Albania

Arilena Ara

About Quick Facts NameArilena Ara Born18 July 1998 Nationality🇦🇱 Albanian National SelectionFestival i Këngës 2020 In Eurovision2020 Rotterdam (canceled) SongFall from the sky (2020, canceled) Biography Arilena Ara, known by her artistic name Arilena is an Albanian singer. She has participated in many children’s festivals in Shkodra. Tirana linked Arilena to the TV Klan where she first appeared on a show called Gjeniu i Vogel and then decided to compete in X Factor Albania. This was the wish of her father, who passed away a few months before Arilena was introduced to X Factor 2. Arilena won the competition and dedicated the victory to her father. She also won a contract from the organizers of the X Factor show. Seeing her age (then only 15), her management decided not to rush Arilena’s career.Arilena peformed in several shows like “Dance With Me”, competing with her partner Labi, a Kosovar journalist. On September 26, 2014, she released her first song “Aeroplan,” with a video clip that garnered over 2 million views on YouTube. After “Aeroplan” she released a follow up “Business Class” which also got a lot of views on YouTube as well as her third song called “Vegim”, dedicated to her father’s death. In 2016, she released a song called “November”. In december 2019, Arilena Ara won Festival i Këngës and therefore, was supposed to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Shaj”, that was translated into English as “Fall from the sky”. Unfortunately, due to the Corona crisis, that didn’t happen. After Eurovision, Arilena featured in a hit single of Alban Skënderaj, “A i sheh”. Her songs “Aligator”, “Thirr Policinë” and “Ke me mungu” all reached the Albanian top-10, the latter the #1 spot. In december 2021, she teamed up with Gjon’s Tears for the song “Dance me”. Entries Fall from the sky Country🇦🇱 Albania Year2020 LanguageEnglish LyricsMichael BlueRobert StevensonSam Schummer MusicDarko DimitrovLazar Cvetkovski Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/vXpCWFIY6YE

Arilena Ara represents Albania in Rotterdam

Tonight, Festival i Këngës 2019 was won by Arilena Ara with the song “Shaj”. Second prize was for top favourite Elvana Gjata, while Sara Bajraktari became 3rd. Arilena won season 2 of the Albanian version of the X-Factor in 2013. In 2014 she had her first hit “Aeroplan”. She also topped the Romanian charts, so internationally she is not completely unknown. It is not known whether “Shaj” will be sung in Albanian or in English. Many Albanian contestants make the choice to sing in English. Jonida Maliqi however, chose to sing in Albanian last year.

Tonight is the night for Albania!

Tonight at 20:30 CET (scheduled, but at the nights of the semifinals we experienced a delay) the first national final of Eurovision 2020 starts: Festival i Këngës, the Albanian preselection. Twelve songs and artists will compete to win the 58th Festival i Këngës. One of the songs will represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam. The competing songs are: Malaseen, by Bojken Lako Më ngjyros, by Kamela Islami Ajër, by Sara Bajraktari Me tana, by Elvana Gjata Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua, by Albërie Hadergjonaj Ajo nuk është unë, by Robert Berisha Me gotën bosh, by Tiri Gjoci Eja merre, by Era Rusi Botë për dy, by Olta Boka Kutia e Pandorës, by Valon Shehu Shaj, by Arilena Ara Shqiponja e lirë, by Gena For Eurovision addicts, one familiar face will show up: Olta Boka. She represented Albania in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest with “Zemrën e lamë peng”. Composer Adrian Hila and lyricist Pandi Laço wrote the songs for Albania in 2006, 2007 and 2008. This year, Adrian is responsible for “Ajër” and “Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua” while Pandi wrote the lyrics for “Me gotën bosh”. Former participant Eugent Bushpepa composed “Kutia e Pandorës”. You can watch the final live if you like: RTSH and RTK have livestreams, but you can also watch the contest on facebook and youtube.

Albanian finalists known

We’ve heard all twenty songs of Festival i Këngës 58, the Albanian national final for the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest. The professional jury, consisting of Mikaela Minga (Albania) Christer Björkman (Sweden) Dimitris Kontopoulos (Greece) Felix Bergsson (Iceland) Rita Petro (Albania) decided which 12 songs should go to the final on Sunday. They are: Malaseen, by Bojken Lako Më ngjyros, by Kamela Islami Ajër, by Sara Bajraktari Me tana, by Elvana Gjata Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua, by Albërie Hadergjonaj Ajo nuk është unë, by Robert Berisha Me gotën bosh, by Tiri Gjoci Eja merre, by Era Rusi Botë për dy, by Olta Boka Kutia e Pandorës, by Valon Shehu Shaj, by Arilena Ara Shqiponja e lirë, by Gena The songs will be presented in the final next sunday, 22 december. Eurovision Universe will keep you updated again in the final, see you on sunday!

Rona Nishliu’s double emotions

Next sunday, Albania will choose it’s Eurovision entry for 2020. It might be a good moment to look back in the Albanian eurovision history. Just let me cry…. cry…. cry…. for this is the best I can do now. That is the translation of the lyrics of Rona Nishliu‘s Eurovision Song. She sang the song “Suus” (“personal”) entirely in Albanian, and ended up in fifth place in the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. So far, Rona is the only Albanian contestant who managed to end up in the top-5. As you might understand, the song was a very emotional one. In her performance, people could not only hear Rona’s strong voice but also a lot of emotion. The song asked for it. However, the emotion in this song got an extra touch. The semifinal took place on the 22nd of may. The day before the semifinal, something terrible happened. At Qafa e Vishës near Himarë in Albania, a bus fell into an 80 metre ravine. The bus was filled with students. 13 of them died and 21 where seriously injured. Because of this, the Albanian government decided to declare the 22nd of may a day of national mourning. On this day, Rona Nishliu represented her country, singing Just let me cry…. cry…. cry…. for this is the best I can do now. You can imagine the words getting a completely different meaning for everybody in Albania…..

Listen to the Albanian songs!

Upcoming: the Albanian national final Festival i Këngës, which will be held december the 19th, 20th and 22nd. Twenty new songs, all in Albanian, will be presented on those evenings. After the 22nd of december we know the first entry for Rotterdam! Do you wanna hear the songs already? It’s possible. Albanian broadcaster RTSH published all of them on their instagram account. Enjoy!

Kejsi Tola

About Quick Facts NameKejsi Tola Born05 February 1992 Nationality🇦🇱 Albanian National SelectionFestivali I Këngës 2013Festivali I Këngës 2011Festivali I Këngës 2010Festivali I Këngës 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongCarry Me In Your Dreams (2009) Biography Kejsi Tola, born 5 February 1992, is an Albanian singer and songwriter. Kejsi Tola started singing when she was six years old. She studied at the Jordan Misja Artistic Lyceum. At age 11, she won the Young Voices of Albania competition and won the Young Voices of Shkodra twice. She was a finalist on Gjeniu i Vogël and won the fourth season of Ethet, the Albanian version of Pop Idol. In 2008, she was chosen by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) to compete in the 47th Festivali i Këngës with her song “Më merr në ëndërr”. She won the contest with 126 points and got the chance to represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow. She qualified for the grand final, finishing 17th overall with 48 points. In late 2009, Kejsi competed in the 48th Festivali i Këngës with the song “Ndonjëherë” and finished 15th with 58 points. After this, she took a break to study classical singing at the University of Arts in Tirana. She came back to Festivali i Këngës in 2010 with the song “Pranë”. However, she didn’t make it to the final. In 2012, she participated in the 51st Festivali i Këngës with the song “S’jemi më atje”. She made it to the final and finished in 4th place with 42 points. In 2014, Kejsi entered Kënga Magjike with the song “Iceberg”. She placed 5th and won the Production Award. In 2018, she had a hit single with the song “U rritëm”. She competed again in Kënga Magjike in 2018 with the song “Me ke mua”, which was nominated for Best Song of the Year at the 2019 Kult Awards. In 2023, she was set to compete in Festivali i Këngës 62 with the song “Vallëzoj me dritën”, but she withdrew from the competition. Entries Carry Me In your Dreams Country🇦🇱 Albania Year2009 LanguageEnglish LyricsAgim DoçiJune Taylor MusicEdmond Zhulali BackingsEra Rusi DancersJenia Evgenios BuliArdi KocajAndi Kocaj Results Semi Points: 73Position: 7Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 48Position: 17Running order: 19 https://youtu.be/w6Ori4A4ATo?si=J1J-e2Jh0gCo6QWq

Hersi Matmuja

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameHersjana Matmuja Born01 February 1990 Nationality🇦🇱 Albanian National SelectionFestivali i Këngës 2014Festivali i Këngës 2013Festivali i Këngës 2012Festivali i Këngës 2011Festivali i Këngës 2007 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongOne Night’s Anger (2014) Biography Hersi Matmuja is an Albanian singer. Born on February 1, 1990, in Kukës, Albania, Hersi displayed an early interest in music. She began her professional music career when she was quite young and by her teens had already gained considerable recognition in the music industry in Albania. She studied at the Artistic Lyceum Jordan Misja in Tirana, after which she went to Italy to study at the Santa Cecilia conservatory in Rome, pursuing a degree in music and specializing in canto. This further honed her musical skills, and she was able to blend her knowledge of classical and popular music in her performances. Hersi Matmuja is most recognized for her participation in Festivali i Këngës, an annual music competition in Albania and one of the longest-running musical events in the country. She participated in this competition several times, first in 2007. Participations followed in 2011, 2012 and 2013. In 2014, she won the competition with the song “Zemërimi i një nate,” which gave her the opportunity to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest that year. The song was translated into English for the Eurovision Song Contest and performed as “One Night’s Anger.” Beginning in 2015, she started a collaboration with the Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio, contributing to multiple of their productions. Her outstanding performance in the orchestra’s version of Carmen earned her the role of Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, reimagined by the Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio. For two consecutive years, this interpretation of Don Giovanni was performed. In 2018, she voiced the Credo, a religious piece from the Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio, performed at the Panteão Nacional in Lisbon. On the experimental music front, she delved into the contemporary repertoire, particularly the pieces composed by Albanian artist Admir Shkurtaj. In 2016, she was featured in his opera Katër i Radës. Il Naufragio, a chamber opera produced by the Koreja Theater in Lecce. In 2018, she gave a live performance with the Mesimèr Ensemble of music. In 2020, she was part of the inaugural performance of the opera-concert KA. She also took part in the finale of the 40th Valentino Bucchi Composition Competition, performing three of the six final compositions. In 2019, Hersi Matmuja collaborated with Ilaria Fantin. They formed the duo Hana. The duo published their live videos on YouTube. In 2021 they did a tour through Italy. Also in 2021, Hersi released a new song and video, “Kënga çobanit”, which was inspired on the Luma folk tradition. In the same year, she co-organized the Gjallica International Festival, a festival with live music, poetry, workshops and the possibility to buy local products and see something of the area. Entries One Night’s Anger Country🇦🇱 Albania Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsJorgo Papingji MusicGenti Lako BackingsErga HalilajDorian MetohuOlsa PapandiliEdris Kraja Results Semi Points: 22Position: 15Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/Ahu_K_Jh2vc

Juliana Pasha

About Quick Facts NameJuliana Pasha Born20 May 1980 Nationality🇦🇱 Albanian National SelectionFestivali i Këngës 2010Festivali i Këngës 2009Festivali i Këngës 2008 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIt’s All About You (2010) Biography Juliana Pasha, born on May 20, 1980, is a prominent Albanian singer who has significantly influenced the music scene in her home country. Juliana’s journey into music began at a young age, paving her way to national recognition and international platforms. Juliana’s career took a notable turn when she participated in Albania’s national selections for the Eurovision Song Contest. Her early attempts in 2007 with “Qielli i ri” and in 2008 with “Një jetë,” a duet with Luiz Ejlli, saw her finishing 3rd and 2nd, respectively. These performances built a solid foundation for her musical career and increased her visibility in the Albanian music industry. The pinnacle of Juliana’s early career came in 2009 when she won the national final to represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with her song “It’s All About You.” Performing in Bærum, Juliana showcased her vocal prowess on a grand stage. She successfully advanced to the finals, performed fifteenth, and ultimately placed 16th out of 25 contestants, receiving 62 points, including a high score of 12 points from Macedonia. Following her Eurovision appearance, Juliana continued to garner acclaim. In 2010, she won the prestigious “Kënga Magjike” festival with “Sa e shite zemren,” a collaboration with Luiz Ejlli. In 2016, she performed at the Te Stela resort along with, a.o. Olta Boka and Kejsi Tola. A year later, with the same team she performed at Hotel Kalaja in Gjakovë, Kosovo. In March 2017 she released a new single, “Jeto!”, to get attention for human trafficking. In January 2018 this was followed by a benefit concert for the victims of human trafficking. In July 2018 she had a summer hit: “Në më jë”. In August 2019 she did the job again with the song “Yll i rralle”. In early 2020, she became part of the La La Land music shows in Tirana. In November and December of the same year, she participated in the show Këngë Moj. In December she released the new single “Më e bukura mbi dhe!”. Beyond singing, Juliana expanded her influence by taking on the role of a mentor and judge in the first series of the Albanian and Kosovo version of “The X Factor.” Her expertise and experience brought valuable insights to the show, helping to guide and inspire a new generation of artists. Juliana’s contributions to music have been recognized with multiple awards. Notably, she received the Honorary Citizen Award of Burrel in 2010. Her other accolades include winning the Çesk Zadeja Prize at “Kënga Magjike” in 2005, the Critic Prize in 2008, and she won the third prize in 2012 and 2015. She also took part in the 2019 contest. In 2016, she won the Vulkan Award. Outside of her musical endeavors, Juliana is known for her deep faith and philanthropic efforts, particularly in combating the blood feud tradition in Albania through her involvement in the Hanna project. Her personal beliefs and humanitarian efforts have played a significant role in shaping her public persona and her approach to her career and life. Entries It’s All About You Country🇦🇱 Albania Year2010 LanguageEnglish LyricsArdit GjebreaPirro Çako MusicArdit Gjebrea BackingsGlenys VargasOlen CesariJoy GarrisonDesiree Kedjour Results Semi Points: 76Position: 6Running order: 12 Results Finals Points: 62Position: 16Running order: 15 https://youtu.be/idE_32NUJbo?si=Gqf82Iz2PO_y5yW0

Rona Nishliu

About Quick Facts NameRona Nishliu Born25 August 1986 Nationality🇦🇱 Albanian National SelectionFestivali i Këngës 2011Festivali i Këngës 2004 In Eurovision2012 Baku SongSuus (2012) Biography Rona Nishliu is a Kosovar-Albanian singer. She grew up in Mitrovica but relocated to Pristina at 13 due to political unrest in her native town. In 2004, she participated in “Ethet e së premtës mbrëma”, a show reminiscent of Idols, making it to the Top 5 in the live episodes. Post-show, Rona took up a presenting role at Radio Blue Sky in Prishtina. In the same year, she collaborated with Vesa Luma and Teuta Kurti to participate in the 43rd Festivali i Këngës. They aspired to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 with their song “Flakareshë”. While they reached the final on 18 December 2004, Ledina Çelo ultimately won. Nishliu represented Albania in the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Baku, Azerbaijan. She won her national selection on 29 December 2011 with “Suus”, becoming the first Kosovo singer to represent Albania. The tragic Qafa e Vishës bus incident led to a delay of over two hours in the first semi-final on 22 May, impacting the viewership of Nishliu’s performance. Consequently, Albania relied on jury votes for voting. RTK did not broadcast the semi-final highlights due to the tragedy. Nishliu secured fifth place in the final, earning 146 points, which stands as Albania’s top performance. She was granted Albanian citizenship on 12 January 2012. Following Eurovision, Nishliu dedicated herself to humanitarian causes. She joined “Bonu cool, mos bjer shpullë”, an initiative promoting gender sensitivity. For this, she released “Se vetëm zemra flet saktë”, a song against young gender violence, which she produced and wrote. This song is part of a campaign by the Kosovo Gender Studies Centre, funded by the European Union. On 18 September 2014, Rona showcased Kosovar culture with a concert in Belgrade, Serbia during the “Mirëdita, dobar dan” festival, earning a standing ovation. In 2017, Rona became a coach for the sixth season of The Voice of Albania. In 2018, she performed at the Jazz Fest of Tetova. She also was present at the OGAE Congress in Spain. In April 2019, Rona recorded a couple of songs with the Rona Nishliu Quartet, like “Mallëngjimi” and “Me lule t’bukra” and a live album, “Mindil”. She also performed for the charity organization SOS Fshatrat e Fëmijëve Kosovë. In December 2021, she performed in a Christmas show on Kosovar television in duet with Gjon’s Tears. In December 2022 she started performing as Rona Nishliu & The New Big Band under the lead of Edon Ramadani. In August and September 2023 she performed at the Mitrovica International Jazz Days. Entries Suus Country🇦🇱 Albania Year2012 LanguageAlbanian LyricsRona Nishliu MusicFlorent Boshnjaku Backings– Results Semi Points: 146Position: 2Running order: 5 Results Finals Points: 146Position: 5Running order: 3 https://youtu.be/QeBL2UHhyEc?si=Wo22IA6TbEXH_RD2