Albania

Albanian songs online

Today, Albanian broadcaster RTSH revealed the titles of all the Festival i Këngës songs and…. put them online! The winner of Festival i Këngës, a contest to be held at the end of December, will represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest. Just follow the links and you can enjoy all the songs! Note that very often, the winning song will be sung in English at the Eurovision Song Contest. Agim Poshka – Vendi im Anxhela Peristeri – Karma Devis Xherahu – Peng 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 – Ajo vajza Kastro Zizo – Vallja e jetës Klinti Çollaku – Do t’ja dal Manjola Nallbani – Ora e jetës Mirud – Nëse vdes 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

Albania: song contest addict since 1962

Photo Anjeza Shahini: tomboy30, wikimedia commons It was 2004 when Albania first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. Already in december 2003 they had it’s national final, Festival i Këngës. The winner was Anjeza Shahini with the song “Imazhi yt”, a song that exceeded the 3 minutes, and not a little bit. A new, English, version was written and the song got the title “The image of you”. The song reached the final and even became 7th. A good start. But when it comes to song contests, this was not at all the start for Albania. Festival i Këngës, nowadays the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest, already exists since 1962. Back in those days, Albania wasn’t a free country. Enver Hoxha was the leader of the country. There was no democracy. The country has even completely closed it’s borders for years. Festival i Këngës was in fact their ‘bread and circuses’. The first contest was won by Vaçe Zela, who won Festival i Këngës no less than 11 (!!) times. Can you imagine anyone, winning the national final in their country thát often? Although the songs in the beginning were pretty neutral, it later became a tool of the communist party to send their message to the audience. In 1972 some of the composers and singers felt the freedom to let the audience here a different story. Dictator Enver Hoxha therefore decided to prosecute the organizers and call them ‘enemies of the public’. Things started to relax a bit since 1984, when Hoxha died. Step by step, lyrics began to change.And then there was the Eurovision Song Contest! Albania decided to have Festival i Këngës as their national final. However, very often the arrangement of the song is completely changed. The best scoring song so far for Albania was Rona Nishliu. A special story about Rona and her song “Suus” can be read here. Rona and Anjeza are still the only two participants for Albania who made it to the top-10, but we are pretty sure that will change soon. Maybe in Rotterdam next year?

Iceland wins Eurostream2020!

After an exciting voting, Iceland has won Eurostream2020, the online alternative for the Eurovision Song Contest. After a wonderful evening, we now know who might have won the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest. It’s Daði & Gagnamagnið who reached the first place. Congratulations, til hamingju Ísland!!Iceland was the winner of both the experts and the televoters. Almost 10.000 people voted in the contest. This made it, despite the technichal problems, a great show. We would like to thank the makers of Eurostream 2020 to let us enjoy the three shows this week! The full result of the contest is: Iceland, 434 pts. Lithuania, 303 pts. Russia, 287 pts. Sweden, 280 pts. Belgium, 278 pts. Malta, 273 pts. Italy, 268 pts. Switzerland, 267 pts. Bulgaria, 256 pts. Azerbaijan, 203 pts. Georgia, 202 pts. Germany, 185 pts. The Netherlands, 176 pts. Romania, 167 pts. Norway, 158 pts. France, 146 pts. Greece, 142 pts. Denmark, 119 pts. Austria, 95 pts. Spain, 87 pts Australia, 82 pts. United Kingdom, 75 pts. Serbia, 72 pts. Armenia, 70 pts. Israel, 67 pts. Albania, 64 pts.

Winners 2nd semifinal Eurostream 2020 known!

The winners of the 2nd semifinal are known now. Behind the name of the country, you will find the place where they will perform in the final: Georgia (25)Greece (5)Albania (15)Iceland (18)Denmark (4)Armenia (24)Switzerland (1)Serbia (7)Bulgaria (10)Austria (9)

This week: Eurostream 2020!!

Of course, we would have loved to keep you updated for the rehearsals of the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest. But unfortunately, that is impossible.Thank goodness, this week we can follow Eurostream 2020, a great alternative for the contest.On Tuesday, may 5th, you can watch the first semifinal show. On thurday, may 7th, you can watch the second one. Of course, upcoming saturday we will have the Grand Final!!! You can watch them on the Eurostream Youtube Channel or Facebook Page.And guess what: YOU are able to vote in it. There will be an expert jury ánd televoting in the show, just like in the real Eurovision Song Contest. The first semifinal following order will be:1.Sweden2.Ireland3.Belarus4.Australia5.Lithuania6.Russia7.North Macedonia8.Slovenia9.Azerbaijan10.Norway11.Israel12.Malta13.Croatia14.Belgium15.Romania16.Cyprus17.Ukraine The second semifinal following order will be:1.Czech Republic2.Moldova3.Greece4.Serbia5.Poland6.Estonia7.San Marino8.Iceland9.Austria10.Finland11.Denmark12.Portugal13.Armenia14.Albania15.Switzerland16.Georgia17.Bulgaria18.Latvia So, although there will be no Eurovision Song Contest, there ís an alternative. Hope to see you this week!!

Iceland wins “Der kleine Song Contest”

In Austria, they had their own song contest this year. Divided over three shows, an expert jury chose three songs to be judged by Austrian televoters. And the winner is…. Iceland! Daði & Gagnamagnið got 48% of the votes with their song “Think about things”, while Austria was the runner up with 33%. Malta became 3rd with 19% of the votes. The full results of the expert jury where: Show 1 Iceland 75 The Netherlands 71 Bulgaria 71 United Kingdom 66 Belgium 63 Poland 61 Romania 61 Israel 60 Spain 55 Cyprus 50 Georgia 49 Armenia 42 San Marino 35 Belarus 17 Show 2 Malta 97 Sweden 86 France 69 Russia 67 Switzerland 64 Lithuania 57 Finland 56 Ireland 55 Azerbaijan 50 Slovenia 50 Croatia 45 Latvia 36 Portugal 30 Moldova 28 Show 3 Austria 76 Denmark 73 Germany 66 Albania 62 Norway 62 Italy 59 Greece 51 Czech Republic 51 Estonia 48 Ukraine 45 North Macedonia 42 Australia 35 Serbia 35

Albania to sing: “Fall from the sky”

In december, Arilena Ara won the Albanese song contest Festival i Këngës with the song “Shaj”. Today the final, and English, version has been presented: “Fall from the sky”. Where Lindon Berisha wrote the Albanian lyrics, Michael Blue, Robert Stevenson and Sam Schummer are responsible for the English words.

Gjon’s Tears

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameGjon Muharremaj Born29 june 1998 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal Selection In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled) SongTout l’univers (2021)Répondez-moi (2020) Biography Gjon’s Tears, real name Gjon Muharremaj, is a Swiss singer of Kosovar origin. His stage name Gjon’s Tears is based on a childhood experience: When he was nine, he moved his grandfather to tears with a performance of Elvis Presley’s “Help Falling in Love”. It was his grandfather who registered him for Albania’s Got Talent in 2011, where he finished third. The following year, Gjon’s Tears participated in Die grössten Schweizer Talente. He also took part in the French version of The Voice. In 2020, he was supposed represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Répondez-moi”. Unfortunately, due to the cancellation of the contest, that didn’t happen. Swiss TV has now invited him to be the 2021 contestant. His song, “Tout l’univers”, became the winner of the expert jury. Overall, Gjon became 3rd. Also in 2021, Gjon’s Tears featured in a song of Arilena Ara, with the title “Dance me”. He won an MTV Europe Music Award for best Swiss song. At the end of 2021 he participated in The Voice All Stars France. In 2022, his song “Silhouette” became a huge hit in Albania. Entries Tout l’univers Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2021 LanguageFrench Lyrics & MusixGjon MuharremajWouter HardyNina Sampermans MusicGjon MuharremajWouter HardyNina SampermansXavier Michel Backings– Results Semi Points: 291Position: 1 Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 432Position: 3Running order: 14 https://youtu.be/jznH_fltcYA Répondez-moi Country Switzerland Year2021 LanguageFrench Lyrics & MusicGjon MuharremajXavier MichelAlizé OswaldJeroen Swinnen Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/O9GAfFHZE-E

And this ís the allocation draw!

Today, the allocation draw took part. The following order is not known yet, but it is known which country has to perform in which semifinal. 1st semifinal, 1st half North Macedonia Belarus Lithuania Sweden Slovenia Australia Ireland Russia 1st semifinal, 2nd half Norway Cyprus Croatia Azerbaijan Malta Israel Ukraine Romania Belgium 2nd semifinal, 1st half Austria Moldova Poland San Marino Serbia Iceland Czech Republic Greece Estonia 2nd semifinal, 2nd half Denmark Bulgaria Switzerland Finland Armenia Latvia Georgia Portugal Albania final – these countries are automatically qualified France (votes in semi 2) Germany (votes in semi 1) Italy (votes in semi 1) Spain (votes in semi 2) The Netherlands (votes in semi 1) United Kingdom (votes in semi 2)

Today: semi final allocation draw

On Tuesday 28 January at 16:10 CET, the Semi-Final Allocation Draw will take place to decide which country will perform in which of the 2 Semi-Finals. During the ceremony, the Host City Insignia will be handed over from the city of Tel Aviv to the Mayor of Rotterdam. You can watch the entire event here at 16:10 CET. You will be able to see the 2020 Eurovision hosts Chantal Janzen, Edsilia Rombley and Jan Smit at work, as they will host the allocation draw too. The event will take place at Rotterdam’s City Hall. The pots for the allocation draw are as follows: Pot 1: Albania Austria Croatia North Macedonia Serbia Slovenia Switzerland Pot 2: Australia Denmark Estonia Finland Iceland Norway Sweden Pot 3: Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Georgia Moldova Russia Ukraine Pot 4: Bulgaria Cyprus Greece Malta Portugal Romania San Marino Pot 5: Belgium Czech Republic Ireland Israel Latvia Lithuania Poland source: eurovision.tv