In December she’ll compete in Albania’s Kënga Magjike — the storied Albanian festival that selects the country’s most magical song.
And earlier this week Eurovision 2015 fan favourite Elhaida Dani released “E Ngrire” (Frozen) — her highly-anticipated entry for the prestigious pop competition.
The Voice of Italy winner composed the lyrics herself, which might explain why she seems to feel every single note in the music video. Staring straight into the camera and standing against a black backdrop, she’s a woman who doesn’t want to let go of her beloved. As she sings: “Frozen, my heart will freeze until you come back.” As the song progresses and Elhaida grows in strength, the screen transforms into a colourscape of blues, blacks and whites — an icy vista that Elhaida melts with her warm, rich vocals.
The song builds beautifully and gives Elhaida plenty of space to show off her vast vocal range. The soulful mmmmm-ing gives this a sultry feel, and the big chorus transforms it into an anthem. It definitely induces hand-clapping. Preach, Miss Dani!
Clearly in it to win it, Elhaida collaborated with the well-known Macedonian producer Darko Dimitrov, who has worked with stars including Tijana Dapcevic, Esma, Jelena Tomasevic, Sergej Cetkovic and Marija Serifovic.
The gospel choir that supports Elhaida in the song was directed by Alessandro Pozzetto – director of the Italian Gospel Choir.
Elhaida will release the English version of the song — and an accompanying music video — in December. As an added bonus she’ll also release a Christmas EP featuring unpublished English songs. Deck the halls, indeed!
It’s been a busy few months for the “I’m Alive” hitmaker.
She recently toured France as part of the musical Notre Dame de Paris, and last month she published her single “Me Mbaj” (Keep Me) in collaboration with Albanian DJ Olti. It’s already a hit in Albania.
Elhaida will no doubt be a favourite to win Kënga Magjike, which would see her follow in the footsteps of fellow Eurovision alums Aurela Gaçe and Juliana Pasha.
Are you feeling her song? How does it compare to her Eurovision entry “I’m Alive”? Let us know in the comments box below!
She released the english version of the song: AMAZING https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBkI7Lie7g0
You are so wrong. Just go for walk nearby one of the mosques around 1-2 PM and you’ll see how wrong you are.
She won the Critics award and finished second. 🙁
Yeah, it all seemed rigged though. Ciljeta for example did not even make it to the final, even though she had one of the top watched songs and written by Olti Curri, who also wrote the winner’s song. I think they purposefully chose Anxhela instead of Ciljeta so that it wouldn’t seem like two Olti Curri songs got top places. That way Anxhela could get the most points, while Fifi and Elhaida were tangled in a battle for second and third.
I’m not feeling the new weave!
I love her, one of the best Eurovision Artists ever, at least in my opinion.
But, a Christmas EP? Isn’t she muslim? I saw some videos where she sings an islamic song wearing a headscarf.
Albania is very weird as most people are muslim but they are VERY irreligious so much so that they often top polls of atheist levels (only behind Estonia) since religion was banned until the 1990s. As a cause they often adhere to western traditions like Christmas. Keep in mind that Japan which is only 1% Christian often goes crackers for Xmas and even Easter.
I strongly disagree with you on this one. Just because there is religious tolerance, it does not mean there is no believe. I am a devoted Christian, go to church every sunday etc. and my neighbor is a Muslim, his mother and sister wear burka, and yet he is my best childhood friend. People CAN ACTUALLY be religious and tolerant in the same time, get over it.
There’s a lot of religious tolerance in Albania. Tbh there are only few Albanians who are VERY religious, most Albanians are NOT and just label themselves that way because of the family heritage for example
I think she’s one of a few artists I’d like to see return to Eurovision again. She definitely has potential to place much higher, obviously her performance wasn’t the strongest on the night. And whilst I think I’m Alive is one of the best songs of it’s year, I would love her to enter an Albanian song (Diell was pretty poor though) and this is stunning.
Woah amazing song!
When are they gonna realise they need to start using Kenga Magjike as their national selection for Eurovision!?
Never probably since RTSH operate Festivali i Kenges and a different TV provider which is not an EBU member runs Kenga Magjike. RTSH will relies on the throwback feeling that keeps FiK relevant against the uber-modern Kenga Magjike so will almost be condemned if they make any moves towards a Melfest-style NF, besides RTSH can’t afford to anything else, unless we want a crappy studio show with rather cheap pop (Because the good songs will all go to Kenga Magjike).
I don’t think KM has “better” songs than FIK, but it has better visuals since the budget is higher. As far as songs go, FIK has more professional melodies and lyrics. KM has catchy stuff arranged by very modern composers, but they’re almost always inferior in terms of the overall message. When KM songs get serious, they’re usually sung by traditionally FIK singers. The audiences are also different. In FIK you have to be 25+ to fully grasp the songs, while in KM everything is geared towards teens and young adults. Which exposes the fundamental flaw of FIK being used… Read more »
I agree with what you’re saying, yet I do feel that as you said FIK singers would move towards KM if they became more similar thanks to the higher budget.
Well not as you said but still! 😛
I don’t see it winning against Fifi or Ciljeta, but it definitely has Top 10 vibes. Must remember that in this contest singers vote for each other, and she does not have the type of contacts Fifi/Ciljeta have. If she gets points it will be because of singers liking Darko’s work. Fifi in particular seems to be close to “inevitable winner” status this year.