Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës 64 reaches its grand final tonight in Palace of Congresses in Tirana after two semi-finals and nostalgia night in previous nights this week. Out of 28 selected entries 23 made it this far as 5* out of the 10 "newcomers" qualified for the final and 5 had to leave the competition. No surprise as big fan (and not only) favorite Alis stormed to victory with Nân. For the translated lyrics go here . Alis Kallaçi (21) cemented his status as the next Big thing in Albania having won X Factor in 2024, placing third in FiK 63 and now winning and going to Eurovision song contest 2026 in Vienna for his country. Nân is his 4th release after  Se të dua , Mjegull and S'ta kam than .  The voting is by jury-televote 50-50. (jury/televote/total/placement) Below are the semi-final performances linked.  Gerta Mahmutaj - Në krahët e tu  (0 + 7) 7 16th Lynx - Nuk kthehem pas   (0 + 0) 0  20th Frensi - Tresh   (22 + 0 ) 22  11th Evi Reçi - Kodi...

One of my favorite songs this season is Elvana Gjata's Karnaval against all odds. Yes, it's all heard a zillion times before, the use of Spanish and English simple phrases, too, and the staging wasn't really that ground breaking. Yet, somehow it all works and comes together and the song seems to have taken a permanent residence in my head. 

Arilena Ara (21) won the Festivali i Këngës 58 last December with Shaj and therefor was ment to represent her country in the Eurovision 2020, with the revamped and in English translated Fall from the sky .  Arilena started with singing and dancing competitions for children and won the X Factor Albania already at the age of 14. Other national and international festivals followed, she became one of the judges in the Voice Kids Albania, she released singles and scored hits along the way. Her winning entry is already her 12th solo single and she's currently working on her debut album. Who knows, maybe she will give Festivali i Këngës another go next year and to secure her spot in Eurovision 2021 as well?

Albania's Festivali i Këngës reaches its 58th edition this December and the dates have been set to 19 and 20 for the semi-finals and after one night break the grand final on 22nd. Among the participants again familiar names from Olta Boka (ESC 2008) to already ever present Bojken Lako and Kamela Islamaj and Era Rusi. Local megastar Elvana Gjata appears on the list as well as Arilena Ara who has already enjoyed some international success.  Wendi Mancaku – Ende (Endrit Mumajesi/Wendy Mancaku) Valon Shehu – Kutia e Pandorës   FINALIST (Elvis Preni/Eugent Bushpepa) Tiri Gjoci – Me gotën bosh   FINALIST (Pandi Laço/Everest Ndreca) Sara Bajraktari – Ajër   FINALIST (Adrian Hila) Robert Berisha – Ajo nuk është unë   FINALIST (Filloreta Raçi) Renis Gjoka – Loja (Ilir Krasniqi/Renis Gjoka) Olta Boka – Shkrime në mur   FINALIST (Genc Salihu/Florent Boshnjaku) Nadia & Genc Tukiçi – Ju flet Tirana (Agim Xheka/Genc Tukiçi) Kastro Zizo (a...

Jonida Maliqi last night the 57th Festivali i këngës with her Ktheju tokës , a rather ethnic sounding entry that will stay in Albanian in Eurovision song contest 2019 in May - hooray for that! The topic of the song is coming back to a land, dealing with the hot issue of immigration.  Jonida (36) is a seasoned singer and television host and this was her third time in the festival: 1999 as 13 year old she dueted with Aleksandër Rrapi in  Planeti i fëmijëve placing 2nd. She made her solo debut in 2004 with  Frikem se më pëlqen placing 3rd. Now she got the main trophy with  Ktheju tokës . (That makes a bit like Italian Giorgia in Sanremo having collected one of each top-3 trophies)  This blogger was rather confused after the list of finalist as most my favorites were out. I may have not paid much attention to Jonida as I thought it's a bit simil ethno, but she made the song alive on stage and it's a deserved win and something Albanians can be proud of...

Albania's Festivali i Këngës 57 has turned from a very primising and positive one to something weird, if you ask this blogger. When I read the list of qualifiers after two semifinals I thought it was the one of non qualifiers as most every favorite of mine was out: Mirud , Kelly , Bruno Pollogati ,  Aurel Thëllimi ... I can put my hope now on Soni Malaj , Klinti Çollaku and Alan Band .... Marko Strazimiri & Imbro - Leyla Leka - Një ditë tjetër Elton Deda - Qetësisht  Maliqi - Ktheju tokës Klinti Çollaku - Me jetë Alar Band - Dashuria nuk mjafton Lidia Lufi - Rrëfehem Eranda Libohova - 100 pyetje Artemisa Mithi & Febi Shkurti Dua ta besoj Eliza Hoxha - Peng Bojken Lako - Jeto jetën Dilan Reka - Karma Orgesa Zaimi - Hije Soni Malaj - Më e fortë

  Albania has its Festivali i Këngës 57 this weekend and as usual it also serves as their national final for the Eurovision song contest. The semifinals are on 20 and 21 December, with the grand final on 22nd. FiK has been a rather distant from today's Eurovision on style and sound, somewhere between old Eurovision and Sanremo festival with live orchestra. The winner has then been shortened, rearranged and sadly often covered in English for the occasion and in some cases the result has been almost a different song. Now things might be changing a bit. They are looking for a younger audience - hopefully that also translates into having more modern sounding songs - and kids as a significant part of the jury. Also, the second night performances will be "Eurovision style" with performances including more than standing by the microphone in evening gown using props, lights and other tehniques - more of Eurovision vibe that is. Bring in the glitter and lights! But that wil...

Back in 2004 Anjeza Shahini, a 16-year-old fresh winner of Albanian Idol and Festivali i Këngës had the honors to be her country's debuting artist in the Eurovision song contest in Istanbul. This blogger was also present and faith had it I was among the Albanese group of people in the hall; Anjeza's family and friends and most of the delegation in the audience during the semifinal. To everyone's surprise she made it to the final but those poor people didn't have tickets for the final. One of them gave me the Albanian flag to wave for her in the final instead of them which I did with pleasure. She had Laura Pausini kind of star quality on stage, sitting in the hall you couldn't get your eyes off her and she made that rather akward song work wonders and landed on 7th place in Istanbul .....  She has tried to get back to Eurovision a few times since ( Pse ndal , Në pasqyrë  (2nd), Love (2nd) as well as other festivals. I have been waiting. I want her back. She...

Les derniers seront les premiers , as Céline Dion sings and it's quite incredible that Albania releases their entry only now. The revamped and shortened Eurovision version I mean. Eugent Bushpepa won the national final already December 23 last year, and we haven't heard of Mall since. Today, as the very last Eurovision entry it was officially released. 

  The 56th Festivali i Këngës ended with the victory of rock singer Eugent Bushpepa (34) and his folk-rock Mall . He will represent Albania in Lisbon 2018 Eurovision song contest and apparently intends to keep his song in Albanian instead of translating it into English. He has been singing for years in various rock and metal bands as well as cover bands having his solo career going on while participating in various contests and festival. Now it finally paid off and he's the winner.  Only the Top-3 was announced and 2nd was Redon Makashi and third Inet Neziri . 

  The 56th Festivali i Këngës takes place tonight after two semifinals on Thursday and last night. Fourteen acts were chosen by a jury for the final where there seems to be jury + televote. The winner will go to Lisbon 2018 Eurovision for Albania. All the four I mentioned in my very first post did it to the final, but who wins tonight I have no idea. Now I'd add to those four Inis and Eugent though.  Artemisa Mithi — E dua botën Bojken Lako — Sytë e shpirtit Denisa Gjezo — Zemër ku je Elton Deda — Fjalët Eugent Bushpepa — Mall Inis Neziri — Piedestal Manjola Nallbani — I njëjti qiell Mariza Ikonomi — Unë NA & Festina Mezini — Tjetër jetë Orgesa Zaimi — Ngrije zërin Redon Makashi — Ekziston Rezarta Smaja & Luiz Ejlli — Ra një yll Tiri Gjoci — Orë e ndalur Voltan Prodani — E pamundur

The second semifinal of 56th Festivali i Kenges takes place tonight. In the end of tonight we will also found out all the qualifiers, from  tonight and fromyesterday for tomorror's grand final. My First hearing thoughts are here Orgesa Zaimi - Ngrije zërin Denisa Gjezo - Zemër ku je NA & Festina Mezini - Tjetër jetë Lorela Sejdini - Pritëm edhe pak Artemisa Mithi - E dua botën Ergi Bregu-Latifllari - Bum bum Akullthyesit - Divorci Xhesika Polo - Përjetë Inet Neziri - Piedastal Tiri Gjoçi - Orë e ndaluar LYNX - Vonë Last night Elhaida Dani was alive again on FiK stage, this is how it would have sounded if it ever took part in Fik

The season starts tonight for real when Albania's 56th Festivali i Kenges kicks off with the first semifinal. The night before Christmas Eve we will have the Albanese entry, season's first as well, for Lisbon 2018 Eurovision song contest. Most likely after a major make over in coming months though. During the three night affair quest stars Elhaida Dani and her winning couch in The Voice of Italy Riccardo Cocciante, other Eurovision veterans Kejsi Tola and Aurela Gace, as well as Flaka Krelani, Kelly Guga Band, Adelina Ismaili, Alban Skenderaj and Elsa Lila will also perform. My First hearing thoughts re here Elton Deda - Fjalët Mariza Ikonomi - Unë Endri & Stefi Prifti - Mesazh Evans Rama - Gjurmët David & Genc Tukiçi - Të pandarë Voltan Prodani - Pse të desha Eugent Bushpepa - Mall Rezarta Smaja & Luiz Ejlli - Ra një yll Bojken Lako - Sytë e shpirtit Manjola Nallbani - I njëjti qiell Redon Makashi - Ekzistoj

  Albania has revealed the 22 semifinalists of  Festivali i Këngës 56 to be later this month just before Christmas. This time around they have released simple but well made videos for each song and as usual they don't really care about Eurovision standards what comes to bubblegum pop and the result is very refreshing! If Portugal in the end managed it, Albania can as well. Stick to your own stuff and it will pay off eventually. Like Finland. After all Finns are hard rock people. Strangely I really enjoyed listening through all the songs, and managed most of them til the end - which is very rare I must admit - before switching to the next one. Akyllthyesit sticks out. Actually I listened it twice in a row wondering how it would work in just 3 minutes...? On the other hand you have songs like Genc & David... all 4,5 minutes of it. Euroboys will propably go crazy for Mariza, Lorela, Manjola and Ergi.... I kinda liked Bojken, Tiri, Denisa and Voltan....Let those dashuri...

Albania has revealed the entries for Festivali i Këngës. The 3-day affair takes place before Christmas. The list of artists includes several familiar names and Eurovision veteran Luiz Ejlli (2006) trying a comeback once again. Other familiar names include Lynx, Rezarta Smaja, Bojken Lako, Mariza Ikonomi, among others.  1. Inet Neziri - Piedastal 2. Lynx - Vonë 3. Rezarta Smaja & Luiz Ejlli - Ra Nje Yll 4. Orgesa Zaimi - Ngrije Zërin 5. Artemisa Mithi - E dua Botën 6. Tahir Gjoci - Orë e Ndaluar 7. Bojken Lako - Sytë e Shpirtit 8. Manjola Nallbani - Të Pandarë 9. David & Genc Tuqici - Tjetër Jëtë 10. Na & Festina Mejzini - I Njejti Ciell 11. Mariza Ikonomi - Unë 12. Redon Makashi - Eksistoj 13. Eugent Bushpepa - Mall 14. Lorela Sejdini - Pritën Edhe Pak 15. Elton Deda - Fjalët 16. Ergi Bregu - Bum Bum 17. Denisa Gjezo - Zemër Ku Je 18. Endri & Stefi Prifti - Mesazh 19. Xhesika Polo - Përjetë 20. Evans Rama - Gjurmët ...

Pictured above is also poppy, Albania's national flower Lindita Hamili (28) was the first chosen artist and song this year when she won the Festivali i Këngës on December 23, 2016 with clear numbers. She sung in Albanian of course, and it took months before  Botë was transformed into World , but this time the song hasn't gone major changes but the language, refreshed arrangement, mixing and fitting it into the 3 minutes rule. The song is written by Klodian Qafoku and Gerard Xhari. Lindita was born in Kosovo and has made her career through various talent shows from Albanian Idol to American Idol passing through local Top Fest that she has won twice, and other talent shows. Her first attempt in the Albanian selection was in 2009 and then again two year's ago finishing then third. She has released 15 singles since 2007 but no album yet.  The song is yet another ballad , like some would say. For once it makes no difference if it's in Albanese or in En...

Kosovan born Lindita Halimi has won the 55th Festivali i Këngës with Botë   . She will represent Albania in the coming Eurovision song contest in Kyiv. She had made a name of herself in her homecountry by winning TopFest 2006 contest, and placing third in the Festivali i Këngës two years ago. Earlier this year she tried her luck in American Idols where she nearly made the top 24. She's lived in the States since 2013. 

Tonight we will finally get the very first song for the Eurovision song contest 2017, even if it will be most likely revamped and translated into English before May comes but still.  Fourteen songs made it through the semifinals ( here and here ) of the 55th Festivali i këngës and tonight for the first time Albanian public is a part of the jury that selects the winner. Let's see if they can help fan favorites Dilan Reka and Rezerta Smaja, and how the over dramatic performance by Flaka Krelani will do. Or will the classy and easy to digest song by Yll Limani get the ticket to Kyiv? You can watch the show here at 9pm CET Dilan Reka – Mos Harro Edea Demaliaj – Besoj ne Enderra Fabiola Agalliu & Agnesa Çavolli – Shkon e Vjen Flaka Krelani – Osiris Franc Koruni – Macka Genc Salihu - Ketu Lindita Halimi – Bote Lorela – Me Ty LYNX – Sot Orges Toçe – Shi Diamantesh Rezarta Smaja – Pse Prite Gjate XUXI – Metropol Xhesika Polo – Eva Jam Une Yll Liman...

Tonight is the second semifinal time in Albania. You can see watch all the semifinal videos here . Tonight we will also get the results of both semifinal - who will be the lucky qualifiers for tomorro's final? I will update the videos here as they happen and at latest tomorrow :-) Elson Braha – Edhe një herë  Lorela – Me ty  Tiri – Më zgjo  Fabiola Agalliu & Agnesa Çavolli – Shkon e vjen  Rezarta Smaja – Pse prite gjatë  Dilan Reka – Mos harro  Albulena Jashari – Fjalët ia lë zemrës  XUXI – Metropol  Luka & Serxhio Hajdini – Koha plaket Classic Boys – Dashuria për jetën  Linda Rukaj – Vija e lumit  Lindita Halimi – Botë 

It's the most wonderful time of the year...... it's Christmas! And it's time for Festivali i Këngës, the 55th edition. The three day affair starts tonight with the first semifinal, and Friday night we will know the winner and the Albanian represant for Eurovision song contest 2017 in Kyiv. A total of 12 songs will be presented tonight and tomorrow night as well, and seven each night will reach the final. There have been modifications and a slight modernization of the festival with the reduced number of songs, and most of all in the voting. Gone is the old crumpy professional jury and instead we have a Sanremo like affair with a three way voting in the semifinals: professional jury, press jury and televote. In the final it's 40-60 with expert jury-televote. Also an example taken from Sanremo is the top-3 each will get an award, not only the winner.  Kasem Hoxha and Ledina Celo will host the shows. Kasem is an actor who has made a career in Germany, and Ledina we r...