Albania debuted in Eurovision in 2004 when the Semi-Final was introduced, and in that year achieved their best result to date.  Anjeza Shahini did her country proud when she qualified from the Semi-Final and finished a very respectable and unprecedinted 7th in Turkey.  Since then however, their fortunes have taken a gradual slump.  Ledina Celo coult only muster up 16th place in 2005 and when they found themselves in the 2006 Semi, Luiz Ejlli could only manage 14th place, 19 votes short of what he needed to make the Final.  Resulting from this, Albania find themselves in the Semi-Final for the third time, second year running.

 

 

Albania's hopes rest with the husband and wife combination of Frederik & Aida Ndoci and their balkan ballad.  The pair sing with great passion, and it did come across as a rather flawless performance at the country's national final, however, the song itself is somewhat of a puzzle for me.  I really don't know what to make of it.  Initially, I thought it was terrible, a complete waste of time that would even be lucky to get points from Macedonia and Greece.  Now, I'm still not a fan, but I'm beginning to appreciate how some Balkan countries (and others, possibly) could take to this.  It definately has a sound ethnic feel once you get past the fact that the chanting is actually a part of the song.  As you all know, this kinda song ain't my cup of tea, and it certainly isn't why I tune into Eurovision, but you never know, this could work for Albania.  So all in all, it's not terrible, but it's certainly not the best song this year either.

 

 

I think this is simply too Balkan and not powerful enough (unlike Molitva) to make the Final.  I'd be very surprised to see this any higher than the bottom 8.

 

 

I nearly turned my TV off during this woeful piece of tripe.  Thankfully, Albania failed to make the Final.

 

 

Never before have I wanted to turn my TV off during Eurovision.  That was until this entry graced my living room and filled me with the utmost desire to want to kill myself and everyone around me for the sheer depression listening to the Albanian entry ensued within me.  This was terrible, horrifically chanted with far too much emotion on behalf of Frederik.  Some would maybe credit him for his passion, I myself thought it was too much and unnecessary, and Albania are lucky political votes carried this to 15^th place, because this didn’t even deserve to be in the competition at all.  It’s a terrible song, terribly performed and the stage set doesn’t even matter, this was just too awful; too much.