Azerbaijani band Mamagama, fronted by Jewish singer Asaf Mishiyev, failed to qualify for Eurovision’s grand final after their performance in the semi-finals in Basel, Switzerland on Tuesday night.
The three-piece pop band, who performed their song “Run With U” in the competition’s first round of semi-finals, lose their hope of becoming the second ever Azerbaijani delegation to win Eurovision and mark the third year in a row that Azerbaijan has failed to qualify for the grand final.
Moving forward to the final based on their performances in the semi-finals are: Albania, Estonia, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Sweden, Ukraine.
The remaining competitors – bar the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Switzerland, who automatically qualify for the grand final – will perform for a spot in Saturday’s main event during the second round of semi-finals on Thursday night. Among them is Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael, who will compete for a chance at the grand final with her song “New Day Will Rise.”
Mamagama, made up of Jewish frontman Mishiyev, 32, guitarist Hasan Heydar and drummer Arif Imanov, consider themselves a “model of tolerant Azerbaijan,” according to their interview with the JC last month. Mishiyev comes from the Mizrahi group of Mountain Jews and told the JC that Judaism is a big part of his day-to-day life, but he also celebrates Azerbaijani holidays with his Azeri friends and they celebrate Jewish holidays with him.
“No matter what your religion or nationality, everyone lives here in peace and love. Azerbaijan is one of these places where you can be Jewish,” Mishiyev said.
A lifelong songwriter, Mishiyev wrote the lyrics and melody for Mamagama’s Eurovision song “Run With U” when he was just 16.
