The European Song Contest currently taking place in Basel, Switzerland, has revealed the finalist songs competing for the grand prize on Saturday, with Albania among the contenders aiming to surprise with the duo ‘Shkodra Elektronike’ and their song ‘Zjerm.’

A total of twenty-six countries will compete in a spectacular four-hour final, one of the defining events in European culture.

The American media giant CNN has reviewed all the songs and ranked them, placing Albania in the top spot.

According to CNN, the ranking is entirely subjective, focusing on artistic quality as well as thematic content.

The CNN ranking starts with Armenia’s PARG group and their song “Survivor,” placed 26th, and continues through the other countries, placing Albania’s ‘Shkodra Elektronike’ with ‘Zjerm’ at number one.

CNN begins with a description of the two Albanian singers, Kolë Laca and Beatriçe Gjergji.

According to the American network, “Shkodra Elektronike” could outperform the average of the other songs, potentially leading to a shocking victory at Eurovision.

“A quirky gentleman and a song that creates a cult-like atmosphere, together with Beatriçe forming the most original duo at Eurovision. ‘Shkodra Elektronike’ could outperform the average and might achieve a surprising win at Eurovision,” CNN writes.

Their song centers around the idea of a desired oasis, reflected in the lyrics:

“On the streets, no ambulances, no one speaks arrogantly,
Even today they told us the weather won’t change,
I ended up underwater, but I never said a word (No),
Imagine a minute without soldiers, without orphans,
No bottle in the ocean, the smell of fuel replaced by jasmine.”

“The emotions are intense, the stage is huge, the pressure is high,” Beatriçe Gjergji tells CNN.

The network also mentions that they might be big Eurovision fans, but Beatriçe responds: “Not at all, it’s not really our kind of music.”

CNN further explains that this ambivalence is a strength: there is nothing else quite like their performance, and they are gaining well-deserved support from fans.

“If you believe in the kind of music you love most, maybe something special can happen,” says Beatriçe Gjergji.