The Festivali i Këngës 58 results are in and it was a clean sweep for Elvana Gjata… but only among the international jurors.
Following last night’s surprise result at the Albanian national final, passionate Eurofans were quick to lambaste the international jury, screaming that the contest was a sham and that the results were rigged. Many went on Christer Bjorkman’s personal Instagram account accusing him of shafting fan favourite Elvana Gjata.
Well, as the official results indicate, it was the international jury who actually voted for Elvana. Greek composer Dimitris Kontopoulos, Icelandic Head of Delegation Felix Bergsson and Swedish TV exec Christer Bjorkman all gave Elvana the maximum 18 points.
But the two other jurors — both from Albania — disagreed sharply. Albanian writer Rita Petro ranked Elvana fifth while esteemed ethnomusicologist Mikaela Minga placed her next-to-last. Fans have speculated that the Albanian women had broader tastes in music than the pop-adjacent foreign jurors.
However, all five jurors had eventual winner Arilena in their top three.
Broadcaster RTSH released scans of each juror’s voting forms, showing the handwritten scores. Each form was signed by the responsible juror and officially stamped by the broadcaster.
You can see the full results below.
Albania: Festival i Këngës 58 jury results
Christer Bjorkman jury vote
Felix Bergsson jury vote
Dimitris Kontopoulos jury vote
Mikaela Minga jury vote
Rita Petro jury vote
What do you think? Are you happy with the way the jury voted? Should RTSH reintroduce a televote? Tell us your thoughts below!
Elvana she deserve to go eurosong
I agree. We saw this situation happen with Ester Peony last year, and we don’t need a repeat. Dislike the song, not the artist.
I agree. The main reason I’m angry though is because the “proffesional juries” are not able to agree, and that one or two juries with such “weird” votes can change the results so drastically. Giving five people so much power in the first place makes the voting system seem weak and unaccurate. In my opinion they should create a new voting system with more and (and hopefully better) juries or with televotes. Everyone that directing their anger towards arilena can to bed.
It’s not fair that Elvana wasn’t the winner. And really,how are these jury’s members that gave to Elvana some joking votes.
Elvana must go in eurosong
I think the jury must refresh with new juries, expert not with people with different professions
Can y’all just get over it and calm down already. Elvana’s song wasn’t even that amazing and if Cyprus couldn’t win with Fuego then there was no way Albania could win with Me Tana. In fact, I wouldn’t have been surprised if Albania NQ’d with Elvana. Stranger things have happened in ESC so just get some perspective and stop trashing Albania for not choosing the song you wanted. Seriously, you’ll have a much more enjoyable NF season.
Fuego didn’t win but ranked 2nd and gave the singer international success. If arilena can even dream of ranking 2nd in that competition with her depressing song, then that would be a dream come true,
lmfao as if Albania cared to win Eurovision. all Albanians wanted was, Elvana to go to Eurovision and represent the country with smth different, and perhaps reach a top 5. we dont care abt winning cuz you know its not like europe wants a small country (with 1000 TV ads lol) to host Eurovision. we wanted a similar result like that of Rona or Eugent. simply
Hi commentators, please like my comment if you think that Elvana Gjata was the best in that festival(festivali i kenges 58).I was really shocked when I saw that the winner of this competition was Arilena Ara,nothing personal with Arilena, because we all know that she is very talented,but the most of us,were waiting for Elvana to win. it’s here someone that thinks that Elvana was the best.And also her song is more viewed in YouTube.
Elvana is the best
Dude u can tell that there was a trick in the voting as the international jury voted Elvana with max points so there is no question about the winner. Even if someone who knew absolutely nothing about music, would not give 2 points to Elvana so that Mikaela Minga, who should be ashamed of herself, is 100% sure she was put into jury just to Alter the votes, period.
I think Michaela Minga shpuld go in jail for corruption. Math Laws do not accept such a deviation between profesional jury members. Where does professionalism stands here….One member says :Perfect the other Garbage.
Think one moment you write an essay and one teacher gives you 100% the other 10%.You can guess that one of them does not deserve to be called TEACHER and needs further training….
I think you should see a doctor
She signed that voting affidavit, she should back it up in a court of law if they investigate and find wrongdoing.
I personally think that as a song “Shaj” is much better than “Me Tana”. Elvana’s song relies more on a catchy instrumental rather than good composition. I believe the international jury voted for the potential of her song. Also, Elvana’s singing was rather average.
What are you talking about, it was the international juries who gave Elvana the maximum 18 points.
I definitely think that RTSh should reintroduce a televote cause the fans didn’t vote for Arilena but Elvana. That’s not fair for Albania.
Really no chance that Mikaela scored the contest back-to-front (that really happens, you know)?
Am surprised that Bojken did so well with the Albanian jurors. Maybe they hear something that I don’t there.
“Should RTSH reintroduce a televote?”
Since when did a FIK include a televote and why did it end up being removed? I’m just curious.
The last time they used televoting was 13 years ago
LMAO, I said the Albanian jury was a corrupt regime.
The 3 international jurors had Elvana first, and the 2 locals with vested interests deliberately killed her
Ethnomusicologist Mikaela Minga placed her next-to-last. And ethnomusicologist. I think this says it all. Eurovision juries voted for what they thought would do better in Eurovision. And as we all know not all songs that do well at Eurovision are average electronic mid tempo songs!
At least Elvana was still in the top 5 with Rita. Mikaela was the one that really screwed her. If Mikaela even gave her just 5 points it would have been enough to tie Arilena.
I hope that je have a mistake ELVANA DESERVE TO WIN he must to revote again PLEASE ELVANA FOR EUROVISION SHE DESERVED MORE
I’m afraid nothing can be done… what happened, happened and we must move on. Of course I’m also pissed that Elvana didn’t win and Albania lost their chance to shine, but I accepted that Arilena won and now we must live with it.
I understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinions in regards to music, but when you are chosen as a jury member to take part in deciding the representative of a country for a notorious continental competition, a certain degree of objectivity must be maintained when evaluating the potential entries i.e. Analyzing the staging, performance, vocals… and I’m sorry, but there’s no way that Michaela can justify ranking Elvana last. Elvana had AMAZING vocals for a pop singer (better than Eleni imo) and the staging was pretty good as well. Even if it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, Me… Read more »
I hope that minga voted in the wrong order and elvana gets 13 points instead of 2 and bojken 1 instead of 18 ?? i mean the jurors often voted in the wrong order in esc right?
Are you stupid Albanian juries? How you could do it? You lost your chanse! Elvana’s song was winner material. Really can’t understand
I love how y’all are super quick to jump the gun, because I thought it was Bjorkman “sabotaging Albania so Sweden would have a higher chance” and “the international juries are corrupt.” But now you’re all thinking that this one single juror was drunk and bribed just because she has a different opinion than the fans. Look, I think putting Elvana 11th was a crime as well but y’all are always looking at someone to blame when a fan fave doesn’t win. Sure, a 5 people jury is really small but Albania still made a great decision nevertheless. Thanks for… Read more »
The Albanian jury was rigged though. theres been lots of scandals about it
Arilena is a great singer and has a beautiful voice, but her song is not for eurovision. It is clear that the albanian jurors were paid or something like that by Vera Grabocka. Why? Because Arilena is a product of x factor, which was a show directed by Vera too. I really wish they do something about this, because it is clear everywhere who the winner is and that’s Elvana. It’s a big scandal here how Vera added chairs at the public where fans of Arilena would sit there and scream here name. It is a shame how these fans… Read more »
I’m not a huge fan of Bjorkman’s usual meddling with the main contest but y’all owe him an apology. He clearly didn’t sabotage Elvana.
I already apolgised but I never went to instagram to bash him directly. Obviously I was overcome with emotions and didn’t think it clearly. Albanian jury at least one of them really screwed it up but o well. Best wishes to Shaj it was my 3rd favourite
I wish Arilena good luck and I will vote for her during Eurovison. In my opinion Elvana Gjata deserved to win. I am even more frustrated now that I see the results. How that woman Mikaela Minga can give her 2 points? That doesn’t make any sense.! But as many people mentioned here certainly she was corrupted. Anyway Elvana Gjata doesn’t need fame in Eurovision, she is currently the most loved and most famous Albanian singer worldwide.
I hope all those people being rude an vindictive to Bjorkman apologize and should feel shame for what they did.
When “Shaj” is borderline to qualify and then comes mid-to-bottom table on the right in the Grand Final (if it even manages the qualification), I’ll remind everyone that only 1 out of 5 jurors in the NF thought it was the best song there…
My feelings exactly. I smell a Kruna situation brewing ngl
Do you think “Me tana” will be a worldwide success? And will it be a worldwide success because it’s an exquisite composition?
It will be more of a success than Shaj. And of course it won’t be a worldwide success because it’s in the Albanian language.
I don’t understand all this angryness and I don’t understand some people reactions. If I compare Arilena and Elvana, definitely Arilena is a great voice and sang the song very correctly. And what to say about Elvana a great entertainment great hits but that’s all. She is singing from many years but we have to admit that Elvana’s voice and the way she sing were a total disaster and failure. Don’t forget that Elhaida Dani also was ranked low by Eurovision jury because she fail to sing correctly. Eurovision is not only about la la la la and rythmic song… Read more »
Eriona Rushiti (Ktheju Tokes composer) said in a Facebook post that when Elvana was winning, the director of the festival (Vera Grabocka) didn’t like it so she brought two Albanian jurors to sabotage Elvana and send Arilena to ESC. She says also, that the whole festival was made only and only to send Arilena to ESC. And that Elvana was only a name who could bring popularity. But when the director noticed that Elvana was winning clearly with the international jury, she put two Albanian jurors to make Arilena win. It was known sincw the beginning that an international jury… Read more »
Let’s go chat!!! Blame Björkman for the decision of
the albanian jurors!!!!!!
Next time DONT say bad things about Christer Björkman then you dont have to apologize either. Im very mad att the reactions on his instagram. Im asamed of people writing bad stuff before they knew Elvana was his favourite…. Leave him alone from now on forever! Hes a good guy.
Leave Britney alone
i guess you LOVE bullying people on social media yourself.
As fishy as the Albanian juror’s votes seem we simply must accept that Arilena won and that she will be going to Eurovision… I must also apologize for thinking bad of Björkman, he really wants what’s best for the country for whom he is being a jury member. Elvana can still win (and will most likely win) the OGAE Second Chance Contest, although I must admit that idgaf about that contest xD
I hope Christer Björkman invites Elvana Gjata to Melodifestivalen 2021. If Margaret can participate, she can too.
Elvana is not popular in Sweden …(her songs)
You can’t insult someone on a SM for a song contest. It’s silly. Grow up: Arilena won and you can make nothing about it.
Exactly nothing, like not even gonna vote her. Waiting for her victorious flop.
WHERE is the guy who wrote yesterday that bjorkman ruined elvana s hopes …. mouaha … must be so ashamed poor troll
Hope people apologize to Bjorkman and the others for literally abusing them last night when they actually voted in line with what many people saw as the right result
it was a difference of 3 points!!! (64 to 67) it‘s a shame
Exactly. If Mikaela Minga gave Elvana 5 points it would have been enough to tie Arilena. And I don’t know how their system works but I would assume Elvana would go to Eurovision because she got more 18 points.
I am not denying that Albanian jurors may be instructed to vote Elvana down, and it can be corruption, but it may not be. I really did not like Elvana’ s song since I first heard it. Also, international jurors cannot judge lyrics, maybe Me Tana lyrics were too simple for native Albanian speakers? Just a thought.
On a different topic, Dora finalists were announced. I cannot believe Goran Karan is back. Most robbed artist of 2000.
IMHO only 5 jurors is not enough to decide if you don’t have an additional televoting. I must say after I have just listened and watched Boiken Lako, what I missed to do before, I really like it (more than the winner ballad: it is just a matter of taste.) For me it would be great to split Eurovision in two different contests. One with all the stress on international taste, success, stardom etc. and another contest with songs only in the national language, written by national composers, with only national juries and televoting to decide in a national selection.… Read more »
Christer gave ‘Ajër’ 13 points. He’s an angel!
I don’t understand the logic behind awarding 18 points and 13 points to the first two songs. Why should there be an 8 point gap between the third ranked song and the first ranked? How is that even considered fair play? It is somewhat suspect that Mikaela Minga would down vote Elvana so explicitly even compared to Rita Petro, but there were other performers whose scores went all over the place. The Albanian jurors clearly rooted for Boiken Laku but the international jurors were not so impressed. He had a very clever folk/ethnic bop with thought provoking lyrics so it’s… Read more »
Actually, by making the gap less, Arilena would have won by more points. Have in mind that she was in the top 3 of every single jury, but only got first with one. Meanwhile, Elvana was first with 3 juries, and ranked quite low with the other 2.
She was still in the top 5 with Rita. Mikaela was the one that really screwed her.
Yeah, this is Albania. The most corrupt country in Europe, where you never get what you deserve. That’s why I left that country for good.
This comment is too much, just because you are not happy of the result. This doesn’t mean you have to talk in general about the country like as corrupted. Don’t forget also that the public never always agree with Eurovision country votes and jury. I guess between Arilena and Elvana Arilena deserved to winn, no comparisons between them.
Hmm I beg to differ. If you live in the same country as I did, you’d know that’s the truth. Anyway.
Last night some were accusing Bjorkman of sabotaging Albania’s chances in Eurovision… how many of them will take the same time and space to admit they were unfair to him? So people should be way more careful about accusing people of wrongdoing without proof, even if it’s indeed strange to rank Bojken that high and Elvana that low. I would like to know their reasons before throwing stones though. The rage should be about how irresponsible and unreasonable it’s to give all the power to such a small jury, especially when you don’t even have a televote.
I didn’t write any comments last night but I’ll admit that I was suspicious towards Bjorkman. I gladly admit that I was wrong. However, I stand by my words: if you want to do jury only, the jury needs to be bigger. It’s crazy to think that in a national selection, only 5 people had the power to decide. As you said, if the jury was bigger, it would have been more fair. Arilena could have still won (I would have preferred Elvana) and her victory would not be debatable by angry Eurovision fans ^^’
I personally think Bjorkman shouldn’t be involved with so many Eurovision activities like deciding the contest running order or voting in other country’s national finals. Since he’s the one behind Melfest, this may be seem as a conflict of interests and I believe EBU should be more careful about Eurovision’s image. That said, I have no reason to believe he tried to sabotage anybody. Even if I disagree with most of his choices (my musical taste is usually very different from his), he’s been consistent about voting for uptempo songs with slick presentations and ballads sung by emotional singers. And… Read more »
Aside of that, I can understand that Elvanagate is a totally missed opportunity of having a different and exciting Albanian entry (+big artist involvement in Eurovision), but generally we also put Ari’s song as another potential choice, and by the reaction of the audience they also received the results with praise. Elvanagate becoming a (totally) huge drama kinda shook me for a moment.
All those people blaming the international juries last night must feel pretty silly right now.
Exactly! People say that having head of delegations as juries makes them vote for the less stronger entries to favour those from their own countries, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen this happen. To name a few, in the Maltese 2018 NF all of the Hods voted for the eventual winner, and in the Icelandic 2019 NF it’s the same situation again. I’m glad this selection has once again justified my argument.
First of all, so glad to see Sara doing so well 🙂 Ajër is a great song
People overhyped Elvana and now they’re all too mad, it happens every year with at least one country
Now please focus on Arilena and Shaj and talk about her rather than Elvana
Hopefully, Elvana will come back in the future with a better song (just a bit strength and a build up and it’s perfect)
I want to move on but i’m still salty. I mean i loved Arilena but this result made me saltier, why would Albanian jurors missed the opportunity to bring their country to possible best result? But i’m looking forward to what Arilena going to do next because she has a potential
Introduction to eurovision corruption 101:
-Have a small jury panel
-Have maximum 3 people that will affect the result
-Give a lot of points to a song that would never win and downvote the public favorite
And the result is fixed!
Placing the public favorite next to last is simply called corruption. Albanian jurors were instructed to downgrade Elvana and that’s what they did.
Sadly We’ve seen this at Esc as well.
So many individual jurors put Il Volo, Sergey or Keiino in their bottom 5.
Thats the problem of having individual opinions over general opinion/consensus which come from televoting.
I mean…could just be that they didn’t like the songs? Those three in particular aren’t to everyone’s tastes, and they couldn’t possibly know how well they’d do in the televote when they cast their votes. Same sour grape resentment as ever.
Yeah, same musical taste of juries placing il Volo last and lazarev 20th….
I kind of figures, when you think about it. FiK has always been seen as more of a traditional festival, with ballads having the upper hand. Bjorkman, the man behind the more modern and upbeat Melfest, saw Elvana as a big potential to achieve top 10. I think the 100% jury system isn’t the right one, but at least we got different opinions from them. Since only 3 points were crucial to Arilena’s win, I wonder how televote would deal with it. Judging by people’s reaction yesterday, both got an enormous applause.
letting 5 ppl decide a country’s entire representative is pure clownery regardless of how they voted. apart from belarus last year (it was basically a televised internal selection), when was the last time someone used 100% jury in their nf?
lol this is hilarious. 😛
Albania just gave Christer Björkman an Image boost and continued destroying its own. Obviously, we can’t know this for a fact, but to me, it does look like they implemented one juror to downvote Elvana. And I didn’t even care if she wins or not.
Im disqusted of what “fans” wrote on his insta. Mostly albanians and after they change their mind when they saw what he voted….
Christers insta was not nice yesterday by the albanians…..
I hope peoole stop saying that we’re mad that our favourite didn’t win and start seeing that we’re mad because of the clear corruption on the Albanian jury.
Mikaela Minga must’ve been drunk when she voted.
Nah, just instructed to do so.