Azerbaijan is a beautiful country and incredibly peaceful (unlike surrounding nations). Amazing culture, attitudes and some beautiful places to visit from what I've ascertained. Several traveler guides have ranked Baku as one of the top 5 cities to party in. For all these reasons it's the place I'm most keen to visit in the world and has been for some time now.

 

Also, they've spent so much money trying to win over the last few years and an obvious amount of passion. I imagine next year's show will be one of the most spectacular ever.

I can't say I've ever heard much about Azerbaijan, or much about that part of Eurasia apart from the Russia/Georgia conflict recently.

 

 

Did they not spend a proper fortune on Safura??? I agree that it'll be one hell of a show, luckily they have the money to pull it off.

They pulled out all the stops for Safura pretty much - which really does lead me back to my feeling that this is the national equivalent of Dima Bilan winning with the worse song in recognition of how he was robbed the last time :lol:

Well Russia's stunning final was only ruined by the performance by Dima, so I imagine it'll be similar next year :lol:

I can't say I've ever heard much about Azerbaijan, or much about that part of Eurasia apart from the Russia/Georgia conflict recently.

Did they not spend a proper fortune on Safura??? I agree that it'll be one hell of a show, luckily they have the money to pull it off.

 

£1 million on Safura wasn't it! Odd that they put in less money this year and pull off the win which was always a matter of when as opposed to if.

 

I know it'll be a huge production and part of me would love to be there for that reason, but then I remember that they're 5 hours ahead - so for the final to be in line with the usual CET times, it would have to start at 1am and finish at 4.30am local time :lol: Not to mention that the cheapest return flight I've found to Azerbaijan from the UK is £500 - and that's not even direct. And then you have to factor in getting a visa too...I think I'll provisionally pencil in a Melodifestivalen trip for 2012 instead!

£1 million on Safura wasn't it! Odd that they put in less money this year and pull off the win which was always a matter of when as opposed to if.

 

I know it'll be a huge production and part of me would love to be there for that reason, but then I remember that they're 5 hours ahead - so for the final to be in line with the usual CET times, it would have to start at 1am and finish at 4.30am local time :lol: Not to mention that the cheapest return flight I've found to Azerbaijan from the UK is £500 - and that's not even direct. And then you have to factor in getting a visa too...I think I'll provisionally pencil in a Melodifestivalen trip for 2012 instead!

It's definitely going to be a contest for the Non-EU countries out that way as they'll find it far easier to get too than Norway or Germany.

 

I imagine the hotels in Baku would be far more reasonably priced than the ones in Dusseldorf or Oslo.

 

 

I want to Move to Oslo next summer anyway so a trip to Scandinavia for MF would be PERFECT.

It's the exact same situation. Azeris and Turks consider themselves to be part of the same nation.

 

Yeah, I know that there's a strong 'bond' between the Turkic nations - although I did think that over the last few years it had diminished, given the emerging sense of 'jingoistic' nationalism in the central Asian republics and Azerbaijan (OMG I read a book about that blew my mind :wacko:)

 

But I digress, Azerbaijan should give us one hell of a show - and I'm glad to see them emerging on an international stage, although unfortunately it seems to be at the expense of their people and domestic policy =\.

£1 million on Safura wasn't it! Odd that they put in less money this year and pull off the win which was always a matter of when as opposed to if.

 

I know it'll be a huge production and part of me would love to be there for that reason, but then I remember that they're 5 hours ahead - so for the final to be in line with the usual CET times, it would have to start at 1am and finish at 4.30am local time :lol: Not to mention that the cheapest return flight I've found to Azerbaijan from the UK is £500 - and that's not even direct. And then you have to factor in getting a visa too...I think I'll provisionally pencil in a Melodifestivalen trip for 2012 instead!

Actually it's +4 hours from you guys.

 

It's a bit over 2 days on a train to Azerbaijan. Could be going if everything works out (which always doesn't :lol: )

Edited May 15, 201114 yr by P∆V‡L

I love how we're talking about flights and Pavel comes out with "It's 2 days on a train to Azerbaijan. Could be going if everything works out" AMAZING.

 

The contest could be held in London and I'd be looking at flying before I considered the train :lol:

The biggest indoor arena in Baku can only hold 7000. Could be an intimate Eurovision next year!

Or they'll use their limitless ESC fund to build a new one :heehee:

Azerbaijan is a beautiful country and incredibly peaceful (unlike surrounding nations). Amazing culture, attitudes and some beautiful places to visit from what I've ascertained. Several traveler guides have ranked Baku as one of the top 5 cities to party in. For all these reasons it's the place I'm most keen to visit in the world and has been for some time now.

 

Also, they've spent so much money trying to win over the last few years and an obvious amount of passion. I imagine next year's show will be one of the most spectacular ever.

 

Whilst I agree that it's a beautiful country with an amazing culture - it's not free of its skeletons and I wouldn't call it peaceful. The political system is far from democratic and their unconditional support of Turkey (over issues such as Armenian genocide) as well as their war with Armenia (primarily over a monument erected by the Russians for the Armenians) which is an ongoing dispute suggests to me that it's far from peaceful.

 

I actually met the British delegate from Azerbaijan (in Bhukara, Uzbekistan) and she said it's one of the most corrupt and oppressive regimes in the world

 

Soz :kink:

Edited May 15, 201114 yr by xxxxxx

My favorite (by far) is Georgia. It's the only song I still listened to today (and like 20 times too lol).

Best Eurosong in years. Maybe not best in production or lyrics or anything, but it's easy on my ears and I keep pressing replay. Highly entertaining!

Actually it's +4 hours from you guys.

 

It's a bit over 2 days on a train to Azerbaijan. Could be going if everything works out (which always doesn't :lol: )

 

Ok, starts at midnight and finishes at 3.30am then - when will the afterparty finish? 9am? :lol:

 

I love how we're talking about flights and Pavel comes out with "It's 2 days on a train to Azerbaijan. Could be going if everything works out" AMAZING.

 

The contest could be held in London and I'd be looking at flying before I considered the train :lol:

 

Yes I was going to say! Perhaps he hates flying?

 

2 DAYS on a train, so 4 in total? Dear god, that would be a definite no-no for me. 4 hours to get back home on a train does my head in.

 

Or they'll use their limitless ESC fund to build a new one :heehee:

 

Sounds more like it!

Christ...what a night! Best voting for AGES, and despite being gutted we didn't do that well, I'm pleased Azerbaijan won. £500 for a return flight too? Pffft...I was actually considering going too, but won't be able to afford that. Story of the night surely has to be Italy too. No one saw that coming! Absolutely bizarre set of votes. Loved it! And then it was topped off with going out at 2.00am and having four hours of non-stop dancing to Eurovision songs at my local gay bar!

If they go all out and try and top Moscow's stage, it might fit less than 7000 then. Don't think any broadcaster (even Azerbaijan) would go to the trouble of building a new arena, but I wouldn't put it past them to try and make the current one bigger.

Moldova and Ireland, particularly the latter, were popular all over Europe, so I don't think it's a case of not taking the contest seriously. Both were over-the-top songs that were annoyingly catchy and the public obviously liked them. I think people need to give the UK more credit. Their votes weren't that dissimilar to the other votes...

I can't see how you think Jedward are popular all over Europe - They haven't charted in any UK country apart from UK & Ireland

I can't see how you think Jedward are popular all over Europe - They haven't charted in any UK country apart from UK & Ireland

 

Not before Eurovision, nobody knew of their existence :lol: They're due to chart in a number of countries around Europe with Lipstick, in very high positions, judging by iTunes at the moment.

I can't see how you think Jedward are popular all over Europe - They haven't charted in any UK country apart from UK & Ireland

 

My post is in reference to the voting in the final. Jedward received points from a wide range of countries, so to pin their success (and Moldova's) down to "lol" votes is stupid. I know Buzzjack loathe them but people need to deal with the fact that others may actually like them. I know it must hurt to see them do better than Blue but that's what Europe voted for, so people are going to have to deal with it. I don't think Azerbaijan were worthy of victory last night, but I congratulate them because they've put so much effort into it.

I love how we're talking about flights and Pavel comes out with "It's 2 days on a train to Azerbaijan. Could be going if everything works out" AMAZING.

 

The contest could be held in London and I'd be looking at flying before I considered the train :lol:

I like trains. Especially if you go with a bunch of people you know. It's a lot of fun!

 

And i've never flown before. :( Plus trains are much cheaper.

 

I like trains. Especially if you go with a bunch of people you know. It's a lot of fun!

 

And i've never flown before. :( Plus trains are much cheaper.

 

Not really...

 

I could get a return flight to Sweden for £30, to get there by train I'd need at least £300-£400 and about 3 or 4 days spare.

 

Granted a £500 return flight to Azerbaijan isn't cheap but I don't even want to entertain how much it would cost to go by train from here, let alone how long it would take!