Posts

Eurovision 2023: Albania’s First Rehearsal!

/0 Comments/in , /by

Next up on stage we will be seeing Albina & Familja Kelmendi on their first rehearsal as the representatives of Albania in this year’s competition with “Duje”.

Who are Albina & Familja Kelmendi?

Albina Kelmendi has energised the Albanian pop scene with her fierce vocal talent. At just 16, she reached the final of ‘The Voice of Albania’, after all 4 judges turned their chairs in her first audition. Since then, she’s smashed through various song contests across Europe.

The talented vocalist has always been surrounded by song, growing up in a house of professional musicians, and now two generations of the Kelmendi clan are joining voices to perform in Liverpool.

And music really is a family affair – Albina’s mother Albana and her father Bujar fell in love through music. Alongside her brother Albin and sisters Vesa and Sidorela, they will all be taking to the Eurovision stage.

The Rehearsal

Unfortunately this year, accredited journalists don’t get the chance to watch the first and second rehearsals, so we only get the information and content that the organizers officially release to the public.

Albina gives it all the vocals from the opening note. “Duje” is such a heartfelt and dramatic song of love and family togetherness, with the family providing beautiful harmonies and some great dance moves.

Like Switzerland on Sunday, the staging for this is the work of Sacha Jean-Baptiste, and the LED wall is all about the black and red of the Albanian flag. There is a lot of pyro, too.

Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU

Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU

Below you can watch a small clip from the Albanian first rehearsal on TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@eurovision/video/7228656496714829083?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7227755983479670299

The second rehearsal for Albania will be held on the 5th of May, when we will know how things will appear on screen for Albina & Familja Kelmendi.

Follow us on all social media, so you do not miss a moment of what will happen in Liverpool:

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding Albania’s entry in Eurovision 2023!

Source: eurovision.tv

Poland: The Polish Eurovision Party 2023 is today!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Today, for the second year in a row, the Polish Eurovision Party 2023 will take place in Warsaw. The hosts of the evening will be Poli Genova (Bulgaria 2011 & 2016) and Konrad Zemlik (the organizer of the event).

At this year’s Polish pre-party, twenty-five artists will appear, who are participating in this year’s Eurovision or have participated in the past.

The Eurovision 2023 entrants who will perform tonight are:

  • Albina & Familija Kelmendi – Albania
  • Alika – Estonia
  • Diljá – Iceland
  • Joker Out – Slovenia
  • Let 3 – Croatia
  • Mae Muller – United Kingdom
  • Monika Linkytė – Lithuania
  • Pasha Parfeni – Moldova
  • Piqued Jacks – San Marino
  • Reiley – Denmark
  • Sudden Lights – Latvia
  • The Busker – Malta
  • Vesna – Czechia
  • Wild Youth – Ireland

The remaining sixteen artists who will accompany this year’s participants are:

  • Anne-Marie David – Winner of Eurovision 1973 with Luxembourg
  • Eye Cue – North Macedonia 2018
  • Felivers – Tu bije serce Europy 2023 (Polish National Final)
  • Filip Baloš – Pesma za Evroviziju ’23 (Serbian National Final)
  • Gromee – Poland 2018
  • Inis Neziri – Festivali i Këngës 56 & 59 (Albanian National Final)
  • Krystian Ochman – Poland 2022
  • Kuba Szmajkowski – Tu bije serce Europy 2022 & 2023
  • Lindsay Dracass – United Kingdom 2001
  • Melovin – Ukraine 2018
  • Oceana – Unser Song für Dänemark
  • Poli Genova – Bulgaria 2011 & 2016
  • Senhit – San Marino 2011, 2020 & 2021
  • Slavko – Montenegro 2017
  • Sunstroke Project – Moldova 2010, 2017
  • Viki Gabor – Winner of Junior Eurovision 2019 with Poland

 

Stay tuned EurovisionFun for all the news regarding Eurovision!

Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi have filmed their postcard for Eurovision 2023!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The filming of the postcards of the 37 participants of Eurovision 2023 are now taking place throughout Europe. The next representatives to film their postacard are no others than, Albina & Familja Kelmendi from Albania!

After a few months of preparations and a revamped version of “Duje”, the family had to pause their rehearsals with Sacha Jean-Baptiste, in order to film their postcard for Eurovision 2023!

The filming of the postcard of the Albanian representatives, a short introduction video that will be shown just before their performance in the second Semi-Final, took place at the Grand Park in Tirana and as we can see in the backstage video that BBC posted, the whole family is present in an outdoor barbeque and there will also be some takes with a drone

The following acts have confirmed the filming of their postcards:

  • Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi – “Duje”
  • Austria: Teya & Salena – “Who The Hell Is Edgar”
  • Croatia: Let 3 – “Mama ŠČ”
  • Germany: Lord of the Lost – “Blood and Glitter”
  • Lithuania: Monika Linkytė – “Stay”
  • Moldova: Pasha Parfeni –“Soarele și Luna”
  • Poland: Blanka – “Solo”
  • Slovenia: Joker Out – “Carpe Diem”

Albania is set to perform 14th in the second semi-final which is going to take place on May 11 in Liverpool.

You can watch the reaction of the editors of Eurovisionfun, enjoying the Albanian entry for Eurovision 2023:

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Albanian participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, in Liverpool!

Albania: Details about Albina & Familja Kelmendi’s stage performance revealed!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The composer of “Duje”, gave an interview to RTSH, the public broadcaster of Albania, and revealed some first details about the stafing of the Alba nnian entry for Eurovision 2023.

Eriona Rushiti, who is the composer behind the Albanian song, talking about “Duje” and its staging, explained that the live performance that we are going to see on Liverpool isbeing made with great interest:

“This year, they are working very well for the stage. Especially since there are six people on stage, everything must be correct, the message must be conveyed clearly. I hope that the live song will have a lot of impact.”

Also, talking about this year’s stage director, Sacha Jean-Baptiste, she stated that:

“Sacha has been with her group in Pristina for a week. They work with every frame … how we will move the cameras and the lights. She worked with the choreography for all six members. I believe it will be very nice.”

Eriona Rushiti, also talked a bit about the revamp of the song and the reason it took place in Istanbul:

“That particular studio was chosen due to the fact that it was possible to use the “live” string orchestra and many instruments that were needed for the song. Especially since they know our culture. We couldn’t choose a studio from another country that doesn’t know our beat and the culture we have. The song took on a more modern spirit. We stayed true to the version that was presented at the RTSH Festival, but some other elements were strengthened.”

Albina & Familja Kelmendi are going to perform in the seconf half of the second semi-final of Eurovision 2023 in May 11.

Below you can watch our reaction video to “Duje”:

Source: festivali.rtsh.al

Albania: Listen to the revamped version of “Duje” for Eurovision 2023!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Albina & Familja Kelmendi, the Albanian entrants for the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, have released the revamp of their Fik61 winning song and the official music video.

As for the revamp of “Duje”, this was done with the participation of live musical instruments including 60 strings in a studio in Istanbul. The song will be performed entirely in the Albanian language and does not differ much from the version heard at Festivali i Këngës.

Listen to “Duje” below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp8OG4ApocI

Albina & Familja Kelmendi will perform in the second half of the second semi-final on May 11.

Stay tuned on Eurovision Fun for all the updates regarding the Albanian entry in the upcoming 2023 Eurovision Song Contest!

 

Albania: “Duje” to remain in Albanian for Eurovision 2023!

/0 Comments/in , , /by

A few days ago, Festivali i Këngës 61 ended with Albina & Familja Kelmendi being the ones who received the ticket to represent Albania in the Eurovision 2023 contest, with the song “Duje“.

Speaking to RTSH, Albina made revelations about the song “Duje” in Eurovision 2023. In an interview with Albania’s public broadcaster, Albina confirmed that “Duje” will remain in Albanian, meaning that Albania is one of the countries that chooses its own language in Eurovision every year since 2018.

However, one more tradition of the country that will continue in 2023 is that the song will be revamped ahead of the competition this May in Liverpool as she revealed.

Below, watch the winning performance of Albina & Familja Kelmendi, with the song “Duje” that will represent Albania at Eurovision 2023:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZxe3Ce6yEI

Watch the Eurovisionfun team react to Albina & Familja Kelmendi with the song  “Duje”, Albania’s entry for Eurovision 2023!

Source: Eurovision Albania

What do you think will be the fate of Albania in Eurovision 2023? Tell us in the comments below!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all developments regarding Albania’s participation in Eurovision 2023!