Azerbaijan Wins Eurovision Song Contest

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May 16, 2011

More than 120 million viewers tuned in to watch the Eurovision Song Contest held in Germany over the weekend. The contestants sing in English, but their first language isn't English, if they speak it at all. The contest has been around since the 1950s. This year Azerbaijan beat out favorites France and Ireland.

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RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

Good morning. I'm Renee Montagne.

More than 120 million viewers tuned in to watch Eurovision, that celebration of mostly over-the-top pop sung in English by contestants who don't speak it. The competition, dating to the 1950s, allows each country to submit one song. Over the weekend, newcomer Azerbaijan beat out favorites France and Ireland with this song: "Running Scared."

(Soundbite of song, "Running Scared")

Mr. ELDAR GASIMOV and Ms. NIKKI�JAMAL (Singers): (Singing) I'm running. I'm scared now. I'm running. I'm scared now.

MONTAGNE: It's MORNING EDITION.

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