She’s perhaps Albania’s biggest pop star and to many she was the presumed winner of Albania’s Eurovision 2025 selection show.
But on Sunday night Elvana Gjata fell just short at Festivali i Kënges 63, placing second to Shkodra Elektronike. That’s unleashed a torrent of drama as her fans pick up the pieces — and as her detractors come out of the woodwork.
Amid the furore, Elvana has posted a message on Instagram in which she welcomes constructive criticism, but calls on people to turn down the temperature. The heat was already rising during the live shows, as some audience members openly booed her during the show.
Elvana Gjatta responds to Festivali i Kënges fallout
The “Karnaval” singer said:
“Thank you for all the love, your votes, and the countless messages you sent me during FIK63. I’m so grateful to everyone who supported me all the way to the finals, and I promise to return that love tenfold through my music.
I always wish the best for my country and whoever represents it on international stages. The same goes for Shkodra Elektronik-wishing you an amazing experience at Eurovision 2025!
I welcome constructive criticism as it helps me do better, but let’s keep the conversation free of hate speech-it has no place in music or anywhere else.”
She signed her post, “With Love, Elvana”.
Elvana is not the only FiK 63 contestant who has had to speak out during this intense week of competition.
Speaking to Wiwibloggs after Semi-Final 1, Ardit Cuni had strong words for fans who, he says, have no idea about the stress and strain artists face to put on a good show.
“You know a good word won’t hurt anybody,” he said. “If you don’t support me, you don’t need to be toxic.”
What do you make of the fallout? Are you proud of Elvana Queen for holding her head high and responding to the hate? And what can we do to let the love unite us all? Let us know down below.
It’s a competition. People’s opinion about songs is actually in focus. What you like and what you dislike. People can have strong opinions.
Hate is not the same as dislike.
If someone hands out death threats, talk about violence against someone or says racist things etc. that should never be tolerated. Going hard against a song, comparing it to songs people don’t like, using comparisons to other non flattering things, or criticising in other ways, that’s just how it is.
Seriously do we really spend and article on songs that’s lost? Just get a life….
4 days later am still singing along to Karnaval, couldn’t even hum the tune (did it have one) of the winner
“Let’s keep the conversation free of hate speech”
Should be the new Eurovision slogan. And/or the Wiwibloggs instruction to us commenters
If the ESC fandom couldn’t hate against backing vocals, the English language, and Israel, there’d be nothing left to talk about.
OGAE Second Chance potential TOP3. Every cloud… She’s amazing anyway. 🙂
i didnt like any of the top 2 songs tbh but i respect her and the winner not sure why people are annoyed by this
Nice to see some fairplay! This girl has class
She is already a big star, she has nothing to prove, Eurovision is only a bonus for her. She has a life as a big established artist already and the fact to not go to Eurovision won’t change that.
Hope to see her coming back again, she has everything to be successful in Eurovision, third time’s the charm.
Why did she delete the post(s) about the song on her Instagram page though? Now it’s as this chapter never existed lol
my thoughts are before let love unite us all we need to ask important ? like if winner origin had to do with them winning or if jury jonida still has feelings for ex or is jealous that elvana plays with him on that tv film every week? please we need closure to heal ok? thank you merry christmas
But saying that her song is generic and bad isn’t hate speech. We all agree that she is talented and has many better songs.
Exactly. Me Tana is one of my favourite songs of ANY national selection, but this song was just not the one. Maybe people should accept that. On the other side, people also need to accept that the song that won is not everyone’s cup of tea and that it can be critizised as well. I think the two groups (“Elvana” and “Shkrodra Elektronike”) are so keen on defending their favourite artist, they have tunnel vision and won’t allow for any other opinion. Just relax and enjoy Christmas.
I actually was quite convinced by her live performance such that her song which I didn’t have many feelings towards improved in my regard for it