When it was announced that Vera Grabocka and Alketa Vejsiu would take over the direction of the ART Festival this year, everyone expressed interest and curiosity. The duo have been producing successful formulas for years and are expected to do the same with the Song Festival. Over the years, with the exception of those who watch it live or the fans, everyone else simply reads the name of the winner the next night of the final night and listens to the song that will represent us at Eurovision. Unfortunately, the festival's aim has been reduced to selecting a winner that will serve as Albania's face for the coming months.
So when we were informed about the direction of Grabocka and Weiss we thought they would improve the formula, select more contemporary artists, and bring something new. So they will take the festival out of the pre-90s period where it has stalled. And they are trying to do it even though they are opposed day by day.
Diana Ziu and her husband, Vangjel Toche, sent an open letter to Grabocka - where one in three words was sticks - filled with questions, the most important of which was, "Why was my song rejected?" was so embarrassed, he just said the song was rejected, but I don't know why.
In the evaluation panel that acknowledges or rejects the songs are Jean Ciko, Soni Malaj and Dorian Chene, but say Grabocka has nodded and refused or accepted specific songs. The amazement that this rumor causes is unjustified, given that something of this nature happens in any sphere of our lives. When everything else, every process, bureaucracy is tainted, we expect the Song Festival to be the epitome of "a job well done." Why? It's just naivety.
However, how wrong is Grabocka or the commission that has rejected singers like Kujtim Prodani or songs performed by Diana Ziu or songs against drug traffickers and the state's equalization with the mafia. Maybe they are boring or not actual songs. Maybe they belong to another decade. Perhaps they have no place at a festival that represents the country at Eurovision. This new spirit, which treats the Festival of Song as any other television production that aims to attract shockwaves, is frightening these creators because it is perhaps making it clear to them that past success is not enough. reap success now.
In the last twenty years, a handful of famous songs have come out of the Song Festival. Aurela Gaçe with "No Tribute," Anjeza Shahini with "Your Image," Rona Nishliu with "Suus," Juliana Pasha with "I Can't Without You," and Eugent Bushpepa with "Mall." Other winners are known, but simply because have saturated the screen around participating in Eurovision, not their exceptional songs. While the other participants are not known at all.
In contrast, this year, a good portion of the participants are names that are heard and liked: Elvana Gjata, Arilena Ara, Bojken Lako, Eli Fara, Era Russia, Kanita, Kamela Islamaj, Castro Zizo, Gena, Olta Boka, Albrei Hadergjonaj etc. . You can't say you're not curious about their accomplishments because we know you are. These artists and others have confirmed themselves in the Albanian scene and will naturally attract attention and viewers.
So the festival is watchable - hopefully thanks to the innovations that Grabocka and Weissy will bring - and audible, thanks to the skilled artists who received the songs. Remains to be seen in the production will be "inspired" by the Magic Song, which has proved to be the most interesting and first-year format for music festivals.
Not accepting the song at the festival is not the worst thing that can happen. There's always another, it's annual. Even if you consider selling, buying, honoring, schemes. Albania has never been fair, but it would not be bad if this year, these compromises are being used to make a spectacular spectacle and to bring out a worthy winner, the public to be more open-minded.
