Anjeza
Shahini is an
Albanian singer, born on the 12th August
1986, who in 2004 represented Albania in its first
appearance in the
Eurovision Song Contest, with the
song The Image of You, originally known as Imazhi Yt
(Your Reflection).
The then 17-year old schoolgirl was plucked from
obscurity in 2003 when she competed at the three-day "RTSH"
song festival (Festivali i Kenges) at the Tirana
Palace of Congress in December. Along with 29 other
singers, she vied to win the public vote to represent
the Balkan state for the first time at the Eurovision
Song Contest in Istanbul in 2004, singing the song "Imazhi
Yt" (Your Reflection), a synthesised pop tune. After
two preliminary rounds, the singers faced a final vote
by jury and Albanian television viewers' televote. The
interval act at these national finals was actually the
previous winner Sertab Erener.
At the end of the final on 20th December, hosts Adi
Krasta and Ledina Celo presented Anjeza with her
special ticket for 12th May: a place in the Eurovision
semi-final in Istanbul. The victory was well received
by the Albanian public, although some comments were
made about her gypsy descendency, something which was
queried almost daily in the country's media.
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