Eurovision

“I love my staging, it's absolutely cool! Obviously, the inspiration behind it is my entry song, ‘Truth'. The idea is that my heart is broken and I need to replace it with a bionic one,” says Chingiz about his Eurovision staging. “Some robot helps me literally get rid of it and forget about my ex. I realize that only accepting the truth and leaving my toxic love behind can heal me.”

With Chingiz alone on stage, unique graphics help the artist tell his dramatic love story. The images are delivered by Front Pictures creative studio, who also created visuals for Jamala’s Eurovision 2016 winning act, put together stunning performances at America’s Got Talent and, most recently, collaborated with P!nk at The BRIT Awards 2019. To create the stage video for Chingiz’s performance, the Azerbaijani delegation worked with GST, a leading Moscow-based production company that produces some of the biggest events in the region.

The stage director for 'Truth' is Mads Enggaard, an experienced Eurovision professional who previously served as Eurovision 2017 viewing room producer and 2019 Danish Melodi Grand Prix contest producer.

“The idea of the "Truth" staging is visually impressive and strikingly bold,” said Azerbaijan’s Head of Delegation, Husniye Maharramova, “Azerbaijan has participated in Eurovision for 11 years, and you have seen a lot of memorable, fiery and even romantic stagings by our delegation. But this is something totally new and emotional from us. I’m really looking forward to seeing how viewers relate to the story on May 16th."

Chingiz’s performance will serve as an anticipated closing act of the Eurovision 2019 semi-finals - 'Truth' is the 18th and final song in the running order of the second semi-final.

Chingiz is alone on stage, he's wearing a short sleeve grey shirt. He's standing in front of a triangle prop with blue neon light. Two robotic arms are scanning him. In the chorus, he walks to the center of the stage. The camera work is very good, there are a lot of effects, including a beating heart video that is screened on his chest and his image ascending at some point. Toward the end of the song, Chingiz gives a Mugham part, which is really beautiful and add some warmth to a rather cold staging.

Tamara Todevska takes the stage to perform her emotional ballad, "Proud". She's wearing a pageant like dress, in turquoise. Behind her are a few mirrors that show her from the back. Yes, just like in the Russian performance. The video art shows mothers and daughters in black and white. Tamara sounds perfect vocally.

It's now the turn of the favorite to win according to the bookmakers, Duncan Laurence. He's sitting beside a small keyboard and plays, wearing a purple suit. The stage is dark, with lights of blue and purple. The video art is showing us a storm, also in blue and purple. At the c part, two projectors lighting on him from two sides. The camera focuses on the audience at the last chorus. In the last few notes of the song, the camera comes back to focus on him and zoom out slowly, which once again makes the stage look huge and makes Duncan look like a small town boy in a big arcade.