Nigar Jamal
Nigar Jamal | |
|---|---|
 Baku. 25 January 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | September 7, 1980 |
| Origin | Baku, Azerbaijani SSR, Soviet Union |
| Genres | Pop, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | singer |
| Years active | 2010-present |
| Website | Eldarnigar.eurovisiontalents |
Nigar "Nikki" Jamal (Azerbaijani: Nigar Camal; born 7 September, 1980 in Baku, Soviet Union) is an Azerbaijani singer who has been living in London, England, since 2005. Jamal's singing genres include R&B, soul and pop music. She won the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with Eldar Gasimov as they performed under the pseudonym Ell & Nikki.
Jamal says she is inspired by the likes of Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Brandy Norwood, Craig David and Chris Brown.[1]
Early life
In 1997, she entered Khazar University, majoring in economics and management, and graduated in 2001.
Career
Eurovision Song Contest 2011
.jpg)
Before trying herself as a singer, Nigar Jamal had been a housewife for five years.[2] In an interview to The Sun she confessed having once planned to participate on The X Factor but having narrowly missed the show's deadline.[3]
In December 2010, Jamal took part in the Azerbaijani national selection, Milli Seçim Turu 2011. Her first appearance was in Heat 7, placing joint first with 11 points, along with Ilhama Gasimova, both qualifying to the semi-final. Jamal qualified from the semi-final along with four other artists to the final on 11 February 2011, where she and Eldar Gasimov won the right to represent Azerbaijan at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany in May 2011.[1][4][5] They sang under the pseudonym Ell & Nikki the song "Running Scared" written by Stefan Örn and Sandra Bjurman from Sweden and Iain Farquharson from the UK, which won with a total of 221 points.[6]
2011–present: After Eurovision
After winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Jamal and Gasimov got to travel to a number of countries and perform their winning entry.In September 2011, it was announced that Nigar Jamal would appear in one of the episodes of the Turkish comedy series Yahşi Cazibe.[7] Azerbaijan and Germany have issued a postage stamp dedicated to Nigar and Eldar's victory at Eurovision.[8][9][10]
On 1 December 2011, Nikki presented her first post-Eurovision solo song and video clip Crush on You.[11]
In 2012, she was among five musicians from Azerbaijan chosen as the jury in the Danish national selection of the 2012 Eurovision contestant.[12]
Personal life
Nigar Jamal lives in Enfield, London with her husband Haluk Cemal, who is of Turkish Cypriot origin, and their two daughters, Jasmine and Saida.[2] She is an activist of the Make Roads Safe movement.[13][14][15]
References
- ^ a b Siim, Jarmo. "Nigar & Eldar get gold in Azerbaijan". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Ross McGuinness. Eurovision Winner Nigar Jamal Revealed as Spurs Fan Living in London. Metro. 15 May 2011.
- ^ Nigar Jamal: I wanted to do X-Factor instead of Eurovision. Today.az. 23 May 2011.
- ^ Hondal, Victor. "News - Azerbaijan sends Eldar Gasimov and Nigar Jamal to Eurovision". ESCToday. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "İctimai Televiziya və Radio Yayımları Şirkəti - "Eurovision-2011" Milli Finalının qalibi bəlli oldu" (in Azerbaijani). İTV. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 2011: review", The Telegraph, 15 May 2011. Accessed 15 May 2011.
- ^ Nigar Jamal to Become Actress. 1news.az. 2 September 2011.
- ^ "Ell & Nikki (2011) IN POST STAMPS". Retrieved 17 July 2011.
- ^ "Stamps on Azerbaijan's Eurovision-2011 win issued". Retrieved 17 July 2011.
- ^ "Stamp on Azerbaijan's Eurovision-2011 Win Issued". Retrieved 17 July 2011.
- ^ Eurovision 2011 Winner Presented New Clip. Day.az. 2 December 2011.
- ^ Azerbaijan Show Business Reps Appointed Jury for Danish National Selection. Vesti.az. 16 January 2012.
- ^ Nigar Jamal Became UN Ambassador. Day.az. 25 November 2011.
- ^ Eurovision birincisinin kocası Kıbrıslı Türk çıktı. Kıbrıs Gazetesi. 23 May 2011.
- ^ Eurovision-2011 birincisi Nigar Cemal’ın aile fotosu İngiliz basınında. 1NEWS.COM.TR. 23 May 2011
