Ell & Nikki
| Ell & Nikki | |
|---|---|
 Eldar (left) & Nigar on stage in Baku (2012) | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Baku, Azerbaijan |
| Genres | Pop |
| Years active | 2011 – present |
| Website | Official website |
| Members |
Eldar Gasimov Nigar Jamal |
Ell & Nikki, also known as Eldar & Nigar, are an Azerbaijani pop duo consisting of singers Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal. On 14 May 2011 they won the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 for Azerbaijan with their entry "Running Scared". It was the country's first ever win at the contest.[1] Although Nigar Jamal represented Azerbaijan, she lives in Enfield, North London.[2]
Band history
National final constellation
Gasimov and Jamal separately took part in the Azerbaijani national selection, Milli Seçim Turu 2011. They qualified from the semi-finals along with three other artists to the final on 11 February 2011, where they won the right to represent Azerbaijan at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany in May 2011.[3] Although it was originally planned to send an individual as Azerbaijan, when the winner was announced, İTV had decided that both Eldar and Nigar would be going to Germany as a duo.
Eurovision win
In the 2011 Eurovision song contest Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal performed together under the duo name Ell & Nikki. As the contest was taking place in a Western European country, the name change was made to prevent confusion of Jamal's first name being interpreted as a racial slur. Their entry, named "Running Scared", was written by Stefan Örn and Sandra Bjurman from Sweden and Iain Farguhanson from the UK. The duo were aided significantly by the four Swedish backing singers, including Jessica Marberger and Vera Prada who had earlier in the year attempted to represent Sweden as part of Shirley's Angels.
They were the overall winners of the Eurovision final on 14 May which meant that Azerbaijan has the right to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.[4]
2011–present: After Eurovision
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Since winning the Eurovision final 2011, Jamal and Gasimov travelled to many European countries to perform their winning entry in the contest. The singers also received "Peace and Friendship Award" in Zonguldak’s Ereğli district for carrying a Turkish flag onstage during final scene.[5] Azerbaijan and Germany have issued a postage stamp dedicated to Azerbaijan’s victory with Gasimov and Jamal at Eurovision.[6][7][8]
In 2011, Ell and Nikki became the official faces of Nar Mobile, one of Azerbaijan's mobile communication providers.
When asked about planning to continue to work together in an interview to Daily Mail, Nigar Jamal said that the duo are planning to pursue a solo career at the moment, but did not rule out the possibility of more joint projects with Eldar Gasimov in the future.[9]
In 2013, the duo recorded their second song named Music's Still Alive. The song was written as a tribute to Michael Jackson and released on 29 August 2013, the late singer's birthday. Both Gasimov and Jamal describe themselves as Jackson's fans.[10]
Discography
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUT | BEL (FLA) | BEL (WAL) | GER | IRE | NL | SWI | UK | ||
| 2011 | "Running Scared" | 22 | 37 | 9 | 33 | 41 | 59 | 11 | 61 |
| 2013 | "Music's Still Alive" | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
References
- ↑ Azerbaijan win Eurovision as Blue and Jedward finish mid-table
- ↑ "Eurovision Song Contest 2011: review", The Telegraph, 15 May 2011. Accessed 15 May 2011.
- ↑ Hondal, Victor. "News - Azerbaijan sends Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal to Eurovision". ESCToday. Retrieved 11 February 2011.Siim, Jarmo. "Nigar & Eldar get gold in Azerbaijan". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 11 February 2011."İctimai Televiziya və Radio Yayımları Şirkəti - "Eurovision-2011" Milli Finalının qalibi bəlli oldu" (in Azerbaijani). İTV. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ↑ Boybands get Eurovision Blues
- ↑ "Azerbaijani artists accept award in Turkey". Retrieved 17 July 2011.
- ↑ "Ell & Nikki (2011) IN POST STAMPS". Retrieved 17 July 2011.
- ↑ "Stamps on Azerbaijan's Eurovision-2011 win issued". Retrieved 17 July 2011.
- ↑ "Stamp on Azerbaijan’s Eurovision-2011 Win Issued". Retrieved 17 July 2011.
- ↑ "'I don't know if we'll continue as a duo': Eurovision winner Nikki Jamal casts doubt on future of Ell/Nikki during an appearance on Loose Women". Daily Mail (London). 20 May 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ↑ Feliks Wiszniewiecki. Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal Celebrated Michael Jackson's Birthday. 1news.az. 30 August 2013.
External links
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
Preceded by Lenawith "Satellite" |
Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 |
Succeeded by Loreenwith "Euphoria" |
| Preceded by Safura Alizadeh with "Drip Drop" |
Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 |
Succeeded by Sabina Babayeva with "When the Music Dies" |
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