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Albania: The reason Elsa Lila did not win Festivali i Këngës 62!

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The two FiK winners spoke with Alban Dudushi in the “3D” studio at RTSH yesterday, giving their thoughts regarding this year’s musical festival.

The 62nd edition’s winners were Besa Kokëdhima, who will represent Albania in Eurovision 2024 as the public vote winner, and Mal Retkoceri, who received the FIK 62 trophy from the jury.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rEDP1lSoDQ

Besa Kokëdhima revealed that she hasn’t performed in Albania for a long time, but with the song Zemrën N’dorë, she displayed a different side of her artistic personality.

It was several years since I did music in Albania. I’ve discovered a love that I never would have expected to feel. It goes without saying that people are yearning for both the artistic viewpoint I offer to the music industry and for what I’ve contributed to Albanian music. Consider it perhaps as an excess of nostalgia. The festival makes up for a void in my life. Bessa is who I am and always will be. However, the song also had developments and surprises, even though I didn’t want to start a trend because I’ve done this before. This song needed to be Bessa, it needed to be a new Bessa, and it needed to be something the crowd could relate to.

Mal Retkoceri, on the other hand, addressed the problem of showing his tongue while singing and acknowledged that he had only recently made the decision to begin recording music.

I spent zero euros on my performance. When no one was home, I attempted to record. Leaving them with a surprise was my intention, especially for my mother. It is a piece I wrote for my mum. I interpreted it as though it were her perspective. My sister gave me the mattress, which is a red blanket. My mother asked me, “Who wrote the lyrics?” right away. She was amazed when she found out that I had created it on my own. I told her that the song was written specifically for her after three or four days.

– Why not ? – I don’t know . We have the tongue, we can take it out and put it in. We have that ability as humans”, Mal replied with a laugh.

Along with the two winners, Zana Shuteriqi, a member of the jury, was also present and gave her thoughts regarding the events of the FIK 62 final.

Specifically, Zana Shuteriqi noted that the song’s professional aspects were the first thing the Festival judges considered

Expert panels shouldn’t make aesthetic judgments, instead they should address the prodessional aspects of the songs, which comprise many of its components. People are passionate about what they do, thus the judging panel needs to be objective in its interpretations.

Zana Shuteriqi also gave her thoughts on Elsa Lila’s song, stating that it bore similarities to the one from the previous year.

Despite all of her artistic achievements, Elsa Lila composed a song that was strikingly similar to the winning composition from the previous year. But compared to last year, it was even less successful. There’s not much of a difference between these songs, and Mars wasn’t as good as Evita. Thus, we made an effort to be as unbiased and professional as we could.

She concluded by discussing the assaults that she has been the target of.

Given that not everyone is fond of Mal Retkoceri, I accept criticism directed towards him. The jury was able to discern the festival’s essence, and it is the particular individuals chosen to do this. What more classic choices would you like us to make?

I want to praise Bojken Lako for his spirit, his attitude, and his intent of helping the organizers take one more step—or possibly many steps—after the first night was done. It’s not an issue of honor, the event as a whole introduced a highly empowering perspective.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun to stay up to date on all the latest news about the world’s largest music competition!

Source: RTSH

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

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The curtains for Albania’s national final, Festivali i Këngës 61, have opened at Tirana. The festival is the means for selecting the neighboring country’s representative for Liverpool in May. The four-day celebration dedicated to albanian music continues tonight, with duets consisting of “big” artists and legendary FiK artists performing adaptations of historic FiK songs at the stage of Pallati i Kongreseve.

The participants

We have already heard all 26 participants of Festivali i Këngës 61 at the first two nights. The 5 out of 10 artists of the new artists category that progress to the final were announced. They are:

  1. Melodajn Mancaku
  2. Erma Mici
  3. Vanesa Sono
  4. Urban Band
  5. Gent Hoxha

The duets that will perform at the third night of Festivali i Këngës 61 are:

1. Albina dhe familia Kelmendi & Josif Gjipali – “Na lini të jetomên” (FiK 30, 1991)

2. Alban Kondi & Lore & West Side Family – “Jehonë” (FiK 47, 2008)

3. 2 Farm & Redon Makashi – “Dikur luaja me saksin e saj” (FiK 33, 1994)

4. Gjergj Kaçinari & Elhaida Dani – “Late night” (FiK 11, 1972)

5. Elsa Lila & Capital T – “Pyes lotin” (FiK 35, 1996)

6. Petrit Çarkaxhiu & Bojken Lako – “Nothing is far” (FiK 38, 1999)

7. Evi Reçi & Irma Libohova – “Të karkoj” (FiK 27, 1988)

8. Franc Koruni & Altin Goci – “Entrroi” (FiK 30, 1991)

9. Enxhi Nasufi & Edea Demaliaj – “Mos qaj” (FiK 36, 1997)

10. Manjola Nallbani & Eneda Tarifa – “Kur e humba një ľorija” (FiK 32, 1993)

11. Rovena Dilo & Soni Malaj – “Ante i land sime” (FiK 39, 2000)

12. Lynx & Aleksander Gjoka – “Ecên në shi” (FiK 32, 1993)

13. Rezarta Smaja & Luan Zhegu – “A do te vish” (FiK 26, 1987)

14. Sergio Hajdini & Kamela Islamaj – “Ne jemi tre” (FiK 4, 1965)

15. Fifi & Flori Mumajesi – “Larg u largova” (FIK 32, 1993)

16. Fabian Basha & Eranda Libohova – “Kthehu për vehte për mua” (FiK 35, 1996)

 

We remind you that the guests of the third night will be Eurovision 2022 winners, Kalush Orchestra.

The final of Festivali i Këngës 61 will be held on Thursday, December 22nd at 22:00 EET where we are going to meet the next Albanian representative.

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

Albania: Watch the performances from the second night of FiK 61!

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The second night of Festivali i Këngës 61 through which Albania’s representative for Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool will be selected, has been completed. Overall, 26 artists will compete in the contest. The second night was also held in Pallati i Kongreseve at Tirana, where we heard the 13 remaining songs for the first time with a live orchestra and we watched the staging they suggest for the contest. Arbana Osmani is the presenter for FiK 61.

You can watch the performances of the second night at the links below:

  1. Melodajn Mancaku – “Gjysma e zemrës sime“
  2. Permit of stay – “Fobia“
  3. Arsi Bako – “Sonte dua të jem me ty“
  4. Gjergj Kaçinari – “Dje“
  5. Franc Koruni – “Në pritje“
  6. Petrit Çarkaxhiu – “Emri yt mirësi“
  7. Elsa Lila – “Evita“
  8. Gent Hoxha – “Ajër“
  9. Evi Reçi – “Ma kthe“
  10. Manjola Nallbani – “Dua“
  11. Lynx – “Nëse ke besim“
  12. Alban & Lore – “Melodi“
  13. Vanesa Sono – “Aroma jonë“

Unlike previous editions, at FiK 61 the first prize of Festivali i Këngës will be determined from the professional jury and from a special media jury seen for the first time, while the song that will represent Albania in Eurovision 2023 will be selected with the televoting through SMS.

Also, at the first night Arbana Osmani has presented the professional jury members for the Festival.

The professional jury is comprised of:

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

The 5 new artists that progressed to the final, are:

  1. Melodajn Mancaku
  2. Erma Mici
  3. Vanesa Sono
  4. Urban Band
  5. Gent Hoxha

We remind you that tomorrow, at the third night, we are going to see duets singing adaptations from FiK’s history. Also, Eurovision 2022 winners Kalush Orchestra will be the guests of the night.

The final of Festivali i Këngës 61 will be held on Thursday December 22nd at 22:00 EET where we are going to meet the next Albanian representative.

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

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

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The curtains for Albania’s national final, Festivali i Këngës 61, have opened at Tirana. The festival is the means for selecting the neighboring country’s representative for Liverpool in May. The four-day celebration dedicated to albanian music continues tonight, with 13 more candidates performing at the stage of Pallati i Kongreseve.

The participants

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

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

  1. Melodajna Mancaku
  2. Permit of stay
  3. Arsi Bako
  4. Gjergj Kaçinari
  5. Franc Koruni
  6. Petrit Çarkaxhiu
  7. Elsa Lila
  8. Gent Hoxha
  9. Evi Reçi
  10. Manjola Nallbani
  11. Lynx
  12. Alban & Lore
  13. Vanesa Sono

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.

Format

At the first night of FiK 61, the first 13 contestants will perform their entries. Tonight, at 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 second 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!