Albania has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 19 times since its debut in 2004. Festivali i Këngës,a long-standing song contest that takes place every year in Albania since 1962,is used to select the country's entrant for that year's Eurovision Song Contest. Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2004 with Anjeza Shahini placing seventh. It remained the country's highest result in the contest until 2012,when Rona Nishliu finished fifth.
"Zjarr e ftohtë" is a song by Albanian singer Luiz Ejlli. Klodian Qafoku composed the music while Florian Kondi wrote the lyrics. Musically,it is an Albanian-language pop song incorporating a southern Albanian folklore element in its instrumentation. The song represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Athens,Greece,after winning the pre-selection competition Festivali i Këngës 44. The country failed to qualify for the grand final in fourteenth place,marking the country's first non-qualification in the contest.
Festivali i Këngës nëRTSH,commonly known as Festivali i Këngës and also referred to as simply FiK or Fest,is an annual music competition in Albania organised by the national broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). Broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1962,the festival has determined the country's representative to the Eurovision Song Contest since 2004.
"Identitet" is a song by Albanian singers Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko. It was first released on 12 March 2013 as a music video release which was uploaded on the official YouTube channel of the Eurovision Song Contest,then it was released as a single as part of a CD compilation on 29 April 2013 by Universal Music. The Albanian-language folk-inspired heavy rock song was composed by Bledar Sejko and the lyrics were written by Eda Sejko.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna,Austria,with the song "I'm Alive" performed by Elhaida Dani. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2014. Dani emerged as the winner of contest with the song "Diell",which was withdrawn as the Albanian entry at the request of one of the song's songwriters. To this point,the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest eleven times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest,the song was promoted by a music video and live performances in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Albania was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest,which took place on 19 May 2015. Performing as number 14,the nation was announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the final. In the grand final on 23 May,it performed as number 26 and placed 17th out of the 27 participating countries.
"I'm Alive" is a song by Albanian singer and songwriter Elhaida Dani. It was released as a single on 1 January 2015 by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) and Universal Music. The song was written by Sokol Marsi,arranged by Darko Dimitrov and produced by Zzap &Chriss. The song represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna,Austria,after Dani won the pre-selection competition Festivali i Këngës with the song "Diell". The country reached seventeenth place in a field of twenty-six scoring a total of 34 points marking the third year to achieve the seventeenth place.
"Fairytale" is a song by Albanian singer Eneda Tarifa. It was issued as a single on 30 March 2016 by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) and Universal Music. An English-language mid-tempo power rock ballad,the song was composed and written by Olsa Toqi. An accompanying music video was premiered to the official YouTube channel of the Eurovision Song Contest on 13 March 2016. The song represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm,Sweden,after Tarifa's victory at the country's pre-selection competition Festivali i Këngës with the song's Albanian-language version "Përrallë". It failed to qualify for the grand final also marking the country's sixth non-qualification in the contest. During her minimalistic performance,she was accompanied by three backing vocalists while the LED screens showed a variety of gold images.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Kyiv,Ukraine,with the song "World" performed by Lindita Halimi. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2016. To this point,the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 13 times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest,the song was promoted by a music video and live performances in Israel,the Netherlands and Spain. Albania was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest,which took place on 9 May 2017. Performing as number fourth,the nation was not announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore failed to qualify for the grand final,marking Albania's seventh non-qualification in the contest.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon,Portugal,with the song "Mall" performed by Eugent Bushpepa. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2017. To this point,the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fourteen times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest,the song was promoted by a music video and live performances in the Netherlands and Spain.
"Mall" is a song composed and written by Albanian singer and songwriter Eugent Bushpepa. It was released as a single on 6 April 2018 by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) and Universal Music. The song has been described as an Albanian language 1980s-inspired classical folk rock ballad. In its love-themed lyrics,it captures the feeling of longing and also reflects both the deep loneliness and the burning desire of a reunion.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv,Israel,with the song "Ktheju tokës" performed by Jonida Maliqi. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2018. To this point,the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifteen times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest,the song was promoted by a music video and live performances in the Netherlands,Spain and the United Kingdom.
"Ktheju tokës" is a song by Albanian singer Jonida Maliqi. It was released as a single on 8 March 2019 by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) and Universal. The song was composed and written by Eriona Rushiti,and produced by Enis Mullaj. It is musically an authentic and rhythmic Albanian-language folk-electronic ballad backed by traditional Albanian instruments. Lyrically,the song addresses the theme of migration,particularly to that of the Albanian people during the Kosovo War in the late 20th century.
Albania was scheduled to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam,the Netherlands,with the song "Fall from the Sky" performed by Arilena Ara. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2019. To this point,the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixteen times since its first entry in 2004. In March 2020,the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced the contest's cancellation due to the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its rapid spread across Europe.
The Festivali i Këngës 2019 was the 58th edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës. It was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) at the Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana,Albania,and consisted of two semi-finals on 19 and 20 December,respectively,and the final on 22 December 2019. The three live shows were hosted by Alketa Vejsiu. The winner of the contest was Arilena Ara with the song "Shaj",after receiving 67 points with two points ahead over Elvana Gjata with the song "Me tana". Ara was then scheduled to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam,the Netherlands,before its cancellation related to the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam,the Netherlands,with the song "Karma" performed by Anxhela Peristeri. Its entry was selected through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2020. To this point,the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixteen times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest,the song was promoted by a music video and various television and radio appearances in Albania,Greece,Kosovo and San Marino.
The Festivali i Këngës 2020 was the 59th edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës. It was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in an open-air venue at the Sheshi Italia in Tirana,Albania,and consisted of two semi-finals on 21 and 22 December,respectively,and the final on 23 December 2020. The three live shows were hosted by Jonida Vokshi and Blendi Salaj. Due to the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),the competition did not use the traditional symphonic orchestra and was not held as in the traditional location of the Pallati i Kongreseve but at the Sheshi Italia instead. Anxhela Peristeri with "Karma" emerged as the winner of the contest and represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam,the Netherlands.
"Karma" is a song by Albanian singer and songwriter Anxhela Peristeri. It was composed by Kledi Bahiti and written by Olti Curri,with the production handled by Bahiti and Dimitris Kontopoulos. The song was released as a single for digital download and streaming in various countries on 9 March 2021 by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) and Universal. Incorporating modern and traditional elements,it is a Balkan-influenced pop ballad backed by string instruments. The song's Albanian-language lyrics makes reference to the principle of karma,portraying the inner turmoil of a woman who finds guilt for her world falling apart within herself.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin,Italy,with the song "Sekret" performed by Ronela Hajati. Its entry was selected through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2021. To this point,the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 17 times since its first entry in 2004. Albania was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest,which took place on 10 May 2022. The nation failed to qualify for the final,placing 12th and scoring 58 points,marking their eighth non-qualification.
Festivali i Këngës 2021 was the 60th edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës. It was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana,Albania,and consisted of two semi-finals on 27 and 28 December,respectively,and the final on 29 December 2021. The three live shows were hosted by Ardit Gjebrea,Isli Islami,Jonida Maliqi,Kelvi Kadilli and Xhemi Shehu. Ronela Hajati with the song "Sekret" emerged as the winner of the contest and represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin,Italy.
"Duje" is a song by Kosovo-Albanian singer Albina Kelmendi and five members of her family. Composed by Enis Mullaj with lyrics written by Eriona Rushiti,it is an Albanian-language pop song that tells the tale of a family's struggle to stay united through a difficult time. The song was released as a single on Spotify on 29 December 2022 and on Apple Music on 20 March 2023.
