Sunday, May 10, 2015

Eurovision 2015: Albania

The first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest starts in less than a week, so it's time to finish taking a look at the last songs in the contest.



Albania chose their winner through Festivali i Këngës, an Albanian broadcast that is now in its fifty-third year.   This contest takes place over a three day period on Christmas weekend.   The winning artist and song are sent to represent Albania at Eurovision and this year, Albania selected this song.


Elhaida Dani    "Diell"

The winning song is a power ballad that features Dani's vocal prowess and utilizes the live orchestra that is a fixture of Festivali i Këngës.   Dani gives a performance that is worthy of going to Vienna.
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However, "Diell" isn't the song that Dani will be singing on stage in Vienna.  

Festivali i Këngës doesn't have many of the restrictions that Eurovision has, so songs are typically shortened and rearranged before they take the stage, and this year due to an "unchangable personal reason"  the author of "Diell" decided to withdraw his song after FiK.   This means a new song was chosen internally for Dani to perform.


Elhaida Dani   "I'm Alive"

It's really a smart move.   Instead of cutting down the original song, which is more than a minute too long, this new song is withing the time limit.   It's also in English and structured to highlight Dani's singing range.

For the first time in years, Albania is going to make the finals!   


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