Extremely happy and extremely excited. These are the words Albanian singer Arilena Ara used to describe her feelings just moments after booking her spot at Eurovision 2020.
The Festivali i Këngës 58 winner was still in her stage costume when she met with Wiwiblogger Erdi Tejeci inside the Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana. She said she was still trying to take it all in.
“I don’t know what to say,” the “Shaj” singer said. “I have no words. I have to sit for a minute and to think about it and to ask myself, ‘Am I the winner? Is this real?'”
Will Arilena revamp “Shaj” in English for Eurovision 2020?
Albania has a rich history of revamping its songs ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest. Sometimes it works, but sometimes it really doesn’t. It seems that Arilena is considering taking the chance.
“I haven’t thought about it yet because I didn’t know if I was going to be the winner, but maybe we’ll do it in English,” she said of a potential revamp.
It seems her mind is more concerned with doing her nation proud.
“I can’t wait for Eurovision even though it’s a really big responsibility to be there because you will represent all the Albanians everywhere.”
During the festival, she said that the song originally came to her in English. Erdi asked her if she could remember the English lyrics that ultimately inspired the tune.
After a pause, she sang: “Broken, broken, broken with love…”
In the months ahead, Arilena will repeatedly be asked if she has a message for Eurofans. The X Factor winner, who also placed third with the Wiwi Jury ahead of the show, is focused on gratitude.
“Thank you for supporting me, supporting my music,” she said. “Thank you for loving ‘Shaj’. It has been a great journey here in the festival. I hope I won’t disappoint you. I really love all of you guys and God bless. Merry Christmas.”
Do you think the song will work in English? Or would you prefer Arilena to keep the song in Albanian? Let us know in the comments down below.
I wish her an ounce of luck
The real winner is Elvana gjata ,this ballad will drop faster than garbage from the trash can
Another English revamp? Some people NEVER learn! The last 3 songs they revamped into English all failed to qualify. They would do better to keep it Albanian. 🙂
You has right but the entries sung by Eneda and Lindita in original version was only mediocre.
If I was in Arilena’s shoes, I would keep the song in Albanian, revamp the instrumental to make it more orchestrally powerful for Eurovision, and then release the English version as an extra, sometime in March/April. She was my #2 in Fik, I’m not complaining. I wish her luck.
The only acceptable revamp here is for Arilena to make this right herself by withdrawing from Eurovision and letting Elvana go instead.
Go away
The story is done now. Even if Arilena withdrew (no way that’s happening, she’s thrilled she gets to go to Eurovision), Elvana wouldn’t go. And she shouldn’t, this whole situation would leave a stinky mark on her participation.
Good luck to Arilena!
Actually it would just empower her participation even more with a story of wrong made right. Or she can go together with Arilena and they can sing Me Tana together, instead of that dreadful gothic sounding mess.
No I don’t see it that way. It’s like she would lose her dignity or smth. She doesn’t need Eurovision.
I hope Arilena pulls an Elhaida and changes the song. I think the only way for that to happen is if Vera Grabocka convinces her, because from what I’ve seen Arilena just loves her Darko song.
“She doesn’t need Eurovision”. Even I don’t need Eurovision, but the truth is that this was a competition to go to Eurovision, and her investment was fraudulently negated. Relativism does not change the fact that theft occurred.
Withdraw from this fandom
It’s not Ari’s fault, so don’t drown her for things she (probably) didn’t understand. RTSH seems to own a large apology to Eriona and Albanians atm.
The composer of ktheju tokes is basically claiming in a lengthy fb post that the new directors of the show did everything to become the head of FiK in order to send Arilena to eurovision (one of them is also her manager) and she is spilling a lot of tea regarding lack of official rules, allowing for the first time foreign authors intentionally (Darko Dimitrov is not albanian and he created Arilenas song). The drama started early this year
Link please.
https://www.facebook.com/eriona.rushiti/posts/10220578639597716
links are not allowed, look for her on google
I did, I can only find her insta profile.
I don’t care about the composer of last year’s Albanian garbage.
Well you should because she wasn’t just last year’s composer, she was also in charge of selecting the two Albanian members on the jury and the process that saw the selection of artists/songs. According to her, the artists and songs were chosen separately and information on composers was withheld; nobody knows why. She’s not a nobody, she was actively involved in the process.
See the big question is why did nobody question the matter beforehand? There really is no use in complaining once the winner has been chosen because that is often futile. Elvana’s team should have protested beforehand and pointed out the conflict of interest.
Well there’s 1 less country competing for a space in the final already then.
No revamp will fix the sheer awfulness of this song
Just wait. Arilena might prove wrong ASAP! 😉
I’m fed up of countries relying on English all the time. A 50/50 language rule needs to be in place imo, so countries can be told apart
For many countries your remark would make a point… However Albania has sent songs in Albanian for the past two years. They have proven to consider both options of keeping it in their native language or switching to English, and to not just always switch to English by default.
I absolutely agree with you !
The instrumental needs more, and the translation I’m not sure. I prefer a mixture of the native language with some parts in English if it flows well more than a whole language translation.
I know most are just speculations, but the songwriter of Ktheju Tokes has written a very interesting status in her facebook about this year’s FiK. Wiwi, maybe you should dig more into it.
Can you copy the link of her fb page?
This generic “Broken, broken, broken with love” surely doesn’t help the English lyrics’ case. Since Arilena’s delivery is the selling point of the entry, I guess the English lyrics would help with the juries, but would make it way less charming for viewers. There’s something enderaring about feeling the emotions of a singer without understanding the language. In terms of a revamp, I would like if they took one of their last two entries as inspiration and add some guitars or percussion. The current instrumental is pretty, but it lacks some punch.
Please keep it in Albanian. It’ll lose so much of its mystery and moodiness in English.
Come on, she did know she was the winner and everyone knew it from the beggining
Albania’s recent track record suggests that, at least as far as Eurovision is concerned, she’s better off keeping the lyrics in Albanian.
That’s what you get when you sign Mikaela Minga and Petro as Juri members: both pretensious “intelectuals” that think the “Ballad” of Arilena ist highly intelectual compared to the “tallava” of Elvana. Provincial Intelectual attitude! Elvana’s song brought life, joy and colours – it would have done well at the Eurovision. On top of it stands Elvana itself, very sympathetic and warm. Lovely! Arilena has a great voice – she didn’t deserve to go with such an avarage ballade to Eurovision. Singing it in English is a big mistake – may be it is though as a career booster for… Read more »
I think she should pull off an Elhaida Dani and sing another song. It’s not a big deal when it comes to the language. Shaj is fine but Arilena definitely deserves something better.
Pretty much. From her interviews, I think they already have decided it will be in English. Stubborn like Lindita.
Eneda had a strong voice, Lindita had a strong voice, Aurela had a strong voice. BUT NON OF THEM QUALIFIED CAUSE THIS IS ISN’T THE VOICE OF EUROPE. Her song screams 17th place in ranking and below.
Say it to all the Albanians who think sending the same thing for the tenth time it will give us the win
It’s either gonna be a NQ, or 17th and below as you said. Albania is cancelled this year.
Me Tana wouldn’t have got higher than 17th, let’s be real here
Albania can’t necessarily be cancelled. In fact, it’s impossible to “cancel” a country. 🙂
Literally don’t care. I don’t plan on listening to this song either way.
I mean, you can put lipstick on a pig…
Harsh but necessary Lol ^^
Congratulations on being another NQ.
The same path as “fairytale”, “world” and 14 other entries from Albania.
This song does NOT have mass appeal. Might do okay with some judges who happen to like depressing, miserable sounding ballads. But not enough to get her anywhere near the grand final.
Well not 14, more like 4 (2007, 2014, 2016 and 2017, 2011 was an ethno rock, not this type of ballad) and the other ballads (2008, 2012, 2015* and 2019) qualified so can’t hold this against them.
Otherwise you’re spot on.
nobody listens to power ballads in english in 2020. she should keep it in albanian, it gives this albeit very middle of the road song some charm and an extra push
Judging from her interviews, I’m sure she and her team want to translate it into English for the “broader appeal”. They think they have the next “Proud”. It’s clearly not the case.
I hope she doesn’t translate it. The song is okay in Albanian, sounds really good like this..
If I was her, I would change the song. She has a beautiful voice, but the song is just bland and nothing new. She has so much potential and deserves a better song than this one.
Elhaida did in 2015 as well. Even if I’m Alive didn’t reach the best result, it’s still one of the best Albanian entries.
I so wish she did that. But unless Darko has written her another song, they’re sticking with this. It’s way too “personal” or whatever.
For was Albania 2015 quite horrible….
How about changing the song competely?
I wish, but they can’t use the same excuse like Elhaida. That complicates things.
It really sucks. And Darko better stick to Kenga Magjike, I don’t like him messing with FiK. What happened to the ‘No foreign authors’ rule? Vera Grabocka happened.
Ugh I know. At least we could blame our own when the song wasn’t good. It double hurts when it unnecessarily comes from a foreigner.
Would be a Christmas miracle if the kept this in Albanian.
Or change the song entirely.
Well, the contest is still in 5 months so she have alot of time to prepare and bring it up in Rotterdam.
Broken with love? Please revamp those lyrics while you’re at it. I can already tell they’re bad. I really, really want to be able to root for Arilena. Her songwriting team is not making it easy.
Female English ballad. So innovative….never been done before… Albania missed a great chance to make a difference by sending their biggest pop star. Arilena will end up below 17th place at best
I’m Albanian myself, and I don’t know if RTSH knows they do a bad job every year, or they really believe the BS they always say like “We’re a small country”, “Qualifying is a win”. It’s getting harder and harder to root for my own country.
Oh again no final for Albania. Bye
See ya in 2021.
Actually, final for Albania. Hello 🙂
Make it rock, electronica, EDM, dance, country, ethno…..whatever. Just CHANGE it! A good idea. Thanks.
Or do as in 2015 – opt for a different song. NOT a powerballad in any case…..
Not that what I say is worth much….but good they consider changing it.
Next year, I hope the Albanian PUBLIC – not an agening, small jury, will pick their song
Eugent’s Mall was a mid-tempo pop-rock only two years ago. Jonida’s song was a ballad, but it was in Albanian and it had strong ethnic vibe and a lot of solo instrumental. Elhaida’s ESC song (although that one didn’t win FiK) was a mid-tempo pop (jazzy-ish?). Suus was basically a spoken word followed by one loud ballad-ish chorus. In any case, not traditional or safe. Songs you are referring to are One Night’s Anger, World and Faifytale. They are all English-translated power ballads and they all tanked at the semi. Personally, I find Shaj much better so far, but a… Read more »
Just a song contest, relax. 🙂
uhh albania should just do internal selections from now on, with their vibrant music scene that isn’t compatible with fik’s outdated taste, it’s such a waste of potentially great results
I’ve wished that for years. But RTSH is scared that nobody will participate in FiK if it goes back to no Eurovision. So they ain’t ever changing. And it’s a shame because FiK was/might still be its own thing.