Andri Xhahu has been confirmed as the commentator and spokesperson for Albania at the 62nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, Ukraine.
For a sixth year Andri Xhahu will be returning the commentary booth for Albania next week for the 62nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. The well known television presenter has become the voice and face of the Eurovision Song Contest in Albania, establishing himself as one of the longest serving commentators at the competition.
In an interview with Info Media, Andri spoke of what being the commentator and spokesperson for Albania means:
For me it is achievement in my television career. In addition, Eurovision remains one of the events that I have followed for years with passion and interest.
Since their debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004, Albania has had only two commentators and three different spokespersons. Leon Menkshi was the countries commentator from 2004 to 2011 before handing over to Andri Xhahu in 2012, Leon was also the spokesperson from 2006 to 2011.
Lindita, whose full name is Lindita Halimi, is 27 years old and was born in Vitina, Kosovo, will be representing Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. She first rose to fame after participating in the third season of Ethet, where she placed in the top 10. In 2014 she took part in Festivali i Këngës for the first time, finishing in third place with the song “S’të fal”. She went on to take part in American Idol, but was knocked out before the final twenty-four singers were selected. She won Festivali i Këngës in December after topping the jury vote by 28 points. However, she finished 3rd in the televote.
Lindita will compete in the first semi-final of this year’s Eurovision on Tuesday 9th May with the song “World”. She will hope to take Albania back to the Eurovision final after last year’s entrant, Eneda Tarifa, finished in 16th with her song “Fairytale”.
Source: Info Media
[tw-accordion class=””] [tw-accordion-section title=”Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest”] Albania debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004, when they were represented by Anjeza Shahini. She performed the song “The Image of You” in Istanbul and finished in 7th place in the final, scoring 106 points. Albania has only finished in the top 10 on one other occasion to date, when Rona Nishliu represented them in 2012 with the song “Suus”. Finishing in 5th place, “Suus” is Albania’s best-scoring entry to date.[/tw-accordion-section] [/tw-accordion]
