Back in 2021 already, she won the 60th edition of Festivali i Këngës with her song “Sekret.” The last few months, she was busy perfecting the song for Turin, but today we finally can hear the version she will perform at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy. Let’s listen to Albania’s representative Ronela Hajati and her song “Sekret”
About Ronela Hajati
The songstress, well-loved in her home country, has a reputation for being musically versatile and a string of Albanian Top 10 hits to her name. Born and raised in the capital city of Tirana on 2 september 1989, she already began performing as a child in various singing and dancing competitions.
In 2013, Ronela reached stardom in Albania with her hit “Mala Gata”. Since then, Hajati has released several singles that reached the top of the Albania’s singles chart. At the age of 32, she already appeared at festivals, contests and TV talent shows in the past decade, like Kënga Magjike, Poleposition, Star Academy Albania, Kerkohet Një Yll, Ethet e Së Premtes Mbrëma and Dancing With The Stars Albania.
She was already one of the fan-favorite to win Festivali i Këngës 2021 with her song Sekret (an uptempo number that alludes to an illicit relationship.) During the liveshow, she impressed the viewers at home and the jury with a complex choreography with alot of dancers on stage. The winner was determined by a jury featuring Festivali i Këngës 2020 winner and Albania’s 2021 Eurovision participant Anxhela Peristeri, along with Agim Doçi, Anxhela Faber, Osman Mula, Rozana Radi, Olsa Toqi and Olti Curri. Ronela triumphed over 19 other competing acts, with some of Albania’s brightest names in pop music amongst them. She defeated Rezarta Smaja & Eldis Arrnjeti (tied 3rd place) and other fan-favorite Alban Ramosaj.
Want to know more? Read our Five Things about Ronela Hajati article here!
Albania in Eurovision
The Albanian broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), has been the organizer of the Albanian Eurovision Song Contest entry since the country’s debut. Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2004 with Anjeza Shahini and her song “The Image of You.” Albania’s best place in the contest is 5th place with Rona Nishliu and her song “Suus”
Anxhela Peristeri represented Albania last year with the song “Karma” and placed 21st in the grand final. Can they continue the streak of Albanian qualification in 2022?
What do #YOU think of the revamp? Do #YOU think Albania has what it takes to win ESC this year? Sound off in the comments below, in our forum, or on social media @ESCUnited.
