These are the singers to enter the 50th running of Albania's Festivali i Këngës.

 

RTSH:

 

Altin Goci

Bashkim Alibali

Bojken Lako

Claudio La Regina

Dr. Flori

Elhaida Dani

Elton Deda

Endri & Stefi Prifti

Entela Zhula

Evans Rama

Frederik Ndoçi

Goldi Halili

Gerta Mahmutaj

Hersi Matmuja

Iris Hoxha

Kamela Islamaj

Kujtim Prodani

Mariza Ikonomi

Marjeta Billo

Marsida Saraçi

Orinda Huta

Rona Nishliu

Rudina Delia

Saimir Braho

Samanta Karavella

Sindi Berisha

Toni Mehmetaj

Xhensila Myrtezaj

 

In the line-up we can spot a number of veteran singers who will try their luck at FiK 50. Many of them are returning to the competition - Frederik Ndoci, who represented Albania in Eurovision 2007; and Mariza Ikonomi, very popular singer who has participated several times in FiK achieving high placings. The list also features other big names in the Albanian music scene who are debuting this year at Festivali i Këngës.

 

The director of Festivali i Këngës Shpetim Saraçi told esctoday.com's Gafurr Sahiti: "I am happy to see these great names are taking part in the 50th edition, is a great mix of the fresh singers, young singers and some classic veterans".

 

The 50th anniversary of Festivali i Këngës will be celebrated with a huge 100% live show, spanning over four nights.

 

:w00t:

 

I highlighted the popular singers.

 

This year will be Mariza Ikonomi or Bojken Lako...no other will win this thing...I hope it's Mariza :wub: and hopefully she goes with something as big as Piano Vjeter (Old Piano) :wub:

 

 

 

I usually like the Albanian entries: It's All About You, Carry Me In Your Dreams and Feel The Passion (3 of my faves in recent years) - so I look forward to hearing this years entry :)

The list and draw is announced...finger crossed for Mariza and Orinda :wub:

 

Again, the song will be chosen by professional jury :( however, this festival remains controversial, with many believing the contest and its song quality to be outdated, especially with Eurovision participation, compared to mainstream Albanian music. Along with this the decision made of the winner has been controversial, with a lack of transparency, and allegations of jury bias, fraud and racism regularly arising. :no:

 

Semi-Final 1

 

1 Gerta Mahmutaj "Pyete zemrën"

2 Entela Zhula "Ndjehem Bosh"

3 Bashkim Alibali "Këngën time merr vehtë"

4 Samanta Karavello "Zgjomë një tjetër ëndërr"

5 Endri & Stefi Prifti "Iluzion"

6 Rona Nishliu "Suus"

7 Rudina Delia "Më kërko"

8 Marjeta Billo "Vlen sa një jetë"

9 Claudio La Regina "Kur të pasha"

10 Hercina Matmuja "Aty ku më le"

11 Orinda Huta "Dorëzohem"

12 Altin Goci "Kthehem prap"

13 Elton Deda "Kristal"

14 Evans Rama "Ti nuk mundesh"

 

Semi-Final 2

 

1 Toni Mehmetaj" e parë"

2 Dr. Flori "Personale"

3 Kamela Islamaj "Mbi yje"

4 Frederik Ndoci "Oh..jeta ime"

5 Marsida Saraçi "Eja më merr"

6 Bojken Lako "Të zakonshëm"

7 Sindi Berisha "Braktisur"

8 Mariza Ikonomi "Më ler të të dua"

9 Kujtim Prodani "Digjem"

10 Iris Hoxha "Pa ty"

11 Saimir Braho "Përjetësi"

12 Goldi Halili "Rroj për dashurinë"

13 Xhensila Myrtezaj "Lulet mbledh për hënën"

14 Elhaida Dani "Mijra vjet"

 

Bold are the veterans and/or the ones with bigger chance of a win.

 

If they decide to give a second place to Mariza, I bet she will put the palace on fire :lol:...In 2003, she protested against the jury by leaving the palace when it was announced that her song had came in 2nd place.

Semi 1.

 

Rona Nishliu - Suus :o :o

 

Rona Nishliu won then!

 

Here's the video again as the one above appears to not be working:

 

 

Good entry from Albania, it does need a little rework and she needs to control her vocals a bit, but it's looking good so far! :D

Decent song from Albania actually. Once it's been shortened, inevitably translated to English and the shrieking has been toned down, I reckon this song will be pretty good!

wow, I can't believe my favorite song have won.

 

and she is from Kosovo :)

I bet the English version is just around the corner, if it's not already here? :P

 

Will have no opinion before then

she wrote the song.

 

suus = personal

Final night.

 

Edited January 6, 201213 yr by Adn@n

The best song won but I still don't like it that much. I am happy that it will be kept in Albanian though.

Edited February 25, 201213 yr by The Girl

The new version of the song will be presented tomorrow :D

This song has so much potential. Cannot wait to hear it!

Anyone heard the new version?

Oh no, it seems they hired Americans (producer and musicians) to level the edges out of this song. Will there be anything left?

 

Off topic:

Kejsi Tola - Me merr ne enderr/Carry me in your dreams (Albanian act in ESC Final 2009, one of my absolute ESC favourites). If I remember right, there was at least 2 promotion videos (2 versions, 1 english and 1 albanian?) of Kejsi walking in an oak forest, possibly in a white ballet dress. Both must have been available from the official Moscow ESC web-site. I remember it because the Albanian version was so much better than the English version. If I'm right, there must be an Albanian version of the final revised song. The only videos I can find now is the Moscow ESC finale (English) and the Festivali i Këngës 2008 (Albanian studio version of the original song?).

 

Anyone knows more about this?

 

edit:

OK, I found it I think. It doesn't really look as I recall, but it's probably the one.

www.eurovision.vg/Past-Contests/2009/AlbaniaPromo.htm

Embedded flash - why isn't it on youtube?

 

But where did I hear the Albanian version?

Edited March 17, 201213 yr by LalehForWD

I would kind of hope they translated the song to english.

 

Only because it seems like the kind of song that relies so heavily on it's lyrics being understood. I like the song a lot more after I went looking for the english translation of it.

 

I'd be afraid those that just tune in on the night will just see a woman oversinging the chorus for no reason.

I would kind of hope they translated the song to english.

 

Only because it seems like the kind of song that relies so heavily on it's lyrics being understood. I like the song a lot more after I went looking for the english translation of it.

 

I'd be afraid those that just tune in on the night will just see a woman oversinging the chorus for no reason.

 

This made me laugh :lol:

 

I agree though about being translated but part of me wants it to be sung in albanian.

 

I wish everyone would understand what she is singing :(...such a sad song.

This made me laugh :lol:

 

I agree though about being translated but part of me wants it to be sung in albanian.

 

I wish everyone would understand what she is singing :(...such a sad song.

 

It would be handy if we could enroll the whole of Europe in Albanian language classes before Eurovision. :lol:

 

I really love this song now :wub:

Wow, Epica in ESC Albanian style :yahoo: . If she can set that tone clean on stage and get the right tone of Simone red on the hairball, it's a douce from me. Pure modern eurometal. Brilliant! :winner: Will the good TV audience see this?