AySel’s secret admirer

Who delivered hundreds of flowers with an anonymous note to AySel’s bedroom?

What is the connection between AySel, Charlotte Pirrelli and the Swedish royal family?

How do AySel & Arash rehearse in private for their performance in Eurovision 2009?

Watch AySel’s exclusive interview to esctoday.com and find answers to these and many other questions now: 

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AySel & Arash break into Eurovision Final

After delivering a powerful performance in the second semifinal, the Azerbaijani duet AySel & Arash broke into the Eurovision Song Contest final among the 10 strongest acts. According to the draw, the Azerbaijani duet will sing under number 11 in the Contest final. 

At the winners’ press conference, AySel gave Arash a special amulet that she had prepared for him specifically to celebrate their likely entry into the final. The fang-shaped amulet is made of a green stone and silver. It is a symbol of power and victory, as AySel explained. 

In fact, Azerbaijan’s breakthrough into the final came as little surprise. AySel & Arash had been among the clear leaders for many days before SF 2. Late at night on 13 May, the esctoday.com’s Big Poll, based on more than 110,000 votes, predicted Azerbaijan as one of three guaranteed qualifiers from SF 2. 

On top of that, the duet’s website www.ayselarash.com was named the most interactive website among all online resources of this year’s Eurovision performers in a special poll of Eurovision journalists. The poll was conducted by Russia’s Pervy Kanal, the Contest organizers, among all accredited journalists of Eurovision 2009.  

In just a few hours, we invite you to watch our special behind-the-scenes video from the stage and green room of SF 2 on www.ayselarash.com and www.youtube.com/ayselarash 

The Journey to Eurovision

The second Eurovision semifinal draws nearer. As AySel & Arash are getting ready to climb onto the main stage of Europe, we invite you to relive their journey from the national selection in Baku to the magnificent, glittering Olimpiysky arena in Moscow. 

Meet the Russian PM Vladimir Putin as he makes a surprise visit to AySel & Arash rehearsal and wishes them good luck in the Contest. Watch Arash ask Mr. Putin to send an SMS for the duet on 14 May. Enjoy the glamour of the Eurovision opening ceremony and parties at the Eurodom. Follow AySel & Arash in Moscow and other European cities. Feel the butterflies in your stomach as they are walking toward the Eurovision stage for their performance in front of millions of eyes across the globe!

First Semi-Final 2 dress rehearsal

Take a loot at AySel & Arash costumes for the first time ever!!! Exclusive gallary at the http://ayselarash.com!!!

AySel & Arash on MTV Russia with Svetlana Loboda!!!

On 12 May, AySel & Arash took part in 13 Wicked Viewers, a top-rated MTV Russia show. Specially for the Eurovision Song Contest, the programme was hosted by Dima Bilan. Other guests included Svetlana Loboda, Sakis Rouvas and Brinck. On the backstage after the show, AySel & Arash organized a blitz interview session with Svetlana Loboda of Ukraine. AySel & Arash and Svetlana took turns interviewing each other.

Aysel & Arash will be Eurovision 2009 commentators!!!

Arash’s informed commentary will help the Swedish TV audience tune in and enjoy the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 on May 12. The gentleman of the Azerbaijani Eurovision duet will appear as the show commentator for the Swedish channel SVT during the live broadcast. He will speak Swedish, in which he is fully fluent. 

Arash will thus join the pantheon of celebrities who have been commentators of Eurovision for their respective countries in recent years. Last year in Belgrade, Serbia, Jean-Paul Gaultier famously was a special star commentator for the France 3 channel.

“I was very pleased though a little surprised when I got this proposal. I mean it’s a great trust but also responsibility. The first thought was like what should I say? But then I thought, hey, I’ve been here and I know first-hand what happens in this arena and how the other guys feel. After all, I’m going to be in their shoes in just two days. I would only like to ask the audience not to judge me too strictly”, said Arash.

As if she just couldn’t let her duet partner steal all the thunder, AySel, Arash’s beautiful companion, will appear as a special guest commentator for Azerbaijani public television ITV during the first Eurovision semifinal. “I’m totally busy with the choreography rehearsals but I am really excited to be at Olimpiysky that evening and help comment the first semifinal for Azerbaijani viewers. We have ourselves gone through the fire of Eurovision, we’ve personally met most of the artists. I hope our viewers will be interested to hear the impressions of those who themselves have to climb onto the stage in Moscow”, said AySel.

Filip Kirkorov, the king of Russian Eurovision, called AySel “a goddess”

AySel’s stunning beauty has been a topic of conversation in the Eurovision community since the young lady was chosen to represent Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest of this year. Polls on many Eurovision websites favoured AySel as one of the most gorgeous and impressive women of this year’s Contest.

Already during her and Arash’s Eurovision performance training in Stockholm, AySel’s irresistible, fiery, somewhat Eastern, attractiveness converted many of Arash’s Nordic fans – as well as regular people – into her staunch followers.  

In Moscow, on several occasions AySel has been greeted by her fans who brought her flowers expressing their admiration for the young lady. On the day of the official Eurovision Song Contest opening, fans met AySel with a huge bouquet of roses right on the red carpet to the magnificent Eurodom. 

AySel has also sparked extremely warm feelings and even admiration among the Eurovision performers and stars. Filip Kirkorov, the stellar Russian singer and music producer, called her “a goddess”, while The Toppers, the Dutch ESC representatives, said she was “the most beautiful”. 

Check out exclusive photoshoot of the couple at http://ayselarash.com/ now!!!!

In the video below, we have collected some of the kind words about AySel from fans and Eurovision stars, including Filip Kirkorov, The Toppers (Netherlands), Sakis Rouvas (Greece), Svetlana Loboda (Ukraine), Next Time (FYR Macedonia), Jade Ewen (UK), Marko Kon (Serbia), Chiara (Malta):

Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin comes to Azerbaijan’s Second Rehearsal.Check ou

Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to AySel & Arash’s second rehearsal on 9 May on the Olimpiysky stage. Together with Konstantin Ernst, General Director of Perviy Kanal, the Russian Prime Minister was watching the duet’s performance in front of the stage. Mr. Putin was visibly pleased with the act. He was smiling and suddenly decided to interrupt Azerbaijan’s rehearsal and come on stage.
This was absolutely unexpected for everyone on or around the stage. Mr. Putin greeted AySel & Arash and wished them good luck in their performance and all the very best.
Both AySel & Arash, latest SF 2 favourites according to OGAE poll, were completely stunned by this noble gesture of Mr. Putin. The duet stayed speechless and out of breath for some time after the Prime Minister left so that the rehearsal could only continue after several minutes.
AySel & Arash became the only Eurovision artists to be personally greeted by Russia’s Prime Minister.

Check out comment of the duet and exclusive photos at official website www.ayselarash.com!!!!

New photos!!!!

Check out new photos!!!
AySel & Arash at the Belarussian Party (Eurodom, 07.05) - here and AySel & Arash at the Turkish Party in Eurodom on 8 May: Good Luck to Hadise - here at official web-site for the duet!

Breaking news!!! Azerbaijan overtakes Norway and moves to No.1 in the OGAE Poll for Second Eurovision Semifinal!!!

On 8 May, for the first time ever, Azerbaijan became the leader in the OGAE Predictions Poll. The Poll, which is based on the opinions of ESC pundits, journalists and fans, predicts which songs and artists will receive the highest number of points from the national juries and televoters in the Eurovision Song Contest. 

Such a strong hike in the poll numbers of AySel & Arash, the Azerbaijani Eurovision duet, apparently comes after a glittering appearance and a smashing performance of the duet at the pompous party for the Eurovision stars of this year organized by the Belorussian delegation on 7 May at the Eurodom. 

According to quite a few Eurovision experts and fans, the duet’s performances during the Eurovision week, including the performance at AySel & Arash’s first rehearsal and the one at the Belorussian party, showed a stunning improvement in AySel & Arash’s singing and the stage act. 

Watch the video of the Eurodom performance and adventures here: 

NORWAY, AZERBAIJAN, GREECE - OGAE POLL FAVS FOR THE SF2!

The OGAE, biggest official Eurovision fan club, has recently opened their traditional poll desk among the accredited press and fans.
The predictions for the second semifinal started of by favoring NORWAY, AZERBAIJAN and GREECE.

See below the photos of the full prediction list.

AySel & Arash: New Promo Trailer !!!

Following the success of the first 2 trailers promoting the Azerbaijani Eurovision entry of this year, AySel & Arash launched the 3rd trailer at their press conference after the rehearsal in Moscow.

Online video conference of AySel & Arash!!!

AySel & Arash will answer questions from readers and fans in an online video conference of the popular Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda. The conference will take place at www.kp.ru on 12 May between 11 and 12 o’clock Moscow time. 

You can put your questions to AySel & Arash by sending them as comments to this post on www.ayselarash.com (in English) or directly through http://kp.ru/daily/press/detail/2726/ (in Russian). We will post AySel & Arash’s answers to the hottest questions on our website.

Exclusive photo gallery: AySel & Arash - First Semifinal Rehearsal

Do you want some fresh exclusive photos?? Go and be the first to see at http://ayselarash.com/main/?p=279

New videos!!!

Take a look!!!

Exclusive backstage video !!!

Check out exclusive backstage video from the duet rehearsals!!

First day in Moscow: AySel & Arash prepare to test the Eurovision stage !!!

AySel & Arash, the romantic Azerbaijani duet, arrived in Moscow in the evening of 5 May in a very competitive spirit. Welcomed at the Sheremetyevo airport by the Contest organizers, journalists and a group of their fans with flowers, the duet was demonstrating that they feel completely comfortable beginning the final phase of their Eurovision adventure. Both AySel & Arash commented that they have been impressed with the level and scale of organization of the Contest from their first steps in Moscow.
Later in the evening, AySel & Arash went to the opening of the Euroclub – or Euroдом in the stylish parlance of this year’s Eurovision. The duet met with Malta’s Chiara and other Eurovision stars and shined in numerous interviews in the mind-bogglingly impressive and roaring Euroдом.
AySel said that they were very much looking forward to the first rehearsal on 6 May, where the duet, their dancers and choreographers will begin to test out the new staging of their act Always in the real Eurovision conditions. The choreography of the act includes a special gymnastic trick with a piece of fabric performed by one of the dancers, a former professional gymnast (who, by the way, already came to Moscow many years ago to compete in an international gymnastics competition). However, the duet’s choreographers are very interested to see how the gymnastic trick and the entire act can work out on the special stage floor of glass and LED screens.
The team of the official website of the duet www.ayselarash.com works in Moscow 24/7 to bring you the hottest AySel & Arash news, videos and photos.

AySel: Romantic fever sweeps Nordic Europe !!!

I’ve spent the last several weeks in Stockholm with Arash preparing thoroughly for Eurovision in Moscow. In this short time, I’ve fallen deeply in love with Scandinavia and the entire Nordic Europe. Now that our pleasant stay and tough work in Stockholm are coming to their natural end and we’re packing our suitcases for Moscow, I look back at my time in Scandinavia as one of the best periods of my life. I think I am a convert and will be coming back to the Nordic countries over and over again.

I was also thinking about the songs that will represent this region in Eurovision this year. It’s kind of special and certainly very interesting in my mind that Iceland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden – the traditionally cold and strict countries – will bring such touching and lyrical songs to Eurovision this year.

There must have been some kind of romantic fever sweeping the North recently. Beware, Europe – it might melt the eternal ice up there in the Arctic J I like the ballads of Brinck, Yohanna and Alexander very much. They are so romantic. Each of them sings about the magical power of love and dream in their own special way. That is so close to me and Arash too. Malena’s voice is absolutely incredible. And her song is very energetic and has this special Nordic touch that I came to like so much.

Yohanna and Alexander are as young as I am and I feel that we have a lot in common. I like Brinck as well. I think he is cute and his song is very touching. And Malena – I’ve got a lot to learn from her I think.

I will be happy to make friends with all of them in Moscow and hopefully keep in touch after the Contest.

Always yours, AySel

Thank you, Stockholm!

I hardly would ever forget that Preview Night show in Stockholm! That was a fabulous experience and lots of positive emotions! I�d like to say thank you so much to all who made it happen! Warmest wishes and lots of luck to our colleagues Malena, Jade, Soraya and Svetlana! And of course, huge THANKS to our fans, the audience that gave us such a warm welcome in Stockholm as well as to all those, who are following us on the web! Have a look at our short video report from the Party.

Always yours, AySel

AySel & Arash rock at the Stockholm Eurovision Preview Party 2009

After several days of heavy promo-touring in Slovenia and Romania, in the evening of 29 April AySel & Arash stormed into the Stockholm Eurovision Preview Party straight from the plane. Despite the difficult flight – due to turbulence a stewardess had spilt tea on Arash – the guys were in high spirits and ready to rock. 

The backstage was full of journalists, fans and party guests. They started cheering when AySel & Arash appeared. Many guests wanted a photo with the duet. There were lots of congratulations, genuine admiration and sincere wishes of success in the Contest. 

On the backstage, AySel & Arash met the other Eurovision 2009 performers who came to Stockholm for the party. The duet had a very cordial meeting with Ukraine’s Svetlana Loboda, wishing each other lots of luck in Moscow. In her conversation with AySel, Svetlana invited the Azerbaijani performers to come and sing at the Ukrainian party during the Eurovision week. Spain’s Soraya told the duet she crossed her fingers for AySel & Arash. 

AySel got perhaps the biggest surprise of the entire evening. Among several Stockholm-based Azerbaijanis who came to the party to support the duet, AySel discovered her long-distance relatives she had never known before. She was later laughing that Eurovision expanded her family in all senses. 

The audience roared when AySel & Arash went on stage. Arash’s Boro Boro, a golden single in Sweden, opened the duet’s performance. During AySel & Arash’s show, one of the fans repeatedly ran up to the stage shouting to AySel “You are terrific! You are super!” The performance went like a house on fire. Once they finished, AySel & Arash went on to give dozens of autographs, take pictures and dance with the crowd!