FESTIVALI I KËNGËS 63 SONGWRITER DEEP DIVE 🇦🇱🕸️📊
The days are getting darker and FiK-mas is just around the corner! Of the 30 lineup, 22 songs have connections to other entries. Big names, new stars, seasoned songwriters, this has everything. Let's take a look (a thread 🧵)
Ardit Çuni - "Amane"
A newcomer to FiK himself, Ardit is helped by Stivi Ushe, who competed himself last year, with the dramatic ballad "Askush si ty". Also worth noting that in these graphs, songs are labelled by Eurovision year (so one year later than the FiK year)
Mal Retkoceri - "Antihero"
Last year's winner is back, again bringing a self-penned song. Will Mal be able to achieve succes again, and perhaps even the ticket to Basel?
Gresa Gjocera - "E vërteta"
Gresa get's helped from experienced writer Endrit Shani. Fans may remember songs like Gigliola Haveriku's "E lirë", Klinti Çollaku's "Do t'ja dal" or Luna Çausholli's "Jetën ta fal", all penned by him
Lorenc Hasrama - "Frymë"
While Lorenc is new to FiK, he is making a splash for his first appearance, being one of four people to be involved with multiple entries this year. On top of performing "Frymë", he has also written "Zemrës" for Nita Latifi
Jet - "Gjallë"
Already getting a hit through Kënga Magjike this year, Jet is hoping to make that double with "Gjallë". The song was written by power vocalist Inis Neziri ("Piedestal"/"Pendesë") and Elio Shuli, who was involved with Gent Hoxha's "Ajër"
Orgesa Zaimi - "I parë"
No stranger to FiK, Orgesa has performed fan favourite entries like "Ngrije zërin" and "Hije". For the first time, she is working with star songwriting duo Enis Mullaj and Eriona Rushiti, who have written masterpieces like "Duje" and "Zjarri im" together
Endrik Beba - "Ishe ti"
While Endrik has participated in FiK through bands Lynx and Urban Band before, this is his first time as a soloist. Will he be able to break through on his own?
Devis Xherahu - "Ka momente"
16 years after his FiK debut, Devis is back for a fourth time. Will this one bring him succes?
Elvana Gjata - "Karnaval"
No doubt the most anticipated entry of recent FiK memory, "Karnaval" will be Elvana Gjata's third song for the festival. In 2003 she failed to make the final and in 2019 she fell just short of victory. Is this finally her time to take the trophy?
Kejsi Jazxhi - "Kur bota hesht"
Kejsi is making her debut helped by two familiar names. Sardi Strugaj finished second in the 2020 edition. Briz Musaraj has written entries like Orgesa's "Ngrije zërin" and Ronela's attempt at a Sanmarinese comeback, "Salvaje"
Santino de Bartolo - "Kur nata vjen si bora"
Santino is on a streak of Festival appearances, introducing himself to Eurofans at last year's FiK, and making his debut in the Kosovar edition earlier this year. Is third time the charm for him?
Djemtë e Detit - "Larg"
A true comeback, Djemtë e Detit had six entries in the pre-Eurovision FiK during the 90's. Now, despite the loss of their lead singer Gent Demaliaj, they're back. They're helped by Timo Flloko, who wrote Redon Makashi's 2nd place entry "Ekziston" in 2017
Gjergj Kaçinari - "Larg jetës pa ty"
A frequent name in FiK lineup. "Larg jetës pa ty" marks Gjergj's fifth involvement with the festival
Vesa Smolica - "Lutem"
While "Lutem" marks Vesa's debut, this is by no means the case for Eriona. Her songs have frequently sparked enthusiasm in fans, and represented the country on the European stage four times across adult and junior Eurovision
Erma Mici - "Mbaje"
Erma became one of the breakout stars of FiK 61, winning the award for the Best New Artist. This time she is joined by star writers Kledi Bahiti ("Karma") and Rozana Radi, who were involved with Besa's entry last year
Alis Kallacej - "Mjegull"
Alis makes her debut with the help of Alban Kondi, who has been involved with a number of entries over the last 20 years. Many fans will remember Vanesa Sono's "Aroma Jonë", which was written by him
Martina Serreqi - "Nese qaj"
Returning directly from last year, Martina's "Nese qaj" is the second of two songs written by Sardi Strugaj this year
Luna Çausholli - "Qiell apo ferr"
Fans will remember Luna from FiK 61, and the Kosovar edition this year, failing to make the final on both occasions. Will the third time be the charm for her?
Frensi Revania - "Rreziko"
Alban Male has written a number of songs for the festival for artists like Besa Kokëdhima and Kamela Islamaj, but has been absent for more than a decade. Will his comeback bring succes?
Kleansa Susaj - "Ta dija"
Kleansa won over many fans last year with the stunning ballad "Pikturë". Now she's back with the help of Kledi Bahiti, who has alreade helped two songs go to Eurovision this decade. Will "Ta dija" be the third?
Nita Latifi - "Zemrës"
Nita introduced herself to Eurofans with "Marrëzi", in the Kosovar FiK last year. Now she's going for the Albanian edition, with help from her fellow competitor Lorenc Hasrama
Shkodra Elektronike - "Zjerm"
After figuring on fan wish-lists for many years, this interesting duo is finally set to take the FiK stage. This is not their first time being involved however, as they wrote Rezarta Smaja's "E jemja nuse", placing third in 2021
The remaining 8 entries do not have any connections to other entries:
Laorjan Ejlli and Adelina Corraj - A thu
Algert Sala - Bosh
Stine - E kishim nis
Epos - Kurajo dhe Zjarr
Ronaldo Mesuli - N'zemër
Mihallaq Andrea - Porositë e babait
Rea Nuhu - Sot
Olsi Bylyku - Tupanët
And that's all! Hope you enjoyed reading this thread, and found it informative. If you did, make sure to follow me so you don't miss out on similar deep dives I will be making for all other national finals this season. Until then, take care!
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?