Aurela Gaçe for Albania 2011

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

Tonight: The Albanian National Final 2011: The Festivali i kenges 49

Tonight we are going to know who will represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Germany.
From each semifinal 9 artists qualified for the final tonight and compete for the trophy.
The show will start approximately at 20:20 pm CET and be aired on RTSH and RTSH2. Whether webcasts or streams will be available is not sure at this moment.

The hosts

Jonida Maliqi, Josif Gjipali and Mirela Naska are going to host the third night again and Juliana Pasha is going to be the special guest tonight.

Below you can see the participants in the final:
 (click on artist for profile/ on song for songtext)
From semi 1
1. DORIAN NINI - Miresevini ne Shqiperi
2. MARSIDA SARACI - Vetem s'jemi ne bote
3. DORINA GARUCI - Mirembrema engjelli im
4. ORGES TOCE - Mari
5. KAMELA ISLAMAJ - Jetova per ty
6. A.SKENDERAJ&M.CANI - Ende ka shprese
7. HERSIANA MATMUJA - Me cilin rri ti dashuri
8. SELAMI KOLONJA - Enderr Kosove
9. MARIA PRIFTI - Pasuri e pasurive (Newcomer group) 

From semi  2
1. BESA KOKEDHIMA -E Bukura Dhe Bisha
2. DENIS HASA -  Mbi Xhaketën Time
3. GOLDI HALILI -Në Krahët E Tua
4. FRANCESK RADI  -  Kemi Dasëm'o
5. AURELA GACE -Kënga Ime
6. XHEJSI JORGAQI  -Rastësi
7. ENKELEJDA ARIFI  -  Një Dashuri
8. SAIMIR BRAHO  -Shtegëtar I Jetës Sime
9. A.XHEPA & S.JAUPAJ  -  Dritë  (Newcomer group) 
____________________________________________

Win: Top5-prediction competition

Now it's your turn: Send us your top 5 prediction to albavision@live.com and win one of our tickets for the Festivali i kenges as a souvenir, if you had the most precise prediction. The winner will be announced tomorrow along with our prediction and contacted afterwards. Email must be sent before the announcement of the jury votes in the final.

Win one festivali i kenges 49 invitation in red , blue or golden

Semi 2: disappointing results

The second semi final ended and we are satisfied with the songs in this semi, but not with all the qualifiers or better all non-qualifiers.
Marieta Billo, who had a great ballad, was not amongst the qualifiers, and also Kejsi Tola, who (to be fair) had a rather mediocore song, but still good enough for a second listen in this line up, did not make it into the final. So the audience needed some moments to realised that all quaslifiers were alreadz announced as they were awaited to make it.
Especially Marieta. She had the  audience on her side, which made us feel she would have actually chances of winning the whole thing, if there was televoting, so once again: Screw juries...

Nevertheless below are the 9 qualifiers. After listening to all the songs on youtube, please vote in our new poll for your favourite.

Besa Kokedhima- “E bukura dhe bisha”
Denis Hasa- “Mbi xhaketën time”
Goldi Halili- “Në krahët e tua”
Françesk Radi- “Kemi dasem`o”
Aurela Gaçe- “Kënga ime”
Xhejsi Jorgaqi- “Rastësi”
Enkelejda Arifi- “Nje Dashuri”
Saimir Braho- “Shtegëtar i jetës time"
Albi Xhepa & Sam Jaupaj - "Dritë"

Tonight: second semifinal of the festivali i këngës në RTSH

After the first 19 songs in the first semi final yesterday, tonights the second half is fighting for the 9 spots left in the final. The first semifinal started at 8:20 pm, so around that time you can expect the beginning of this semifinal, too. The participants tonight are:

Semi Final 2 – Friday, 24th December

(click on artist for profile - click on song for lyrics)

“VIP” Category
01. Adhurim Demiri – “24 Orët”
02. Besa Kokëdhima – “E bukura dhe bisha”
03. Emi Bodgo – “Letër për ty”
04. Denis Hasa – “Mbi xhaketën time”
05. Kujtim Prodani – “Ti Ishe Kryëveper”
06. Goldi Halili – “Në krahët e tua”
07. Marjeta Billo – “Përjetësi”
08. Francesk Radi – “Kemi dasem'o”
09. Aurela Gaçe – “Kënga ime”
10. Heldi Kraja – “E diela pa ty”
11. Sonila Mara – “Egoist”
12. Mateus Frroku – “Dimër në shpirt”
13. Xhejsi Jorgaqi – “Rastesi”
14. Enkelejda Arifi – “Një dashuri”
15. Kejsi Tola – “Prane”
16. Saimir Braho – “Shtegëtar i jetës time”

“Newcomers” Category
01. Albi Xhepa & Sam Jaupaj – “Dritë”
02. Bledi Polena – "Të jemi të dy"

03. Rudina Delija – “Tek ti gjeta dashurinë”



After Semi-final one

We are back from the first Semifinal of the Festivali i kenges and we are very sorry to see that there was no webcast available in the internet. :(

We hoped to see the first videos online on youtube when we would be back already, but not even that, a shame that not one albanian here or someone getting rtsh through satellite was able to stream it and we seem to be very lucky to have been here, otherwise we would have been without anything tonight aswell.

What can we tell then:

There was none song of which we would think had winning chances at the ESC, but there were enough which would surely make the final in Düsseldorf. Luckily our 7 favourites were amongst the 9 qualifiers:

Tonight: First semifinal of the festivali i këngës në RTSH

Tonight's the night we have been waiting and blogging for. The festivali i këngës starts once again. Our invitations say to be present at 8, the first semifinal will begin at 8:30-9:00 pm CET. Below you can have a look at tonight's competiting singers:

(click on artist for profile - click on song for lyrics)

“VIP” category

01. Selami Kolonja – “Marmara”
02. Miriam Cani & Alban Skënderaj – “Ende ka shpresë”
03. Orges Toce – “Mari”
04. Kamela Islami – “Jetova për ty”
05. Blerina Shalari – “Lutjes apo dashurisë”
06. Ernis Cili – “Famë”
07. Dorian Nini – “Mirë se vini në Shqipëri”
08. Edmond Mancaku – “Dashuri pas emrit”
09. Ardita Tusha – "Dikur besoja"
10. Klajdi Musabelli – “Vetëm ti”
11. Evans Rama – "Sonte"
12. Dorina Garuci – “Mirëmbrëma ëngjëlli im”
13. Herciana Matmuja – “Me cilin rri ti dashuri”
14. Agim Poshka – "Bota.com.vetmi"
15. Marsida Saraçi – “Vetëm s'jemi në botë"
16. Entela Zhula – “Lojë në dashuri”

“Newcomers” category
01. Ilir Karaferi – “Nuk je këtu”
02. Maria Prifti – “Pasuri e pasurive”
03. Megi Laska – ” Ëndrrat ekzistojnë”'

8 from the VIP and 2 from the Newcomer section will pass to the final

Jury: According to esctoday.com the jury members in the VIP category are:
Aleksandër Peçi

Edison Miso
David Tukiçi
Manjola Nallbani
Robert Radoja
Artan Minarolli
Edmond Tullumani 
 
The jury to choose the Newcomer winner comsist of:
Gerta Heta
Jerida Sakaj
Andi Islami
Evis Trebicka
Suada Braho

Webstream: The usual links from the last years (which are also posted by the big ESC pages) are all not working at the moment, so we hope for you they will until tonight.
Our recommendation: Visit escdaily.com tonight, they said to be streaming live on their page tonight.

Guests: The Turkish group MaNga which finished second in Oslo in ESC is tonight's guest. Below you can see the trailer for tonight, brought to you by AlbaVision.

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.

Live: "Day 3 - Their faces everywhere"

Now that it's only two days to the first semifinal you can see them everywhere in Tirana, the participants of the

Television
Just turn on the TV and watch RTSH and you get tons of Festivali i kenges material worth recording. If I had known that before... Interviews with participants (from what I've seen: Francesk Radi, Marsida Saraci, Kujtim Prodani), and loads of advertising. I was able to film one with the cam (at least a long bit of it) and will upload it later onto our Youtube channel and then insert in the next article for you. Hope I get to film the other advertisement too.

Live
My intuition to just eat at the nearest restaurant located at the Pallati i Kongreseve paid off: I met Frederik Ndoci, the Albanian representative in Helsinki in 2007 and the Prifti brothers , who regularly take part in the Festivali i kenges. This year Ndoci is composing the song for Maria Prifti, who participates in the "Newcomer" category. They were kind enough for a photo with each of them :) (Photos on our facebook channel)

Internet
Also the internet had become a media of the FiK stars. So did Aurela Gace revamp her official website and gave an interview to vipat.info in which she states that she decided to take part in the FiK after 9 years because the song she got proposed by composer Shpetim Saraçi stuck in her head after she got to listen to the demo version. Actually she did not want to take part and take that Song for her next album, but Saraci told her: You will get the song only if you perform it at the FiK, otherwise not. This argument made Aurela take part again and now that she's in she has dreams of taking part at the ESC again, a dream that would have already become true in 2001 when she won the FiK, if Albania had debuted in that year.

Tomorrow more from Albania :D

Profile #7: Enkelejda Arifi

Only 2 days from now and the Festivali i këngës starts. 

Until then, we would like to present you the most interesting participants. Their careers, former participations and relations to the Festivali i këngës and the Eurovision Songcontest, their teams behind the song and our view on their chances of success in the National Final. We are reporting live from Tirana and the Pallati i kongreseve (More info here). 


Singer: Enkelejda Arifi
Composer: Adrian Hila
Text: Pandi Laço
Song: Nje dashuri (One love)
Draw: Semi final 2, number 14

Profile: Enkelejda is a known South Albanian singer, who sings mostly folk songs in the Tosk dialect of South Albania and the region çameria.

This year: Her participation at the festivali i kenges is a bit surprising, indeed. But what is more surprising is the the team that composed her song, which is no other than A.Hila and P.Laço, who composed the Albanian ESC songs in 2005, 2007 and 2008.

What is to be expected?: Enkelejda sings a song of the most successful composer team of the recent years. We know that Hila and Paço are able of creating wonderful songs and they know who they pick for their songs. Especially when deciding to let Enkelejda sing their newest composition, we can await a folk song that may touch many Albanians musical and lyrical wise. After the success with Olta Boka though, their compositions haven't placed that high in FiK anymore (I wouldn't say the songs have become worse). Juries seemed to take a little "time-out" of their songs. We believe that this year the Hila/Laço team has a real chance of placing high again, as enough time has passed now and they are not seen as the eternal winners of the FiK anymore, which may influence the jury's votes to the better again.

Songs:
One of her most famous songs - Mall per Camerine

Live: Day 2 in Tirana, 3 days to Semi 1

This is the second daily report from Tirana, FiK 2010 is even closer now.Read the first day's review here.

The RTSH building once again
After a little walk through the streets of Tirana, I've been heading to the RTSH building another time. Instead of a policeman there was the ticket sale right behind the entrance of the building this time. I asked for tickets for all three nights, but again I was informed that I could only buy tickets for the first two nights. To my question, why he does not sell tickets for the final he replied that these (tickets for Night 1&2) are the ones he was given to sell by RTSH and does not have more information. I should try and ask the secretary about that, he added.

Invitations: Tickets for Semifinal one and two

The seats
A look on the backside of the tickets told us about our sitting location. In both nights we (Ole and Arben) are going to be sitting on the ground floor, only some rows away from the stage, which is very satisfying. I was told that the seats we own are located central, too. I hope it turns out to be true. The better place we get, the better photos/videos will you get, obviously.

Tickets for the final?
Next to the RTSH (RadioTelevizioniSHqiptar) building, there is the TVSH (TeleVizionSHqiptar) building, which is nothing else than one sector of the RTSH. I asked for tickets for the final in this building, telling them I did not get them in the RTSH building. The reception seemed to be quite sure that tickets for the final are also being sold there. His advice: To just try again on 22nd December, they are probably selling only tickets to the semis first, to get them sold out. Meanwhile I have contacted someone on facebook about the final ticket story, who told me to help me out with it ;). Who it is I will tell you an other day :D

You also wish to see the FiK?
If you want to come to Tirana this year or whenever, I can tell you the prize for semi final tickets are 500 lek (=3,57Euro) each. The final tickets cost 2000 lek (14,29Euro) according to the TVSH reception.
If you wish to see the Festivali i kenges from your computer: We are going to serve with a stream on this page if things work out as planned. If not you will not find any link to other streams from us, as these links would be spread out too much and make the few servers who provide a stream at the moment crash and the REAL FiK fans who have found or will find a link on their own (if you don't find a link pm us for personal interest).

Profile #6: Kejsi Tola

Only 3 days from now and the Festivali i këngës starts. 

Until then, we would like to present you the most interesting participants. Their careers, former participations and relations to the Festivali i këngës and the Eurovision Songcontest, their teams behind the song and our view on their chances of success in the National Final.We are reporting live from Tirana and the Pallati i kongreseve (More info here). 

Today it's the former ESC participants turn:
Singer:Kejsi Tola
Composer: Kristi Popa
Text:Florian Zyka
Song: Pranë (Near/Close)
Draw: Semi final 2, number 15

Profile: Kejsi Tola won the Albanian Idol format "Ethet" three years ago, right after her success in that show she managed to win the Festivali i këngës 2008 with "Më merr në ëndërr", a composition of Edmond Zhulali, who had also composed the song of Flaka Krelani and Doruntina Disha a year before, finishing "only" second behind Olta Boka, thanks to Alban Skenderaj's jury votes. Kejsi had the audience on her side and this time the jury made Edmond Zhulali win again since 2003, when his composition "Imazhi yt" for Anjeza Shahini made it to Istanbul. Kejsi finished 11th in Moscow, if we only count the televotes. The juries had her on 22th place and she ended up 17th.

This year: After starting studying Kejsi first stated to not take part in the Festivali i këngës in the near future, as she had to concentrate on the studies. It seems she realized that you have enough time as a student. More importantly, she competes with a song by Kristi Popa. Now this is getting interesting, as he's the guarantee for a magical song. His previous compositions for Mariza Ikonomi and Kamela Islami, made their fan bases grow abruptly.

What is to be expected?:You all know of Kejsi's powerful voice. This in combination with Kristi Popa? At least I can feel awesomeness by now, without listening to the song. Even if Kejsi had already won in recent time, she does actually have chances, depending on the song she was given. Maybe the dark horse in this competition. I'm strongz praying Popa does not let us down.


Songs:
 Carry me in your dreams (ESC 2009)

 Ndonjëherë (live at FiK 2009)

Click to read the other profiles

Live: First day in Tirana

Hello, this is Arben from Tirana calling.
As promoted before, the team of AlbaVision starts reporting live from Tirana now.

Arrival
I arrived at 1 p.m. today and after checking in to our hotel, which is only 2 streets away from the Pallati i kongreseve where the Festivali i kenges takes places annually, I headed for the Pallati for tickets. In front of the At the RTSH building a policeman (he was kind enough to appear in the photo I shot below) reminded me that it is sunday and tickets are not on sale today.

Albanian Flag - RTSH building - Festivali poster: Yeah, we arrived.

Shocking news
But he confirmed one more thing to us, tickets for the Festivali i kenges Final can not be bought. It seems like you really need to be invited for the final. Tickets for the first two nights are available. I guess we didn't travel all the way from Germany/Norway to not be in the final. We will somehow find our way in and tell you here how we managed to.

Articles from Tirana
Until Wednesday we are without net-book, which means we have to write from an Internet-Cafe. But that won't be a big problem. This was our first Live-report from Tirana. We are ready for the Festivali to come, I hope you are to. We hope to manage to deliver you with interesting and exclusive material from Tirana. Let's see what this week's gonna bring to us and you.

Lyrics for Besa's "E bukura dhe bisha"

One of the big favourites to win FiK this year, Besa Kokëdhima, has released the lyrics of her song E bukura dhe bisha on Facebook today. Besa will perform in the second semi final, as number 2. You can read our profile of Besa HERE.

Verse 1:
Ti, do durosh dhe pak?
Jepja ditët, bishës prapë, por mos qaj
Qesh, a ndihesh e gjallë?
Mbi mavi, ylberin zbraz, pendim nuk ka

Një fëmijë po të lut dhe një vajzë të kërkon
Loti u struk, mishi u rrudh dhe e sotmja t’harroi
Të shpëtosh, ke një derë por ti dot s’e arrin
Se je e mpirë

Refrain 1:
Dashuri nuk ka, dashuri do
Ai shkel mbi plagë, ti i ledhaton
A vlen jeta, kur ti e mohon?
A mos ke faj dhe ti?
Pranon të rrish në frikë?

Refrain 2:
Dashuri nuk ka, dashuri do
Ai shkel mbi plagë, ti I ledhaton
A vlen shpirti, kur nuk e dëgjon
S’e di përse, përse
Me terrin ne shtrat fle

Verse 2:
Nën kuvertë, endrra thurr, kur ai nuk te sheh
Dita nis, dielli del, iluzionin rigjen
Nje unazë, një portret, një betim të mbërthen
Kthim mbrapa s’ke

Syri s’sheh, trupi dhemb, fjala veshin lëndon
Një ditë vjen, një ditë shkon, frika heshtjen pushton
Pak durim, edhe pak, derisa vdekja t’ju ndajë,
E lirë në varr...

Se di përse, përse
Ti forcën dot nuk gjen...

Ref I x 1

Ref II x 1

News from the Orient

The Turkish Band "MaNga", that finished second this year at the Eurovision Songcontest is going to be one of the guests at the Festivali i këngës next week. They said to be performing on the first evening, which means on the first semifinal on 23rd December. Earlier we already knew about Juliana Pasha being one of the guest appearances at FiK 2010. MaNga is therefore the second guest act to be announced.

Yesterday, it has been the 5th semifinal show in the Azeri National Final. From each semi final one candidate is voted into the final. The format first searches for voices and afterwards for the right song, just like winning country Germany did for this years ESC. The winner of yesterdays semi final heat, Aynishan Gulijeva, made it into the final with her interpretation of "Carry me into your dreams", Albania's competing song at the ESC 2009.

Whether her vocal skills and performance can reach Kejsi is discutable, but her English skills don't reach out by far. Make up your own opinion below. By the way, here you can see another participant in the Azeri NF singing Juliana Pasha's "It's all about you".