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Eurovision 2023: Albania’s Second Rehearsal!

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Next up on stage we will be seeing Albina & Familja Kelmendi on their second rehearsal as the representatives of Albania in this year’s competition with “Duje”.

Who are Albina & Familja Kelmendi?

Albina Kelmendi has energised the Albanian pop scene with her fierce vocal talent. At just 16, she reached the final of ‘The Voice of Albania’, after all 4 judges turned their chairs in her first audition. Since then, she’s smashed through various song contests across Europe.

The talented vocalist has always been surrounded by song, growing up in a house of professional musicians, and now two generations of the Kelmendi clan are joining voices to perform in Liverpool.

And music really is a family affair – Albina’s mother Albana and her father Bujar fell in love through music. Alongside her brother Albin and sisters Vesa and Sidorela, they will all be taking to the Eurovision stage.

The rehearsal

Unfortunately this year, accredited journalists don’t get the chance to watch the first and second rehearsals, so we only get the information and content that the organizers officially release to the public.

Albina gives it all the vocals from the opening note. “Duje” is such a heartfelt and dramatic song of love and family togetherness, with the family providing beautiful harmonies and some great dance moves.

The staging for this is the work of Sacha Jean-Baptiste, and the LED wall is all about the black and red of the Albanian flag. There is a lot of pyro, too.

Albania’s Albina and the Kelmendi family are rehearsing for the second time – this is another performance that goes to a whole other level on a big screen. You’ll be able to see a clip of the as-seen-on-TV version on YouTube later – SO much drama, and a brilliant use of the LED wall and floor.

Below you can watch a small clip from the Albania second rehearsal, once it’s published on YouTube:

 

The Dress Rehearsal for Albania and the rest of Semi Final 2 will be held on the 10th of May.

Follow us on all social media, so you do not miss a moment of what will happen in Liverpool:

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for all the latest developments regarding Albania’s entry in Eurovision 2023!

Albania: With Albina & Familja Kelmendi and “Duje” at Eurovision 2023!

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Festivali i Këngës 61 has just ended, having selected Albina & Familja Kelmendi with the song “Duje” as the big winners.

Once again the Albanian Public Television (RTSH) has chosen their participation in Eurovision through FiK. The grand final was held at Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana, with Arbana Osmani being the host. The 21 artists who made it to the final gave their best shot in order to claim the vote of the TV audience and the victory that would give them the ticket to Liverpool in May.

The 21 finalists were:

  1. 2 Farm –“Atomike”
  2. Sergio Hajdini – “Vështirë”
  3. Gjergj Kaçinari – “Dje”
  4. Alban Kondi & Lore – “Melodi”
  5. Vanesa Sono – “Aroma jonë”
  6. Elsa Lila – “Evita”
  7. Erma Mici – “Kozmosi i dashurisë”
  8. Franc Koruni – “Në pritje”
  9. Gent Hoxha – “Ajër”
  10. Petrit Çarkaxhiu – “Emri yt mirësi”
  11. Melodajn Mancaku – “Gjysma e zemrës sime”
  12. Manjola Nallbani – “Dua”
  13. Urban Band – “Në çdo hap”
  14. Enxhi Nasufi – “Burrë”
  15. Rovena Dilo – “Motit”
  16. Fifi – “Stop”
  17. Rezarta Smaja – “N’Eden”
  18. Evi Reçi – “Ma kthe”
  19. Fabian Basha – “Një gotë”
  20. Albina & Familja Kelmendi – “Duje”
  21. Lynx – “Nëse ke besim”

Results

Tonight on the last night of the Festival the first 3 prizes were awarded: first place, second place and third place. An award for young artists and alternative groups and a career award, were also awarded by the professional jury.

The professional jury was comprised of:

  • Genc Saliu
  • Alma Bektashi
  • Zhani Ciko
  • Rita Petro
  • Elton Deda

The Award for Young Artists and Alternative Groups was awarded to Erma Mici with the song “Kozmosi i dashurisë“.

The Career Award which was awarded by the professional jury was given to Rovena Dilo with the song “Motit“.

The 3rd place was won by 2 Farm with the song “Atomike“, the 2nd place by Albina & Familja Kelmendi with the song “Duje“ and the big winner of Festivali i Këngës 61 is Elsa Lila with the song “Evita“. Elsa Lila wins FiK for the third time, as she has also won both FiK 96 and FiK 97, and is one of the few artists having won the contest two years in a row.

After the Festivali i Këngës awards were given by the professional jury, the presenter announced the song that was exclusively selected by the TV audience’s vote via SMS and will represent Albania in Eurovision 2023. The winner that claimed the ticket to Liverpool is Albina & Familja Kelmendi with the song “Duje“.

Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest

In 2023 we will have Albania’s 20th participation in the competition, which debuted in 2004, with Anjeza Shahini and “The Image Of You” that reached the honorable seventh place! RTSH showed interest in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003 as well. However, three other countries made their debut that year and Albania was not allowed to participate in the contest. In the following years, it managed to qualify ten times for the final and eight more times to stay in the semi-finals.

The best result Albania has ever achieved was in 2012 with Rona Nishliu and “Suus” finishing in fifth place.

Below is Albina & Familja Kelmendi‘s winning performance, with the song that will represent Albania at Eurovision 2023:

Watch the Eurovisionfun team react to Albina & Familja Kelmendi with the song  “Duje”, Albania’s entry for Eurovision 2023!

What do you think will be Albania’s fate at Eurovision 2023?

Albania: Tonight the first night of Festivali i Këngës 61!

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The curtains for Albania’s national final, Festivali i Këngës 61, open tonight at Tirana. The festival is the means for selecting the neighboring country’s representative for Liverpool in May.

The participants

Thirteen artists participate in FiK 61‘s first semi-final, with the big winner taking the ticket for Liverpool.

The 13 artists participating at the first semi-final for Festivali i Këngës 61 are:

  1. Enxhi Nasufi
  2. Erma Mici
  3. Fabian Basha
  4. Anduel Kovaçi
  5. Fifi
  6. Urban Band
  7. 2 Farm
  8. Sara Kapo
  9. Rezarta Smaja
  10. Albina dhe familja Kelmendi
  11. Sergio Hajdini
  12. Luna Çausholli
  13. Rovena Dilo

Tonight we are going to listen to the songs for the first time.

Arbana Osmani will be the presenter for FiK 61 that will once again be held in Pallati i Kongreseve at Tirana. 90-year-old well-known actress from cinema and theater Margarita Xhepa will be the guest and she is about to deliver a very powerful message onstage.

Format

Tonight, at the first night of FiK 61, the first 13 contestants will perform their entries. The second night, the remaining 13 contestants will also perform their entries. The process for the third night hasn’t been announced yet. At the fourth and last night, Albania’s Grand Final will take place.

The first night of Festivali i Këngës 61 starts at 22:00 EET and you can watch it live HERE.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding Albania’s participation in Eurovision 2023!