Arilena Ara represents Albania in Rotterdam

Tonight, Festival i Këngës 2019 was won by Arilena Ara with the song “Shaj”. Second prize was for top favourite Elvana Gjata, while Sara Bajraktari became 3rd.

Arilena won season 2 of the Albanian version of the X-Factor in 2013. In 2014 she had her first hit “Aeroplan”. She also topped the Romanian charts, so internationally she is not completely unknown.

It is not known whether “Shaj” will be sung in Albanian or in English. Many Albanian contestants make the choice to sing in English. Jonida Maliqi however, chose to sing in Albanian last year.

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Eurovision 2025
Martijn

🇱🇺 Luxembourg selects a song

Tonight is the night: Luxembourg selects a song. Last year they returned to Eurovision after a long break… and they stay! The show starts at 20:00 and you can watch it here. The show will be held in the Rockhal in Esch-zur-Alzette. Out of 7 songs, an international jury ánd televoters will select the entry for Luxembourg.  Below you’ll find the list of contestants: nr Song Artist   1 La poupée monte le son Laura Thorn 2 Je danse Luzac 3 Human Eyes Mäna 4 Gambler’s song One Last Time 5 No Thank You Rafa Ela 6 Stronger Rythmic Soulwave 7 Ride Zero Point Five Last year, One Last Time took part in the national final too. The band became 6th.Rafa Ela parfticipated too last year, in a duet with Angy Sciacqua. They were 5th. Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest Luxembourg has an illustrious history in the Eurovision Song Contest, despite a long absence. The country participated in the very first contest in 1956 and became one of the competition’s most successful nations, winning five times between 1961 and 1983. The first victory came in 1961 with Jean-Claude Pascal’s “Nous les amoureux”, followed by a win in 1965 with “Poupée de cire, poupée de son” by France Gall. The 1970s and early 1980s saw Luxembourg continuing to shine with standout performances, including Vicky Leandros‘s “Après Toi” (1972), Anne-Marie David‘s “Tu te reconnaîtras” (1973) and Corinne Hermès‘s “Si la vie est cadeau” (1983). Luxembourg’s strategic approach involved often hiring famous international artists and songwriters, giving the country an edge in a competition where musical quality and presentation were key. However, financial difficulties and shifting priorities led to Luxembourg’s withdrawal after 1993, leaving fans nostalgic for their golden years. In 2024, Luxembourg made its triumphant return to the Eurovision Song Contest, marking its first appearance in 30 years.  Share

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