The Image of You

"The Image of You" is a song by Albanian singer Anjeza Shahini composed by Edmond Zhulali and written by Agim Doçi. The song was released as a CD single in 2004 by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). A rhythmic English-language electropop ballad, it lyrically explores a woman's emotions in what appears to be a whirlwind romance. The song represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul, Turkey, after Shahini won the pre-selection competition, Festivali i Këngës, with the song's Albanian-language version "Dua të jem imazhi yt". The country attempted its debut in the contest and reached the 7th place in a field of 24, receiving a total of 106 points. This remained its highest placement until their participation in 2012. During her minimalistic show of the song, Shahini was accompanied on stage by four backing vocalists.

"The Image of You"
Single by Anjeza Shahini
Released2004 (2004)
GenreElectropop
Length3:00
LabelRTSH
Composer(s)Edmond Zhulali
Lyricist(s)Agim Doçi
Anjeza Shahini singles chronology
"The Image of You"
(2004)		 "Mes nesh"
(2005)
Eurovision Song Contest 2004 entry
Country
Artist(s)
Language
Composer(s)
Edmond Zhulali
Lyricist(s)
Agim Doçi
Finals performance
Semi-final result
4th
Semi-final points
167
Final result
7th
Final points
106
Entry chronology
"Tomorrow I Go" (2005) ►

Background and composition

In 2003, Anjeza Shahini was announced as one of the contestants selected to compete in the 42nd edition of Festivali i Këngës, a competition to determine Albania's entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. For following the competition's rules, the lyrics of the participating entries had to be in the Albanian language. Shahini took part with the song "Dua të jem imazhi yt", composed by Edmond Zhulali and written by Agim Doçi.[1] For the purpose of the singer's Eurovision Song Contest participation, "Dua të jem imazhi yt" was remastered and translated to "The Image of You".[2] Musically, the latter is a moderately-paced rhythm English-language electropop ballad.[3][4] It lyrically explores the singer's emotions in what seems to be a whirlwind romance.

At Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës
Main article: Festivali i Këngës 42

The national broadcaster of Albania, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), organised the 42nd edition of Festivali i Këngës to determine Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2004.[5] The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 18 and 19 December, respectively, and the grand final on 20 December 2003.[5] Anjeza Shahini emerged as the winner with "Imazhi yt" and was simultaneously announced as the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2004.[6]

Istanbul
Main article: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004

The 49th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Istanbul, Turkey, and consisted of a semi-final on 12 May and the grand final three days later on 15 May 2004.[7] For the first time, a semi-final round was introduced in order to accommodate the influx of nations that wanted to compete in the contest.[8] According to the Eurovision rules, all participating countries, except the host nation and the "Big Four", consisting of France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, were required to qualify from the semi-final to compete for the final, although the top 10 countries from the semi-final progress to the final.[9]

A debuting country, Albania was set to compete in the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 at position 13, following Lithuania and preceding Cyprus.[10][11] At the end of the show, the nation was announced among the top 10 entries of the semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the grand final of the contest.[12] In the grand final, it was announced that it would be performing ninth, following Germany and preceding Ukraine.[13] Albania finished in seventh position, being awarded a total of 106 points.[14] The latter result remained the highest placement for Albania in the contest before their successful participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan.[15] During her minimalistic performance of the song, Shahini was accompanied on stage by four backing vocalists.[16]

Track listings
  1. "The Image of You" – 3:00
  • Digital download[18]
  1. "Dua të jem imazhi yt (Festivali i Këngës)" – 4:25

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various
 2004 CD RTSH [17]
14 February 2018 Digital download
  • Broken AL
  • RTSH
 [18]

References
  1. "Istanbul 2004 Participants Anjeza Shahini". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  2. "Eurovision Song Contest 2004–Participants: Anjeza Shahini". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  3. "Albanien: Anjeza Shahini" (in German). ARD. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  4. "Eurovision Song Contest 2004". laut.de (in German). 26 April 2004. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  5. Bakker, Sietse (17 December 2003). "Albanian national final this Saturday". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  6. Rau, Oliver (21 December 2004). "Anjeza Shahini wins Albanian final". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  7. "Eurovision Song Contest–Istanbul 2004". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  8. "Eurovision Song Contest 60th Anniversary Press Pack" (PDF). European Broadcasting Union (EBU). p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  9. Eurovision Song Contest 2004. Istanbul, Turkey: European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 12–15 May 2004.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  10. Baransi, Fouad (11 June 2020). "Throwback To Istanbul – Eurovision 2004". ESC Bubble. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  11. Bakker, Sietse (23 March 2004). "Eurovision 2004: this is the running order!". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  12. "Eurovision Song Contest–Istanbul 2004 Semi-final". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  13. "Eurovision Song Contest–Istanbul 2004 Grand Final". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  14. "Results of the Final–Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 15 May 2004. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  15. "Eurovision Song Contest–Albania". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  16. "Anjeza Shahini - The Image Of You (Albania) 2004 Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union. 25 February 2013. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  17. Eurovision Song Contest – Istanbul 2004 (Compilation CD). European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Europe. (Barcode: 0724357700122): CMC Entertainment. 2004.CS1 maint: others (link) CS1 maint: location (link)
  18. Citations regarding the digital release of "The Image of You" by Anjeza Shahini in various selected countries:
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