"Always" is a song by Azerbaijani singer Aysel Teymurzadeh (performing mononymously) and Iranian singersongwriter Arash Labaf (also performing mononymously). It was the entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The song was selected by Ictimai TV (İTV), the Azerbaijani broadcaster, among the 30 songs submitted to the broadcaster in an open call. The song was composed by a group of songwriters including Arash.
The video clip for the song was directed by Swedish director and premiered on Ictimai TV on 24 April 2009. Boklund described the video as "visual rendition of the performers' emotions and feelings." Videoclip Always from Azerbaijani Eurovision Contestants. RIA Novosti. 24 April 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2012. It notably featured tar, a traditional Azeri musical instrument. Likewise the instrument briefly appeared on stage in Arash's hands during the live performance of "Always" at Eurovision.
AySel & Arash performed 12th in the second Eurovision semi-final on 14 May, following 's Zoli Ádok with "Dance with Me" and preceding 's Sakis Rouvas with "This Is Our Night". The duo received 180 points, placing second behind 's Alexander Rybak, and proceeding to the final.
At the final the duo performed 11th in the draw, following 's Anastasiya Prikhodko with "Mamo" and preceding 's Regina with "Bistra voda". They received 207 points, placing 3rd behind Norway's Alexander Rybak and 's Yohanna. This was Azerbaijan's first top 3 placing.
, the official video for "Always" had been played on YouTube over 53 million times, while the live performance in the Eurovision final has over 28 million views.
In January 2010, Tophit.ru reported that "Always" had become the second most selling ringtone in Ukraine and Belarus.Farid Alyyev. "Always" Is One of the Most Selling Songs in CIS . 1news.az. 18 January 2010.
Charts Weekly Chart (2009)PeakpositionCzech Republic Airplay ChartCzech IFPI Singles Chart Retrieved on 2009-12-0740European Hot 100 SinglesBillboard European Hot 100 Singles92Greek Billboard Singles Chart2Hungarian Airplay ChartMahasz Hungarian Airplay Chart, Week 20. Retrieved 28 May 201040 Iceland (RÚV) 16Slovakian Airplay ChartSlovakian IFPI Singles Chart47Turkish Singles Chart18UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart137
Year-end Chart (2009)PositionSwedish Singles Chart"Årslista Singlar – År 2009" (in Swedish). Hitlistan. Retrieved 13 April 2017.50
Track listing Turkish – Digital single
"Always" (Single Version) – 3:03 "Always" (Ali Payami Remix) – 4:09
References
External links Always (videoclip). Youtube.com. AySel & Arash official website
Eurovision.tv. AySel & Arash – Always – Azerbaijan 2009