Tonight at Festivali i Këngës — Albania’s Eurovision 2019 selection show — the genres came thick and fast. Dilan Reka updated the disco for today. Orgesa Zaimi mixed funk, soul, jazz and rock. And Soni Malaj slipped into a white body suit, serving an Albanian take on “Fuego” — replete with fire and her writing against an electric guitarist.
But in the end it was Jonida Maliqi who won the day with her song “Ktheju tokes”.
The spiritual ballad has a mysterious quality that seems to come from deep within Jonida. The title doesn’t have a direct translation in English, but it roughly means “come back to the land”. It speaks of the struggles of immigration and leaving one’s homeland — a reality known well to the Albanian diaspora.
“I feel in this song,” she told us in an interview after the semi-final. “It’s very important for me.”
“The lyrics are actually for Albanians, for immigrants, for all the people around the world.”
“I cry inside of me….it was very difficult for us — the immigration — and my sister lives in Cyprus. And for me it’s very difficult because my other half, she lives there. Maybe in every Albanian family we have someone outside our country. I feel it and they feel it. This is hard for me. This song is my emotion.”
You’ll remember that Eurovision 2018 stars Ermal Meta and Eleni Foureira were both born in Albania, but immigrated just before or during Albania’s civil conflict in the 90s.
Speaking to Albanian media in a post-show interview, Jonida confirmed that she will keep the song in Albanian for Eurovision. You don’t need to worry about an Eneda-style revamp to English.
Watching Jonida from the front row of the Palace of Congresses, we couldn’t help but think she looked like a young Cleopatra, controlling the Nile and enchanting many a passerby with her undeniable beauty.
When she sings her voice is magic, but so too is her presence. From her eye contact to the way her body sways, you can’t help but stare in wonder.
Festivali i Këngës — Albania’s traditional selection show for the Eurovision Song Contest — added a contemporary twist this year. Rather than only singing an orchestral version, the acts also had the opportunity to sing a more modern take replete with Eurovision-esque staging on a second night.
Despite being in its 57th edition, the show wasn’t smooth sailing. Early on microphone issues impacted both Marko Strazimiri & Imbro and Eranda Libhova. Her technical issues were particularly appalling — you couldn’t really hear her, and her backing vocalists were turned way up. A total disaster for artists that have worked so hard to make it to tonight.
Thankfully they were both given the chance to perform again after the 12 other acts had sung. Eranda was subsequently awarded the Critics’ Prize, which is determined by a vote among the media/critics.
FiK 57 finalists
Alar Band — “Dashuria nuk mjafton”
Artemisa Mithi & Febi Shkurti — “Dua ta besoj”
Bojken Lako — “Jeto jeten”
Dilan Reka — “Karma”
Eliza Hoxha — “Peng”
Elton Deda — “Qetesisht”
Eranda Libohova — “100 pyetje”
Gjergj Leka— “Besoj”
Jonida Maliqi — “Ktheju tokes”
Klint Çollaku— “Me jete”
Lidia Lufi — “Rrefehem”
Marko Strazimiri & Imbro — “Lejla”
Orgesa Zaimi — “Hije”
Soni Malaj – “Do vij”
What do you think of the final results? Do you think Albania will advance to the final at Eurovision? To revamp or not to revamp? To keep it in Albanian or switch to English? Sound off down below!
Do some cool staging, maybe with the Albanian colours since this is about Albanian emigration, choose a better outfit (please) and this will probably qualify. I am predicting 5th-6th in the semi and 11th-13th in the final.
i love this Song!
she should easily qualify for the final and then everything ist possible.
she’s gonna stand out no matter what between all the popsongs that are still to qualify out of the national finals and internal selections.
well done albania! finally a message people can connect with… Folks from the balkans know exactly what she is singing about and Israel is the right “land” to spread her message…
all the best to you Jonida
Another woman for Albania!
I really like the song, I’m happy she wants to keep it in Albanian, it’s more interesting.
With a good staging and NOT this outfit, who knows?
It might qualify with impressive staging – dark, mysterious, gloomy… If it’s only her singing, then it’s easy non-qualifier.
It certainly seems like she FEELS her song when she’s performing it, which I like a lot. While I personally find it a bit difficult to stay interested in the song for three minutes, I consider it a good start to this season. Anyone can cater to the mainstream, I’m glad some countries refuse that.
What can I say .. the songs that Albania sends in Eurovision are from another level they have a meaning they have lyrics and they are real artists . Albania ?? It’s not for Eurovision . Eurovision its all about politics now . The songs tha win Eurovision are talking about chickens about flames and whatever .. since last year I told to my self that I will never watch Eurovision again and I will not believe me .. Albania please don’t go again to Eurovision … go to another festival that has more quality !
Being a bad looser doesnt take a country no where. Portugal and Austria won so the only step is forward. Not quit.
I agree that Albanian songs are way too good for Eurovision, but what are you doing here if you will never watch Eurovision again?
Albania just doesn’t get it. When they didn’t win with Rona, why even continue? Albania is a filler country, they will never win, but they are just another country to give their points away for the grand final.
The song is OK but the singer isn’t a good singer she won course she had her friends In jury.
Other singer deserve to win such Soni Malaj with song Me e fort ( even stronger).
What can we do is Albania that’s why we migrating couse of this corruption and no justice.
We hoping 1 day our country changes.
The song itself ain’t bad but just struggling to think of who would pick up a phone to vote for this. Has a chance of qualifying me thinks, depends on what it’s up against obviously, but not convinced this has a huge jury vote going for it either which I suspect it will need to qualify.
No one will vote for it and the jury will forget about it. Giving Albania another usual non-qualifier.
That’s what people said about Portugal in 2017 too 😉
Its early to judge but i would say its not over for Albania :).
Albania, why do you always insist on sending women obnoxiously screaming?
She’s not screaming. She’s wailing.
please Albania don’t revamp it like “Perrale” IT’S GREAT ?
Fantastic! this song has all the ingredients needed…including a charming singer… will qualify easily..top 10…
I´m not sure if this will qualify but I like it. I think the message suits perfectly with the song and the music for me is quite nice. Maybe the only negative thing I can say about is her voice. She reach every note but at some point her voice stresses me.
The only way she would make it to the grand final is if she changes her song or a miracle happens. Unfortunately, the judges will not score this high because her voice is AVERAGE and the song itself is just not good enough to secure televoters points. 🙁 Albania maybe someday you can try to think about sending a song that EUROPE will like and that is at least mainstream.
We don’t need a “mainstreamvision song contest”…
Spot on Alex well said.
Festivali I kenges is a rubbish format.
Wiwi themselves suggested a change to the more modern kenges magjike, which could actually produce something modern or current
You should watch The Voice instead.
Dear Alex, If all the countries listened to the advises of people like you then we would just listen to 40-43 “Fuego”s or “Dance You off”s in Eurovision every year. Albania’s doing a great job, no matter you like it or not. We need diversity. Don’t worry, there will be a lot of pop songs for your taste, too. But don’t expect all the countries go mainstream, please. Eurovision is for all kind of music genres and there are people with different music tastes. It’s not just about you.
Oh yeah and Tell me how Serbia made It last year… A blast of mainstream
Bloc Voting
W all know that juries will vote for EBU babies Sweden, Australia, Malta and non full members of EBU babies The Netherlands,Belgium, Israel,rest of points from 1 to 4 go to ohers 36 countries
Stop talking rubbish
Because that voting from 2012 for Sweden and from 2015 for, Australia in last 2 year finished on 25 th, then 26 th in televote, and Sweden this 21 th, not because songs or singers
You have already said it. We get it. Im from Sweden and i dont agree at all.
Sweden won in 2012 and especilly in 2015 thanks to juries points.
You cant only win cause of jury points. Sorry your wrong
I agree Alex, this noise is absolutely rubbish and Albania is garbage at Eurovision.
Jonida’s voice is far from average, her style is awesome, and the song is anthemic. You have the wrong perception of Eurovision, which is a diverse format and not banger-only. Albania has a pretty good ESC record for its size, they have done well multiple times. If however you are extending your own dislike of Albania to its music, that’s what’s rubbish in the 21st century. Maybe some Albanian broke your heart, whom I applaud.
somebody wrote on facebook: Jonida Maliqi and her song is like “JAMALA ft. EQUINOX” – and I think he/she is right with that.
Yeeeeeeeesssss!!!!
Jamala wasn’t good either.
Should at least put 1 verse/chorus into English so that other people understand it. She herself said it’s for “all immigrants” well no other country speaks Albanian in the world so that message will likely be lost.
Absolutely disagree. The only words of Albanian I know are ‘dashuri’ and ‘jo’, and I still understood that song correctly enough. I got an impression of being brought to a place you do not want to be, an impression of a travel you do not want to take, a pain of loosing something very dear for you. And it was just the music & staging that made me feel so.
Psst don’t make me laugh! 😀
The only thing the televoters are going to see is an obnoxious woman screaming.
In what part of the song is she screaming?
Now I just heard this song for the first time (due to busy times with christmas and all) and I LOVE IT. What is wrong with people being so negative with this song and already claiming it won’t quality and etc? It’s beautiful and hella badass. I love the ethnic elements, her mesmerizing voice, the beautiful melody and how it repserents the current sate of Albania with its immigration perfectly and in a modern way. This song speaks to Albanians and other people who have or had similar situation as well. You may complain about Albania sending ballads and divas,… Read more »
Love! Love! Love it!
So happy for her and wish her the best of luck <3
As much as I love the song, I don’t see it qualifying. Her outfit choiceS are a huge distraction on the stage, you can’t focus on what she’s singing. I think that it will be one of those entries that a lot of people think is good, but not enough people actually vote. We have already faced similar situations with Finland 2017, Israel 2013, Greece 2018 etc.
You know she can change her outfit, right?
What she needs to change is her stylist and I don’t see that happening.
This will qualify 100%. And let me tell you this, not only it will undisputedly qualify, this song has a potential to be in the top 5 for sure. Powerfull message incorporated with ethnic elements and a stunning perfomer and for me the most important thing is that the song it will not be sung in english, that gives this mysterious masterpiece a new depth, a new dimension. This is giving me Jamala feels 2016. It is UNIQUE, it STANDS OUT. This is a worthy successor of Eugent. LOVE IT.
You’re in the bubble
As long as they don’t pull off Greece 2018, they’ll qualify.
Interesting sound! It gives me “Dona” vibes, which i like; the meaning also is very well spread. Good luck Albania!
Dona, or Doma?
“Dona” by Kaliopi, not “Doma”
I’m delighted it’s staying in Albanian. English lyrics would’ve made it too cheesy.
People on this website are tragic. It is literally the first and only released song of 2019. How ya’ll gonna say it won’t qualify when there’s no other entries yet? SMH
Exactly. They need to give their heads a shake.
We know that other countries can deliver and this is way below the mark.
Deserved winner. But Dua Ta Besoj and Hije were criminally underrated.
Well it’s the best Albanian entry since I’m Alive, I really like her, sometimes she sounds a bit screaming, but she still has great vocals. Prediction: It could qualify, so it’s not a 100% sure qualifier, but also not 0 chance to qualify, depends on staging, revamp, other songs, in which semi it is and so on… But good start!
Why many people say is a problem with her look? You probably liked last year Orgesa’s grandmother look, but now you think Jonida has a problem?????
Ohhhh she is a diva in a good way. No place for drama.
She just needs a stage to sing. That is all.
She will make you listen. Feel the song.
She is a professional and albania can be proud of her.
Very mysterious and unique song to kick off the new season! That beat is very hypnotizing and almost Amazonian. Both dresses were worthy of the Barbara Dex award, please don’t dress her in a costume-like dress! I think the song has a good chance but it could easily suffer if the staging is bad. This reminds me a lot of my country’s last entry (Greece 2018). And the same pitfalls may appea: A Mysterious song with meaningful lyrics, but unfortunately will not translate the same outside of the native audiences. Hopefully that won’t be the case for Jonida this year,… Read more »
1944 vibes… It’s OK, kinda leaning on the verge of not qualifying, but the raw emotion of the song could push it over.
I agree, it’s not that good to capture votes for the final.
– Give her a jovial hairstyle.
– Change her Eneda-esque dress.
– Create new visuals.
– Take those dancers away.
– Plan a staging in which we feel her closer to our souls.
We stan this comment
I can already imagine this with some really impactful staging. People seem to be on the fence like “Hmm will this qualify? I don’t think so” but I feel like Albania is gonna create a moment on stage and qualify. Y’all better look out for Jonida to slay in May
LOL Albania is like the worst for staging and revamps.
TOP 5 1999
1. Sweden (nordic)
2.Iceland (nordic)
3.Germany (Big 5)
4.Croatia ( ex Yugoslavia)
5.Israel (mediterranean )
TOP 5 2009
1.Norway (nordic)
2.Iceland( nordic)
3. Azerbaijan ( ex Soviet Union)
4.Turkey (mediterranean)
5.United Kingdom (big 5)
TOP 5 2019 maybe
1. nordic Denmark or Finland
2. nordic Iceland
3.mediterranean Cyprus or Malta
4.big 5 Italy or France
5.some ex Soviet unior or ex Yugoslavia Ukraine,Russia,Moldova,Armenia or Serbia,Slovenia
Mediterranean could also mean Albania. Just saying.
It could – but there’s no way this is coming third !!
You can’t base your projections on Malta and Cyprus based on special results like last year either. If anything, Greece typically has a better chance in the Mediterranean, excluding Big 5). Cyprus and Malta have pulled Top 2 before but with English songs, while Albania has pulled Top 5 with Albanian songs. That’s a much more difficult feat. I think if Jonida capitalizes on the Cleopatra factor and does a very special staging and camera work related to the Cleopatra theme, she may do very well. Her focus should be a unique and grandiose stage.
Cyprus has a better track record than Greece. They usually do better than Greece.
Only when in English, and imports like Eleni are not the norm, nor very representative of the country itself. Either way, you seem to hate Albania due to own personal reasons or perceptions because everything else sounds exaggerated and irrational, so it’s really pointless arguing about Jonida’s obvious merits when you dislike her nationality.
No way it’s finishing top 40.
We know ONE song and you’re on about “no way it’s finishing top 40”, blah blah blah. You really have an unjustified hatred for this entry don’t you Mark?
This is not the Mediterranean Sound.
99% of the underlying track sounds like a mix of southern Albanian and Greek music. The chants are mountainous music. Jonida has southeastern Albanian ancestry and the song blends the mountainous character of the area with the bordering Greek elements quite beautifully. This is an authentic song that matches the singer’s ancestral roots and her experience with immigration in the family. It’s called a gem.
Nice song with amazing ethnic vibes, it has everything to be a qualifier in Tel Aviv if they nail it with the staging and styling to make it epic. Great Albania!
Having said that, I found it nowhere near the level of “1944” (which is probably my favorite entry of all time). And, I have to say that I definitely prefer “Mall” (underrated gem of 2018) over “Khteju tokes”.
Me too!! Mall gave me goosebumps, Eugent’s voice is pure gold! ‘Ktheju tokes’ is a beautiful song, but doesn’t give me the same vibes 🙁
Definitely!
Albania loves divas and rockers, but what I love about Jonida is that she is a diva that can also get the performance banned in China with those tattoos! It’s better than a banger, it’s a banner! Out of all her performances I liked the winning one, when she was the most relaxed and carefree. She already confirmed that the song is staying in Albanian, and she also feels it because her sister is in Cyprus, and even if Cyprus is not that far away, any distance is painful when someone you care about is away.
You don’t have to worry about Jonida being banned in China, because the EBU banned China from airing(and censoring) both Albania and Ireland last year.
My oh my… China wants to be everywhere now, so shall we take a deep breath, forget about China for a while and just enjoy the opening of national selections for ESC and what’s next to come? 🙂
Guys, I understand that it’s a ballad, but it’s not just another ballad sang by a singing diva this time. It has a very deep, touching meaning for us as Albanians. Albania is suffering more than ever the consequences of emmigration, with thousands of people leaving the country every year, thousands of families becoming separated. Each one of us feels this song to the very core and it represents this sad reality better than ever. I don’t care if it will pass to the final or not, if the stage will be mysterious enough or not. I’m just proud Jonida… Read more »
Okay but what about Eugent Bushpepa’s new song??? He SLAYED that first song!!!!! Can we send him again instead????
2020
Sasha jean baptiste will nail that staging. Just sayin…
Sasa is so overrated , every year similar staging, and many time too cold for tv viewers and juries. We are not in blade runer time . Fokas is so much better, every time staging is different
Or even Hans Pannecoucke – not!
She make 3 type of staging for song If you have rock song , you will have staging with so many fast camera angles in few seconds , fireworks if you have ballad you will have dark cold futuristic LED screen on stage with some effective camera angles and some on screen graphics if you have uptempo song , you will have few female dancers with almost same dance moves every year, holograms , some on-screen graphics, fireworks Dancers, holograms, on-screen graphics , fireworks, depend how much money national TV broadcaster have for Eurovision. If you don t want to… Read more »
Sasha Jean Baptiste is lazy. She puts all her attention into one country and neglects all the others she is staging. Compare Cyprus and Australia this year. Or Georgia and Australia last year. Or even Georgia and Cyprus in 2016.
What a great start of the season. This song has all it takes to do well.
And, also a great start to your review predictions. 😉
this could do rly well, it’s been growing on me! nice start to the season!
Jonida confirmed that she’s keeping the song in Albanian
Where?
I think the song wouldn’t work in English… part of its winning formula is how good it sounds in Albanian!
Albania does it’s thing and sends another overly dramatic entry with screaming woman!
It’s not bad, just sounds like every entry Albania has ever sent. When will Albania surprise us and send something lighter, a pop or rock song? At some point they need to change, or people will get tired very soon
Because RTSH won’t allow it, they are stuck in the past and won’t let the public vote. Happens almost ever year.
They literally sent a rock song in 2018
Leave Denis to enjoy his Melfest bubble gum pop. 😉
wrong again. We have different styles. We have pop, ballads, folk music, swedish songs, folklore so do your research. We dont have 90% screaming women och old men like Albania.
Literally what part of the song is screaming???
I guess Orgesa Zaimi’s 2017 entry would have made a breakthrough and slayed !
Yes Mall had screaming diva and he finished very poorly , SMH
I guess your question should be “when will they hire a Swedish team to do their job?”
No, you Sweden bashing “fans”, I mean Albanian entries that are up-tempo, positive, modern pop. Albania has that side to and thier music industry is far more vibrant than the dramatic stuff they always send.
It would be fun to hear than than yet another entry that will end up between 15th-21 place if they manage to qualify.
Denis, we have ‘Dua Ta Besoj’ for you.
unless a major revamp this will languish in semis
And another ballad from Albania, when will they finally send some up-tempo song? The last time they did was in 2010, if I recall…
2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018.
None of those were up-tempo. Not even mid-timpo..
If ‘I’m Alive’ or ‘Mall’ is not considered mid/up-tempo, you sure had something in your tempo classification.
They are like obsessed with screaming women and non-qualifing.
It’s not a ballad.
This is a powerful song.
Nice vibes, Jamala style.
Also, if the juries in May put whatever Swedish plastic crap above Albania in the ranking, they should be abolished once and for all!
Good luck Albania!
Hope you do great in TLV!
I love what I am HEARING, but I hate what I am SEEING. Burn that dress ASAP!
We’re off to a good start I think. (:
She needs a better hairdresser and stylist tbh. Her looks are killing the song’s power and emotions. I really like the song and her voice is powerful so she better do sth with that hair and the dress.
last year they’ve sent something different from screaming women that they usually send and after amazing result they send something that always brings them bad places
Congrats Albania with another none qualification
I object. Their best result was brought by a screaming woman (2012) and a year after when they sent something different than screaming woman (2013), they stayed in the semis.
Last year we jad screaming men , and he had pop roxk song, and screaming women sang ballad with sometime etnick
Just woke up but wiki says Orgesa came 13th and Artemisa 14th. Is that right?!
Yes.
Unfortunately, yes. I guess she’s too cool for the jury members. Their loss.
Noooooo! I thought Orgesa would win.
With Mirud eliminated my personal favorit was Leyla, but Jonida was a worthy winner, it’s a grower.
Amazing! Albania, you did it again! Now don’t you dare translate this song.