Ell & Nikki facts for kids

Ell & Nikki
Eldar (left) & Nigar on stage in Baku (2012)
Background information
Origin	Baku, Azerbaijan
Genres	Pop
Years active	2011 – 2013
Members	Eldar Gasimov Nigar Jamal

Ell & Nikki, also known as Eldar & Nigar, are an Azerbaijani pop duo consisting of singers Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal. On 14 May 2011 they won the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 for Azerbaijan with their entry "Running Scared". It was the country's first ever win at the contest. Although Nigar Jamal represented Azerbaijan, she lives in Enfield, North London.

Band history

Eurovision win

In the 2011 Eurovision song contest Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal performed together under the duo name Ell & Nikki. As the contest was taking place in a Western European country, the name change was made to prevent confusion of Jamal's first name being interpreted as a racial slur. Their entry, named "Running Scared", was written by Stefan Örn and Sandra Bjurman from Sweden and Iain Farquharson from the UK. The performance included four backing vocalists and singers, including Jessica Marberger and Vera Prada who had earlier in the year attempted to represent Sweden as part of Shirley's Angels.

Images for kids

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  Azerbaijani stamp dedicated to Eurovision victory 2011.

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  Ell & Nikki on the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 semi-final allocation draw ceremony in Buta Palace Baku.