2012 entry - ALBANIA: Rona Nishliu - Suus

Draw - First Semi final (5)

Albania chose their song second of all the countries in this years Eurovision way back in the last days of December 2011 (Switzerland got in first). They held their annual song contest Festivali i Këngës and the winner of course would represent their country.

Rona Nishliu is not the type of person you anticipate representing Albania with a fantastic head of dreadlocks. Let me assure you though, her hair and her appearance in Tirana last December did not dissuade the jury or the televoters of Albania in choosing a great song to represent them.

The song that is representing Albania has been cut down from a 4:30 minutes to 3  minutes to fit into the Eurovision standard. While the original version was rambling and repetitive, the new version is an outstanding, dramatic, stylish and powerful entry. Rona looks stylish, almost like an Audrey Hepburn clone, and the music of the new version appears to be using the full orchestra.

I am really looking forward to Albania at the final and hopefully the magic of the song captures everyone.

Countries over the last decade - Part III

Eight countries down and three countries that account for 16 previous ESC wins amongst them. Numbers 26-30 on the next page:

ESC 2011 #11: ALBANIA - Feel the passion - Aurela Gace

[rating before - 13th; after - 16th]


It was December when they selected Aurela Gace to represent her country. Short woman who looked awkward and sang the living daylights out of the song Kënga ime.


At the ESC, a very good translation in English was presented. She again sang the daylights out of the song, but I was concerned by the flames and the fangs and the nails and the things in her hair. But, ignoring all this, magnificent woman - shame she didn't make the final.