ALBANIA : Our Live Rolling Blog of Tonight’s Eurovision 2015 Selection at 20:45 CET

By eurovisionireland on December 28, 2014 • ( Leave a comment )

Albania Festivali i Kenges 53 – 2015. Photo : RTSH

Albania – Festivali i Kenges Final – 20:45 CET and you can follow our live rolling blog of their #Eurovision 2015 selection.

You know the drill by now. Just refresh the page to get our thoughts on the performances. We didn’t look at the semi finals over the past 2 nights as we wanted to make a decision on the songs from first impressions and I had a date with a Turkey to finish off! 18 acts will compete for the Grand Prix tonight – That is a Eurovision Semi Final in itself!

You can WATCH LIVE HERE and HERE

The winner will be decided by Jury only – which is the norm at the Festivali i Kenges.

Alexander Rybak was supposed to be the Interval Act at the contest but he has cancelled earlier today – READ HERE

Running Order

Besiana Mehmetaj & Shkodran Tolaj – Keshtjella
Bojken Lako – Band Te ndjej
Emi Bogdo – Nje femer
Lindita Halimi – S’te fal
Mjellma Berisha – Sot jetoj
Enver Petrovci – Te vrane
Erga Halilaj – Ti s’me njeh
Rezarta Smaja – Me rrembe
Jozefina Simoni – Mendje trazi
Venera Lumani – Dua te jetoj
Altin Goci – Rock dhe per gjithe jeten
Gjergj Leka – Himn
Klajdi Musabelliu – Vetem te ti besoj
Saimir Braho – Kristal
Estela Brahimllari – Kjo nate
Marsela Cibukaj – Smuj
Agim Poshka – Ne rrugen tone
Elhaida Dani – Te kerkoj

So come back HERE at 20:45 CET for our live Blog. I have a bottle of Mulled Wine waiting to be finished off so expect some terrible spelling!

SHOW STARTS

OK – Here we go. Wonderfully cheesy tv adverts before the main event!

What does an 18 song national selection final need? Well in Albania that means more songs!

It’s Albania’s answer to La Scala – 4 beautiful women on violins

Ok the male presenter has just done a 10 minute monologue where every line was delivered with a drum beat. I beat to the sound of my own drum if you don’t mind Albania #JustSaying

Our 2 stunning female presenters

The drumming presenter is back and it is a case of Little and Large – Ah Bless! But he makes up for his lack in height with his energy!

Besiana Mehmetaj & Shkodran Tolaj – Keshtjella

Besiana Mehmetaj & Shkodran Tolaj – Keshtjella. Photo : RTSH

Albania start the show with a duo that look like Jon Johansen (Sweden 1995) and Linda Woodruff. A mid tempo ballad that had a Balkan feel to it. All very Les Mis and less Eurovision

Bojken Lako – Band Te ndjej

Bojken Lako – Band Te ndjej Photo : RTSH

Albania’s answer to Shane McGowan from The Pogues. Having said that a good little rock song but would get lost at Eurovision.

Emi Bogdo – Nje femer

Emi Bogdo – Nje femer. Photo : RTSH

Judge Rona Nishliu will like the dress. The song ain’t too bad. A rock power-ballad circa 1984. Personally ‘I’m Holding Out For A Eurovision Hero’ still.

Lindita Halimi – S’te fal

Lindita Halimi – S’te fal. Photo : RTSH

I get it now. In Albania you cannot have a skirt and a good song so Lindita made the decision to get rid of the skirt. Head and shoulders above the rest of the songs so far. Modern and contemporary and kicks some serious butt. Would work on the big stage in Vienna. Don’t catch a cold though Lindita!

Lindita Halimi – S’te fal – Pic 2. Photo : RTSH

Mjellma Berisha – Sot jetoj

Mjellma Berisha – Sot jetoj. Photo : RTSH

It’s like Sam Bailey coming after Beyonce. Having said that Mjellma has a great rock song that with some work could work.

Enver Petrovci – Te vrane

Festival i Kenges. Photo : YouTube

The Ghost of Christmas Past but I LOVE IT! Eurovision is the place to bring something different to the stage and this is like marmite – you will love it or hate it. Melancholy never sounded so good. GAME ON!

TV ADVERT BREAK

Erga Halilaj – Ti s’me njeh

Erga Halilaj – Ti s’me njeh. Photo : RTSH

One woman, One Piano, One great song and one great voice. Who doesn’t love a good Euro Ballad! This is Jury fodder. They will love it!

Back Stage Presenters. Photo : RTSH

Social media presenters get some airtime but they are ‘Fashion That Time Forgot’ #JustSaying

Rezarta Smaja – Me rrembe

Rezarta Smaja – Me rrembe. Photo : RTSH

Everyone had one of these back in the 1970’s – you remember the toilet roll holders that had a doll on them! This though is a strong song and with some rearrangement could do very well. Cracking voice!

Jozefina Simoni – Mendje trazi

Jozefina Simoni – Mendje trazi. Photo : RTSH

No at last I can get my groove on! This is a cracking disco inspired 70’s song – either from the discotheque or a Linda Lovelace Movie. Great song and cheeky singer too.

Jozefina Simoni – Mendje trazi Photo – RTSH

Venera Lumani – Dua te jetoj

Venera Lumani – Dua te jetoj. Photo : RTSH

The biggest reaction from the audience by far. A good song and voice but Venera looked like she was auditioning for ‘Desperate Housewives’ and not on this #Fabulous stage. Lots of potential here but I would have it in 3rd at the moment.

Altin Goci – Rock dhe per gjithe jeten

Altin Goci – Rock dhe per gjithe jeten. Photo : RTSH

Make over of the night goes to Altin! Above was he in his semi-final and below is him in the Grand Final. Yes they took his glasses off. A comedy rock song for me. Would be lost on Europe like Altin’s sight tonight on the stage!

Altin Goci – Rock dhe per gjithe jeten Final

Gjergj Leka – Himn

Gjergj Leka – Himn Photo : RTSH

Ok – This is like your uncle singing at a family wedding though he can belt it out. However I think we could have an imposter on stage as there was a potential Junior Eurovision singer on stage or he just uses #Fabulous skin products! As for the song – the Albanian’s loved it!

JESC Imposter

Interval Act

We are not finished the show yet but we have an interval act. I actually loved this one. It was for a Children’s Needs Charity and the kids were amazing!

Childrens Charity – Photo RTSH

Klajdi Musabelliu – Vetem te ti besoj

Klajdi Musabelliu – Vetem te ti besoj. Photo : RTSH

Kudos as Klajdi makes the male presenter look positively tall. You know what they say about small packages. The song was sung well but is stuck back in the 1990’s.

Saimir Braho – Kristal

Saimir obviously has the same tailor as Dermot O’Leary. They were spray painted on him. This was a great pop song that would be more suited to a young boy band as opposed to a mid 30’s man – sorry

Estela Brahimllari – Kjo nate

Estela Brahimllari – Kjo nate. Photo : RTSH

This is a dangerous song for me because when I hear a funky jazz song I think that I am NOT Chris Helmsworth and think that I can chat anyone up. This is sassy and gets my blood bubbling and my hips swinging and remember ‘My Hips Don’t Lie’. Love It

Marsela Cibukaj – Smuj

Marsela Cibukaj – Smuj. Photo : RTSH

Albania’s answer to Caro Emerald. The audience liked her a lot. If you asked her where she got her clothes from she would say a ‘Vintage Shop’ or to you and me a ‘Second Hand Shop’. A bit dated for me but the locals loved it.

Agim Poshka – Ne rrugen tone

Agim Poshka – Ne rrugen tone. Photo : RTSH

Totally Bizarre song in oh so many ways! It was Albania’s answer to Steptoe and Son. A mature man talking as he writes on a table while what seems like a younger version of him sings the song. The song changes from a depressing ballad to a kick your legs in the air dance marathon. I’m confused!!

Elhaida Dani – Te kerkoj

Elhaida Dani – Te kerkoj. Photo : RTSH

WOW – Albania have saved the best till last. That was power ballad in the Whitney and Mariah vein. A stunning voice, a stunning woman, a stunning dress and a stunning song. This has to go to Eurovision if Albania want to make the Grand Final.

That is all your 18 songs!

I guess we will have an hour of interval acts!

Predictions

Tonight was my first listen to all the songs and singers and for me the stand our performances were

Elhaida Dani – Te kerkoj – It was just super classy and a power class in ‘Less is More’
Estela Brahimllari – Kjo nate – A Jazzy little number that made me feel hot under the collar
Lindita Halimi – S’te fal – A funky number that makes we want to spend 2 weeks with Lindita at Euroclub in Vienna
Jozefina Simoni – Mendje trazi – Again I like the Disco retro vibe to this one
Venera Lumani – Dua te jetoj – The song has potential and I get the feeling that Albania want Venera to to go to Eurovision. She certainly has presence
Enver Petrovci – Te vrane – This is just so different that I love it.

Interval Acts

We had a Ska band that were rather sprightly. Why weren’t they in the contest!!!

This is what happens when Alexander Rybak cancels on you. You get the presenter and a singer winging it and stripping on stage. Come back Alexander!!!