Review: Albania | Albina & Familja Kelmendi | Duje

 

Albania

Artist: Albina and Familja Kelmendi

Song: Duje

As usual, Albania made an early claim for Eurovision glory after Albina and Familja Kelmendi won the televote at Festivali i Këngës 61, the country's national annual music competition, just before Christmas last year. Their song is Duje (Love It) which they will perform in the second half of the second semi-final on May 11.

In many ways, Duje is what we have come to expect from Albania. With a couple of notable exceptions, the country tends to provide angst-ridden vocals by a female artist seemingly on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Given those parameters - to an extent -  this song does not disappoint.

Viewing the video from the national final, Albina clearly does not look happy for the first third of the song. Not sure why as my Albanian is not up to scratch. Nevertheless, she is certainly making an impassioned plea until her older family members join in with a more soothing take on proceedings. For a while it all gets a little Partridge Family, but then the distinctive ethnic Albanian instrumentation kicks in.

For me, this is what always distinguishes the Albanian entries from the rest of the pack. Particularly this song, which uses that instrumentation to great effect, counterbalancing the forcefulness of much of the vocal.

Those vocals first came to prominence as a product of The Voice franchise, Albina having taken part in that competition in 2014.  There's no arguing she has pipes and her song will undoubtedly appeal to the Balkan audience. Assuming Duje remains in Albanian (it should), one wonders how much interest there will be from the wider European public?

Personally, I fear the song might find it difficult to move forward from its semi-final. I may be wrong, but it's fair to say that it may fight to gain widespread appeal.

What do you think?

Albania: Anxhela Peristeri | Karma

Albania

Artist: Anxhela Peristeri

Song: Karma

Semi Final 2: Second Half

Eurovision wouldn't be Eurovision without a dramatic ballad or ten, preferably sung at top volume by a woman accompanied by a dance troupe of worryingly clad beefcake. On that front, the highly attractive Anxhela Peristeri and her Festivali i Këngës staging more than delivered back in December. Albania's song is called Karma and our buxom Anxhela manages to belt out the high notes with all the subtlety of a police siren on a council estate.

 

However, the song is cleverly constructed around some big moments - both instrumentally and visually. Before ramping up to the final agonising chorus, the song begins serenely with hints of Eastern promise. It builds slowly to an instrumental mid section where Anxhela is thrown around on stage like a rag doll by said beefcake who are dressed in what must have been an end of season job lot of gold lamé.

Whether that FiK staging (see here) will make the journey to Rotterdam remains a mystery, but the original mix of Karma certainly won't. There have been some slight changes to the song, mostly to the instrumentation, since it was first performed. Nevertheless, Anxhela has the vocals to fill the Eurovision stage in May, easily good enough to suck up a few fortuitous votes. 

Great vocals and big lungs, though, will probably not help her in what has become a relatively strong semi-final, competing with the likes of  pre-competition favourites such as Switzerland, San Marino, Iceland and Greece. It's always possible that Karma may score enough points to scrape into the Top 10 but I fear that this typically melodramatic power ballad from Albania will miss the cut.

What do you think?

  

 

2019: Albania | Jonida Maliqi | Ktheju Tokës

Jonida Maliqi to represent Albania in Tel Aviv

The Eurovision season has officially kicked off with Albania providing the first of the competition's 42 entries for 2019 courtesy of the country's annual songfest, Festivali i Këngës.

FiK saw some changes to its evergreen setup this year with the lucky semi-finalists presenting their songs on the second night in a more Eurovision-friendly format, having otherwise performed with the traditional orchestra.

For a nation with a rather modest Eurovision track record, Albania has had an admirable run of dynamic songs - albeit voters do not consistently rate them. Whether this year's winner will find favour is up for debate but Jonida Maliqi will take her entry Ktheju Tokës to Israel with high hopes.

Jonida is something of a FiK pro, having taken part in the festival at an early age on several occasions during the 1990s. Her previous best result came in 1999, placing second with Do jetoj pa ty (I'll Live Without You). Her influences seem to be folk-inspired pop, though with ethnic flourishes and the usual wailing over a prominent back beat.

In some ways, Albania feels as if it has taken a step backwards with this entry. After the more contemporary rock offering from Eugent Bushpepa earlier in the year, the nation has reverted to type by delivering yet another anguished solo female singer as its representative.

That's not to say that all is grim in the Albanian camp. Jonida has an obviously imposing stage presence - particularly in the presentation of this song - along with an impressive vocal ability.

The problem is that Ktheju Tokës is unlikely to have wide appeal outside of its target audience i.e. the Balkan region. It is reported that the song will not be given an English makeover (good thing), so the impact of its lyrical content about emigration and the difficulties with leaving one's homeland will presumably be lost to most listeners. 

It remains to be seen whether Ktheju Tokës will receive a (usual) revamp into a more accessible arrangement for Eurovision. Whatever happens, Jonida will have to rely on the strength of the melody - as well as the staging which looks to be based on a contemporary dance routine. For me, there's just a little too much angst and howling in its present form.

Consequently, its capacity for success is difficult to really judge – it is early days and the song could well sound somewhat different by the time it reaches Tel Aviv. While it’s a provocative composition, I suspect it does not possess that killer hook to attract a broad spectrum of voters. However, it will surely stand out against the host of dance tunes and more predictable ballads contending for the title in May.

As much as it would be great to see Albania win the crown at some point, my hunch is that 2019 is unlikely to be their year.

Can Albania qualify again?

Albania 

Artist: Jonida Maliqi

Song:  Ktheju Tokës

Semi-Final: 2 | Second Half

Eurovision 2018: Albania: Eugent Bushpepa: Mall

Eugent Bushpepa will represent Albania at Eurovision 2018

The first steps on the long road to Lisbon 2018 have officially been taken as Albania traditionally  becomes the first country to determine its song for Eurovision. Of course, their method of selection held no surprises: the long established domestic music gala, Festivali i Këngës. This year the winner is Eugent Bushpepa with his own composition, Mall.

His victory followed two nights of eliminations and an interminably long final which felt as if it was made up as it went along. Although, obviously, there was an undeniable language barrier, the event seemed to contain more pratfalls than the present American administration. Cue unnecessary Harvey Weinstein remarks and stumbling fashion models who read autocues as if they were taking part in a poorly rehearsed school production.

Thankfully, though, much of the music that was scattered amongst all of that fun was nevertheless pleasing to the ear. Fourteen entries were represented and Bushpepa had already become one of the favourites among Eurovision fans, even garnering the most views on YouTube before he performed on the Congress Palace stage.

The track is a shift from the poorly performing female angst-driven ballads of recent years. Albania will now be hoping that Bushpepa's angst-driven power pop composition will at least see them out of the semi-final.

At the moment, however, the track runs over the required three minute limit by around ninety seconds, so a major revamp is required - not only to the song but also to the presentation which appears much too static.

That's not the only problem. While Bushpepa (great name, by the way) seems totally relatable and his vocals are reliable, Mall feels as if it has been snatched from the 1980s. It's punchy and different to what Albania has sent to the Contest over the past few years, but sounds like a guitar-driven ballad from around thirty years ago. Think John Farnham's You're the Voice and you won't be far from imagining how Mall is put together.

How will it do in the Contest? At the moment, it is way too early to say. There's nothing to compare it to and Albanian contestants have a habit of totally revamping their entry - which this one needs anyway - so it could sound wholly different by the spring. Hopefully, no English re-imagining.

However, it doesn't have an instant hook in its present form and this rock ballad genre generally doesn't compete well against the more obvious dance-pop entries. I'll await the update, but right now it doesn't feel like a qualifier.

Eurovision 2017: Albania: Lindita Halimi: Botë

Lindita Halimi to sing for Albania

The 2017 season of the Eurovision Song Contest has kicked off with Albania once again becoming the first country to choose its entry. Although it missed the final last year, the country has chosen yet another solo female artist as its representative.

27-year-old Lindita is a veteran of music and vocal competitions, having participated in Albania's version of Idol, in addition to the internal TV contest Top Fest  which she won in 2009. A brief spell of popularity in the US appears on her CV as well, thanks to her appearance in the later stages of the last series of American Idol.

Botë  marks Lindita's second attempt at winning Festivali i Këngës - the Albanian route to Eurovision glory - with the song following the (almost) exclusive tradition of Albania sending an overblown melodramatic ballad to the Eurovision stage. Lindita doesn't disappoint with the delivery: the song requires a powerful vocal and a showstopping stage performance and that is exactly what she provides. It impressed enough of the jurors, topping the scoreboard by a spectacular margin at the 55th staging of the show.

But what of its chances in Kiev in May? As it stands, Eurovision voters have generally been unimpressed by the vocal gymnastics of the Albanian entries. Granted, they have all been very good singers, but most of the songs have not been memorable for the right reasons.

At the moment, Botë  has very little of a hook to draw in the listener on its first play. However, there promises to be some significant changes to the song by the time it is performed in the first semi-final on May 9. Amongst them is a revision of the lyrics to English. This change usually offers little middle ground of opinion: it's either a definite help or a miserable hindrance. At the moment, we can only wait with bated breath for the end result.

The same could be said of its musical backing. Festivali i Këngës  provides a full live orchestra, but there will be no such lavish production in Kiev. Hopefully, the Albanian team's overhaul will give us something much more edgy and modern.

Could it qualify? Right now, it's all speculation in its present form. Lindita looks good and is obviously used to the big stage, so no problem there. The song's future really depends on the quality of the other national final winners and its own update.

Nevertheless, the song seems to have very marginal appeal to progress any further.

6/10

Live Version

Studio Version

Review: Albania: Eurovision 2016 | Eneda Tarifa

Eneda Tarifa will fly the flag for Albania

As is now customary, Albania has become the first to unveil its entry for Eurovision 2016. The honour of representing the country falls to Eneda Tarifa with the song Përrallë (Fairytale).

It's not Eneda's first crack at trying to win Festivali i Këngës (now the national Eurovision decider), having participated in both 2003 and 2007. Missing out on those two occasions, she enjoyed better success performing in a rival song contest, as well as in a stint as a television presenter of a contemporary Albanian variety show.

Eneda Tarifa

However, things went understandably quiet for a while when she gave birth to her first child, before her now triumphant return to the stage - even if the victory was a little unexpected.

The (apparent) smart money was on one or two of the other artists (step up Flaka Krenali and Enxhi Nasufi), but Albania's seven-person expert jury had other ideas. Having jettisoned just eight of the thirty songs featured in both semi-finals, the ultimate decision was made in a very well presented, if overly long, final featuring the remaining twenty-two.

As expected, all of the entries were accompanied by a live orchestra - which is something of a relief from the normally sterile backing tracks at these events. It had truly warmed up by the time Eneda took to the stage in 20th position.

A menacing-sounding guitar underscores the singer's initially brooding vocals before Përrallë develops into a full-blown rock ballad - one that wouldn't sound out of place on a latter day James Bond soundtrack. Eneda's voice continues to cruise along nicely, becoming ever more powerful as the instrumentation builds with intensity around her, biting into the hook of the chorus and ending just as forcefully at the song's sudden denouement.

As it is, Përrallë is too long for the Eurovision Song Contest by around thirty seconds, so it's going to need some reworking over the next few months. Part of this edit will include the promised English lyrics, which may help make the track even more accessible to audiences around Europe.

However, so early in the national final season, it's difficult to forecast this song's appeal. Personally, it took a few plays before it was fully appreciated, but time and its revamp will give more clues to Albania's chances in Stockholm. Watch this space.

Whatever happens, Eneda continues a recent Albanian trend for sending big, dramatic ballads garnished with even bigger, more dramatic vocals.

What do you think?

2015 Junior Eurovision: Albania: Mishela Rapo: Dambaje

Albania returns to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for only the second time when in 2015 it will follow up its dismal 2012 debut, the country then having placed last out of the twelve nations which participated. On this occasion, they will try their luck with 14-year-old Mishela Rapo and the song Dambaje.

As is often the case, Albania is the first country to show its hand early in Eurovision proceedings and, in this respect, Dambaje has been chosen a full six months before the Junior Final in November. It was up against thirteen other acts in the latter part of May in the Festivali i 51-të i Këngës për Fëmijë (51st Festival of Song for Children) - a jury of five preferring Mishela's effort over the others.

Rapo was last seen in 2012 when she competed in the Albanian national final singing Mamma Mia (Te Amo), ultimately losing out to Igzidora Gjeta who represented the country in Amsterdam performing Kam një këngë vetëm për ju (I Have a Song Just For You).

Dambaje is about as far removed as one can get from that 2012 rock influenced composition, instead settling for a calypso-influenced sound which wouldn't feel out of place in a Disney production. Mishela does well with the vocals - the intervening three years allowing her to project a more mature performance, even if the current sparse staging gives the impression of a cheap, amateur school production. Hopefully, Albania's production team will endeavour to improve the presentation by the time the song is performed in the Arena Armeec in Sofia.

With no other entries announced at the moment, it's difficult to rate its chances in Bulgaria. Nevertheless, it's hardly an example of a contemporary pop song. In fact, its sound is traditional and somewhat old-fashioned - the only redeeming modern features provided by a Rasta vocal which blends well with a flourishing reggae back beat.

It's obviously a song about peace and love - the young man who wanders onstage in a trance-like state gives us a clue - and these type of message songs generally go down well at Eurovision, even if most of us are unlikely to understand any of it at all. That shouldn't really matter too much because Dambaje relies on another Eurovision staple: abundant repetition.

Unfortunately, repetition and tradition don't necessarily convert into votes and, although some of Albania's neighbours are back in the competition, Dambaje is unlikely to deliver the country its first victory.

What do you think?

JESC logo by EBU/UER [Attribution], via Wikimedia Commons

Review: Albania: Eurovision 2015 | Elhaida Dani: I'm Alive

Elhaida Dani is now 'alive' on the Eurovision stage

As was announced several weeks ago, it's all change at Team Albania as I'm Alive becomes the country's entry, replacing the now-withdrawn Diell.

You would have thought that following the criticism that song received, Albania would have taken the opportunity to "up the ante" and offer the Eurovision audience something a little more spectacular. Instead, Elhaida Dani has swapped one fairly average power ballad for another.

She paints an emotional picture of despair: A lover wronged her, she's forgiven him and she wants him back. A regular soap opera, in fact. You have to listen very carefully, though. As usual, her vocals are sweet and soaring, but a heavy accent masks many of the lyrics. That may be sexy if she's talking to you, but it sounds annoying throughout this song.

Two minutes in and it all becomes ever more frantic. The music swells, Elhaida's voice reaches the top of its range as her pleading becomes even more exaggerated. Plenty of feeling, just not enough hook, unfortunately.

It's alive in semi-final one, but it probably won't survive it.

What do you think?

Eurovision 2015: Albania: Elhaida Dani: Diell

Elhaida Dani

Diell (Sun) sung by Elhaida Dani has won the ticket to represent Albania at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. The song was among eighteen compositions vying for the win at the annual Festivali i Këngës (Song Festival) held in Tirana.

The three-hour show was the culmination of two epic semi-finals, during which twenty-six songs were performed.

In the final, Elhaida Dani was the last to take the stage and, after a very dramatic performance, her victory was revealed to be a near landslide. Of the seven jury members, including Albania's 2012 represenative Rona Nishliu, six of them gave Diell their top score.

A resounding victory is nothing new for Ms Dani, of course. In 2013, she participated in Italy's version of The Voice, winning the show with more than two thirds of the public vote.

Can she repeat the feat in Austria in May, 2015? My hunch is that she won't be able to do it again, particularly with this song.

I've listened to it a couple of times and I'm still not really sure why it won the national final. Elhaida Dani's vocals are great, so no complaint there. They're powerful, dramatic and they soar. The problem is with what she is singing.

As is usual with the entries from Albania, they start off their lives in their native language. That's fine, but it's already a barrier for a non-native speaker. So, one is reliant on the melody and the overall performance.

It's always a positive to have the music provided by a live orchestra and at no time did Elhaida Dani appear as if she was battling with it. She's obviously a more than competent stage performer, who is also easy on the eye.

Unfortunately, Diell is a very pedestrian power ballad with no obvious hook to it. Despite the singer's emotional input which endeavours to involve the audience, the melody goes nowhere and the whole package ends up sounding like a second-rate Disney tune.

Without some much needed changes, Albania could easily become a casualty of the semi-finals once again.

What do you think?

[Update: Diell has been withdrawn and replaced with I'm Alive as the Albanian entry. A review will appear once the the new song is made public.]

Meet the singer

Eurovision 2014: Albania: Zemërimi i një nate

Herciana Matmuja

As has now become customary, Albania chose its Eurovision Song Contest entry from the participants at its annual Festivali i Këngës (Festival of Song).

Sixteen finalists took part in the show on December 28, allowing seven expert judges to ultimately decide that Zemërimi I Një Nate (A Night of Anger) sung by Herciana Matmuja would go to Copenhagen in May 2014.

As is usual with the Albanian entry, I am at a disadvantage with the language barrier, so a comment about the song's lyrics is impossible.

It's obviously very dramatic though; the title One Night's Anger (or A Night of Anger) conjures up thoughts of illicit lovers found out. Combine that with Ms Matmuja's vocal delivery and the orchestration, it becomes a true piece of theatre - even if a little overwrought at times. However, as the song overruns the competition's allotted three minute rule, the revamped version may allow for something less fraught.

The live orchestra adds to the sense of tension; an element that has been sorely missing from the main Contest for some years now. In fact, it's a delight to hear something other than a backing track.

Will it capture the hearts and minds of Europe, though? My predictions about Albania's entries are usually way off target. Rona Nishliu's similar 2012 effort finished in fifth place, a song I had written off completely. This one is competing in the first half of the first semi-final, so that may prove a disadvantage - particularly if it remains in its native language.

I'm probably wrong, but I don't see this one qualifying for the Grand Final - even if after repeat plays parts of the melody brings Seal's Kiss From A Rose to mind.

English version

How well do you think it will do?

Eurovision 2013: Albania: Identitet

In recent years I've misjudged the appeal of the Albanian Eurovision songs among the voting public. So it is, I approach the nation's 2013 offering by Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko with trepidation.

Identitet was one of the earliest of this year's entries to be chosen and has since run into some controversy because of alleged similarities to a song called Plavi Safir by Bajaga.

However, having listened to the song a couple of times, I'm quite liking it. It can be best described as ethno-rock and as in years past it will be performed in the native language. With the Balkan connection now a dominant feature of Eurovision, this should not detract from its pull among many voters. However, the genre may not go well with the the Contest's usual demographic.

Voting for Albania this year will take place in the second semi-final on May 16, where Lulgjuraj and Sejko will perform in 14th place out of a field of 17. This will, no doubt, help the song's chances of qualifying, which I anticipate it doing. However, it's not this year's winner.

Song: 7/10.

 (Flag graphic courtesy of 3D Animated Flags--By 3DFlags.com)

Eurovision 2012: Rona Nishliu: Suus

Rona Nishliu

The 2012 entry for Albania is to be sung by Rona Nishliu and is called Suus, translated into English as Personal. She will be singing in the first half of the first semi-final in Baku on May 22.

Nishliu was once a contestant on Albanian Idol (who knew that Albania had Idol?) and her song is something we have come to expect from the country. It's a ballad that slowly builds and when I say slowly, it's almost at a snail's pace. Apparently, she wrote the lyrics which no-one else will understand, as it will no doubt be sung in her native language. All credit to Albania for that, but it does hold them at a disadvantage over other songs which will be entirely more accessible to voters across Europe.

I've listened to it a couple of times, but I haven't discovered any discernible hook. In fact, for the most part, it makes you want to doze off. That's until you're unceremoniously woken up by Ms Nishliu howling and screaming towards the end of the song.

I can't see this one getting past the semi-final stages, but you might think differently?

Eurovision 2011: Albania: Aurela Gaçe

Aurela Gaçe will be singing the song for Albania at the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest. Called Kënga ime, translated as My Song, Ms Gaçe will be the first to present a song when she sings in the first half of the first semi-final on May 10.

Having heard Kënga ime  several times, I have to say I'm not hearing a natural hook, but it might be one of those songs which grows over time. It's possible she may sing it in English, but as yet, this has been undecided. Had I heard an English version, maybe the song would have made more of an impact.

As it is, if you like drama and a singer that verges on shouting, then you will probably go for this one. However, the song already has a slight disadvantage having been placed first in the semi-final running order.

Aurela Gace - Kenga ime - Eurovision Albania 2011

What do you think of Albania's song?