What I’ve learned from Albania’s Festivali i Këngës:
- a tinkly piano intro apparently establishes that your ditty has heart even if it goes off somewhere else after that
- why have one piano when you can have two played by a geriatric and a child?
- being in tune is for wimps
- if you use the work ‘rock’ often enough in your song, you must be rockin’
- narrative voice-overs are a thing
Masochists can go straight to the YouTube playlist—ordered from losingest to the dull winner.
Not part of the competition, but who is this Aurela person?
| Place | Points | Artist | Song | Video | Notes | Music/Lyrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
82 |
"Diell" |
the usual emotional warble, though often flat…Celine Dion has much to answer for. gratuitous key change! |
Aldo Shllaku (m) |
||
|
2 |
62 |
Bojken Lako Band |
"Të ndjej" |
possibly a rocker neutered by an arranger? |
Bojken Lako Band (m&l) |
|
|
3 |
45 |
"S'të fal" |
Not sure I forgive her vocal gymnastics either. Did she forget part of her costume? |
Zzap & Lindita Halimi (m) |
||
|
4 |
31 |
Besiana Mehmeti & Shkodran Tolaj |
"Kështjella" |
slightly, but only slightly kooky. possibly better when in tune. |
Adrian Hila (m) |
|
|
5 |
28 |
Marsela Çibukaj |
"S'muj" |
ambiguous hat |
Olsa Toqi (m&l) |
|
|
6 |
24 |
Gjergj Leka |
"Himn" |
old-style ballad, old singer, child pianist, mobile cellist |
Gjergj Leka (m) |
|
|
7 |
23 |
"Më rrëmbe" |
kaval player & flounce-powered dress but otherwise dull |
Klodian Qafoku (m) |
||
|
8 |
22 |
Mjellma Berisha |
"Sot jetoj" |
‘rock’ & ‘dress’ |
Enis Mullaj (m&l) |
|
|
9 |
20 |
"Dua të jetoj" |
piano intro. apparently living is important. gratuitous backing singer micro-operatic interludes. back of her top puts the ‘vent’ in conventional |
Endrit Shani (m) |
||
|
10 |
18 |
Emi Bogdo |
"Një femër" |
piano intro’d power ballad…yawn. impressive sleeve awnings |
Lambert Jorganxhi (m) |
|
|
11 |
15 |
Erga Halilaj |
"Ti s'më njeh" |
pianist |
Kristi Popa (m) |
|
|
12 |
12 |
Jozefina Simoni |
"Mendje trazi" |
fluff dress |
Bledar Sejko & Markeljan Kapedani (m) |
|
|
12 |
12 |
"Të vranë bukuri" |
faux tramp chic? this man is a respected actor apparently |
Enver Petrovci (m&l) |
||
|
14 |
9 |
Altin Goci |
"Rock për gjithë jetën" |
Rock, but not as we know it Jim |
Altin Goci (m) |
|
|
15 |
3 |
Saimir Braho |
"Kristal" |
rockin’…not! coming to an Albanian wedding reception near you! |
Saimir Braho (m&l) |
|
|
18 |
0 |
Klajdi Musabelliu |
"Vetëm te ti besoj" |
yet another heartfelt piano intro leading into a copy of every Euroballad ever |
Klajdi Musabelliu (m) |
|
|
18 |
0 |
Estela Brahimllari |
"Kjo natë" |
almost sophisticated and yet dull |
Edmond Veizaj (m&l) |
|
|
18 |
0 |
Agim Poshka |
"Në rrugën tonë" |
piano, narration that’s poignant out the wazoo, modestly draped table, waistcoats & cap…a class act |
Agim Poshka (m) |
|
| Eliminated in the semi-finals | ||||||
|
|
0 |
Enxhi & Xhejn Kumrija |
"Njeri" |
Not inhuman. Not that interesting either despite contrasting hair(&clothing)styles. |
Enxhi & Xhejn Kumrija (m) |
|
|
|
0 |
Ana Gramo |
"Në koma" |
a coma would be better than this…quieter at least |
Genti Lako (m) |
|
|
|
0 |
Grupi Aurora |
"Maria" |
this must be some new kind of torture technique |
Gr. Aurora (m&l) |
|
|
|
0 |
Kelly |
"Nëse ti do" |
look out Bruce Springsteen! |
Kelly (m&l) |
|
|
|
0 |
Grupi Offchestra |
"Bajram" |
slightly off, hip Balkan |
Faruk Banjska (m) |
|
|
|
0 |
Florent Abrashi & Sigi Bastri |
"Eklips mbi oqean" |
slightly awkward duet, not always in tune |
Sokol Marsi (m) |
|
|
|
0 |
Julian Gjojdeshi |
"Himn jetës" |
horrible in a fairly unique way, gratuitous key changes worthy of Lloyd Weber |
Vasil S. Tole (m) |
|
|
|
0 |
Revolt Klan |
"Më mungon" |
boy-band rap intro by two grown men in suits leads to (disappointing obvs) ballad |
Bruno Pollogati (m) |
|
More info about this than anyone needs @ Wikipedia: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015