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Albania: Watch snippets from the rehearsals for the first night of FiK 62!

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A preview of the 16 competing songs that will perform on the opening night of Festivali i Këngës 62, the Albanian national selection, have just been released. The clips are, in fact, snippets from yesterday’s rehearsals.

Check out, the snippets from yesterday’s rehearsal of the sixteen artists who will participate in the first night of FIK 62 (links are attached to the song titles):

  1. Stivi Ushe – “Askush Si Ty”
  2. Besa Kokëdhima – “Zemrën N’dorë”
  3. Mal Retkoceri – “Çmendur»
  4. Eldis Arnjeti – «Një Kujtim» a>
  5. Shpat Deda – «S’mund T’fitoj Pa Ty»
  6. Jehona Ponari – «Evol»
  7. Peter Pan Quartet – «Edhe Një Herë»
  8. Festina Mejzini – «Melos»
  9. Kastro Zizo – «2073»
  10. Luan Durmishi – «Përsëritja»
  11. Melodajn Mancaku – «Nuk Jemi Ne»< /span>
  12. Olsi Ballta – “Unh“
  13. Andi Tanko – «Herë Pas Here»
  14. Sergio Hajdinifdq – «Uragan»
  15. Santino de Bartolo – «Dua Të Rri Me Ty»
  16. Olimpia Smajlaj – «Asaj»

Festivali i Këngës 62 commences tonight at 20:30 (CET) and you can watch it via this link.

FIK 62 will be hosted by Adriana Matoshi, Kledi Kadiu, Xhuliano Dule and Krisa Çaushi .

Like last year, FiK 62 will have two separate winners. The winner of the jury vote will be crowned as the winner of the festival and the winner of the public vote will be chosen as the country’s representative in Malmö.

Stay tuned to Eurovision Fun for all developments regarding Albania’s participation in Eurovision 2024!

Source: Eurovision National Finals 2

Albania: Festivali i Këngës 62 begins tonight!

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December cannot be December without Festivali i Këngës and so, tonight, the 62nd edition of the celebration of Albanian music begins in Tirana. Festivali i Këngës 62 kicks off in a few hours from now, being the means to determine Albania’s representative at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Malmö in May.

Format

Festivali i Këngës 62 will last four days, with the 31 participants competing over the next four nights for six prizes, one of which is directly related to Albania’s representation at Eurovision in Malmö a few months from now.

On the first (Tuesday) and second (Wednesday) nights will feature the semi-finals of the festival, on the third night (Thursday) the so-called “Nostalgia Night” will take place, while the festival will culminate on Friday with the Grand Final.

Like last year, FiK 62 will have two separate winners. The winner of the jury vote will be crowned as the winner of the festival and the winner of the public vote will be chosen as the country’s representative in Malmö.

The jury will consist of 11 members who will award 6 different prizes based on artistic criteria and the winner of the festival.

First Semi-Final

As mentioned above, the first semi-final of the 62nd great celebration of Albanian music will take place tonight. The artists who will perform tonight on the stage of Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana are:

  1. Stivi Ushe – «Askush Si Ty»
  2. Besa Kokëdhima – «Zemrën N’dorë»
  3. Mal Retkoceri – «Çmendur»
  4. Eldis Arnjeti – «Një Kujtim»
  5. Shpat Deda – «S’mund T’fitoj Pa Ty»
  6. Jehona Ponari – «Evol»
  7. Peter Pan Quartet – «Edhe Një Herë»
  8. Festina Mejzini – «Melos»
  9. Kastro Zizo – «2073»
  10. Luan Durmishi – «Përsëritja»
  11. Melodajn Mancaku – «Nuk Jemi Ne»
  12. Olsi Ballta – «Unë»
  13. Andi Tanko – «Herë Pas Here»
  14. Sergio Hajdinifdq – «Uragan»
  15. Santino de Bartolo – «Dua Të Rri Me Ty»
  16. Olimpia Smajlaj – «Asaj»

The presenters of FiK 62 will be Adriana Matoshi, Kledi Kadiu, Xhuliano Dule and Krisa Çaushi.

The first night of Festivali i Këngës 62 starts at 20:30 (CET) and you can watch it by clicking HERE.

Last year’s winners of the public vote were Albina & Familja Kelmendi with their song “Duje“, earning the right to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool. Albina & Familja Kelmendi again brought their country to the Grand Final, finishing in tenth place in the public vote and in twenty-second place overall.

https://youtu.be/TI9rSDhXwyc

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Albania: Eden Baja will replace Sardi Strugaj in Festivali i Këngës 62!

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A bit more than a week seperates us from the final of Festivali i Këngës 62. RTSH, the public broadcaster of Albania, is going to broadcast the most impostant musical event in the country for four consecutive nights.

After Sardi Strugaj announced his withdrawal from the festival, the public broadcaster just confirmed that Eden Baja, with her song “Ajër”, will take his place in the second night of the festival. The song is taking the seventh spot in the running order of the second semi-final of the festival in December 20.

This is not the only change in the competitors of this year’s festival. A few days ago, Kejsi Tola, the winner of 2008 festival and Albania’s representative in Eurovision 2009, who was about to perform “Vallëzoj Me Dritën“ in FiK 62, announced her withdrawal as well. We also read about the withdrawal of Samanta Karavella and her song “N’majë”. The two singers were replaced by Irma Lepuri and PeterPan Quartet.

Festivali i Këngës 62 will take place with 31 artists

A total of 31 artists were shortlisted for FiK 62. Samanta’s and Kejsi Tola’s acts were replaced by the newcomers Irma Lepuri and PeterPan Quartet, while Sardi Strugaj’s replacement was just found.

First Night (December 19)

  1. Stivi Ushe – Askush si ty
  2. Besa Kokëdhima – Zemën n’Dorë
  3. Mal Retkoceri – Çmendur
  4. Eldis Arrnjeti – Një kujtim
  5. Shpat Deda – S’mund t’jetoj pa ty
  6. Jehona Ponari – Evol
  7. PeterPan Quartet
  8. Festina Mejzini – Melos
  9. Kastro Zizo – 2073
  10. Luan Durmishi – Përsëritja
  11. Melodajn Mancaku – Nuk jemi ne
  12. Olsi Ballta – Unë
  13. Andi Tanko – Herë pas herë
  14. Sergio Hajdini – Uragan
  15. Santino De Bartolo – Dua të rri me ty
  16. Olimpia Smajlaj – Asaj

Second Night (December 20)

  1. Big Basta and Vesa Luma – Mbinatyrale
  2. Elsa Lila – Mars
  3. Jasmina Hako – Ti
  4. Michela Paluca – Për veten
  5. Anduel Kovaçi – Nan’
  6. Irma Lepori
  7. Erina and the Elementals – Jetën n’skaj
  8. Kleansa Susaj – Pikturë
  9. Arsi Bako – Zgjohu
  10. Tiri Gjoci – Në ëndërr
  11. Besa Krasniqi – Esenciale
  12. Bledi Kaso – Çdo gjë mbaroi
  13. Troy – Horizonti i ëndrrave
  14. Martina Serreqi – Vetëm ty

Just like last year, FiK 62 will have two separate winners. The winner of the jury voting will be crowned as the winner of the festival and the winner of the public vote will be the chosen one for the Albanian representation in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The 62nd edition of FiK will take place from December 19 to December 22, 2023 at Pallati i Kongresseve in Tirana. Last year’s winners of the public vote were Albina & Familja Kelmendi with their song “Duje”, gaining the right to represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool. Albina & Familja Kelmendi brought their country back to the Grand Final, finishing tenth in the public vote and twenty-second overall.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Albanian participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö!

Source: escplus.es

Albania: Eleven jurors will determine the winner of Festivali i Këngës 62!

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The artistic director of Festivali i Këngës 62, Bojken Lako, Krisa Çaushi, the host of Festivali i Këngës and Gridi Kraja, the dirctor of the symphonic orchestra of the festival, all appeared in the TV show “E diela jonë”, with Ermal Peçit, and revealed new information on the upcoming Albanian music festival.

They promised the public, a Festival with songs that will not be forgotten by the public and TV elements that will make the four magical nights in December, even more favourable.

They also spoke on Kejsi Tola’s, Samanta Karavella’s and Sardi Strugaj’s withdrawal. Ermal Peçitasked whether there is a rule that forbids the staging as Samanta Karavella said, and Bojken Lako answered:

“Attracting artists is something personal. The regulations have been even stricter this year. Unlike other years, this year we have allowed up to 2 performers on stage. The other reasons are completely personal. This year we will have 6 awards. I do not give importance to the show, but to the music and the orchestra. We want to give importance to the text and the music. “

Ermal Peçit also asked them on the online rumours that want Elsa Lila as the winner of the festival. Gridi Kraja and Bojken Lako stated the following:

“The singers themselves release the rumours.”

“The jury has 11 members. How can all the jury members agree in advance on the winner? The rumors are just news for portals to click on.“

After the above interview, we can say, as we’ve previously mentioned in an article, that Albania wants to return to Eurovision with strong ballad, giving more attention to the voice and the feelings, unlike their two previous entries.

Festivali i Këngës 62

A total of 31 artists were shortlisted for FiK 62. Samanta’s and Kejsi Tola’s acts were replaced by the newcomers Irma Lepuri and PeterPan Quartet, while there was no announcement made regarding a possible replacement of another artist that withdrew, namely Sardi Strugaj.

Excluding Sardi Strugaj, the following thirty artists will compete:

  1. Stivi Ushe – Askush si ty
  2. Besa Kokëdhima – Zemën n’Dorë
  3. Mal Retkoceri – Çmendur
  4. Eldis Arrnjeti – Një kujtim
  5. Shpat Deda – S’mund t’jetoj pa ty
  6. Jehona Ponari – Evol
  7. PeterPan Quartet
  8. Festina Mejzini – Melos
  9. Kastro Zizo – 2073
  10. Luan Durmishi – Përsëritja
  11. Melodajn Mancaku – Nuk jemi ne
  12. Olsi Ballta – Unë
  13. Andi Tanko – Herë pas herë
  14. Sergio Hajdini – Uragan
  15. Santino De Bartolo – Dua të rri me ty
  16. Olimpia Smajlaj – Asaj
  17. Big Basta and Vesa Luma – Mbinatyrale
  18. Elsa Lila – Mars
  19. Jasmina Hako – Ti
  20. Michela Paluca – Për veten
  21. Anduel Kovaçi – Nan’
  22. Irma Lepori
  23. Erina and the Elementals – Jetën n’skaj
  24. Kleansa Susaj – Pikturë
  25. Arsi Bako – Zgjohu
  26. Tiri Gjoci – Në ëndërr
  27. Besa Krasniqi – Esenciale
  28. Bledi Kaso – Çdo gjë mbaroi
  29. Troy – Horizonti i ëndrrave
  30. Martina Serreqi – Vetëm ty

Just like last year, FiK 62 will have two separate winners. The winner of the jury voting will be crowned as the winner of the festival and the winner of the public vote will be the chosen one for the Albanian representation in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The 62nd edition of FiK will take place from December 19 to December 22, 2023 at Pallati i Kongresseve in Tirana. Last year’s winners of the public vote were Albina & Familja Kelmendi with their song “Duje”, gaining the right to represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool. Albina & Familja Kelmendi brought their country back to the Grand Final, finishing tenth in the public vote and twenty-second overall.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Albanian participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö!
Source: lajme.rtsh.al

Albania: Kledi Kadiu will be the host of Festivali i Këngës 62!

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A little while ago RTSH, the public broadcaster of Albania, announced the name of the host of the 62nd Festivali i Këngës which will take place in about a month!

Dancer, choreographer and presenter Kledi Kadiu has been announced as the presenter of Festivali i Këngës 62. He is best known in Albania as well as in Italy for his career as a dancer. He was a dance teacher in the Italian talent show, “Amici di Maria De Filippi” from 2011 to 2017, while he was also a judge in the Albanian “Dancing with the Stars”.

Festivali i Këngës 62 is set to take place at Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana from December 19 to 22. A total of 37 artists will take part both to win the festival and to represent Albania at Eurovision 2024. We remind you that some time ago it was announced that the jury of the festival will determine the winner of Festivali i Këngës 62 and the audience the representative of the country. Below is the running order of the first two nights:

First Night
  1. Stivi Ushe – “Askush si ty” (Nobody like you)
  2. Besa Kokëdhima – “Zemrën n’dorë” (Heart in hand)
  3. Mal Retkoceri – “Çmendur” (Crazy)
  4. Eldis Arnjeti – “Një kujtim” (A memory)
  5. Shpat Deda – “S’mund të fitoj pa ty” (I can’t win without you)
  6. Jehona Ponari – “Evol” (Evolve)
  7. PeterPan Quartet
  8. Festina Mejzini – “Melos”
  9. Kastro Zizo – “2073”
  10. Luan Durmishi – “Përsëritja” (Repetition)
  11. Melodajn Mancaku – “Nuk jemi ne” (It’s not us)
  12. Olsi Ballta – “Unë” (I)
  13. Andi Tanko – “Herë pas here” (From time to time)
  14. Sergio Hajdini – “Uragan” (Hurricane)
  15. Santino De Bartolo – “Dua të rri me ty” (I want to stay with you)
  16. Olimpia Smajlaj – “Asaj” (Her)
Second Night
  1. Big Basta & Vesa Luma – “Mbinatyrale” (Supernatural)
  2. Elsa Lila – “Mars”
  3. Jasmina Hako – “Ti” (You)
  4. Michela Paluca – “Për veten” (For myself)
  5. Anduel Kovaci – “Nane’”
  6. Irma Lepori
  7. Sardi Struga – “Boshatisur” (Empty)
  8. Erina & The Elementals – “Jetën n’Skaj” (Life on the edge)
  9. Kleansa Susaj – “Pikturë” (Painting)
  10. Arsi Bako – “Zgjohu” (Wake up)
  11. Tiri Gjoci – “Në ëndërr” (In a dream)
  12. Besa Krasniqi – “Esenciale” (Essential)
  13. Bledi Kaso – “Çdo gjë mbaroi” (Everything is over)
  14. Troy Band – “Horizonti i ëndrrave” (The horizon of dreams)
  15. Martina Serreqi – “Vetëm ty” (Only you)
The previous winner of Festivali i Këngës and Albania’s representative in Eurovision 2023, were Albina & Familja Kelmendi with the song “Duje”, ending up in 22nd place, while also bringing their country back in the Grand Final:

https://youtu.be/TI9rSDhXwyc

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Albanian participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, in Malmö!

Albania: The running order for the first two nights of Festivali i Këngës 62!

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Even at this early stage, the Albanian national selection is already underway. Festivali i Këngës 62, which will indicate the next Albanian representative in Malmö is scheduled to take place as usual in late December.

With the preparations of FiK 62 underway, RTSH held a press conference today, revealing, inter alia, the running order for the first two nights of the competition.

Specifically the running order for the first two nights of Festivali i Këngës 62 is the following:

Night 1
  1.   Stivi Ushe – Askush si ty
  2.   Besa Kokëdhima – Zemën n’Dorë
  3.   Mal Retkoceri – Çmendur
  4.   Eldis Arrnjeti – Një kujtim
  5.   Shpat Deda – S’mund t’jetoj pa ty
  6.   Jehona Ponari – Evol
  7.   PeterPan Quartet
  8.   Festina Mejzini – Melos
  9.   Kastro Zizo – 2073
  10.     Luan Durmishi – Përsëritja
  11.     Melodajn Mancaku – Nuk jemi ne
  12.     Olsi Ballta – Unë
  13.     Andi Tanko – Herë pas herë
  14.     Sergio Hajdini – Uragan
  15.     Santino De Bartolo – Dua të rri me ty
  16.     Olimpia Smajlaj – Asaj
Night 2
  1.   Big Basta and Vesa Luma – Mbinatyrale
  2.   Elsa Lila – Mars
  3.   Jasmina Hako – Ti
  4.   Michela Paluca – Për veten
  5.   Anduel Kovaçi – Nan’
  6.   Irma Lepori
  7.   Sardi Strugaj – Boshastisur
  8.   Erina and the Elementals – Jetën n’skaj
  9.   Kleansa Susaj – Pikturë
  10.     Arsi Bako – Zgjohu
  11.     Tiri Gjoci – Në ëndërr
  12.     Besa Krasniqi – Esenciale
  13.     Bledi Kaso – Çdo gjë mbaroi
  14.     Troy – Horizonti i ëndrrave
  15.     Martina Serreqi – Vetëm ty

 

On the aforementioned list, we can notice that the names of Samanta and Kejsi Tola are missing. Indeed, Samanta and Kejsi Tola were replaced by Irma Lepuri and the PeterPan Quartet respectively. The withdrawal of those two artists was revealed just after the announcement of FiK 62 regulations, which were probably the motive that gave them the rise of stepping out of the competition.

Which are FiK 62 regulations?

Although, it was announced that the winner of Festivali i Këngës 62 and hence the Albanian representative in Eurovision 2024 would be decided by both a jury committee and the audience on a 50/50 proportion, it turns out that this scenario is not true. At the press conference today, it was mentioned that the system will remain the same as last year. This means that the jury of the festival will choose the winner of Festivali i Këngës 62 and the TV audience the representative of the country.

The two winners may not be the same, as happened last year when the winner of Festivali i Këngës was Elsa Lila, while the representatives of the country were Albina & Familja Kelmendi.

More announcements regarding the competition

The running order has been decided for the first two nights of this year’s FiK. Moreover, it was mentioned that on the third night, the “big” artists will perform with singers who no longer participate, while the “new” artists will sing in a duet, a song from Eurovision.

Then, the finalists will be announced after the end of the third night.

Albania was represented in Liverpool by Albina & Familja Kelmendi with their song “Duje“. Albania managed to return to the Grand Final, finishing 10th in the public voting and 22nd overall.

https://youtu.be/TI9rSDhXwyc

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all news!

Albania: Elsa Lila returns to Festivali i Këngës 62!

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After last year’s triumph with the song “Evita”, Elsa Lila is reportedly returning to Festivali i Këngës 62, in order to claim her fourth win in the Festival! Read more

Albania: A 50/50 combination of jury and public vote will decide the winner of Festivali i Këngës 62!

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Albania will choose its Eurovision 2024 act, as usual, via Festivali i Këngës. Festivali i Këngës has been used as the Albania’s selection format since its inaugural participation in 2004, being a music festival of great significance for the country’s music scene with a history of more than five decades.

The submission window for Festivali i Këngës 62 remains open till tomorrow, October 10th and the artists interested in participating can still submit their entries to the national broadcaster.

Changes in voting format

While the submissions are still open, it was confirmed that Festivali i Këngës will see another change in its voting format in 2023. In last year’s edition, Festivali i Këngës had two separate winners. The winner of the jury voting was crowned as the winner of the festival and the winner of the public vote was the chosen one for the Albanian representation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Indicatively,

  • Elsa Lila with her song “Evita” won the jury voting and was crowned as the winner of Festivali i Këngës 61
  • Albina & Familja Kelmendi with “Duje” won the public vote, being the jury runner-up and won the ticket to Liverpool

This year and according to Bojken Lako, the artistic director of Festivali i Këngës 62, the winner and consecutively the Eurovision 2024 Albanian representative will be chosen accordingly through a combination of jury and public vote. Hence, a Eurovision-style 50/50 format will be used in order to select the next Albanian act.

 

This is another change that Festivali i Këngës sees in its voting format. Festivali i Këngës has now started to implement the public opinion more, especially when it comes to Eurovision. For many years it was accused of corruption and the country’s inability to respond to the modern-day Eurovision standards.

Festivali i Këngës 62 is expected to be hosted in late December and will include 27 artists, 14 in the category of “big” and 13 newcomers.

What do you think about the public’s involvement in Festivali i Këngës? Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all news!

Albania: Festivali i Këngës 62 submissions will remain open until October 10!

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The submissions for the 62nd edition of Festivali i Këngës, have opened almost three weeks ago, on the 1st of September.

Although the announcement did not include any deadline for the submissions, it was now confirmed that the deadline is set to be on the 10th of October. Until then, those interested can send their submissions on the following email address: festivali62@rtsh.al.

 

Albania has been utilizing Festivali i Këngës as a selection method since the country’s debut almost 20 years ago. So far, it is unknown whether the seperate jury-public vote winner method that was used last year, will also be implemented in this year’s edition, marking that the public will decide the Albanian representative in Malmö.

The 62nd edition of Festivali i Këngës is expected to take place in late December, when we will know who will be the successor of Albina and Familja Kelmendi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI9rSDhXwyc

Stay tuned on EurovisionFun for all news!