BOTË

LINDITA HALIMI

SECHUK JURY

Rating

 189.5/320 (59.2%)

INTERNATIONAL JURY

ALBANIA

INT

JURY TOTAL

92

Amar

Currently, I love the dynamic that Lindita brings to the song. She adds power to a song that currently feels a little outdated (I attribute that to the presence of the orchestra). With the revamp, I'm confident this will end up being a modern power-ballad that could very well be a dark horse for the top 10 (we'll just have to wait and see). 

7

Benedek

O Albania not again. I want something new already. Every year the same thing. Women with weird song. Yes she has a great voice...but it seems that Albania stuck in the same recipe. I don’t think it will qualify.

2

Christos

ALBANIA , the same old story. A concert (festivali kenges) well organised and a winner with a song that will be transformed in the following days. The singer is very talented and with a very nice voice. I still believe that the country will be to the Finals this year but for sure will get a place out of top 20.

4

Daria

I just realised that I don't feel like we have the first song because there is a high chance it will be changed a lot. What we have now sounds for me more like a demo track. The good thing is that Lindita has a good voice and a good looking appearance so it looks quite promising now. 

6

Douwe

Once again Albanian hopes rest on the shoulders of a female vocalist with a powerful voice. American Idol contestant Lindita (3rd behind Elhaida in FiK 53) will perform 'Botë' in Kyiv. This is a dramatic, mysterious, emotional yet disciplined power ballad with soaring long notes and an exercise in vocal acrobatics. Assured and sophisticated it certainly is but not the most immediate song and therein lies the danger. This only needs a few subtle tweaks and care must be taken to maintain the emotion and not to produce a diluted version of the song as happened in 2014 (Hersi) and 2016 (Eneda). A winner it isn't but this surely deserves a final place.

8.5

Elena

I've listened to this song several times now, and I still can't remember anything of it. Except that it reminds me of the intro tune to BBC's Sherlock. The singer is a bit off tune several times and is completely outnumbered by the choir, and I don't know if the sound is a bit off, but she looks like she sing from the bottom of her soul, but out comes pretty much nothing. Unmemorable song, half-decent singer and not much of a show at all. This is a dud.

1

Frederico

Nice song, though it feels it doesn’t really go anywhere. A bit shouty at times. And very repetitive. Pleasant but seriously doubt it will qualify.

4

José

Linda is a great singer, but current arrangements and my lack of understanding of the lyrics, don't give me any connection with the song

6.5

Mark L

After a really shaky start to the song (which I am sure she will perfect before the contest) I really liked this entry from Albania . It built well and had a good melody. Should make the final without too much bother

7.5

Melissa

Lindita’s certainly got a set of pipes, with an epic note hold of 20 odd seconds! In its current format though, it’s hard to remember sections of the song and it lacks a hook. Hopefully with the revamp (which we hope is more than a translation into English) it’ll be a bit more memorable. Sounds great with an orchestra though.

7

Octavio

The song it's a power ballad, starts out a bit too calm for my taste but the second half of the song is right up my alley . Lindita manages to bring a lot of emotion through Her vocals that are the strongest.  I hope someone will force her to change the song, maybe the English version will sound better.

8

Paul C

Well, not a bad song. It's a dramatic ballad and Lindita has a strong a nice voice but I find the song a bit dull and too predictable. Don't see it doing very well in Kiev .

6

Pia

the more I listen to it, the more I like it. Strong from the beginning to the end !

8

Roberto

Another entry from Albania that goes dangerously from a refined side to an artificial one, actually. The song is very retro and has a nice arrangement, but something seems missed in this eclectic pathos. Dramatic, hazy and inconsistent.

5

Roy

Albania has never made my top 10 and I think probably never even my top 20. I cannot see that this song is doing to break that “record”. It is not an horror, but it is nothing special. I find the structure of Albanian songs extremely difficult for my ears. Yes, I do like the formula songs, 2 verses and a chorus type of thing. I think it will probably sound better in English but unless most countries pick dreadful songs, this will be in the bottom part of my rankings.

5

Samantha

Tough to tell without the inevitable translation and rearrangement, but Lindita has been a staggeringly powerful and consistent performer. The song builds and swells dramatically to a powerful climax.

6.5

UNITED KINGDOM JURY

ALBANIA

UK

JURY TOTAL

97.5

Andrew G

Nice ballad, good voice with an ok song, I like listening to it as it`s sung in Albanian, I like it when countries stick to their native language, however the song not strong enough for me.

5

Danny

This will likely be completely different come May but the bones of the song are good and Lindita has an amazing voice. I’ll hold off full judgement but it has promise. Ket’s hope the revamp is better than the one for Fairytale last year!

8

David B

Well, there's a kernel of something good amongst the angst and misery of this song. The whole thing would benefit from a bit of a tidy up and Lindita needs to polish her vocals, especially towards the close of the song. Not as dire as their recent entries so maybe an appearance in the final beckons for Albania .

6

David E

This may well be my fave Albanian entry ever! I love the dramatic orchestration and font the Whole thing amazing. I could see this in the Top 10.

9

Dean

A pretty decent effort here from Albania . Great vocal and a song that is reminiscent of a Bond tune. I would guess this will end up being sung in English, and with a bit of polishing this could sound even better.  A promising first song of the year!

6

Eddie

Slow start to a really powerful finish. The live orchestra really adds something. I like it but there is something missing and I can't put my finger on it!

6

Edward

To me this song copies the “Sherlock” theme tune, with an overlying dramatic lyric.  That said, it is exciting and builds with an interesting counter theme.  My worry is that when it is translated in English and loses the live orchestra, it will lack the same air of mystery.

7

Gary

Albania seem to be sticking with a formula that is not providing huge success. She has a powerful voice and the song has the potential for a Bond-esque revamp, but needs a reduction in the shouting stakes. Hoping for an anglo-improvement.

6

Joe  

Lindita has one hell of a voice and the song is strong. Very strong as always from Albania

7.5

Kevin

This classic Eurovision Ballard BOTË (World) has a nice feel to it with haunting melody.  Not the strongest vocal, but after listening to it a few times it got my attention. Would have been nice to have an up-tempo track like the 2009 entry; Carry Me in your Dreams – Kejsi Tola, in my opinion one of the best entries for several years.

5.5

Lloyd

The song is like a lullaby with lots of emotion but disappointingly not memorable. The vocals are strong and has long-lasting notes. I feel the lyrics get lost in these long notes and just became a loud annoying noise.

3

Mark M

A really lovely, dramatic song from Albania and boy can she sing it.  It's a shame they've already announced that it won't be sung in Albanian but hopefully that's the only change they will make as I don't think it needs any revamping.  I could see Albania qualifying with this.  Their best effort in a few years.

7

Martin

At the moment, Albania have a beautifully sung, almost other worldly ballad that interlinks Lindita's vocal prowess together with an orchestral accompaniment that carries the listener along on a wonderful journey, as the best FiK arrangements often do.  Whether these delights remain when sung in English and without the strings is the perennial Albanian question.

7

Matt

Quite a brooding and dark sound it's also quite dramatic; but greatly relies on a lot of wailing which lessens any impact of the song.  A dramatic ending which I like though.  How different will it be come May?

4.5

Nico

An epic sounding song and of course Lindita's vocals are incredible, but perhaps that's where the small problem lies. Too much of the vocal acrobatics and not enough of the hook. Builds nicely to the chorus, but then we're left wanting more, before the wooing kicks in. Not as modern or catchy as her brilliant 2015 effort, but still very good.

7

Sally-Ann

The thing about 1944 winning last year is that now you can't rule out ANY song winning!  However, it would take a confident punter to place more than a few quid on this one.  Dreary from first note to last, thus consistent in that respect.

3