The first national final of the Eurovision 2020 season is upon us! But before Albania chooses its representative during Sunday’s Festivali i Këngës 58 closer, there’s still the small matter of semi-finals to be dealt with.
The second of which takes place at 20:30 CET tonight — find out how to watch live here. And if our readers are to be believed, there is one favourite — Arilena Ara with “Shaj”.
Arilena Ara is your favourite to win semi-final one of Festivali i Këngës 58
After pop superstar and YouTube record-breaker Elvana Gjata, Arilena has perhaps been the most talked-about competitor in the FiK 58 lineup. She was hyped before the songs came out, and it appears her entry “Shaj” has lived up to expectations.
We asked our readers to pick their favourite of the 20 FiK 58 entries, and Arilena comfortably emerged as the most popular act from semi-final two.
The X Factor winner picked up 400 votes out of a total of 3,222 votes cast. In percentage terms, that’s a respectable 12.41%.
When compared to the entire field of 20, only Elvana Gjata scored higher with our readers.
Coming a close second, it’s Era Rusi with “Eja merre”. She earned 324 votes or 10.06% of all votes cast. The only other second semi-finalist to break triple figures is Wendi Mancaku. She scored 108 votes for “Ende”.
Who should win semi-final two of Festivali i Këngës 58? Results
- Arilena Ara – “Shaj” 12.41% (400 votes)
- Era Rusi – “Eja merre” 10.06% (324 votes)
- Wendi Mancaku – “Ende” 3.35% (108 votes)
- Gena – “Shqiponja e lirë” 2.67% (86 votes)
- Valon Shehu – “Kutia e Pandorës” 2.55% (82 votes)
- Olta Boka – “Shkrime në mur” 1.24% (40 votes)
- Eli Fara & Stresi – “Bohem” 1.15% (37 votes)
- Kastro Zizo – “Asaj” 0.99% (32 votes)
- Tiri Gjoci – “Me gotën bosh” 0.93% (30 votes)
- Robert Berisha – “Ajo nuk është unë” 0.87% (28 votes)
The percentages listed relate to the overall 20 song poll. The results of the semi-final one acts can be read here.
Total votes cast across both semis: 3,222
Do you agree with our readers? Who is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.
What a boring song…Don’t get why people like this. Albania needs something different.
Who went to the final ?
Elvana, Arilena, Kamela, Tiri, Olta, Valon, Gena, Robert, Alberie, Sara, Era and Bojken.
Arilena
Elvana
Bojken
Sara
Kamila
Erra
Valon
Tiri
Robert
Olta
Alberie
Gena
I think Me goten bosh and Ende are amazing songs and I really like Shaj too. I expected all three of them to slay tonight and they did. Olta Boka is my biggest grower. I was very neutral to the song, but she knocked it out of the park and I cannot ignore her tonight.
Four of them should qualify, no question! My 5th qualifier is a toss. Maybe Valon, even if I liked the song better in the audio. The pauses in the chorus made it more energetic.
Personally, I slightly prefer them to Mall (but Nene is even better), but they are all good. I wouldn’t say that, at least in this arrangement, any of them is a masterpiece. They are really good, but have space left for slight re-tweaks if chosen. Very interesting thing about FiK this year in general is that I’d say it’s quite solid on average, but the interval between my ratings is not that big. Generally, several 6s, 7s and 8s from me.
I think everyone’s tastes slightly differ and that’s really lovely, cause we can see things from different perspectives. At least we spotted some similar songs as above average here and that’s cool. 🙂
Even some people who usually have +/- similar style like me sometimes like a song I’d never guess. Celebrating diversity in all it’s forms and have an open forum is what I really like in being an ESC fan.
Eagle needs to go to the final
arilena go go
wiwiblogger readers are so predictable. arilena’s song is as unremarkable as it gets, especially in a sea of better songs.
Still think that after watching it? 😉
The best song from this semi is Eja Merre. By miles.
I’m rooting for Gena! Don’t understand why it’s kind of underrated…
Ya’ll sleeping on Era Rusi! I can’t wait to see what she does live.
Era’s song has a potential to be a big show-stopper, but judging by what Elvana and Aldo did yesterday, there is a serious chance she’ll be partially tamed by the show format. In any case, I expect Eja merre to stick out tonight.
Exactly! She’s my fave to win. Gotta change that staging tho.
Tiri will be great tonight. I can sense it. Will he win? Less likely. But he will surpass public expectations. Mark my words!
Arilena will, of course, deliver it fully and Shaj would be a worthy winner.
Ende is a great song and I can see it as a black horse of FiK if Wendi nails the staging.
Interestingly, this semi also has some songs I am less enthusiastic about, but I will give them a chance.
I support Valon and Arilena
Arilena should go to ESC another time, with a different song, she got great potential to be wow with a better song than shaj