Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The winner is Eneda Tarifa (33) with Përrallë, or Fairytale. This was her 4th festival after 2003, 2007 and 2009. She has confirmed the song will be performed in English in Stockholm, and that most likely includes also re-recording, re-arranging and re-producing it.... 1. Eneda Tarifa 2. Aslaidon Zaimaj 3. Flaka Krelani 4. Rezarta Smaja & Klodian Kaçani 5. Enxhi Nasufi 6. Nilsa Hysi 7. Dilan Reka 8. Teuta Kurti 9. Renis Gjoka 10. Evans Rama

54th Festivali i Këngës reaches final tonight and instead of 18 entries they sent 22 to the final. It's going to be a long night. FiK is along with Italy's Sanremo festival the only one still with old time glamour with artists in evening gowns and men in suits while live orchestra is playing. This said, in the recent years Italian artists have relaxed with the wardrobe while Albania this year finally sounds somewhat modern, partly. I didn't quite agree with the qualifiers as only 13/22 of my favourites made it so I can only hope one of them wins tonight. Then we can start waiting for revamp and English version, or even a song change. Maybe. You can watch it on eurovision.tv as well at 20.30 CET. Here are my favorites in no particular order:

Albania's Festivali i Këngës final takes place tomorrow night and the winner is supposed to go to the Eurovision song contest 2016 in Stockholm next May. Instead of nine songs per semifinal it seems 11 did qualify making it a final with 22 songs instead of 18..... Still they managed to let out Revolt Klan and Egzon Pireci! Who knows what the jurors were thinking.....  You can watch all the videos here Adrian Lulgjuraj – “Jeto dhe ëndërro” (Live and dream) Sigi Bastri – “Ëngjëll I lirë” (Free angel) Dilan Reka – “Buzëqesh” (Smile) Lujz Ejlli (Luiz Ejlli) – “Pa mbarim” (Without end) Nilsa Hysi (Nilsa Hysa) – “Asaj” (To her) Erga Halilaj – “Monolog” (Monologue) Florent Abrashi – “Të ndjek çdo hap” (I follow your ever step) Teuta Kurti – “Në sytë e mi” (In my eyes) Kozma Dushi – “Një kafë” (A coffee) Aslajdon Zaimaj – “Merrmë që sot” (Take me right from today) Egert Pano – “Mos ik” (Don’t go) Kristi Popa – “Ajo çfarë ndjej” (What I feel) Rezarta...

Albania continues its search for the 54th Festivali i Këngës winner and the most likely Eurovision song contest 2016 entry tonight. I have listened the preview clips and have a few favorites, but then these are kind of songs that come alive or die on stage depending on performances so they are subject to change as I don't have any mega favorites...  This second semifinal seems quite a lot stronger than the first one, so picking up the finalists is harder.... (*these are the ones I'd send to the final based on tapes only...) This post will be updated with comments and results in due time... You can watch live here from 20.45 CET. Qualifiers! Kristi Popa – Ajo çfarë ndjej *K.Kaçani & R.Smaja – Dashuri në përjetësi *Revolt Klan – Dashurinë s’e gjejn dot *Jozefina Simoni – Një det me ty *Andi Tako – Dielli vazhdon të më ngrohë *Entela Zhula & Niku – Muza Genc Tukiçi – Sa të dashuroj Evans Rama – Flakë *Besa Krasniqi – Liroje zemrën *Enxhi Nasufi...

Albania starts its search for the 54th Festivali i Këngës winner and the most likely Eurovision song contest 2016 entry tonight. I have listened the preview clips and have a few favorites, but then these are kind of songs that come alive or die on stage depending on performances so they are subject to change as I don't have any mega favorites...  (*these are the ones I'd send to the final based on tapes only...).  You can watch live here from 20.45 CET. After seeing the show and hearing the songs I stick to my earlier impressions and predictions/hopes for the qualifiers. Maybe the order changed a bit but then I haven't revealed it, have I? :-) And the results will be revealed surprisingly only after the second semifinal tomorrow! Ok..... Qualifiers! *Egzon Pireci – Triumf Grupi Simbol – Artiste *Voltan Prodani – Dëgjoje këngën o Atë Adrian Lulgjuraj – Jeto dhe ëndërro *Sigi Bastri – Engjëll i lirë *Dilan Reka – Buzëqesh *Lujz Ejlli – Pa mbarim *N...