More details have been announced on the Azeri national selection for their 2008 Eurovision Song Contest entry. Five composers have been appointed to make up the music and the lyrics of the Azerbaijan's debut entry. Azeri Press has also reported that Dima Bilan, the ESC 2006 runner-up for Russia, will be part of the jury in the national final.
The five composers that will take on the creation of the first ever Azeri song for Eurovision Song Contest are Faig Sujaddinov, Eldar Mansurov, Ilham Abdullayev, Tunzala Agayeva and Govhar Hasanzada. The song is to becomposed in Azerifor the finaland then translated into English for the Eurovision Song Contest.
The six singers remaining in the running to win the honour of becoming Azerbaijan's first Eurovision Song Contest entry are:
- Emil Aliyev
- Sabina Babayeva
- Elnur
- Fuad Musayev
- Aytaj
- Jabrayil
Although the date of the final round of the Azerbaijan's preselection for Eurovision 2008 is still unknown, it has been reported that the final heat is likely to be held in late November or early December. Among the jury members that will decide the winner act will be Dima Bilan, the Russian representative in Eurovision 2006, who came 2nd just behind Finland's Lordi. It is not yet confirmed if the audience will have the chance of casting their votes via SMS, something usual in the rest of Europe.
