ESC Covers got the following report from the head of delegation of Albania.
For the third time, Junior Fest Albania will be used to select the Albanian representative for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018. It will be Albania’s 5th participation in Junior ESC, since our debut in 2012 with Igzidora Gjeta. After a two-year absence, in 2015 Albania competed in JESC with Mishela Rapo, Klesta Qehaja (2016) and Ana Kodra (2017).
From more than 40 songs submitted to RTSH for the Junior Fest Albania 2018, 16 have been selected to participate in the final of the contest.
The sixteen finalists who will be competing to represent Albania at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Minsk, Belarus, are:
1. “Melodi pranverore” (Spring melody) – Hera Hysi (music: Diana Ziu lyrics: Mimoza Bici)
2. “Mbrëmje feste” (Celebration night) – Emmi Rushiti
(music: A. Kaloshi lyrics: Irma Kurti)
3. “Sot” (Today) – Kristiana Veshaj (music & lyrics: Vasil Cuni)
4. “Barby” – Efi Gjika (music: Efi Gjika lyrics: Hristina Gjika)
5. “Happy” – Jasmina Hako (music & lyrics: Adrian Hila)
6. “Me tinguj fantazi” (With fantasy melody) – Sindi Goga (music & lyrics: Arber Kocllari)
7. “Çdo gjë do dashuri” (Everything needs love) – Iris Sula & Samanta Qoshku (music: Edmond Rrapi lyrics: Leidi Shqiponja)
8. “Panorama” – Era Rakipllari (music: Endrit Fusha lyrics: Mishela Rapo)
9. “Botë e re” (New world) – Merlin Xhai (music: Endrit Shani lyrics: Florian Zyka)
10. “Është koha” (It’s time) – Laura Boriçi (music & lyrics: Armand Broshka)
11. “Ylberi im” (My rainbow) – Iris Dollani (music & lyrics: Enis Mullaj)
12. “Ylli im” (My star) – Sajana Kodhelaj (music: Gjergj Kaçinari lyrics: Ana Kaçinari)
13. “Prindër ju lutem” (Parent, please) – Ana Kodra (music & lyrics: Eriona Rushiti)
14. “Ëndërroj” (I dream) – Melodajn Mancaku (music: Uendi Mancaku lyrics: Etmond Mancaku)
15. “Ditari” (Diary) – Speranca Bregasi (music & lyrics Alban Male)
16. “Qiellin dhe yjet i dua” (The sky and stars I love) – Uendi Goga (music: Jetmir Mehmeti lyrics: Suela Tukaj)
Ana Kodra comes back in Junior Fest Albania. Last year in Tbilisi, she held the Albanian flag on the Junior Eurovision stage with the song “Don’t touch my tree”. Another comeback is that of the singer Mishela Rapo, the representative of Albania in JESC 2015, who this year has written the lyrics of the song “Panorama”. Adrian Hila, the composer of “Dambaje” in JESC 2015, has composed and written the song “Happy”. A number of the songs are written or composed by the young singers themselves. Efi Gjika has written the melody of her competing song.
The sixteen songs tried to tackle social issues affecting children, some of them are songs dedicated to children dreams and fun games. There are so many different singing styles and genres, from dance to pop and beautiful ballads.
The final of Junior Fest Albania which takes place on September 23-rd, will be held at the Amphitheater of the Lake Park in Tirana, Albania.