Fifth place at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, Norway, marked the international debut for Azerbaijani singer Safura Alizadeh. Performing the track Drip Drop, she secured this position among European entries. This event served as a central development in a career characterized by formal classical music training in her native Baku and a transition to pop music production.
Early Training and Education
Born in 1992 in Baku, Alizadeh grew up in a household centered on professional music and arts. Her mother worked as a pianist, while her father pursued a career as a painter. She appeared on stage by age six, participating in youth music groups such as Sharg Ulduzlari and Bulbullar. Her formal education included attendance at Baku Musical School No2, where she studied piano and violin before adding the saxophone to her repertoire. She later completed her secondary studies at school No23 in Baku and attended the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts.
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In 2009, Alizadeh won the eighth season of the Azerbaijani competition Pop Idol. By March 2010, she won the national jury-selected final to represent Azerbaijan at Eurovision. Her entry, Drip Drop, involved collaboration with songwriters Anders Bagge, Stefan Örn, and Sandra Bjurman. The stage performance in Oslo featured choreography by JaQuel Knight, while Rupert Wainwright directed the song's music video. Following the contest, she undertook a promotional tour across nations including Germany, Belgium, Russia, and Sweden. She signed a five-year agreement with the Swedish label Zaphire, leading to her debut album, It's My War, released on 18 June 2010. A second single from that album, March On, followed in August.
Labels, Releases, and Political Involvement
The singer's professional trajectory shifted as she navigated contract disputes. Alizadeh exited her agreement with Euteria, citing restrictive clauses regarding social media usage and international travel. Despite these administrative challenges, she maintained activity in the music industry. In 2019, she issued the single High On Your Love. Her second album, titled Möcüze, appeared on 5 August 2021, followed by the single L.O.V.E. in November 2021. Beyond music, Alizadeh became an official spokesperson for Azerbaijani voting at Eurovision in 2011, 2012, and 2025. She joined the New Azerbaijan Party in 2011.
Personal Life
Alizadeh married Farhad Aliyev on 5 July 2013. Her husband is the son of Natig Aliyev, who served as the Minister of Industry and Energy of the Azerbaijan Republic. The couple has three children: two sons born in 2014 and 2019, and a daughter born in 2017.
Fast facts
- Born: 1992, Baku, Azerbaijan
- Occupations: Singer, saxophonist
- Eurovision 2010 placement: Fifth
- Debut album: It's My War (2010)
- Second album: Möcüze (2021)
- Political affiliation: New Azerbaijan Party
- Spouse: Farhad Aliyev
- Children: Three
Questions readers ask
What instruments does Safura Alizadeh play?
She plays the violin, piano, and saxophone.
What was the result of her Eurovision performance?
She finished in fifth place at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo.
Achievements
- Instruments: saxophone and voice
- Genres: pop music


