Albania: Aurela to win Festivali i Këngës again?

by Gafurr Sahiti 77 views

While RTSH, the Albanian public broadcaster, is currently finalising the preparations for the 49th edition of Festivali i Këngës, everyone's attention in Albania is fixed on the participation of Aurela Gaçe.

The participants list of this year's FiK contains several newcomers and several names from the current Albanian music industry. One of the most outstanding participants this year is the singer Aurela Gaçe. She is one of the most successful singers in Albania.

Aurela’s real success begun in the 90’s. She has already won FiK twice in 1999 and in 2001 and got more second and third places than any other singer during the 90’s edition of Festivali i Këngës. Her last participation at FiK was in 2001 but in the meantime she has performed at FiK as a guest singer in 2006 and 2008, when she got a very impressive applaud by the audience. She hasalso won other contests, like the popular festival Kënga Magjike.

Aurela has showed herself as a very flexible artist in the Albanian music industry. She has been working in different genres, from folk to dance and classical pop.

Aurela will make a comeback at Festivalii Këngës 49after 9 years with the song Kënga ime (Eng. My song), composed by the famous composer Shpetim Saraçi. The lyrics are written by Sokol Marsi.

In a recent interview with the local newspaper Aurela stated: "It’s still a dream to represent Albania at Eurovision Song Contest. In 2001 they said that the winner of FiK would be the first Albanian representative at Eurovision Song Contest. I was the lucky one to win that edition of FiK and was hoping to represent my country but unfortunately Albania didn’t enter that year Eurovision. Eurovision is a challenge with emotions. I would love to have this challengein my career.

The Albanian national final, Festivali i Këngës kicks off this week. The49th edition of the festival spans over three nights, beginningon Thursday the 23rd ofDecember and coming to a close on Saturday December 25th.

Watch below some of Aurela's songs

FiK 1997 – second place
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kje0k8Ov5DU

Winner of Kënga Magjike 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO7Axnov_qw

Summer hit 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XyZca6fTTE

Folk song by Aurela, recently performed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa10FDCPvWo