Zjarr e ftohtë was the Albanian entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Athens performed by Luiz Ejlli. This was the first time that the Albanian entry in the contest was sung in Albanian.
As Albania had finished outside the top 10 in 2005, Ejlli had to perform in the semi-final of the 2006 contest. On the night of the semi-final he performed 6th in the running order, following Belarus and preceding Belgium. The song received 58 points, placing 14th, failing to qualify for the final.
The song is sung from the perspective of a man who can't forget his former lover. He likens his predicament to feeling "fire and cold" ("fire but still cold" is an alternative translation), while begging her to "open your heart". Despite the strength of the lyrics, the song was performed in a subdued fashion. Ejlli and three backing singers who barely moved from their positions, while two Albanian folk musicians provided accompaniment.
Lyrics[]
Humbem të harroj, mos m’i rëndo më ditët
Gjithçka është e kot, s’e kuptoj
Lodhem të harroj, me kohën vras kujtimet
Ne në zjarr jemi te ftohtë
Duhet te ikësh, vritem, shoh dhe më verbon
Jemi në zjarr e kërkojmë ftohtë
E në rrëmbime jemi veten e frenoj
I trembem zemrës time që të do
E ndihem zjarr e ftohtë, s’mundem dot
Shpresën unë te ty e humba
Zemëro, më ndihmo
Të largohem se të dua
Zjarr e ftohtë, lodhem kot
Jam aty në buzët e tua
Tretem aty, se ky shpirti im të ndjen
(Hape, hape, hape, hape zemrën)
(Hape, hape, zemëro)
(Hape, hape, hape, hape, zemëro)
(Hape, hape, hape, hape, zemëro)
Çdo gjë është e kot
Zemra kërkon të gjej stacion, tek ty ndalon
Se gjithë mendimet ëndërrat veç në ty jetojnë
Dua të puth por s’mundem dot
Pa ty unë jetën time s’mundem ta kuptoj
I trembem zemrës time që të do
E ndihem zjarr e ftohtë, s’mundem dot
Shpresën unë te ty e humba
Zemëro, më ndihmo
Të largohem se të dua
Zjarr e ftohtë, lodhem kot
Jam aty në buzët e tua
Tretem aty, se ky shpirti im të ndjen
E ndihem zjarr e ftohtë (Hu ha… hu ha…)
Zemëro (Hu ha… hu ha hu…)
Zjarr e ftohtë (Lodhem kot, zemëro)
Hey… se ky shpirti im të ndjen
Zjarr e ftohtë, s’mundem dot (Zemëro)
Shpresën unë te ty e humba
Zemëro, më ndihmo
Të largohem se të dua
Zjarr e ftohtë, lodhem kot (Zemëro)
Jam aty në buzët e tua
Tretem aty, se ky shpirti im të ndjen
I’m lost trying to forget, do not burden my days
Everything is in vain, I don’t understand
I tire of forgetting, with time I kill my memories
In fire we’re so cold
You’ve got to go, I’m killing myself, I see you and you blind me
We’re in fire, and we search for cold
And in passion we are stopping ourselves
I’m frightened of my heart which loves you so
And I feel fire and cold, I can’t do it any more
My hope is lost in you
Darling, help me
I go away because I love you
Fire and cold, I tire in vain
I’m always there in your lips
I’m lost there, because my soul feels you
(Open, open, open, open your heart)
(Open, open, darling)
(Open, open, open, open, darling)
(Open, open, open, open, darling)
Everything in vain
My heart looks for a station, and in you it stops
Because all the thoughts, dreams, live only in you
I want to kiss you but I can’t
Without you, my life I can’t understand
I’m frightened of my heart which loves you so
And I feel fire and cold, I can’t do it any more
My hope is lost in you
Darling, help me
I go away because I love you
Fire and cold, I tire in vain
I’m always there in your lips
I’m lost there, because my soul feels you
And I feel fire and cold
Darling
Fire and cold (I tire in vain, darling)
Hey… because my soul feels you
And I feel fire and cold, I can’t do it any more (Darling)
My hope is lost in you
Darling, help me
I go away because I love you
Fire and cold, I tire in vain (Darling)
I’m always there in your lips
I’m lost there, because my soul feels you
Videos[]
Luiz Ejlli - Zjarr e ftohtë (Eurovision Albania 2006)
Luiz Ejlli - Zjarr E Ftohtë (Albania) 2006 Semi-Final