The last details of Festivali i Këngës 49 are being finalised. The participating duet Alban Skenderaj & Miriam Cani became a huge subject in the Albanian media.
Within 3 weeks we will know who will be the Albanian representative at the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest. Edmond Zhulali, the artistic director of Festivali i Këngës 49 in a recent interview told that they are working on the last details for the show.
Never before as this year, participating artists haven been commented so much in the Albanian press. Even thoughthe participating songs haven’t been officially published, the duet Alban Skederaj & Miriam Cani seems to be the biggest contender to win the 49th edition of Festivali i Këngës. They both have participated as solo singers at Festivali i Këngës, Miriam in 2005 and Alban in 2006. They also have hosted together last year’s Albanian national final.
Alban is a famous Albanian singer and songwriter who has won many awards in his country. Miriam, show hostess and singer was born in Albania but at the age of 6 she moved to Germany. She was a member of the German pop girl group Preluders. This successful couple is extremely popular amongst the public. Their first song together Let me die with you became a huge success in Albania. Alban & Miriam will enter this year Festivalii Këngës with a song called Ende ka shpresë (There is still hope).
"We have worked a lot on this song and very happy with it. The song is a power pop ballade", stated Alban to newspaper Panorama.
Other favorites according to Albanian media are Aurela Gace and Besa Kokëdhima. Aurela, a well established singer is making a comeback at Festivali i Këngës after many years. She has already won FiK twice, in 1999 and 2001 and finished few times second and third in the nineties. Aurela stands out for her very powerful voice and very emotional deliverance of songs.
Besa Kokëdhima, an other favorite this year is participating for the second time at FiK. She is known for the special colour and tone of her voice. This charismatic singer is very popular amongst Eurovision fans.
The semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës 49 will be held on December 23rd and 24th and the grand final will be the 25th of December.
Stay tuned to Esctoday.com for more news from the Festivali i Këngës 49.
Below you can listen to several songs of these three contenders (The following are not the songs entering FiK).
Alban Skenderaj & Miriam Cani – Let me die with you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUa171ehyZA
Aurela Gaçe – Ndjej
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI0OB6k3t4g
Besa Kokëdhima – Kalorësi i natës
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e-yQk2QA_E
