It’s been a while since I started an ill-advised, overly ambitious and labour intensive project so here we go.

My plan is to to cover all the 50+ Eurovision countries in alphabetical order, listen or re-listen to each entry since 1956 or whenever they joined, and do a ranking.

For the 15 or so countries with more than 50 entries I plan to do a top 20 ranking, and for others I plan to do a top 10. For the very few countries who have entered fewer than 10 times I will just rank what there is.

I’ll do a very brief comment on each song whether or not it’s made my ranking, and I will include 2020 entries. I’ll mainly focus on the song and audio performance rather than visuals though the latter may come into it. I plan to do the listening on YouTube based on the actual semi or final competition performance, especially as preparing the first country’s list I’ve found that many aren’t on Spotify at all.

I understand there are around 1,800 songs in total so it could take a while!

Just having listened to Albania’s set of entries so far, it really brings home how many setbacks and underperformances other countries have had that we miss by focusing on the UK.

Interesting project, happy to follow along and comment. I know every song from 1998 onwards very well but at some point still need to go deeper with earlier years.

Country 1: Albania

Albania joined the contest in 2004 and has competed each year since. Its national final is actually a competition that’s existed since 1962. It has reached 13 of a possible 22 finals, and has had 3 Top 10 finishes where it came 5th, 7th and 8th respectively. I’m reviewing 23 songs including 2020’s entry.

My overall impression from listening to all the entries is:

• Their vocal quality is generally excellent

• They have strong cultural elements and frequently use traditional instruments

• The sophistication of their perforamnces has really grown over their time

Overall I think they’re an underrated country in the contest.

Next I’ll reveal the 13 songs not making my top 10 ranking.

Impressive! Very intrigued to see if your taste aligns with mine! I started a similar project a few years ago but never finished lmao so I'm rooting for you to do what i couldn't hahaha

Looking forward to reading these! You have to put a lot of effort, appreciate it!

Albania is very stellar ESC country imo, Zjerm is one of the all time greats!

Albania are one of my favourite countries for being so consistent and able to maintain their distinct style that often aligns with what I like. Even if it isn't always what Europe wants to see, though sometimes, like last year, it absolutely is.

very much looking forward to seeing how you go through all these, I appreciate the scale.

I’ve taken the participation overview table from Wikipedia and added my notes for those missing out. Then I’ll do my top 10 as a countdown.

Sorry for the 2000s wipeout but I do think they grew into the contest.

Year	Artist	Song	Language	Final	Points	Semi	Points	Notes
2004	Anjeza Shahini	"The Image of You"	English	7	106	4	167	Their debut and 2nd best result, and the vocals are great but it's quite an ordinary pop dance track
2005	Ledina Çelo	"Tomorrow I Go"	English	16	53	Top 12 in 2004 final[a]		This is more up my street with an Eastern flavour and comes close to my top 10
2006	Luiz Ejlli	"Zjarr e ftohtë"	Albanian	Failed to qualify		14	58	Their 1st DNQ: it's a good song in Albanian nicely done but needed a little more punch
2007	Frederik Ndoci	"Hear My Plea"	English, Albanian			17	49	I can see why this old fashioned duet didn’t qualify - it isn't for me
2008	Olta Boka	"Zemrën e lamë peng"	Albanian	17	55	9	67	A very nice guitar ballad with a rockier chorus, but not that memorable
2009	Kejsi Tola	"Carry Me in Your Dreams"	English	17	48	7	73	She was only 17 and it's a stellar performance of a catchy but standard pop song
2010	Juliana Pasha	"It's All About You"	English	16	62	6	76	Top 10
2011	Aurela Gaçe	"Feel the Passion"	English, Albanian	Failed to qualify		14	47	Top 10
2012	Rona Nishliu	"Suus"	Albanian	5	146	2	146	Top 10
2013	Adrian Lulgjurajand Bledar Sejko	"Identitet"	Albanian	Failed to qualify		15	31	Top 10
2014	Hersi	"One Night's Anger"	English			15	22	A bit like Alanis with Shakira's vocal tone - lovely but lacking oomph
2015	Elhaida Dani	"I'm Alive"	English	17	34	10	62	Their only ropey vocal performance and I find the song a little limp
2016	Eneda Tarifa	"Fairytale"	English	Failed to qualify		16	45	This has Bond vibes and I like it a lot, but the song needed to be a little stronger
2017	Lindita	"World"	English			14	76	Top 10
2018	Eugent Bushpepa	"Mall"	Albanian	11	184	8	162	I feel bad for ditching this as his singing is fantastic but the song itself is uninspiring soft rock
2019	Jonida Maliqi	"Ktheju tokës"	Albanian	17	90	9	96	Top 10
2020	Arilena Ara	"Fall from the Sky"	English	Contest cancelled				This has the disadvantage of no competition performance to elevate it, and it doesn't hit me
2021	Anxhela Peristeri	"Karma"	Albanian	21	57	10	112	Top 10
2022	Ronela Hajati	"Sekret"	Albanian, English	Failed to qualify		12	58	Top 10
2023	Albina and Familja Kelmendi	"Duje"	Albanian	22	76	9	83	I feel like this was culturally strong but I've never got into the song
2024	Besa	"Titan"	English	Failed to qualify		15	14	Quite a nice song with an RnB feel to the production, but not distinctive enough
2025	Shkodra Elektronike	"Zjerm"	Albanian, Latin	8	218	2	122	Top 10
2026	Alis	"Nân"	Albanian	13	145	7	158	Top 10

Very surprised at Olta Boka not being top 10. That is one of Albanias finest entries.

1 hour ago, pavi said:

Very surprised at Olta Boka not being top 10. That is one of Albanias finest entries.

I must admit I wasn’t watching in 2008 - I gave it a few listens for this and it didn’t click but I’m sure I’ll get some things wrong!

Olta Boka's good, though I haven't returned to it for ages. I think the entries I enjoy the most that missed your top 10 are 'Mall' and 'Duje', both pretty wonderful Albanian sneaks into the final.

This is the superior version of Fall from The Sky

https://youtu.be/rRo8BJGuffM?is=xs38KERD98BD0Emz

I love Albania for carving out their own niche.

Suus and Shaj are sublime.

Zjerm and I'm Alive are my two favourites from Albania, nice to see the former inside your Top 10!

Was hoping to see Elhaida and Olta to make it in your Top 10, but you're forgiven since you have Jonida, Anxhela and Ronela (as messy as it was ) instead <3

10 Juliana Pasha - It’s All About You (16th, 2010)

It’s a fairly standard pop song, but she delivers it so well and I really like her vocal tone.

9 Lindita - World (DNQ, 2017)

One of those world peace ballads but it’s beautifully done and has a lovely flow to it.

8 Anxhela Peristeri - Karma (21st, 2021)

A very Balkan sound to this, and a lovely song classily performed.

7 Alis - Nân (13th, 2026)

I thought this was turgid at first but it’s grown on me a lot: I think the slow march style and the big choir led chorus work very well.

6 Ronela Hajati - Sekret (DNQ, 2022)

Apparently the staging was better in the national final: it didn’t quite come together but it’s such a dynamic song and performance nonetheless.

I really used to love The Image Of You, great contest debut with a deserved result, my favourite 'old skool' Albania entry.

Interesting that Identitet is still to come, it's not a fan favourite but I've always liked it. It remains the most unexpected song I've ever heard in a supermarket.

Didn’t care much about Lindita at all, neither Alis so happy to see them out already!!!

Anxhela’s Karma is my second fave from Albania, I thought she did amazing job just by herself on a stage, plus vocals are on spot <3

Ronela national staging was much better as a warrior type of princess, and it actually fits the song better, so I would like to know who convinced her and told her that Jasmine princess look is a better idea …it was definitely a shock DNQ iirc!!!

Edited 23 minutes ago23 min by Addy!