The annual Albanian song festival, will take place for the 48th time at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana from December 24th to December 27. The winner of this competition will represent Albania in the next Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, in May 2010.
The whole festival will be hosted by Miriam Cani and Alban Skendraj, who aren’t strangers to the festival. Miriam took part in the 44th edition with the song Shko (Go) and Alban took part one year later with the song Eklips (Eclipse), and also was a part of the jury in later editions. They will also perform their new songs during the festival, including a duet. A number of 78 songs were submitted, and an expert jury made of Albanian famous musicians chose the 36 songs to perform in the festival, divided into two: 18 songs in the “New artists” group, and 18 songs in the “VIP artists” group.
In the first night, the VIP artists group presented their songs for the first time. The participants are:
Performer – Song (Translation)
(Composer, Lyricist, Orchestration)
1. Anjeza Shahini – Pasqyra e vet쳠(Mirror of myrself)
(Sokol Marsi, Sokol Marsi & Jorgo Papingji, Shpetim Sara詩
2. Teuta Kurti – Mall i pashuar (Insatiable longing)
(Faton Dolaku, Pleurat Kurti, Faton Dolaku)
3. Claudio La Regina – Ave Maria
(Scaravglione, Scaravglione, Scaravglione)
4. Kamela Islami – Kalimtar (Transitional)
(Kristi Popa, Florion Zyko)
5. Bojken Lako & Banda Adriatica – Love love love
(Bojken Lako, Bojken Lako & Banda Adriatica, Bojken Lako & Banda Adriatica)
6. Rona Nishliu & Pirro ȡko – Kalor촩 i dashuris련Knight of love)
(Pirro ȡko, Ardit Gjebrea, Adrian Hila)
7. Dorina Garuci – Sekreti i dashuris련The secret of love)
(Klodian Qafoku, Arben Duka, Klodian Qafoku)
8. Juliana Pasha – Nuk di p쳳e (I don’t know why)
(Ardit Gjebrea, Ardit Gjebrea & Pirro ȡko, Shpetim Sara詩
9. Denisa Macaj – Aria
(Adrian Hila, Pandi La诬 Adrian Hila)
10. Erga Halilaj – Party
(Dorian Nini, Adrian Nini, Gent Myftaraj)
11. Era Rusi – U dashuruam (We were in love)
(Arsen Nasi, Alina La诬 Bledar Skenderi)
12. Flaka Krelani – L롴롢쩥t 觡re te doje (Let it be whatever it be)
(Edmond Zhulali, Jorgo Papingji, Edmond Zhulali)
13. Mariza Ikonomi – Vazhdoj k쯤oj (Still singing)
(Mariza Ikonomi, Mariza Ikonomi, Kristi Popa)
14. Erti Hizmo & Lindita Halimi – Nuk t롤orezohem (Don’t turn)
(Gent Myftaraj, Pandi La诬 Gent Myftaraj)
15. Stefi & Endrri Prifti – Akoma s’촨t롶endosur (Still not determined)
(Stefi Prifti, Marina Prifti, Shpetim Sara詩
16. Guximtar Rushani – G컵ar (Cheers)
(Agim Poshka, Olsa Maze, Agim Poshka)
17. Rovena Dilo – P쳴ej koh쳠(Beyond time)
(Rovena Dilo, Rovena Dilo, Endri Sina)
18. Kejsi Tola – Pse ekzistojm련Why we exist)
(Voltan Prodani, Timo Flloko, Voltan Prodani)
On the second night, the “young artists” will perform their songs. Two of them will go forward to the grand final.
Performer – Song (Translation)
(Composer, Lyricist, Orchestration)
1. Stefan Marena – Ret롳’na ndajn련Clouds don’t mind sharing)
(Roland Guli, Meri Guli, Roland Guli)
2. Brikena Asa – Sa dua un련Oh how I wish)
(Gjergj Jorgaqi, Gjergj Jorgaqi, Gjergj Jorgaqi)
3. Onanta Spahiu – Dashuris롩 erdhi vjeshta (Autumn came to love)
(Renuar Nimani, Arjan Kadare, Edmond Zhulali)
4. Jona Koleci – Stin롤ashurie (Season of love)
(Mark Luli, Olda Toqi, Mark Luli)
5. Nazmie Selimi – Beso akoma (Still believe)
(Alfred Ka誮ari, Alfred Ka誮ari, Alfred Ka誮ari)
6. Goldi Halili – Tirana Brod좹 (Tirana Broadway)
(Agim Krajka, Goldi Halili, Agim Krajka)
7. Iris Hoxha – Z쳩n tim ta ndjesh (Feel my voice)
(Edmond Rrapi, Ledi Shqiponja, Edmond Rrapi)
8. Supernova – Gabimi (Mistake)
(Briz Musaraj, Arjan Aliko, Briz Musaraj)
9. Ardita Tusha – Je larg (You’re far)
(Edmond Mancaku, Edmond Mancaku, Edmond Mancaku)
10. Selina Prelaj – T롤y e dim련Be both know it)
(Selina Prelaj, Agim Do詬 Voltan Prodani)
11. Vitmar Basha – Nj롴jet철jet련Another life)
(Vitmar Basha, Vitmar Basha, Alban Male)
12. Lutus – Bot롰a sy (World without eyes)
(Endrit Shani, Kristi Ndrio, Endrit Shani)
13. Kelly – Ajo (Her)
(Florian Carkanji, Florian Carkanji, Fabian Asllani)
14. Dorina To詠- Nj롦jal롴롮groht련A warm word)
(Petrit T쳫u詬 Demir Gjergji, Petrit Terku詩
15. Borana Kalemi – Ti (You)
(Borana Kalemi, Anila Jole, Drini Ishmaku)
16. Amanda Ujkaj & Violeta Lulgjuraj – Vitet m롴롢ukura (The most beautiful years)
(Luigj Dedvukaj, Sokol Marci, Luigj Dedvukaj)
17. Yje T롐anjohur – Si dy t롨uaj (Like two strangers)
(Florian Zyka, Florain Zyka, Kristi Popa)
18. Ȭirim Leka – N쯡 ime (My mother)
(Ȭirim Leka, Ȭirim Leka, Flamur Toska)
Then on the third night (Saturday), the songs will be performed in duets and alternate versions, and on the fourth night (Sunday), they will be performed again like in the second night, and the winner will be decided.
The interval act of the final night will include guest performances of local artists, and will be closed with a collage in memory of Michael Jackson, where the participants will sing his songs.
The winner of the festival will go to represent Albania in one of the semifinals of Eurovision Song Contest 2010 in Oslo, on May 25th or 27th. Last year, Kejsi Tola, who takes part in the festival this year again, qualified to the final and finished there in the 17th place with 48 points, with her song Carry me in your dreams.
