Eurovision 2021

The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in May without too many changes, organizer Sietse Bakker hopes. But what the contest will look like exactly is still unclear. The decision about this will be made in mid-February, says Bakker. Last year, four scenarios were made, varying from a ‘normal’ festival to a complete ‘lockdown festival’, where the participants perform via a live connection without an audience in Ahoy. Bakker says that a conscious choice has been made for scenarios and not for detailed scripts. “That way we are more agile, and we can take maximum advantage if the corona measures go in the right direction.” Bakker says he does not want to venture into a prediction of what it will look like. “But we are hopeful, because the first vaccinations were taken today in The Netherlands.” What we don’t know is which of the four scenarios will be used. What we dó know so far is that the contest will take place in Ahoy in Rotterdam anyway. What we also dó know is that the contest will be hosted by Edsilia Rombley, Chantal Janzen, Jan Smit and Nikkie Tutorials. In the 2020 version, Nikkie Tutorials would have only been the online host, this year she will be on stage joining the other three hosts.   “Karma”, sung by Anxhela Peristeri, the Albanian entry for this year’s contest. source: nos.nl

The first contestant for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest is known. Tonight, Anxhela Peristeri won Festival i Këngës, the Albanian national selection. The entire top-3 is: 1.Anxhela Peristeri – “Karma”2.Sardi Strugaj – “Kam me t’ba me kajt”3.Festina Mejzini – “Kush je ti dashuri” It is not known whether the song “Karma” will be sung in Albanian or get a translation in English. We keep you updated!

Tonight is the night, Albania will decide. That means, tonight we will know the first song for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest. The song will be chosen out of 18 entries. It will, again if there is no delay, start at 20.35 CET. The show can be watched here. The contestants are: Anxhela Peristeri – “Karma” Devis Xherahu – “Peng” Durim Morina (Mirud) – “Nëse vdes” Era Rusi – “Zjarri im” Evi Reçi -“Tjerr” Festina Mejzini – “Kush je ti dashuri” Florent Abrashi – “Vajzë” Gigliola Haveriku – “E lirë” Gjergj Kaçinari -“Më jep jetë” Inis Neziri – “Pendesë” Kamela Islamaj – “Kujtimet s’kanë formë” Klevis Bega (Kastro Ziso) – “Vallja e jetës” Orgesa Zaimi – “Valixhja e kujtimeve” Rosela Gjylbegu – “Vashëzo” Sardi Strugaj – “Kam me t’ba me kajt” Viktor Tahiraj – “Nënë” Wendi Mancaku – “Si ajo” Xhesika Polo – “Më mbron” Devis Xherahu took part in the 2008 and 2020 contest. Mirud was involved in 2019.Era Rusi was there in 2006, 2009 and 2020.Festina Mejzini sang a song in 2017.Iris Nezini was involved in the 2018 final.Kamela Islamaj was in the contest in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2020.Kastro Zizo could be seen in the 2020 semifinal.Orgesa Zaimi took part in 2016, 2018 and 2019.Rosela Gjylbegu took part longer ago: in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2013.Wendi Mancaku was there in 2020.Xhesika Polo was involved in 2017 and 2018. Note that Gjergj Kaçinari was at the Eurovision stage in 2017 as a backing vocal for Lindita, Rosela Gjylbegu supported Anjeza Shahini in 2004 and Wendi Mancaku joined Jonida Maliqi in 2019.

Yesterday, the first presentation of the 25 Albanian semifinalists could be seen and heard live on television. Tonight, the same 25 songs will be presented, but now accoustic. You can watch the show at 20.35 here. That means, if there is no delay like yesterday. However, the results are already in. The 18 titles in bold letters will be the finalists on Wednesday. Agim Poshka – “Vendi im” Anxhela Peristeri – “Karma” Devis Xherahu – “Peng” Durim Morina (Mirud) – “Nëse vdes” Enxhi Nasufi – “Njësoj” Era Rusi – “Zjarri im” Erikson Lloshi – “Jo” Evi Reçi -“Tjerr” Fatos Shabani – “Ty” Festina Mejzini – “Kush je ti dashuri” Florent Abrashi – “Vajzë” Franc Koruni – “E morën botën” Gigliola Haveriku – “E lirë” Gjergj Kaçinari -“Më jep jetë” Inis Neziri – “Pendesë” Kamela Islamaj – “Kujtimet s’kanë formë” Klevis Bega (Kastro Ziso) – “Vallja e jetës” Klinti Çollaku – “Do t’ja dal” Orgesa Zaimi – “Valixhja e kujtimeve” Rosela Gjylbegu – “Vashëzo” Sardi Strugaj – “Kam me t’ba me kajt” Stefan Marena – “Meteor” Viktor Tahiraj – “Nënë” Wendi Mancaku – “Si ajo” Xhesika Polo – “Më mbron”

Tonight, the Albanian national final Festival i Këngës will start. This year, it will be a 3-day event with the same songs presented all 3 evenings. Due to COVID-19, Albanian television decided to have the contest in the open air. The three shows have been prerecorded, only the results coming in on Wednesday will be transmitted directly. Also due to COVID-19, one of the participants, Manjola Nallbani, had to withdraw. She tested positive. Tonight, there will be live performances of all the songs. The show starts at 20:35 CET and can be watched here. The songs and artists participating are: Agim Poshka – “Vendi im” Anxhela Peristeri – “Karma” Devis Xherahu – “Peng” Durim Morina (Mirud) – “Nëse vdes” Enxhi Nasufi – “Njësoj” Era Rusi – “Zjarri im” Erikson Lloshi – “Jo” Evi Reçi -“Tjerr” Fatos Shabani – “Ty” Festina Mejzini – “Kush je ti dashuri” Florent Abrashi – “Vajzë” Franc Koruni – “E morën botën” Giliola Haveriku – “E lirë” Gjergj Kaçinari -“Më jep jetë” Inis Neziri – “Pendesë” Kamela Islamaj – “Kujtimet s’kanë formë” Klevis Bega (Kastro Ziso) – “Vallja e jetës” Klinti Çollaku – “Do t’ja dal” Orgesa Zaimi – “Valixhja e kujtimeve” Rosela Gjylbegu – “Vashëzo” Sardi Strugaj – “Kam me t’ba me kajt” Stefan Marena – “Meteor” Viktor Tahiraj – “Nënë” Wendi Mancaku – “Si ajo” Xhesika Polo – “Më mbron”