Albania: FiK 59 will be held outdoors!

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The Albanian Public Television (RTSH) presented more details to the press today for FiK 59. What is most interesting is that due to the pandemic, it was decided that Festivali i Këngës 59 should not take place traditionally at the Congress Palace, but in the Square of Italy inTirana, outdoors.

Presenters of FiK 59 will be Jonida Vokshi and Blendi Salaj. As in previous years, the festival will last for three days, just with a slightly different structure this time. On the first night we will listen to all the candidate songs. On the second night, all the candidate songs will be presented again, but in their unplugged version. On the third night, all the songs that receive the green light from the jury, which this year will be composed only of Albanians, will compete for the victory.

In case the presence of the musicians of the orchestra is not possible, the performers will sing with the music of the orchestra pre-recorded. By November 10, all contestants, whose names have been announced, must submit the final versions of their songs. RTSH will then publish the candidate songs of FiK 59 on YouTube. That is, much earlier than in other years.

FiK 59 is expected to take place at the end of December, as usual. Until then, let us remember once again Arilena Ara and the song that gave her last year’s victory at FiK and with which she would represent Albania in Eurovision 2021:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-E-kIFPrsY

Source: RTSH

Albania: Festivali i Këngës 59 participants revealed!

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Recently, Eurovision Albania published exclusively the list of artists that will compete in the Festivali i Këngës 59, the national final of Albania for Eurovision 2021!

The deadline for submission of entries expired on October 2 and based on what the local media reported, on Friday, October 29, we expected the announcement of the finalists. Eurovision Albania, one day earlier, betrayed the surprise! Among the names we have almost all the rumored artists of the previous period, but also several who participated in previous FiK.

 

Δείτε αυτή τη δημοσίευση στο Instagram.

 

EKSKLUZIVE / EXCLUSIVE PJESËMARRËSIT NË FEST 59 / PARTICIPANTS AT FIK 59

Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Eurovision Albania (@eurovisionalbania) στις

Updated: 18.00

Shortly after Eurovision Abania revealed the list, the country’s public television (RTSG) confirmed the news, giving us the titles of the songs. The jury that selected the 26 songs consisted of: Alma Bektashi, Jonida Maliqi, Agim Doçi, Klodian Qafoku and Eugent Bushpepa. With enough dose of eurostars as you can see.

FiK 59 is expected to take place at the end of December, as usual. The winner is selected by a jury, without the participation of the audience. Arilena Ara who was the winner of last year’s FiK is not participating again, so now we can officially say that we will not see her in the next Eurovision song contest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-E-kIFPrsY

Eurovision 2021: 41 countries to participate!!

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A few moments ago, the EBU revealed the list of the participating countries at the upcoming contest of Eurovision 2021, on 18th, 20th and 22nd of May in Rotterdam the Netherlands. Actually they are the same 41 nations that were about to take part in the 2020 contest that was canceled due to the COVID19 pandemic.

EBU and the Dutch host broadcasters NPO, NOS and AVROTROS have already revealed the 4 scenarios which their are focused on, and they abide by the restrictions and the facts of the pandemic and according to which the Eurovision 2021 will take place. The scenario, which will be chosen, will be announced in due time.

Martin Österdahl, Executive Supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, said:

“We are grateful for the commitment of the 41 participating broadcasters in helping us bring the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2021.”

“We have the exact same line up of countries that would have competed in 2020 and we are thrilled that they will all return next year. Together with our host broadcasters we are continuing to develop the 4 different scenarios and maintaining a dialogue with all participants. The team from NPO, NOS and AVROTROS are working hard on ensuring the Eurovision Song Contest will provide the excitement and innovation expected by over 180 million viewers, despite the challenging circumstances.”

 

Of the 41 nations taking part, 35 will compete in two Semi-Finals with 10 successful acts from each Semi-Final joining the Big 5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) and hosts the Netherlands in the Grand Final.

Sietse Bakker, Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, said:

“It is fantastic that the same 41 countries that would have taken part this year still want to come to the Netherlands in May 2021. This demonstrates their confidence in our country still being able to organize a successful Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam next year, after the cancellation of the 2020 edition.”

“We have set the bar high to create 3 amazing live shows for an audience of 180 million people, even in these challenging times. To achieve this, we are working on an extensive protocol that guarantees the health of employees, participants, the press and visitors as much as possible.”

 

Participating broadcasters
The following countries (and EBU Member broadcasters) will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam:

Albania (RTSH)

Armenia (AMPTV)

Australia (SBS)*

Austria (ORF)

Azerbaijan (Ictimai TV)

Belarus (BTRC)

Belgium (VRT)

Bulgaria (BNT)

Croatia (HRT)

Cyprus (CyBC)

Czech Republic (CT)

Denmark (DR)

Estonia (ERR)

Finland (YLE)

France (FT)

Germany (ARD/NDR)

Georgia (GPB)

Greece (ERT)

Iceland (RUV)

Ireland (RTE)

Israel (KAN)

Italy (RAI)

Latvia (LTV)

Lithuania (LRT)

Malta (PBS)

Moldova (TRM)

The Netherlands (AVROTROS)

North Macedonia (MKRTV)

Norway (NRK)

Poland (TVP)

Portugal (RTP)

Romania (TVR)

Russia (Channel One)

San Marino (RTV)

Serbia (RTS)

Slovenia (RTVSLO)

Spain (TVE)

Sweden (SVT)

Switzerland (SRG SSR)

Ukraine (UA:PBC)

United Kingdom (BBC)

*EBU Associate

 

It is worth to be mentioned this is the first time since 1990 that we have the same amount of participating countries in two consecutive years.

Source: Eurovision.tv

Albania: Arilena Ara performed “Fall From The Sky” as she would present it at Eurovision 2020!

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In the popular Albanian TV show, E diela shqiptare, Arilena Ara appeared and sang Fall From The Sky, the song with which she would represent her country at Eurovision 2020, as she would present it on the stage of the contest.

Arilena’s outfit remains impressive, while as you will see in the video, she appears in a giant cage, which is flying!

Arilena did not reveal whether she will participate again in FiK to claim the Albanian representation in Eurovision 2021.

You can see the appearance of Arilena Ara in the video below, after 5:57:00

Albania: Listen to “Fall From The Sky”, the final version of the Albanian entry

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Following her victory at FiK58, Arilena Ara recorded the final version of the country’s participation, “Shaj”, in one of the world’s most popular studios.

As she stated herself, she is preparing for the semifinal night, and singing from the air that night.The final version of the song is highly radio without losing the identity that the song originally had.

Shortly afterwards, the title of the final version was released, with Arilena finally interpreting “Fall From The Sky”, the English version of “Shaj”.

Earlier, “Fall From The Sky” was officially released through the official YouTube channel of the contest.

Listen to the official revamp below:

https://youtu.be/p-E-kIFPrsY

Who is Arilena Ara?

Arilena Ara became known for her “Little Genius” children’s song contest, where she took third place. She later participated in the second edition of the musical competition, “The X-Factor”, for the 2012-2013 season. From the first moment she impressed audiences and committee, with Arilena finally able to crown a big show winner.

From that moment on, her career began. One success succeeded the other with its reputation spreading to other countries, such as Romania and Russia, where the song by Subtori won the charts. In addition, Nentori has also been released in Greece by 314 Records and has been a huge success as it topped the Greek Shazam chart. Finally, she is one of the three judges in the television music contest “The Voice Kids Albania”.

It is worth noting that the song that she will perform at Eurovision 2020 is signed by the same creators as “Proud” of Tamara, who represented Northern Macedonia, earning the jury rating of Eurovision 2019.

Albania at the Eurovision Contest

In 2020 we will have Albania’s 17th entry in the competition, which debuted in 2004, with Anjeza Shahini and “The Image Of You”, which reached seventh place! RTSH showed interest in the Eurovision song contest in 2003. However, three more countries made their debut that year, and Albania was unable to compete. In the following years it managed to qualify seven times in the final and many more in the semifinals.

The best he won was 2012 with Rona Nishliu and “Suus”. The last two years it has managed to qualify for the final and obviously wants to continue her series.

In Tel Aviv, Albania was represented by Jonida Maliqi with “Ktheju Land”, after winning the FiK 57 first! She managed to score 90 points and finish 17th in the final!

Albania: With “Fall From The Sky” Arilena Ara at Eurovision 2020

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Arilena Ara revealed the title of her song, as it did after the revamp, in which she will represent Albania at Eurovision 2020. Shaj is now in English and is called “Fall From The Sky”. We will listen to it next week as we told you in our related article.

Immediately after her win at FiK 58, Arilena Ara left for the US to revamp the song for Eurovision. According to what she had said the song became more pop and its lyrics are now in English.

View this post on Instagram

“Fall From The Sky” @eurovision

A post shared by Arilena Ara (@arilenaaraa) on

The final version is highly radio without losing the identity the song originally had. But until we see the video clip and listen to the final version of Albanian involvement, let’s remember Arilena’s appearance on FiK 58.

Albania: After the Heads of Delegation meeting on March 9th,the revamp of Shaj

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According to various Albanian media reports, the final version of Shaj, revealed by Arilena, will be made public with the video clip after the Head of Delegation meeting next Monday, March 9th.

The video clip is in the process of being filmed, which means there is no time left for it to be released next week. Albania’s head of delegation will normally submit his country’s song for Eurovision 2020 at this meeting in Rotterdam on Monday, May 9, but we will hear it a few days later.

The final version is highly radio without losing the identity the song originally had. Finally, it was emphasized that Shaj’s revamp will be mainly in English, just like the original version Arilena had taken before FiK58.

Below you can see photos of Arilena from the video clip shooting:

But until we see the video clip and listen to the final version of Albanian entry, let’s recall Arilena’s appearance on FiK 58:

Elvana Gjata: “The two points I received will not stop me giving love”

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Two days have passed since Arilena’s victory in FiK58, as the two Albanian judges rated Elvana very low and denied her victory. The popular singer who failed to win, though she was the big favorite via her Instagram profile, made a statement that while wishing Arilena good luck, she does not hesitate to show her bitterness and annoyance at the Albanian judges’ ratings.

“I refuse to speak at such moments but this time I have to do it…

Arilena … you’re not alone in anything, I really wish you good luck. I want to thank my fans and my new European fans for supporting me since the release of “MeTana”. I saw the polls, I saw you sing and dance to my song every day, I saw you in the arena with your hands up. I heard you all scream under my name all over Pristina, and I heard it last night in Tirana like never before.

My heart is full of joy! I worked hard and will work until my last breath. The job never destroyed me, with or without command. Thank you very much to the European judges who voted for me the most. Not even Mikaela’s 2 points can stop giving me love.

Accept life with everything

Enjoy life with everything”

Elvana’s announcement came hours after Alketa Vesjiu, the festival’s presenter, made a statement, which also shifted her arrows to Mikaela’s rating and the 2 points she gave to Me Tana. We remind you that Arilena won by only 3 points difference, so the 2 that she received from Mikaela was essentially what deprived her of her victory.

Albania: Breaking News: the presenter of FiK58 strongly blames the jury panel for results

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Through her Instagram profile, Alketa Vejsiu, presenter of Festivali i Kenges 58, regrets that Elvana was not the winner of the festival, but also that the public opinion was not heard.

“I would like to express Arilena my congratulations on her victory! I hope her to do the best she can at Eurovision for Albania. But I can’t but thank Elvana Gjaten! Within 2 weeks she had more views (on YouTube) than everyone else, 3 and a half million! I can’t deny that her song was the celebration of this Festival! That Elvana was the news of this release, the voice and energy of the youth who danced together in the hall, bringing Albania, Kosovo and the Diaspora together! The matches announce the winners but not the losers. because successes never die.

After this Festival that I have done with my soul, I can say that I am poor and will never be on any jury, for any reason!
I believe in meritocracy and I deeply regret that I could not give voice to the public on this Festival’s platform! Excuse me if I disappointed you! I understand and respect your sensitivity! But keep your categories please! I was not on the jury and I did not choose the jury!

Elvana thank you! You came to this festival because you believed in my vision! You do not need the competition to confirm who you are, because you are who you are! And you have to feel victorious today, because all three members of the Eurovision International Jury gave you 18 points. These 2 points of Albania …. I’m speechless!”

See Alketa Vejsiu’s post here (it’s in Albanian),

Alketa Vejsiu, considered one of the most important television figures in Albania, normally empties the two women from Albania, who were members of the committee and essentially gave Arilena the low rating they gave Elvana.

Neither more or less, the festival’s winner is Elvana, and she apologizes to the audience for failing to make her voice heard.

Apparently, as she puts it, her arrows are directed at the Albanian public television, which chose this voting system and put the two specific ladies on the jury.

Recall that Arilena scored 67 points, with Elvana scoring just three points lower. See our related article for detailed results.

Below see Elvana’s appearance in the final:

Albania: That’s how the judges voted on FiK58-Elvana was the first international judges choice! EXCLUSIVE

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Following the shock of unexpected Arilena victory for many, or better, Elvana’s defeat, Albania’s Public Television (RTSH) will air results of the judges. According to our exclusive information, Arilena’s victory came from the ratings of the two Albanian judges. In contrast, foreign judges gave Elvana the best.

Each judge rated the final 12 songs of the FiK58 final from 1 to 10, 13 and 18 points, starting with the song they liked least. To make it better, each judge assigned 1 score to this song they liked less, 2 to the next, 3 to the coke, up to 18 points to their favorite.

According to our exclusive information, the three foreign judges (D. Kontopoulos, C. Bjorkman, F. Bergsson) gave Elvana an excellent score (18 points), but Arilena also was ranked high. In contrast, the two judges from Albania gave Arilena the best, but they voted low for Elvana! This is how Arilena came first and Elvana second.

So, the comments of the foreign judges on the way to vote for Elvana in May in Rotterdam have no basis whatsoever, as the Albanian judges have basically judged the result.

Full confirmation of EurovisionFun after the Albanian public television announced  the detailed results.

Arilena scored 67 points and Elvana 64. Dimitris Kontopoulos, Felix Bergsson scored 18 points for Elvana and 13 for Arilena. Christer Bjorkman gave 18 to Elvana and 10 to Arilena. In contrast, the two Albanian judges gave Arilena 18 and 13 points and Elvana just 8 and 2 points respectively.

You can view the detailed results HERE.