A message to the Albanian AV readers

Aurela has been so kind to leave a message in Albanian exclusively for you AlbaVision readers out there in Albanian. The Video is now uploadedon our channel AlbaVision Youtube Channel.



For the Intenational visitors: Aurela is thanking and asking for the support of the Albanians. She also greets the American fans who are not allowed to vote in the ESC.

Daily report 4: Videos, videos, videos

Tomorrow is the first semifinal of the Albanian National Final and on TV the festivali i këngës is highly promoted. For you we have filmed as much as we could, all videos are uploaded onto our youtube channel:

Advertisement for the Festivali i këngës

Rehearsals for the festivali i këngës
In the following video you get to see some stars rehearsing, such as Aurela Gaçe and Kejsi Tola, have a view on the stage and even hear a little bit of some songs if you listen closely. The first woman interviewed is Ingrid Rugji, who works for the first time as a dirigent in this festival and says to be proud of being part of this spectacle now and to give her very best. Kejsi Tola, presented as a former winner of this festival, states that being a winner already does not mean that it's easier to win another time. Also, first she thinks about delivering a satisfying performance and afterwards about winning. See the clip below :D



English video
The following video is in English so no need to summarize and translate it. Enjoy.



Tomorrow it's going to be all about the first semi final.

Exclusive: Lyrics for Maria Prifti's entry!

AlbaVision can now present you the lyrics of the song Pasuri e pasurive (Wealth of wealthes)! The lyrics are written by Agim Doçi, who has had great results in Festivali i Këngës. He wrote the Albanian lyrics for the Albanian ESC entries Image of you and Carry me in your dreams. The melody is written by Frederik Ndoçi, who has won FiK two times, and represented Albania in ESC in 2007.

Maria Prifti will present her entry as one of three in the "newcommers" category in the first semi final. But this isn't the her first time on the FiK stage, as she performed together her father Stefi Prifti and his brother Endri in the duet night of Festivali i Këngës 2009.

Lyrics:

Të mundja kohën me dorë t’a ndal
T’a bëja çastin të madh – një jetë!
Miliona puthje të mund t’i fal
E prap nuk ngopem – s’qenka e lehtë.

Unë dashuroj, në shpirt e ndjej
Por s’na del jeta – të gjithë e dimë.
E fal vet vehten – gjithshka e bëj
Veç mos t’a humb Zot dashurinë.

Refrain:
Ajo troket një herë tek zemra
Dhe flet me gjuhën e Perëndive
Është më e bukur sesa vetë endrra
Është pasuri e pasurive!

Exclusive: Lyrics of Kamela Islami's entry + English translation

AlbaVision has been handed the lyrics of Jetova për të dy; the entry of Kamela Islami in the upcomming Festivali i Këngës! Read the lyrics exclusivly here!

The lyrics of the song are written by Olti Curri, while Alban Male wrote the melody.
Kamela will present her entry in the first semi final as number 4. You can read our profile of her HERE.

Kamela Islami

Verse 1:

Larg

Më mirë, të jemi larg

Më mirë të jemi, vetëm

Jo s’e dëgjoj më, unë zemrën

Qaj

Jo asnjë lot, nuk mbaj

Se ty, të fala dhe frymën

Për ty, e solla dritën

Ura

Kërkoja dashuri në një vend të shkretë

Një zemër pa ngjyrë, e di, nuk ka jetë

Refrain:

Pa fjalë

Unë po shkoj

Jemi të vetmuar

Dhe pse të përqafuar

Një fjalë

Nuk të ndihmon

Asgjë për tu kujtuar

Gjithmonë ti ke munguar....Po...

Verse 2:

Faj

Më thuaj, pse kam faj?

Se për të dy, unë jetoja

Se fatin e sfidoja, yeahh

Të dukem kryelartë

Të dukem njëri tjetër

Sot po mendoj unë për veten

(Refrain)

Faj

Më thuaj, pse kam faj?

Se për të dy, unë jetoja

Se fatin e sfidoja, yeahh

Të dukem kryelartë

Të dukem njëri tjetër

Sot po mendoj unë për veten.

Albavision translation into English 

Far away

It's better to be far away from each other

It's better to be alone

No, i don't hear (my/your) heart anymore

I cry

No, I don't hold back not a single tear

Because I even gave you my breath

For you I brought light

Bridge

Looking for love in the wilderness

A heart without colour, I know, has got no life.

Refrain:

Without words

I'm leaving

We are lonely

even though we embraced

Words

don't help you

Nothing to remember

You have always been missing... yes...

Fault

Tell me, why is it my fault?

Because I lived for both of us

Because I challenged fate, yeahh

To you I look big-headed

That's how we think of each other

Today I'm thinking about myself.

Exclusive Interview with Ilira Gashi

Ilira Gashi

It's December, the traditional month of the Albanian National Final for the Eurovision Songcontest. But this year another National Final is going to kick off in December. Switzerland will choose its representant for Düsseldorf 2011 already on 11th December and in their line up of the finalists appears one Albanian singer. Ilira Gashi is competing together with "The Colours" against 12 other contestants for the ticket to the ESC. They and their song "Home" already enjoy a great feedback of fans in Switzerland and beyond. We are glad that we had the possibility for this interview, with Ilira in which we talk about her participation in the Swiss' NF and much more.

Ilira, could you first briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
I was born and grew up in Switzerland. My mother's family lives in Tirana and my father's family in Prishtina. I discovered my passion for music when I was very young. My father has always been a music freak and plays the Çifteli. I sing a lot at home and when I visit my family in Prishtina, I find Albanian music inspiring. That was where my family came up with the idea to participate in Top Fest. It was my first performance and I was 15 at the time.

I have very varied tastes in music, I listen to everything: Reggae, HipHop, Rn'B, Rock, Pop, Metal, House, Folk music. For me it's important to get to know every musical genre.

Let's come to your participation in the Swiss' National Final for the ESC 2010. Congratulations on making it into the final. How did you come to collaborate with "The Colours" and when did you decide to take part at the Swiss National Final?

Thank you! The Colours searched for a singer for the song. By coincidence they discovered my video and music teacher. They then contacted me on Facebook and I agreed immediately with their idea to take part in the Swiss National Final. The inspiration and idea for the song came from all of us.

What is the song "Home" about and where did you take the inspiration from? (Listen to the song on dow below at the end of the article)
The song is about people who are homesick and who have hard times starting a new life in another country. In the end those people find a second home and the help from the habitants of that country. We want the people out there to know that they are not alone. For us it was important to have this topic illustrated in a song once. The inspiration and experience come especially from my family.

You were successful in making it to the final of the Swiss preselection, however another Albanian singer who has a base from the start failed to. Why do you think “Home” was chosen above Genta's song?

To be honest, I don't know why she did not make the final. Personally I liked the song.

Have you listened to the other songs in the Swiss preselection? What are your hopes for the 11th December and how big do you see your winning chances?

Ilira & The Colours

Of course I've listened to all the songs and I have to say that there are many good musicians participating. The group CH is my personal favourite. I am not stressing out much at all. It was a major achievement to make it to the top 12 and we feel honoured to be able to perform in Kreuzlingen. It is a great experience for me which I will take with me into the future. What's most important now is to deliver a good performance. We are prepared for any result in the end.

To get a bit away from the National Final questions:
-Do you have a favourite Eurovision song?

-And which Albanian entry has been your favourite?

I liked Lordi the most. They managed to win even though no one believed it. I liked Lena a lot too; she has a strong character and lots of charisma.

From Albanian my favourite was Olta Boka in 2008.

In this year’s "Kënga Magjike" you were originally to take part, but later you were not part of the Festival. Was that connected to your participation in the Swiss National Final?
I was quite busy with the ESC, yes; however it's not only because of that. The producer of the song signed the contract for the song too late and I didn’t have any chances to contact anyone by phone or mail.

Would you like to represent Albania, or potentially Kosovo at Eurovision? 

After your recent participations at the Top Fest and the Kënga Magjike we are already hoping to see you at the Festivali i këngës.
For sure I want to participate one day in the National Finals of Albania and Kosovo. One day, you'll see me at the Festivali i këngës, definitely.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I haven't thought so far, because I'm not the type to plan too far ahead. However, I feel it’s important for me to continue making music.

At last, do you have anything to say to your fans on AlbaVision.tk
I would like to thank everyone who has supported The Colours and me and shared our thrill. You just are the best.

Good luck on 11th December, Ilira.
Thanks for your support. :D
Best regards 

 An interview by Arben Bacaj, translated from German into English

Ilira & the Colours - Home 

Exclusive: Interview with Agim Poshka!

"Could imagine representing Macedonia at Eurovision ... in Albanian"

Agim Poshka

Agim Poshka should be a familiar name to fans and followers of the Festivali i këngës. For more than a decade he has to do with the festival now, sometimes as composer, other times as songwriter and at times as participant himself, for example in 2007 with the song "Kujt i them të dua?". In last years Festivali i kënges #48, he took part as a composer with the song "Gëzuar", interpreted by Guximtar Rushani. In the duet night it was Agim, who sang with him. Surprisingly, his name is nowhere in the line up for FiK 2010. As our following interview took place before the announcement of the participants, we had no possibility to ask about the reasons.
We are very glad to have had a talk to Agim Poshka about topics conserning the Eurovision, the Festivali i këngës and personal questions.
Read the full interview tranlated from Albanian into English below. (by Arben Bacaj)

Hello Agim, can you tell us, when was your first participation at the festivali i këngës and what makes it so different to other festivals to you?

My first participation was in the Nota Fest of 1999. From then on since 2000, in Tvsh.

Maybe I felt a much greater emotion on my first attempt, yet I feel the same tension after 10 years, because that is the handycap and at the same time advantage of every festival that is live.

You have already participated in the Festivali I kënges as a singer and as a composer, which seems more interesting to you?

I think both create a proper own feeling. But your emotions on stage are doubled if you are singer and composer at the same time, because not only your creation is judged, but also your interpretation. To compose music is something unimaginable and in case that a song turns out to be really good and you recognize that it fills people with happiness, the happiness that I or any other composer feels then is indescribable.

Would you like to represent us one day on the Erupean stage? 

Of course I'd love to represent my country at the Eurovision Song Contest. But it would also be my pleasure to represent Macedonia with a song in Albanian language, because that would also reflect the violated Albanian identity in Macedonia. Meanwhile the Netherlands is represented with songs in the language of small and rare, local languages and there is not any problem with that. Switzerland got represented by Celine Dion, who was Canadian back then. Now why can't I, as a resident in the Macedonian Territory, take part for them at ESC? The organizators for the Macedonian National Final suffer from their xenophobia, because it is absurd to take part in an multi-ethnic festival and keep the own National Final mono-ethnic for people with Macedonian origin only in Macedonian language.

Edmond Zhulali said in an interview to Shekulli, that a CD of the festivali I këngës will be released after the 3 nights. Last year such a CD did not exist, when Guximtar Rushani took part with a song you composed. Is there a studio version of that song “Gëzuar”?

Yes, somewhere around November the videoclip to “Gëzuar” which is currently in the editing phase is going to be released. It is a song I have composed with much love and the songwriter Olsa Poshka captured that feeling and converted it into lyrics. The song was received very well, also in the Festival and that was the greatest gift that I could have gotten for that end of year.
(See the duet performence at FiK 2009 on the right)

If the unknown Arben from the Diaspora asks you to create him a song for the next festivali i këngës, what would you reply?

I would tell him to come along with an idea first. Then I'd challenge him to see his singing skills. But I don't respond to it, I'd just demand him to sing any song to find out about his vocal affinities. This way I see if there is really an artistic world inside the person. That is a procedure that all composers practice.

At last something you want tell your fans on AlbaVision.tk (other musical plans for the future)?

Feel like doing a rebellion?

These days my new video clip for the song “Dita ime do te vije - feat. Kastro Zizo” (Eng.: My day will come) has been released. It's a rock song that expresses that rage of the youth against the injustices, that happen in this world and the lenghty transition, which our politcans are not able to turn into values. This rebellion would have no sense without the energy of Kastro Zizo who worked very well on the song and gave it a fantastic rhythm and I'd like to thank him in public for that. Personally, I had my musical commencements with a guitar. I've always loved rock music and this was a very good possibility to make some social or antisocial project, in which everyone could identify himself in the one or the other moment. I suggest to all readers who want a little taste of rebellion to watch the video clip.

Success AlbaVision and thank you very much for the interview :D 

Agim Poshka feat. Kastro Zizo - Dita ime do të më vij 

Exclusive: Confirmed Participation

It's been today that the song submission phase was closed and we now are searching for artist that intend to take part at the Albanian National Final this year.
Today Dorina Garuci confirmed her participation toAlbaVision. This would be her overall third attend in the festival.

Dorina Garuci at FiK 2009


Song seems familiar to you? See our exclusive interview with Dorina here.

Exclusive: Juliana's & Luiz' new song!

As announced in the previous article Juliana Pasha and Luiz Ejlli preformed their new song "Sa e shite zëmrën?" (For how much did you sell your heart?), produced by none other than Pirro Çako, one of the big names in the Festivali i këngës scene.
And for you, we recorded the performence in audio and video version and upload it here exclusively for our visitors to hear it first!(Ole did the Audio work and Arben the Video work, so it's a real team thing!)
This is the song, with which they will compete at the "Kënga magjike" by the way.

Audio version:



Video Version: 

(because my internet broke during the recording, it's only half the liveperformence, i'm very sorry)

Do you like the new duet?

Exclusive: Dorina Garuci Interview!

Dorina Garuci: "Still don't know if I'm going to participate this year again"

Dorina Garuci

Dorina Garuci, participant in the last two "Festivali i kenges", the Albanian National Final for the Eurovision Songcontest, talks with us about her previous experiences on the FK stage and future plans.

She was participant in the Albanian "Idol" version and was together with Kejsi Tola (Esc 09) under in the final round. In 2 years she has already made a name in the Albanian music scene and it's our pleasure to promote this fantastic voice on our page.

Read the full interview translated from Albanian into English below.

Hi Dorina, last year it has been your second participation in the "Festivali i kenges". Could you imagine to represent Albania at the ESC one day?

For me it has been a pleasure to take part in this festival. Surely, the live singing has attracted me to take part.

Fans of the ESC who have listened to the song "Sekreti i dashurise" in the National final last year said that the song had similarities to the Song "Hero" by Charlotte Perelli from Sweden in ESC 2008. Have already heard "Hero" and what do you say about those rumours?

I have heard of these rumours and also listened to the song "Hero", but i can tell you that all in all there are 7 notes similar, which lets both songs seem "confusingly" similar. The harmony of the two songs though, is different from one each other. It means, that maybe the songs may seem similar to the untrained ear of the mass, but for the professional musician it is simply a coincidence, as the harmonies of the songs are completely different.

Will we see you on the FK stage this december again?

I still don't know if I'm going to participate this year again, because it is one intense year for me as I am in my last school year and i have to invest much into it. Nevertheless, we'll see the offers. :)

From RTSH till now we haven't received any information about the dates of the next Festivali.i.K. You as an artist, do you have any information yet about the next edition of the F.K.?

About the dates I only know that the closeline for songsubmissions is in mid-October, while the FK nights will take place probably in Mid-December.

What are other future plans of you? Want to greet your fans of Albavision.tk?

Most recently we have produced a clip to the song "Me ty prane zemres". To all my fans, I hope you'll like it :)

Thank you very much for the interview !     

   Dorina Garuci - Sekreti i dashurise - Festivali i kenges 2009