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Dihaj

Dihaj is the stage name of singer and musician Diana Hajiyeva, who will represent Azerbaijan in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Skeletons.

Dihaj graduated from the Baku Music Academy in 2010 and moved on to The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London. While in the UK, Diana got involved with the local underground music scene by singing in a progressive trance trio Looper & Mancus. Around that time, she decided to start her own band: Dihaj, an electronic music collective from Baku. The band’s breakthrough single was I Break Again. Diana co-wrote it with Azerbaijani jazz pianist Isfar Sarabsky. Music critics have called the band "experimental doom pop", praising the post-rock guitar riffs, semi-acoustic drum set and atmospheric vocals. As the lead singer of Dihaj, Diana has performed at numerous music festivals including Women in Paradise in Amsterdam and Kulturos Naktis in Vilnius. In 2015, Dihaj won the Caucasian Music Awards Phoenix as The Debut of the Year. 

Things you should know about Dihaj

What are the most interesting aspects about your entry?

I’d say the most interesting aspect of my entry is that it’s different; from the slightly provocative song title to what you are going to see on the stage in May. I want to show the Eurovision’s audience it doesn’t matter how different or alternative you are; you can be heard and seen by audiences all around the world.

What are the three most impressive facts about you?

I'm a mother and have a beautiful daughter, Savi. I'm an experimental musician. I'm a very confident person - from what I do on stage to how I live my life.

Do you have a (lucky) routine before you go on-stage?

My lucky routine is a good old vocal warm-up. I also try to stay in the best possible mood before going on the stage. It's really important.

Why is the Eurovision Song Contest important for you?

For me, Eurovision is a way to reach new audiences in so many countries. If you are serious about developing yourself professionally, you just can't ignore such a great opportunity to learn and speak to the audience. However, I do understand that I'm not a typical Eurovision singer. So it's crucial for me to stay true to myself in everything I do in the next few months.

About the song writers & composers

Isa Melikov is a famous Azerbaijani composer and music producer. He previously worked with Eldar Gasimov and Nikki Jamal at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 and other Eurovision artists such as Dima Bilan and Aysel. Isa launched Azerbaijan's first online music brand BMF, similar to American VEVO, and Russian ELLO, becoming an official partner of YouTube and the first official Azeri YouTube channel. He also composes music for films and more recently, the world premiere of Isa's latest movie, Dolls, took place at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. 

Sandra Bjurman is a Swedish songwriter that has written for several successful international artists in the last fifteen years. She was among the writers of Azerbaijan's winning Eurovision Song Contest entry Running Scared in 2011. In the Eurovision Song Contest Sandra has also worked with Safura’s Drip Drop (Azerbaijan 2010), Sabina Babayeva’s When The Music Dies (Azerbaijan 2012), Elnur Huseynov’s The Hour of the Wolf (Azerbaijan 2015) and Maria Yaremchuk's Tick Tock (Ukraine 2014).

Music video

Lyrics of Skeletons

Standing in a mirror lane wondering what, to do
Another day and gravity’s got, got another hold of me
I never dreamed that this could be happening, not to me
But if he came falling down falling so hard, I started believing

Now I’m into daydreams
Amazed by thorn jeans
Deep into high extremes
When I’m with him it’s fantasy
We’re just like alchemy
Oh I feel ready

Have my skeletons
[I can only trick you once, bad boy]
Have my lungs, my millions
[Talk is cheap don’t speak in tongues, bad boy]
Drum drum drum, bring out the guns
[Drum drum drum, bring out the guns, bad boy]
I’m so so cursed
[Fuss and fight won’t get you tons]
Bad boy

The world is spinning faster by the minute and I’m longing to be saved
This bitter sweet sensation got a, got another hold of me

Now I’m stuck in daydreams
Surrounded by thorn jeans
Deep into high extremes
When we hook up it’s fantasy
We’re just like alchemy
I’ve never been so ready

Have my skeletons
[I can only trick you once, bad boy]
Have my lungs, my millions
[Talk is cheap don’t speak in tongues, bad boy]
Drum drum drum, bring out the guns
[Drum drum drum, bring out the guns, bad boy]
I’m so so cursed
[Fuss and fight won’t get you tons]
Bad boy

[I can only trick you once, bad boy]
I can only trick you once
[Talk is cheap don’t speak in tongues, bad boy]
[Talk is cheap don’t speak in tongues, bad boy]
Talk is cheap don’t speak in tongues

Drum drum drum, bring out the guns
[Drum drum drum, bring out the guns, bad boy]
Bad boy
Fuss and fight won’t get you tons, bad boy
[Fuss and fight won’t get you tons]

Have my skeletons
[I can only trick you once, bad boy]
Have my lungs, my millions
[Talk is cheap don’t speak in tongues, bad boy]
Have my skeletons
[Drum drum drum, bring out the guns, bad boy]
I’m so so cursed
[Fuss and fight won’t get you tons]
Have my skeletons