We’re back in the Balkans for number 39 in the countdown. Having come in the top 10 in last year’s preview chart they have plummeted in this year’s one. Last year, Albania’s high placing proved inaccurate as they finished 17th in the final; does that mean that this year they are underrated?

Well, no, not in my opinion. When this was sung in its original Albanian, it was an unremarkable song but at least had some interest but the switch to English has harmed an already mediocre song. I’m afraid this is my official Toilet Break song for this year – maybe I will change my mind when I see her live but it didn’t change my opinion last year when I saw Albania’s entry at the London Preview Party – I still didn’t think much of it! Will it qualify this year? I don’t think it deserves to but it’s near the end of a weak semi-final and with the huge Albanian diaspora, it could sneak through to the final again.

You can see for yourself whether the criticism of changing to English is justified as well as taking a look at Eneda’s live performance. This was her winning the Albanian national final, singing the song in its original form in Albanian (it’s also the untrimmed version if the song as it’s longer than the 3 minutes allowed for Eurovision songs)

Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest:

First entered: 2004

Appearances (excluding this year): 12

Best result: 5th in 2012

Last year’s result: 17th