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Albania has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 20 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.
Festivali i Këngës në RTSH, 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.
Elsa Lila is an Albanian singer.
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna, Austria, with the song "I'm Alive" performed by Elhaida Dani. Dani 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 Dani emerged as the winner of contest with the song "Diell"; however the song withdrawn as the Albanian entry at the request of one of the song's songwriters and replaced with "I'm Alive". Prior to the 2015 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 11 times since its first entry in 2004.
Andri Xhahu is an Albanian television and radio presenter, host and editor, who works for RTSH. Since 2012, he has served as the Albanian commentator and spokesperson for the Eurovision Song 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).
"Me tana" is a song by Albanian singer and songwriter Elvana Gjata released as a single on 10 December 2019 by East Music Matters (EMM). The song was written and composed by Gjata herself and produced by German-Greek producer UNIK. Musically, "Me tana" was described as an Albanian-language ethnic dance-pop song, which lyrically explores the theme of unconditional and hopeless love. Music critics and reviewers applauded the song upon its release, with praise concentrated on the song's composition, lyrics and Gjata's vocal delivery.
"Fall from the Sky" is a song by Albanian singer Arilena Ara independently released as a single on 9 March 2020. The song was composed by Darko Dimitrov and Lazar Cvetkovski, and written by Michael Blue, Robert Stevenson and Sam Schummer. Musically, it is a pop ballad with the instrumentation incorporating violins and a piano. The English-language song makes lyrically reference to Arilena's hopeless desire to overcome deep and perplexing emotions.
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.
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.
Festivali i Këngës 2022 was the 61st edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës. The contest was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania. It encompassed two semi-finals held on 19 and 20 December, succeeded by a nostalgia night on 21 December and culminated in the final on 22 December 2022. The four live shows were hosted by Arbana Osmani. Elsa Lila resulted as the winner of the contest with the song "Evita". The Albanian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 was selected by the public, with "Duje" performed by Albina and Familja Kelmendi emerging as the representative.
"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.
Festivali i Këngës 2023 was the 62nd edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës, organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). It was held between 19 and 22 December 2023 at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, and it was hosted by Adriana Matoshi and Kledi Kadiu with Xhuliano Dule and Krisa Çaushi. The winner was Mal Retkoceri with "Çmendur". For the second year in a row, a separate televoting determined which contestant would represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, whereby Besa Kokëdhima with "Zemrën n'dorë" emerged as the winner.
References
- ↑ "Alketa Vejsiu–Biografia". Tekste Shqip. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ↑ "Biography–Alketa Vejsiu". Alketa Vejsiu. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ↑ "Alketa Vejsiu". Startup Grind. 6 June 2018. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ↑ "Festivali i 58-të i Këngës në RTSH, juria përzgjedh 20 këngëtarët pjesëmarrës" (in Albanian). RTSH. 24 October 2019. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ↑ "Sanremo 2020, chi è Alketa Vejsiu, la popolare conduttrice albanese sul palco dell'Ariston durante la terza serata" (in Italian). Vanity Fair. 5 February 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ↑ "Alketa Vejsiu a Sanremo 2021: la conduttrice albanese torna al Festival con un ruolo diverso" (in Italian). Opti Magazine. 9 September 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.