The festivali këngës 2010 is over and the winner is Aurela Gaçe, who got the greatest applaude from the audience, aswell, as 6 sets of 12 points by 6 of the 7 juries and one set of 10 points. Just as much of a favourite were Alban and Miriam, who ended up second, commenting it with: "This to those who said our win is given". Surprisingly Saimir Braho finished third, marking his biggest FiK success until now.
AlbaVision met with Aurela right after the show and asked her whether she intends to sing in English in Germany. As expected she stated that this is not decided yet as she and her team just realized that they are going to Düsseldorf. As I may be volunteering in Düsseldorf this year for the Albanian Delegation, we told her about that and that we'll meet again in May. She's greeting you AlbaVision fans. She will be added to the new AlbaVision banner - edition 2011.
With Aurela Gaçe right after the show.
Full results and more tomorrow, back in our homes, this was AlbaVision Live - Tirana 2010
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
"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
I just had a talk to Linda Halimi, who takes part in the Festivali i këngës 2010 in December. She posted following into her facebook page, below u can see our smalltalk in Albanian, I'll translate for you into English:
Free Translation into English:
"Linda Halimi: My participation at the festivali i këngës is confirmed... But this time i'm going to take things easy and just promote my new song as the winner has been already decided (THOUGH THE FESTIVAL HASN'T KICKED OFF YET). Nevertheless, I congratulate ALBAN SKENDERAJ AND MIRIAM CANI for the first prize at the FiK 2010! :) Respect :)
Linda Halimi: I feel much respect for Miriam and Alban... but it feels very bad if you take part only to fill out a number when you actually try to achieve something... This worries all of us simple participants, not all of us are allowed to speak out. But I WILL SPEAK OUT what worries me in public.. so that it can get better in the future haha...
Arben: Is the winner really decided or is that only your opinion on the winner song as you think it's such a wonderful song?
Linda Halimi: the winner is decided.
Arben: Strong of you to go public, just go on, you have the right to!
Linda Halimi: No, it's simply not fair. It's not like I hoped to be the first place, but we only don't speak out because we dont want to loose the right to take part. It does not mean that we don't know the truth! Belive me, as a participant (if i won't withdraw) i feel bad because of the fact that I'm participating means that i am not there for nothing in the end... and if you know the winner already? Why put unnecessary effort into it. If they really feel the need for all those expenditures, they can do the SHOW also right now for the winner!
While writing, the debate has not finished on facebook:
Linda also states, that the Kënga Magjike will be the greatest Musical show that Albania has to offer in near future. At least it is a fair contest, also Top Fest belongs to those fair festivals.
"The RTSH says no artist is left in Albania to represent us to the world. Yet they do not give new artists any chance and aid for a that aim. I don't want to spend all that money for dresses, the way to Tirana etc. for nothing. People, my participation is DEFINATELY CANCELLED. I will publish my song later here. I am the only artist speaking out the truth though everyone knows it. I don't know if I ever return to that contest."
If Lindas statements turn out to be right, a comment of Irgen Dragovoja would sum the whole situation up:
"And they say new artists have to hand in the creations, songtexts, fotos just so that in the end Alban, promoting head of Vodafone wins the thing!"
IS the winner of the Festivali i kënges already DECIDED?! We'll see the outcome, have your say.
"7 people from the audience will have a guest jury role."
An article from vipat.info translated into English for you.
"Bojken Lako has already an idea in his head, how the Festivali i këngës is going to take place. While speaking out about that, he reveals the important point of a competition between 18 songs on the final night, working on it with the best festival staff.
It is known that Bojken Lako succeeds with everything he does, so that it would be uncompromising not letting him have it his own way. Asked whether he would leave his job as the producer because of disagreements, he says they do not exist. During the interview to the newspaper, Lako, who for the first time takes over the role of the producer, talks about the work done and his goals for December:
Interview by Fatmir Nikolli from 31st. Oct.
The work with the RTSH has begun, at the moment in which phase of the preparations are you?
The work started two months ago for me and Edmond Zhulali and Alfred Kaçinari, who support me. Until now we have dealt with technical realizations that the event should have. We went through the Scenography, the way we want to have the festival to be presented and by whom, the voting method etc... This year the voting procedure is going to be different. We will have two semi finals with each 14 contestants and 9 of each semi go through to the final. Two different sets of juries with each 7 voters will select the the winner. One group is the central jury and the other group are 7 people from the audience.
Concerning the stage and the presentation, do you already have an idea how it will be?
On these categories we are still working, but we think this year we will have something different. The scriptwriters this year, Iva Tico and Zefina Hasan, will try to be more communicative and down to earth this year.
We have a staff that stands very close to the artists, which gives us the possibility to make concrete and tangible performances for the audience. Bashkim Zahaj has worked seriously on a modern stage technology for this years festival. The work on that is not yet finished so that it would be too early for details now but we are working unremitting on a modern and at the same time traditional stage.
You as a filmmaker are expected to bring change to this festival, innovations...
Bojken Lako
A new director brings new professional ideas with him. I will give my best to make a professional show with a modern setting. The fact that i was invited for this job, encourages me and a confidence in the works I've done the last years. I'm the youngest to face this challenge and wish to show that the belief that was given to me can be justified.
How about the song selection, has it started?
The last day to submit a song is the 6th of November and then all songs will go through an internal selection first. But for that, Edmond Zhulali is the contact person.
You cooperate with Edmond Zhulali, Alfred Kaçinari and Bashkim Zahaj. How is a collaboration between the generations? It is not difficult, we easily unify our experiences. And even if they belong to an older generation, they work with the soul of a young one. It's a pleasure to learn from their experiences."
In a previous article we published the "Albavision Interview" with Dorina Garuci, competitor in the Albanian NF 2009 and 2010, in which she also told us about about her future musical plans. See the full interview here.
Dorina said that she was producing a videoclip to her new song "Me ty prane zemres" in the Interview, now this video has just been released and of course there is no way we wouldn't post that immediately ;)
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
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