Albania disappoints in Eurovision song contest

TIRANA, May 7 – Albania’s Eurovision representative disappointed in this year’s edition of the European song contest after being disqualified in the first round. Albania was represented in the 2014 Eurovision contest in Copenhagen with Hersi Matmuja who this week performed a ballad called “Zemerimi i nj롮ate” (One night’s anger).
The 10 qualifiers of the first semi-final were decided via the viewing public as well as an expert jury, both of whom have a 50 percent say in the final results of the both the semi-finals and the grand final scheduled for May 10.
Matmuja, 23, came first among 16 finalists the nation song competition in late December 2013 with her Zem쳩mi i Nj롎ate (A night’s anger) ballad in a tough competition which also featured two former Eurovision representatives.
Matmuja, who studies singing at the Rome Conservatory, started her singing career at a very young age and had also participated in previous editions of the Festivali i Kenges contest which serves as Albania’s official selection for the Eurovision.
Back in 2012, Rona Nishliu became the most successful Albanian Eurovision representative after ranking fifth among 26 finalists in the 2012 song contest held in Azerbaijan. Nishliu collected 146 points to see herself rank 5th, the best result since 2004 when Albania made its Eurovision debut with Anjeza Shahini who came sixth.