Diana Hajiyeva (DiHaj) performing with DedeBaba, David Datunashvili, and Irakli Abramishvili at Backstage 76, Tbilisi, Georgia © Onnik James Krikorian 2017
I won’t pretend to be a Eurovision fan as it’s really not my thing. Until I moved to the South Caucasus from the U.K. I never ever watched it and actually thought it something best avoided. True, standards in the international music competition have increased considerably since Eastern Europe and other former Soviet republics have participated, and the often acerbic commentary on on Twitter can be fun, but in the few years that really hasn’t been enough.
Last year did at least interest me a little given that a band from Tbilisi, the Young Georgian Lolitaz, represented Georgia as I’ve known their lead singer, Nika Kocharov, and photographed the band since 2005. This year has also sparked my interest given that another band I’ve been photographing for a year now, Baku-based Dihaj, is representing Azerbaijan, and pretty good they are too.
I interviewed DiHaj last year for BBC Azeri.
Coincidentally, DiHaj performed again last weekend in Tbilisi. I had intended anyway to photograph DedeBaba, a bluesy, punkish outfit from Baku that I’m told sing about social issues interspersed with a healthy dose of humour. The band also features DiHaj’s drummer, Ali Nasirov, but as DedeBaba’s guitarist was unable to make the gig at Tbilisi’s Backstage 76, Diana Hajiyeva (DiHaj) sat in with two Georgian musicians, David Datunashvili and Irakli Abramishvili.
Photos of last weekend’s DedeBaba and DiHaj gig on my Facebook, while some audio recordings I made at Backstage 76 follow:
As they had no set rehearsed, what followed was a mix of a few DiHaj and Dedebaba tracks and some intense improvisation. Was also fun to chat with the bands again afterwards, although Diana Hajiyeva didn’t answer the question on everyone’s lips as to what song will will be performed in Kiev. Today, however, along with the official video, all was revealed.
Enjoy.
Lyrics via INFE Azerbaijan.
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 believingNow 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 readyHave 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
Incidentally, DiHaj have also become more visible following the recent release of another video, Eşqini Aşagı Sal. Definitely a band we’ll hear more of.
