Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Albania has made public the 30 names that will be participating in the 54th Festivali i Këngës in December and the winner gets the ticket to Stokholm 2016 Euroviion song contest as well. Time will tell if they keep the winning song (after revamp and change of language most likely) or find another more suitable one, like happened this year by accident when the original winner withdraw his song from the Eurovision and Elhaida Dani had to find a new song asap. It all turned out better though my all means when sailed to the final and finished 17th.  Two previous winners are trying their luck again, Luiz Eljji (2006) and Adrian Lulgjuraj (2013) with a string of previous national finalist from Revolt Klan to Lindi Islami, Teuta Kurti and Kladji Musabelliu among others. Also several names from various reality talent shows are taking part, like Dilan Reka, Florent Abrashi and Sigi Bastri. I'm especially happy for Revolt Klan's return, I have taken some weird liking to them..... :-...

The Queen of gipsies, Esma Rezdepova held court in the joint Macedonian & Bulgarian party last night. That's why she wasn't here to wish you good night with "Shhh..." as usual. She gave a mini concert and of course sung with Lozano, too. Now that Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Slovenia are out of the final, Macedonia remains the only one.... Also Albania showed up. We had a pleasure and honor to interview this wonderful lady and she can teach all of as a lesson or two. Read it here .

And here are the last four of the semifinalist.... ALBANIA - Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko - Identitet Albania is using every trick int rock book for their performances; pyros and smoke and flashing lights, black leather and it's all very... well, old school rock. Not sure if it will get the televoters wild, nor the juries. After last year's excellent showing Albania may be stopped in the semis this year.... GEORGIA - Nodi Tatishvili & Sophie Gelovani - Waterfall Is it so that this is in the end my favorite of the semifinalist? It may be. The best ballad. If Europe wants a ballad it's Georgia where we are heading. Their voices are fantastic, the song is Disney-like, yes, it's like a musical tune, yes. But it's beautiful. It's a real Eurovision ballad. A real Eurovision duet. The staging is rather simple but still dramatic with the fire rain, some dry ice..... and real chemistry between the singers. Wonderful! And guess what? We've go...

Namely they have a guitar that shoots pyros! And a lot of red, yellow and pyros everywhere. Rock. Albanian rock. Like it or not, that's what it is! maybe it's the Albanian identity then.... Personally I'm having a little personality crisis with this one... I Doesn't he look at quick look like a Marco Mengoni wannabe?  

Albania - Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko - Identitet I kinda liked this when it won the Albanian final and it really worked with the big live orchestra . Not so confident it will work play-back and generally feel such a let down after last year's entry. I doubt they will bother the final this year. But then who knows? There's no other song in this genre in the line up. Greece - Koza Mostra feat. Agathon Iakovidis - Alcohol is free Same goes for this, I was rather pleased when this won the Greek final but now the joke has worn thin and hunky men in kilts and the yoghurt ad's grandpa aren't enough anymore. The chorus is irritating and only works with me if heavily drunk.... which I rarely am. This said, most viewers and voters will hear this for the very first time so they still might fall for it. I'm so hoping this will break the immaculate Greek qualification line up so far but I'm afraid that's only whistful thinking of my part... Bulgaria ...

Albania and Ukraine have released their Eurovision versions and videos of their songs, and both sound better obviously. Albania's Identitet might also give a hint how it will look on stage while Ukraine's Gravity goesl all Disney fantasy and cartoonish...