The Biggest Eurovision Quiz Ever!

Malmö 2013 – Monday night saw the biggest Eurovision quiz ever at Moriskan. Fans in their hundreds crowded in to the fan cafe until 2am to answer 23 questions on mobile phones to be in with a chance to win tickets for the Eurovision Song Contest Final. Entertainment was provided by Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko of Albania, Linda Martin, Glen Vella and Bobby Sox!

Albania: Meet Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko

Albania – We continue with our introductions to the participants. Today’s first featured country is Albania. Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko will represent the country with the rock song ‘Identitet‘. The two individual singers have come together for Eurovision. Find out more about them both now and see what musical backgrounds they both have.

New Videos Released from Albania, Croatia, Finland and Cyprus

Eurovision 2013 – It’s been a busy day on YouTube today for Eurovision fans as four countries released their official videos.  Albania’s video sees Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko singing ‘Identitet‘, Croatia have issued the video by Klapa s Mora performing ‘Mižerja‘ and Finland’s Krista Siegfrids goes down the aisle in her video for ‘Marry Me‘. Cyprus have just released theirs too. Watch them all online now:

Albania: Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko to Malmö!

Albania - The 51st edition of Festival i Këngës came to an end after a very long final that saw 17 finalists battle for the title and therefore the ticket to represent the Balkan nation to the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Malmö. In the end, it was a duett made of Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko that won with the song “Identitet“. Find out more!

Tonight: Albania’s Final

Albania - Tonight, the Albanian broadcaster RTSH will host Festival i Kengës 51′s grand final from the Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana. Eighteen songs will be performed and the winner will get a ticket for Malmö, home of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.

Tonight: Albania’s Second Semifinal!

Albania - Tonight, the Albanian broadcaster RTSH will host Festival i Kengës 51′s second semifinal from the Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana. Thirteen songs will be performed and only 8 will make it to the final to be held on Saturday 22nd of December.

Tonight: Albania’s First Semifinal!

Albania - The Albanian broadcaster RTSH will host Festival i Kengës 51′s first semifinal from the Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana. Thirteen songs will be performed and only 8 will make it to the final to be held on Saturday 22nd of December.

Albania: Full Line-up Revealed

Albania - The Albanian broadcaster RTSH has revealed today the full line-up for the semifinals of the upcoming Festival i Kengës, to be held on December 20th and 21st, in the Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana. With thirteen songs in each, whose titles have been revealed, the full running order has been published as well.

Albania: 26 Artists Revealed

Albania – The Albanian broadcaster, RTSH, yesterday revealed the names of 26 artists who are to compete in its Festivali i Kenges to choose a representative for ESC 2013. Two names may be familiar to Eurovision fans, as they are previous Eurovision entrants: Anjeza Shahini (2004) and Kesji Tola (2009).  The national final will take place 20-22 December 2012. Here are the entrants:

Albania: RTSH Calls for Songs

  Albania – The Albanian national broadcaster RTSH has called for songs for its traditional song festival Festivali i Kenges. The festival will be held at the end of this year and will decide on the successor of Rona Nishliu as Albanian representative in Eurovision. All interested musicians may submit one song in CD format to the national broadcaster. A professional jury will chose a certain number of songs to compete in the Festival i Kenges.

Voting Analysis 2012 (3): Who Voted for Albania and Estonia?

  Voting Analysis – Two ballads, two small countries. Albania achieved its best result a week ago, when Rona Nishliu came 5th. Estonia repeated their good place from Moscow and came 6th. Both entries were entirely performed in the national language. But who voted for the two entries? And why?

Albania: No Eurovision Broadcast on Day of Mourning?

Albania – Yesterday a bus filled with university students plunged 80 metres (260 ft) off a cliff. near the town of Himara in Qafa e Vishës, Albania about 220km (137 miles) south of the capital Tirana. At least 12 students have been killed in the tradgedy. The Government of Albania with an order of president Berisha declared a national day of mourning Tuesday, with flags at half-mast and public television Radio Televizioni Shqiptar broadcasting classical music. In this context it seems unlikely that Albania will broadcast the first semi-final tonight. RTSH has not revealed

Albania: Shortened Version and Video Released

Albania – Albania’s song, ‘Suus‘ by Rona Nishliu, has been shortened to fit the Eurovision Song Contest’s three minute rule. The promotional video for this version can now be viewed online here. The song was written by Rona herself and composed by Florent Boshnjaku. Rona came to fame in Albania via their version of Idol in 2004.

Albania: Suus Stays in Albanian

  Albania – As it the tradition with Albanian entries, Suus by Rona Nishliu will be released in a remastered and improved version in the coming weeks. Nishliu flew to Los Angeles last week to record the new version of her Eurovision entry “Suus”. It has been reported that the song, as opposed to other Albanian entries will stay in its Albanian original. However, a new, more dramatic orchestration was recorded and African drums added to the song.

Albania Sends Rona Nishliu and “Suus” to Eurovision

  Albania – Rona Nishliu has just won the Albanian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with her ballad “Suus“. She got 12 points from 5 of the judges, the other two awarded her 10 and 7 points. She was thus the runaway winner of the 50th edition of Festivali i Kenges and will be the 10th Albanian entrant at a Eurovision Song Contest. She also won the award for the best interpretation. Elton Deda  came second to Rona with his song Kristal.

LIVE: Albania Decides – The Final of Festivali i Këngës 2011

  Albania – Tonight the grand final of the traditional  Festivali i Këngës will be held in Tirana. The festival, which is also the countries’ selection method for the Eurovision Song Contest, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Tonight a total of 20 artists will compete for the honor of representing the Balkan country at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Baku. A jury will determine the winner.

Poll: The Albanian National Final – Your Favourite in Festivali i Këngës

  Albania – Last night another ten artists qualified for the final of the traditional Festivali i Këngës, which also functions as the Albanian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012. A total of twenty songs will thus compete for the honor of flying the Albanian flag in Baku. The public has no say in the outcome as a jury of experts will determine the result. Here you can vote for your favourite though:

Albania: Ten More Qualifiers

  Albania – Tonight the second semi-final of the traditional  Festivali i Këngës was held in Tirana. The festival which is also the countries’ selection method for the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Tonight a total of 14 artists competed for ten places in the national final to be held on Thursday. A jury determined which entries will qualify. Here is the result:

LIVE: Second Semi-Final of Festivali i Këngës in Albania

  Albania – Tonight the second semi-final of the traditional  Festivali i Këngës will be held in Tirana. The festival which is also the countries’ selection method for the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Tonight a total of 14 artists will compete for ten places in the national final to be held on Thursday. A jury will determine which entries will qualify.

Albania: The First Qualifiers at Festivali i Këngës

  Albania – Tonight the first semi-final of the traditional  Festivali i Këngës was held in Tirana. The festival which is also the countries’ selection method for the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Tonight a total of 14 artists competed for ten places in the national final to be held on Thursday. A jury determined which entries qualified. Here they are:

Albania: First Semi-Final of Festivali i Këngës

  Albania – Tonight the first semi-final of the traditional  Festivali i Këngës will be held in Tirana. The festival which is also the countries’ selection method for the Eurovision Song Contest celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Tonight a total of 14 artists will compete for eight places in the national final to be held on Thursday. A jury will determine which entries qualify.

Albania: Details about Festivali i Këngës Revealed

  Albania – The participants of the third night of the 50th anniversary edition of the popular Festivali i Këngës which will be held from December 26 to December 29 has been revealed. Usually the festival consists of 2 semi-finals and a final but an additional day has been added to celebrate the competition’s 50 years of history. This third show will be purely nostalgic and many former winners will perform their entries including Aurela Gaçe. Here is the full list of participants:

Albania: Samanta Favourite to Win Festivali i Këngës 2011

  Albania – The Albanian national final will take place in a weeks time and one of the hot favourites to fly the Albanian flag in Azerbaijan next May is Samanta. There will be 28 acts in the 50th Festivali i Këngës. According to Albanian newspapers, Samanta and Elton Deda are hot favourites to become the 9th representative for Albania. 

Albania: Song Titles Revealed

  Albania – Today, the Albanian national broadcaster RTSH revealed the titels and composers of all entries for their national final. The 50th anniversary edition of the popular Festivali i Këngës will be held from December 26 to December 29. Usually the festival consists of 2 semi-finals and a final but an additional day has been added to celebrate the competition’s 50 years of history. Many former winners will perform their winning songs once again.

Albania: Running Order for Festival i Këngës

Albania – The running order of the two semi-finals of the 50th anniversary edition of the popular Festivali i Këngës which will be held from December 26 to December 29 has been revealed. Usually the festival consists of 2 semi-finals and a final but an additional day has been added to celebrate the competition’s 50 years of history. Many former winners will perform their winning songs once again. Here is the running order:

Albania: Rehearsals Begin for Festivali i Këngës

Albania – Today rehearsals have started for the Albanian national final, which is confirmed to be held on 29th December 2011. The RTSH Symphony Orchestra, consisting of 52 professional musicians, have started rehearsals of  the 28 competing songs at the broadcaster’s studios today. In the last two weeks before the competition, the orchestra will rehearse in the Pallati i Kongreseve, where the show will be held.

Albania: More Details On National Final

Albania - RTSH has revealed more information about the 50th edition of Festivali i Këngës, since the 2003 edition of the annual music festival as well the Albanian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest.

As previously stated, two semi-finals with 14 songs in each semi-final and one final with a so far unknon number of participants will be held, with one night with the most memorable FiK-winners. RTSH revealed the dates for the events:

Albania: No More Jurors at Festivali i Këngës

  Albania – The Albanian national broadcaster RTSH has announced today that the 50th anniversary edition (the logo is from last year) of the popular Festivali i Këngës will be held from December 26 to December 29, 2011 in Tirana. Usually the festival consists of 2 semi-finals and a final but an additional day has been added to celebrate the competition’s 50 years of history. The winner of the festival, who will also represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, will  be

Albania: Listen To “Feel The Passion”

Albania - The new revamped and English version of the Albanian Eurovision entry “Feel The Passion” has just been released. Aurela Gace had won the “Festival I Kenges” in December with the Albanian version of the song called “Kenga Ime”. After her victory, she flew to Los Angeles and worked with renowned American music producers to revamp her song. You can listen to the new version below: