There’s been a bit of gap since we’ve had a Balkan country in the countdown (#35 with Montenegro) but we finally return with Albania. Aside from that dreadful song that came 5th in 2012, Albania haven’t made a major impact on the contest – can Lindita put Albania back on the Eurovision map?

This song was the very first to be chosen for Eurovision, however it wasn’t until almost all the other countries’ songs had been released that Albania finally revealed the English language Eurovision version of the song. To be frank, both the original and this pass me by – I put this into the “shouty woman ballad” category, and it’s not one that’s a favourite genre of mine.

Lindita was originally born in Kosovo and is certainly not lacking in confidence or looks – but with only Greece and Montenegro voting in the same semi-final (Albania has received the most points in the past from Macedonia, Greece, Switzerland and Croatia), it could prove a tough ask to qualify.

Mum’s reaction: “Nah, didn’t do a lot for me”; scrunched up face

Official video:

Live at Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam:

Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest:

First entered: 2004

Appearances (excluding this year): 13

Best result: 5th in 2012

Last year’s result: 16th in semi-final (did not qualify)