Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Albania closes the three day affair of Festivali i Këngës tonight with the grand final. I haven't had time to listen the songs well and good, but two songs caught my attention when posting the Youtube links to previous posts, namely Kejsi Tola's S’jemi Më Atje and Kelly's  Ylli Im Polar . I guess we can't forget Ardian Bujupi's I Çmendur Pas Teje either. But the standard of the songs seem to be rather high this year (again) and this Albanian festival is getting one to watch every year, also because it's such a lovely good-old-times affair with big orchestra and stage. A very much like Sanremo but without all the useless talk and extra stuff that has nothing to do with the event and takes the focus off the music.  The show starts 20.30 CET and you can watch it live on eurovision.tv Selami Kolonja - Ku Je? Rosela Gjylbegu - Dëshirë Kejsi Tola - S'jemi Më Atje Vesa Luma - S'jam Perfekt Dr.Flori & Fabi - Jam Ti! Merland Kademi - Kë...

Festivali i Këngës 51, the Albanian music festival that brings us also their represent for the Eurovision song contest 2013 in Malmö kicks off tonight. There will be two semifinals leading to the grand final on Saturday night and two former Eurovision stars are in the line up, Anjeza Shahini and Kejsi Tola. Rona Nishliu did wonders in Baku and scored the best ever result for Albania placing 5th with her Suus, a song that was pretty much hated and disliked when selected last December. And certainly it wasn't everyone's cup of tea! Let's see if Albanians select something less challenging and risky this time around? The first semifinal includes Kejsi Tola and two pre-contest favorites Vesa Luma and Ardian Bujupi. Update: Songs marked red didn't make it to the final...... Selami Kolonja - Ku je? Rosela Gjylbegu -  Dëshirë Kejsi Tola -  S'jemi më atje Vesa Luma - S'jam perfekt Elis Nova - Ajo Kozma Dushi -  Ëndërr mbete ti Bon Bon Band - Humbur ...

Albania has announced the artists in the  Festivali i Këngës to be held just before Christmas. As usual the winner goes to Eurovision in Malmö 2013. The past few year's this Albanian festival has become one of the most interesting national selections with a lot of local flavor to the songs, a bit like Sanremo really. Albania also returns to Eurovision after their best placing ever so far, when their brave and difficult choice of Rona Nishliu's Suus scored a 5th place in Baku. It'll be interesting to see and hear if that has had any effect on their selection of songs this year and has it influenced Eurovision a little bit in general. Among the artists we have two Eurovision veterans, Anjeza Shanini who lost her crown as the best placer to Rona, and Kejsi Tola . And a few other familiar names like Bojken Lako, Dr.Flori, Entela Zhula, Flaka Krelani, Hersi Matmuja, Kozma Dushi, too! And then there's  Ardian Bujupi , originally from Kosovo like Rona Nisliu who came...

Albania kicked off its selection production for Eurovision on Christmas eve with Festivali I Këngës offering a lot of etcnic ballads and a few uptempo numbers, all with live orchestra. One can only wonder how the songs will turn out on studio versions (and in 3 minute version)! Previous winner Anjeza Shahini did a great job with her song but it might be just a bit too much drama for Europe. Teuta Kurti was one of my favourites (love that lonely piano) but the song's way too long and should be reworked for Eurovision in case of a win. Same goes for Kamela Islami . A very nice track (again with the lonely piano in the background!) with low spoken parts. Dorina Garuci offered an uptempo song that owed quite a lot to Charlotte's Hero in the first lines of the refrain. With a good remix this one could be a good choice for Oslo 2010. Maybe... Juliana Pasha seems to be some sort of a favourite but I find her songs simply boring. Denisa Macaj offers very Joksimovic sounding song...

Albania is once again the first country to have its national selection that goes very old school Sanremo this time: four consegutive nights with two categories, Big and Newcomers each featuring 19 songs. I don't know if the newcomers are there to win their category or if the best ones will have an access to the big group in the end but amongst the big there are several famous names, including previous winner Kejsi Tola and fabulous Anjeza Shahini who totally charmed me in Istanbul. For some reason I was sitting amongst the Albanese delegation that had bought tickets only to the semifinal and when she sailed to the final I was flying the Albanese flag alone for them in the final. Ah, fond memories.... Anyways, the fun starts on Christmas Eve of all dates and goes on over the holidays until the grand final on 27th.... And the absence of male artists is quite remarkable it seems, if I can judge the names right....   Big group: Pasqyra e vetes - Anjeza Shahini , Mall i pashuar ...

Ádokzoli or Zoli Ádok from Hungary wins the Barbara Dex Award for the worst dressed artist in Moscow 2009 Eurovision. Czech Republic's Gipsy.cz came second and Krassimir from Bulgaria third. None of the top-3 reached the final. Fourth, and remarkably the first female singer, was Albania's Kejsi Tola who did get to the final. Slovenian and Slovakian teams didn't receive one single vote so could we say they were the best dressed? Or simply so plain and boring no one paid any attention? Congratulations to Andorra and Susanne Georgi for not making the top of this list! Here are the full results: 1.Hungary 199 2.Czech Republic 159 3.Bulgaria 140 4.Albania 115 5.The Netherlands 66 6.Ukraine 59 7.Germany 58 8.Iceland 56 9.Russia 55 10.Armenia 52 11.Greece 50 12.Turkey 37 13.Spain 27 14.Ireland 23 15.Norway 23 16.Serbia 18 17.Portugal 17 18.Belgium 15 19.Azerbaijan 14 20.Sweden 13 21.Malta 10 22.Moldova 9 22.Andorra 9 22.Belarus 9 25.Romania 8 26.Poland 7 26.Israel 7 26.France 7 26...