerbaijan had been among the entries favored to win heading into the competition, but other favorites, including the much-hyped Irish duo Jedward, nor the British bookies' top pick, French tenor Amaury Vassili.

Reuters: Azerbaijan won the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest Saturday, taking top honors with a love song in the annual competition of 43 countries that was watched by an audience of more than 100 million people. It was broadcast live from the Atlantic Ocean to the Caspian Sea.

CNN: Azerbaijan took top prize in the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, snagging the country's first-ever win.

Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal, known as Ell/Nikki, won for "Running Scared," a romantic love ballad. They performed it in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Wall Street Journal: The winner is… Azerbaijan. "It must have pleased a lot of the juries," the German commentator said, hinting that the former Soviet nation had won on the grounds of merit, not just neighborly support.