Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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 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..... :-...