Albania: Anxhela Peristeri to fly the flag in Rotterdam
The Festival i Këngës 59 final is over with Anxhela Peristeri crowned winner and her song ‘Karma’ becoming the first selected song for Eurovision 2021.
The Albanian national selection concluded tonight with the last decisive show of Festival i Këngës 59 that declared Anxhela Peristeri as the Albanian Eurovision 2021 hopeful with her entry ‘Karma’. The show was hosted by Blendi Salaj and Jonida Vokshi and directed by Martin Leka.
All three shows of the national selection were held in an open air venue in Tirana due to covid-19 restirctions while all performances were pre-recorded. A total of 25 acts performed in the first two night of the competition, with 18 of them qulifying to this evening’s final, once the jury votes were counted. The acts that competed in the final show were:
- Sardi Strugaj – Ka me t’ba me kajt
- Xhesika Polo – Më mbron
- Orgesa Zaimi – Valixhja e kujtimeve
- Wendi Mancaku –Ves I shpirtit im
- Era Rusi – Zjarri im
- Gjergj Kaçinari – Më jep jetë
- Rosela Gjylbegu – Vashëzo
- Devis Xherahu – Peng
- MIRUD – Nëse vdes
- Giliola Haveriku – E lirë
- Viktor Tahiraj – Nënë
- Kamela Islamaj – Kujtimet s’kanë formë
- Florent Abrashi – Vajzë
- Inis Neziri – Pendesë
- Evi Reçi – Tjerr
- Anxhela Peristeri –Karma
- Festina Mejzini – Kush je ti dashuri
- Kastro Zizo – Vallja e jetës
Besides the contestants, Eugent Bushpepa, the Albanian ESC 2018 representative who finished 11th with his entry “Mall”, appeared on stage performing Leonard Cohen’s song Hallelujah.
The final result was determined 100% by a jury, which declared winner Anxhela Peristeri with her song “Karma”, while 2nd came Sardi Strugaj delivering the song “Ka me t’ba me kajt” and in 3rd place finished Festina Mejzini with her entry Kush je ti dashuri. Besides the winner’s award , Evi Reçi won Tirana’s Special Award for her song Tjerr.
About Anxhela Peristeri
Anxhela Peristeri is an Albanian singer, born in Korytsa 24 March 1986, with Greek roots also as her father is of Greek origin. She finished high school in Tirana and after moved to Greece in Athens to continue her University studies.
In Greece she developed a significant music career by singing on stage next to big names of the Greek music scene and participated in the Greek x-factor. Earlier in December 2001, Peristeri participated in Festivali i Këngës with the song “Vetëm ty të kam”.
Despite her rising career in Greece in 2014 she decide to return to Albania. In December 2016, she debuted at Kënga Magjike 2016 with the song “Genjeshtar”, where she finished in 2nd place. Then in December 2017, she won the 19th edition of Kënga Magjike with the song “E Çmendur”. In December 2019, she competed in the 21st edition with the song “Dikush i imi” and eventually finished in the third place.
Enjoy below Anxhela’s winning performance of ‘Karma’:
