The show is on and I'm really enjoying it. The live orchestra sounds wonderful, the stage is good, the hostess wears something weird (and so does many of the other ladies....) and it's a real festival feeling!
I liked Ardian Bujupi a lot, less Valon Shehu even if it wasn't bad either and really liked Merland Kademi. Makes me think of Avion Travel and some Icelandic singer....
Kelly was great again but Rezarta Smaja did wonders with her song that borrows a bit from No Doubt but it only gives it a nice flavor. Loved it! She was followed another great song and performance by Kejsi Tola.
LYNX followed and wasn't bad at all, then Hersi Matmuja and finally I was able to say "ehm, no".Rosela Gjylbegu started slowly but just got better when the song progressed. Another great one!
Flaka Krelani next, apparently one of the favourites. Her song wasn't bad either but I wasn't convinced. However she was applauded back to the stage. Vesa Luma followed with her uptempo cheap discon that didn't get me too excited really. She was followed by Anjeza Shahini who delivered a catchy pop tune with gusto and managed to get in some gospel feeling towards the end. She was also applauded back on stage....
Then came something totally different with Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko. The orchestra really rocked and the choir gave all out of their vocal cords, and this rock anthem really got the house rocking and despite not being exactly my cup of tea I kinda enjoyed it. Definitively a dark horse tonight and one to watch! Bojken Lako followed and was totally overshadowed by the previous act who were also called back on stage for extra applause. Selami Kolonja followed with a classy old fashioned ballad.
Then it was time for some rap with Dr.Flori & Fabi. I have liked Dr Flori's previous efforts and this wasn't bad either. Nice melodic rap. Would also be a different choice for Albania but I have less faith in him winning. Another duo followed with Xheni & Enxhi Kumrija, a girl duo singing a rather 13 in a dozen pop rock song. And that's it. Let's see what the jury decides as there is no televote in Albania.... but an partly international jury: Nicola Caligiore (Italy), Joseph Mizzi (Malta), Szilva Puspok (Hungary), Sokol Shupo, JUstina Aliaj, Zef Coba and Petrit Ymeri.
Oh, Ell/Nikki still exist? They materialized in FiK all of sudden... They play-backed some unheard song that was as bad Running scared they play-backed afterwards ... After these puppets a real artist and singer, Rona Nishliu! Belting out the English version of Suus.....
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