Eurovision 2025 Albania profile: Zjerm by Shkodra Elektronike

We profile the 2025 entry from Albania, including details on the artist, song, how it was chosen, odds, fan reaction, and how the nation has fared at Eurovision.

Albania has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 20 times since its debut in 2004 with Anjeza Shahini's song The Image Of You, which achieved seventh place in the final. This remained the country's best result at Eurovision until Suus by Rona Nishliu finished in fifth place in the final in 2012, their only top-five finish to date.

Albania has never won Eurovision, and will no doubt be hungry for their first victory at the contest.

Flying the flag for Albania at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, and hoping to give Albania their best ever Eurovision result, is Shkodra Elektronike with their song Zjerm.

You can find out more about Shkodra Elektronike and their song below!

2025 entry: Shkodra Elektronike - Zjerm

• Shkodra Elektronike will compete in the first semi-final and will perform 12th in the running order.

• My Eurovision Scoreboard ranking: 4th

• Odds to win ranking: 9th

• Aussievision team ranking: 7th

(Rankings as of 12 April 2025)

About the artist

Shkodra Elektronike is an Albanian folktronica duo formed in 2019 in Shkodër in northern Albania. The group consists of songwriter-producer Kolë Laca and singer-songwriter Beatriçe Gjergji.

Both members are originally from Shkodër and are immigrants who grew up in Italy. Despite their different ages and life stories, the pair shares a common goal of "finding a way to get home without buying a plane ticket".

Shkodra Elektronike's music, defined by the group as "post-immigrant pop", is characterised by a fusion of genres such as electronic, pop, and traditional Albanian music, as well as catchy melodies, engaging rhythms, and lyrics often addressing themes such as love and everyday life. At the core of the project is the duo's passion for re-interpreting traditional songs of Shkodër in a modern electronic style.

Initially gaining popularity in Albania through the release of successful singles such as Ku e Gjeta Vedin and Synin si Qershia, the duo has increased their acclaim by performing at various national and international festivals.

About the song

Zjerm is a contemporary ballad with lyrics wholly in Albanian, written by Beatriçe Gjergji and Lekë Gjeloshi, composed by Beatriçe Gjergji and arranged by Kolë Laca.

Beatriçe Gjergji described the song as a "personal work with lyrics exploring human compassion", also calling it "an Albanian song with a modern touch".

The lyrics revolve around the central motif of the titular 'fire', symbolising power, purification, destruction, and renewal. This harkens back to an Albanian traditional view of fire having the power to ward off darkness and evil, and also being used in rituals to provide protection and healing.

Zjerm evokes a mixture of pain, resilience, and hope, with imagery that emphasises the importance of peace and a longing for a world that is free from violence, suffering, and environmental harm.

It calls for spiritual and social healing, and a recognition of the dignity of all people, even those who may be forgotten or marginalised.

How was Shkodra Elektronike chosen for Eurovision?

As with many previous Albanian Eurovision entrants, Shkodra Elektronike was chosen following the 63rd edition of the annual music competition Festivali i Këngës.

The group submitted their song and was ultimately one of thirty competing artists selected to participate in the festival. After qualifying for the final alongside fourteen other acts, Shkodra Elektronike won the Festivali i Këngës jury vote and SMS public vote, with Elvana Gjata winning the online vote.

In an unexpected result from some fans, Shkodra Elektronike won Festivali i Këngës over fan favourite and runner-up Elvana Gjata, winning the right to represent Albania in Basel.

Reaction video

Albania will perform twelfth in the first semi-final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday 13 May 2025 in Basel.

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