At long last, Eurovision season is heating up! We’ve known the identities of several acts for weeks now, but actual songs have been very slow to materialise. However, that’s all changed as we now know two of the entries which will be performed in Tel Aviv next May.
They are Albania’s Jonida Maliqi with “Ktheju tokës” and Spain’s Miki with “La Venda”. This means that we can start choosing favourites. Which act do you like best?
You can listen to both tracks and watch our video reactions below. Then vote in our poll. Choose wisely, you can only vote ONE time. Voting is open until Friday 25 January — the eve of France’s Destination Eurovision grand final.
We will then relaunch the poll to include Madame Monsieur’s successor and any other songs which might drop between now and then.
Jonida Maliqi “Ktheju tokës”
Jonida Maliqi’s “Ktheju tokës” saw off competition from 21 other songs to emerge victorious at Festivali i Këngës 57. After one year off, it sees Albania return to its big-lunged diva formula. However, “Ktheju tokës” isn’t your typical ballad. Its themes of woe hark back to Jamala’s Eurovision 2016 winning number “1944” and Rona Nishliu’s “Suus” — Albania’s most successful entry. Will “Ktheju tokës” replicate their fortunes in May?
Miki “La Venda”
Famous won Operación Triunfo, but last night it was Miki who won the all important Gala Eurovision with the insanely infectious “La Venda”. Not only did he beat the series winner, he also overcame the early fan-favourite “Muérdeme” from María. Spain hasn’t come close to the top ten since Ruth Lorenzo in 2014. Could Miki be the man to take them back?
I prefer Albania, but they can’t be compared. The songs are 2 different genres and have nothing in common.
I like both songs. They are both good in their own right and genre. I chose Albania as my first because this song has so much meaning behind it and I love the way it is composed-that spiritual sound. Spain, I like. It is a good time and it is easy to sing along too despite it not being in English. It is shaping up to be a great contest with songs like these!
Not to be rude but neither stands out to me. I don’t think Albania will qualify and I feel like Spain will place low in the final again…
Boludos? Are you using an Argentinian word to refer to Bolivia? My god the ignorance
It’s hard to say. Albania is trying too hard, Spain is not trying at all. LOL
albania for me, spain’s song isn’t bad but definitely isn’t anything special
Share the video please
I voted for Albania, because I like the darker sounds in Jonida’s song and really like her voice! Spain is also good this year, but sounds like all the other Spanish party songs that went viral in the past few years. That is not a bad thing for the tele vote ofcourse, but it’s not what I prefer.. No doubt that Spain will do better than last year! Albania’s qualification depends on the other acts in their semi, not a certain qualifier sadly.
I find those top 2 polls without meaning, because we only know 2 songs out of 42. To have such a poll, we need much more entries. For now, Spain is my favourite. However, if Seemone wins in France, I’ll put her as my number 1.
I love Spain’s song! It’s so energetic.
I see the Spaniards have mobbed this poll….
I enjoy both songs, though I’m not passionate about either of them. But then, I often need several listenings to get to really like a song, especially with ballads.
Voted for the Spanish song. I really like it. I get a massive soccer stadium call-and-resoonse anthem vibes from it. With Mik’s bubbly personality I’m confident this will do great at Eurovision. Albania is simply boring. I am Israeli\Polish living in America.
Well IF Albania gets to the final, they have a guaranteed spot in the top 20 because of FYROM, Greece, Italy, Switzerland etc voting for them (just like scandinavs vote for each other and slavs vote for each other)
Albania. Very traditional but with this awesome vibe of mystery. Sorry Spain I like the song as well but I really appreciate something ethnic for this year from Albania.
I prefer Albania.
Jonida for sure. I got chills the first time listening to her. Miki on the other hand is fun but the song is kinda repetitive :/ , and we all know how Spain ends up even being one of the fan favourites here at WIWI. Peace 🙂
Albania by far!
Last year when Spanish fans were massively voting for Amaia and Alfred, I literally wrote this comment: “Can’t wait to see Spanish fans’s faces that are voting in this poll after they find themselves at the bottom of the scoreboard in May”. I had a HUGE amount of negative feedback. People were saying me I was tasteless, jealous or whatever they said. And guess what, Spain finished 23rd. Ha! Well apparently nothing changed this year either. I totally understand the enthusiasm, but Spanish fans have to understand that a song that resembles as a Latin American soap opera intro theme… Read more »
You’re indeed tasteless. Albania’s song is just boring, she won’t even qualify pff.
lol, here we go.
The more down votes I get, the more I laugh. Gracias chicos!
I think the poll is inaccurate because Spanish fans (possible the most passionate about their choice ever year) vote multiple times.
Tienes toda la pinta de ser el típico español de culo escocido que se dedica a echar mierda de su propio país creyéndose mejor por hacerlo en supuesto buen inglés… Pero no cariño, no cuela, se te notan los calcos. Sigue intentándolo tho!
1. You were right last year.
2. This year, you are right
about albania.
Good singer. Good song.
But, you are wrong about spain.
This chico will suprise you.
Hi! I tried so hard to fit “La Venda” in any Latin soap opera I know, but it’s impossible for me. Maybe it’s because of the fact that this song is the kind of song you can find in any spanish party. When you say “Spain” everyone responds “FIESTA!”. Let us show you what “spanish fiesta” really means. Let us show you what we dance, what we sing in the shower, in the car or partying. Let me invite you to a Spanish village during their party and I can assure you you’ll have more fun singing Miki’s song rather… Read more »
Albania’s song is not bad, but Spain’s is way better
Tough choice, but due to yesterdays’s excitement I choose Spain. Miki is so much fun. Make no mistake though, I do believe Albania has better chances and Spain will once again have a bad result. It’s RTVE, don’t forget that.
Albania wont qualify noooo????
Miki!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On a side note, can anyone help me to vote for Czech Republic’s entry? Only app I can find is for phones only and mine is old and refuses to install anything. Is there any app for the computer?
Maybe look at installing an Android client such as Bluestacks on your PC?
Not even a question to me…100% Albania!
Albania! 🙂
And can we note the fact that even they’re only 2 yet, there’s no song in english!? 😀
Let’s hope France will choose Seemone 🙂
Well, there will be many anglophone songs from northern and eastern Europe, but I’m all for native language songs if they are good!
Both countries made good choices as both songs were my second favorites in their respective selections. That said, Albania is a top 10 material, so – Jonida!
Just talking about this two, Albania. Now, in wider sense: I don’t like Jonida as much as I liked Eugent, and I see it as a borderline qualifier, and maybe even that depending which semifinal she ends up. With a good stage I can see Jonida doing well with the juries but with probably the exception of Albania’s own diaspora vote, being forgotten by the public. Spain is the other way around, it’s a televote bait that would get forgotten by the juries as long as Sweden, Australia or France send something artsy (like Seemone, Emanuel or the Divaz, they’re… Read more »
Albania by a mile.
Albania isn’t too shabby but I love the high energy song (and latin vibes) of Spain’s song. Great choice!
Sorry but i don’t find Albania sooooooooo amazing as you are saying and i don’t eveb think that se is gonna qualify. Too boring drama.
Spanish trolls are trolling us again. Spain Will fail so miserably this year. Only if the y send david bisbal or pablo alboran they can survive
La Venda!!
In audio version Albania is better. In live performance from national final Spain is better . I think both countries will be on left side on scoreboard from 9 to 13 place. Spain will be in TOP 10 with televote from 7 to 10 place, but in bottom 5 with juries from 21 to 26 (like France 2010, Denmark 2018). Albania on left side with juries points (from 10 to 13) but with televote from 14 to 17)
1.Spain
2.Albania
Lol do you really think spain will even make it top 20 ?
As predicted, Albania will do horribly. Even after one song picked, Albania is at the bottom. lol
I would prefer Albania’s entry over any of the songs competing for Spain last night. But the important thing is that both countries made good decisions based on the options they had. I also like that their songs will play different roles in the lineup.
I have to go for Albania, but not with much enthusiasm, apart from the first 30 seconds.
At least last year the Spanish song had a meaning and it was nice to listen to. This one is all I hate about Spanish music. Sounds like a bad version of Despacito or Sofia… basically something that sounds good the first three times you listen to it, but then starts getting really annoying. I hope they revamp it.
Go Albania.
I think the same, it’s a very Spanish style, the Party song, a song more fitting for a wedding party or a town fete than for Eurovision. Juries are going to maul it off, but at least the Spanish would enjoy criticise the juries afterwards.
Spanish fans flooding all the polls again… We all know how it will end.
Say yay was better than this.
Loving a 1 dollar football song cannot be considered as good taste.
Okay I’m going to listen well-produced generic pop songs and operas because it is quality… and yes, first read the lyrics of song before saying anything
Albania definitely.
Or is it the hundreds of Spanish fans who are voting massively? Mistery… 🙂
Exactly…the poll is meaningless.
This is what I think about all the lack of respect to Spanish entries every year, and specially for this cureemt edition: Far from all the Spanish fans are arrogant and disrespectful. It is a pity that a few people that, as you said, we do not even know if they are Spanish, can create such a wrong picture of how Spanish people are. To be honest, I am kind of amused by those ones that disrespect whatever that has with Spain to do and feed the stereotype, while they are simultaneously doing exactly the same thing that they criticize.… Read more »
What do Spanish fans have to do with the poor quality of their entries?
Spanish fans choose the entry. How the quality is, that is up to subjectivity.
Miki of course. He’s great ????
La Venda is fun but the first time I heard Ktheju Tokës it moved me to tears and I cant ignore that. Albania gets my vote!
Albania without a doubt!
Both are great, example of diversity. But rooting for La Venda for now
Both songs are very good. But Spain is better for its quirkiness, catchiness, and cuteness. 🙂 Though both of them have to work on their vocals.
I wanted to vote for both as they are both literally my favourites. But that’s not an option so in the interests of fairness I abstained from voting.
I’m from Spain but
Albania >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Spain.
Don’t like either of these. Waiting for France, Australia, and Italy for early winning songs.
I think many trolls pretend to be Spanish, just because they want to feed the stereotype. Too many common Spanish usernames,
I agree with you… Far from all the Spanish fans are arrogant and disrespectful. It is a pity that a few people that, as you said, we do not even know if they are Spanish, can create such a wrong picture of how Spanish people are. To be honest, I am kind of amused by those ones that disrespect whatever that has with Spain to do and feed the stereotype, while they are simultaneously doing exactly the same thing that they criticize. Regarding the Spanish entry, it is a pretty ok song, not necessarily a winner but at least it… Read more »