Amazing Azerbaijan's Top Tunes

02 December 2016 at 18:00 CET

Ell and Nikki won the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest Photo: EBU / Alain Douit

Azerbaijan is a relative latecomer to the Eurovision family, having made its debut in 2008. Since then the country has been one of the most successful participants in the Eurovision Song Contest. Today, as we have with other recent host countries, we look back at the top entries from the Land of Fire.

Ten years ago Armenia became the first country from the Caucasus region to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest followed by Georgia in 2007. Azerbaijan made its debut in 2008 in Belgrade with Day After Day performed by Elnur and Samir. The duo finished eighth and sparked a series of successes for the country which culminated in Ell and Nikki's win in 2011 with Running Scared.

The 2012 contest was held in Azerbaijan's capital Baku and a promotional campaign, Amazing Azerbaijan, was launched in the run-up to the contest. Azeri success in the Eurovision Song Contest continued on home ground when Sabina Babayeva finished fourth with When The Music Dies.

Azerbaijan finished second in 2013 with Hold Me performed by Farid Mammadov but the country has not finished in the top ten since then. That said, Azerbaijan is one of the few countries that continues to have a 100% qualification record for the Grand Final. The only other countries to hold this record are Romania, Russia and Ukraine. Check out Azerbaijan's entries in the video montage below. Which song is your favourite?

Jazz singer Diana Hajiyeva has been announced as Azerbaijan's representative in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest. Diana previously participated in the Azeri national selection in 2011. More details expected soon!