Albania – Tonight Albania will be the second country to determine their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. The final of the 49th Festivali i Këngës will start tonight at 20:30 CET. Over the last two days 18 artists qualified from the two semi-finals and are now vying for the right to fly the Albanian flag in Düsseldorf. The Festival is one of the longest-standing traditional music competitions in Albania and since Albania’s debut in 2004 also functions as their national final for Eurovision. A jury of experts will decide which song and performance will win the ticket to Düsseldorf.
A webcast will be available here (20:30 CET)
This is the list of participants:
• Selami Kolonja – Ëndërr Kosovë
• Miriam Cani & Alban Skenderaj – Ende ka shpresë
• Dorina Garuci – Mirëmbrëma ëngjëlli im
• Orges Toçe – Mari
• Kamela Islami – Jetova për ty
• Marsida Saraçi – Vetëm s’jemi në botë
• Dorian Nini – Mirësevini në Shqipëri
• Hersiana Matmuja – Me cilin rri ti dashuri
• Maria Prifti – Pasuri e pasurive (newcomer)
• Besa Kokëdhima – E bukura dhe bisha
• Saimir Braho – Shtegëtar i jetës time
• Enkelejda Arifi – Një dashuri
• Denis Hasa – Mbi xhaketën time
• Goldi Halili – Në krahët tua
• Françesk Radi – Kemi dasëm’ o
• Xhejsi Jorgaqi – Rastësi
• Aurela Gaçe – Kënga ime
• Albi Xhepa & Sam Jaupaj – Dritë (newcomer)
Source= ESCtoday, resources
I’ve managed to listen to a few more songs on Dailymotion and truly think that the best songs hail from the first semi. For me the best stuff that I’ve heard (I havent’ heard it all, mind you) is in random order:
Kamela Islami – Jetova për ty
Marsida Saraçi – Vetëm s’jemi në botë
Dorian Nini – Mirësevini në Shqipëri
Maria Prifti – Pasuri e pasurive
Orges Toçe – Mari
Besa Kokëdhima – E bukura dhe bisha
Saimir Braho – Shtegëtar i jetës time
Atm, I am leaning towards Kamela or Marsida. Good luck to all participants and may the best act win!
P.S.: the songs are nothing to write home about, but the vocal performances have been above average. Well done, Albanian singers.
Here’s hoping the live streaming is working this evening!