🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱Merry FiK-mas!
It's that special time of year again, with 31 artist, including lots of familiar names, competing to win #festivaliikenges and/or the right to represent Albania at #eurovision2024
It's time for my #fik62 SONGWRITER DEEP DIVE 🕸️📊🧵
#eurovision #fest62
🇦🇱🦅SEMI FINAL 1🦅🇦🇱
Besa Kokëdhima - Zemrën n'dorë
One of the biggest names this year, Besa is back after 13 years. Kledi Bahiti has written a few notable songs over the past years including Anxhela Peristeri's "Karma", while Rozana Radi has also contributed to multiple recent entries
Eldis Arrnjeti - Një kujtim
Eldis is back after his succesful 2022 entry, which landed him a third place. Bujar Daci was a part of the team then too, can they make the podium again?
Shpat Deda - S'mund t'fitoj pa ty
Shpat Deda was on the initial participant list for 2011, but withdrew before the competition. Now we finally get to see him on the big stage after 13 years
Festina Mejzini - Melos
Festina has become a familiar face for FiK followers at this point, notably finishing third on her latest participation. Her song is written by Sokol Marsi, who has many notable songs to their name, including both of Elhaida Dani's 2015 entries
Kastro Zizo - 2073
Kastro makes his fifth consecutive appearance, looking to follow up the succes of his 3rd place finisher last year. To help him he has allied with Timo Flloko, who notably achieved second place with Redon Makashi's "Ekziston"
Melodajn Mancaku - Nuk jemi ne
Melodajn is back from last year. Just as last time, her song is cowritten by her sister, Wendi Mancaku, who also competed twice herself. Maybe we should expect a duet in the future
Andi Tanko - Herë pas here
Andi is back after eight years. Last time they were eliminated in the semis, let's see if they can land a better result this time
Sergio Hajdini - Uragan
Another returnee from last year, Sergio is back for his third attempt
Olimpia Smajlaj - Asaj
After performing in the newcomers section two editions back, Olimpia makes her return to the FiK stage. Her song is written by Briz Musaraj, who wrote fan favourit "Ngrije zërin" and Ronela Hajati's Sanmarinese attempt "Salvaje" among others
🇦🇱🪐SEMI FINAL 2🪐🇦🇱
Big Basta and Vesa Luma - Mbinatyrale
Big collab here, Vesa Luma makes her return together with Gerald "Big Basta" Xhari. The songwriters have songs like Lindita's "World" and Vanesa Sono's "Aroma jonë" to their names
Elsa Lila - Mars
The big favorite of this edition, Elsa is hoping for back to back wins. Apart from her recent appearances, she has also been involved in the Sanremo festival. She also won FiK two times in the pre-ESC era (which isn't covered by my database yet)
Jasmina Hako - Ti
Making her FiK debut, Jasmina's song is written by regular entrant Florian Zyka, who has written notable songs like Inis Neziri's fan favourite entry "Piedestal"
Michela Paluca - Për veten
Another debutant helped by a notable songwriter, Enis Mullaj wrote last years ESC-entry "Duje" as well as fan favourites like "Zjarri Im" and "Rrëfehem", as well as this years JESC entry
Anduel Kovaci - Nan'
Considered a "robbed" artist by many after his non-qualification last year, Anduel is back for revenge. Will "Nan'" gain the cult following "Malli" had?
Kleansa Susaj - Pikturë
Another Florian Zyka-penned entry, this time Jeris Kaso, who wrote Gent Hoxha's "Ajër" last year is in the mix as well
Arsi Bako - Zgjohu
Another non-qualifier from last year, Arsi is hoping for a big comeback with "Zgjohu"
Tiri Gjoci - Në ëndërr
Regular entrant and one of Jonida Maliqi's background singers from 2019, Tiri makes his fourth attempt. Is this the one to make him reach the ESC stage as the main singer?
Besa Krasniqi - Esenciale
A big fan favourite from her last participation, Besa was chosen as Albania's OGAE second chance entrant in 2016. Will she make it to Sweden this time?
Bledi Kaso - Çdo gjë mbaroi
While Bledi is debutting, songwriter Pandi Laco is a true veteran, having songs make the ESC stage in 2005, 2007, and 2008, as well as JESC in 2015 and 2016
Martina Serreqi - Vetëm ty
With an entry written by Markeljan Kapedani, Martina is making her debut. Kapedani had an entry in 2016 as well, which finished 12th. Will "Vetëm ty" make it higher?
WITHDRAWN ENTRIES
This edition has seen three notable artists, Kejsi Tola, Sardi Strugaj, and Samanta Karavella withdraw. Though they will not perform their entries this week, I still wanted to show you their diagrams:
And that's all! In honor of the chaotic nature of FiK, I'll leave you with this diagram of all Albanian entries. Check out all my previous deep dives here, and follow me to make sure you don't miss my analysis of all other NF's this season
SANREMO 2025 SONGWRITER DEEP DIVE 🇮🇹🕸️📊
Always a highlight of the Eurovision year, Sanremo is back for the 75th time. And as always, the songs feature many familiar faces from Sanremo past and present. Let's take a closer look at all the connections (a thread 🧵) #sanremo25
Sarah Toscano - Amarcord
"Amarcord" was written with the help of regular writers Federica Abbate and Jacopo Ettorre who previously collabed on "Due" and "Fino a qui", as well as a team of less frequent writers who worked on "No grazie" and "Furore"
Serena Brancale - Anema e core
Another Abbate/Ettorre song, this time with Nicola Lazzerin in the mix. Nicola is making a big debut in this years contest, being behind 4 of the original 30 songs. Serena herself competed in the Newcomers section back in 2015
POLSKIE KWALIFIKACJE 2025 SONGWRITER DEEP DIVE 🇵🇱🕸️📊
After a brief experiment with internal selection Poland is back to giving us national finals. In the lineup we find multiple entrants and songwriters from the past. Let's take a closer look at all the connections (a thread 🧵)
Chrust - Tempo
"Tempo" was written with the help of Krzysztof Falkowski, who was behind Maciej Musiałowski's entry in last year's internal selection, finishing 9th, receiving Kasia Moś highest points
Daria Marx - Let It Burn
Daria made the superfinal back in 2022 with her hit song "Paranoia". Now she's back, this time with the help of veteran writer Peter Boström and DMGP 2025 entrant Maria Broberg. The two also collaborated on Xannova Xan's song for this year's Greek final
VIDBIR 2025 SONGWRITER DEEP DIVE 🇺🇦🕸️📊
As always, #Vidbir is a highlight of the Eurovision season. This year, five out of the ten entries have connection to other entries in the Eurovision world. Let's take a closer look at all the connections (a thread 🧵)
A quick note:
As I source my database from different sources, different translitterations have to be harmonized for me to make these connections. Due to that some connections may have been missed. Please let me know if non-Ukrainian transliterations have been used in the plots!
Molodi - My Sea
The Mariupol group is making their Vidbir debut with the help of one of last year's winning songwriters, Anton Chilibi. On top of his "Teresa & Maria" involvement, Anton also wrote Carpetman's "Endless Fight"
EUROSONG 2025 SONGWRITER DEEP DIVE 🇧🇪🕸️📊
Tonight is the night, where we'll once again witness a Belgian selection, after last years internal process. What really sets #Eurosong apart, is the fact the 5/8 were written by the same person! Let's take a closer look (a thread 🧵)
Leez - Perfectly Imperfect
Perfectly Imperfect was written by Will Knox, who was involved with Eurovision 2019 winner "Arcade", in addition to a few NF entries. Also in the mix is Loek van der Grinten, who helped write Netherlands 2023 entry "Burning Daylight"
Le Manou - Fille à papa
One of five songs written by Willem Vanderstichele, who is truly making an impactful debut in the Eurovision world
ETHNIKÓS TELIKÓS 2025 SONGWRITER DEEP DIVE 🇬🇷🕸️📊
After many years of internal selections the Greek selection is finally back to our screens! Among the participants we see a few connections to former entries, both recent and older. Let's take a look (a thread 🧵) #EthnikosTelikos
Klavdia - Asteromata
One of the two big favourites, Asteromata was written by the writing team Arcade, who were also involved with Stefania's 2020 and 2021 entries. Will they be able to add another Eurovision participation to their resumé?
Constantinos Christoforou and Kostas Karafotis - Paradeisos
Constantinos is no stranger to Eurovision, having represented his native Cyprus three times (1996/2002/2005). Will he be able to at a Greek participation to his list? Rodoula was involved with two Cypriot entries as well
MALTA EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2025 SONGWRITER DEEP DIVE 🇲🇹🕸️📊
Another year, another MESC. Like previous years, the song list is filled with connections to previous entries, with not a single song being disconnected. Let's take a closer look! (a thread 🧵)
Adria Twins - Qalb ma' Qalb
A collaboration between regular Maltese writers Sebastian Pritchard-James (Loop) and Joe Julian Farrugia (We Are More) and Swedish writer Melanie Wehbe (Move/Sand/Love Is Forever)
Dario Bezzina ft. Joseph Il-Muni - Għażliet
Dario's fifth attempt, and the second with the help of mega-writer Phillip Vella (7th wonder/Desire/Breathlessly/etc.). Could this be Phillip's 7th Eurovision entry?