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Albania: Arilena Ara with Shaj to represent the country in Rotterdam

The first song for Eurovision 2020 is a fact! The Festivali i Këngës 58 was completed shortly after the overthrow of the prognosis, as Arilena was the big winner with the song “Shaj”. So Arilena becomes the sixth consecutive country representative of the upcoming Eurovision song contest to be announced.

For another year, Albanian Public Television (RTSH) chose to participate in Eurovision through FiK. Live from the Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana hosted by Alketa Vejsiu, the 12 artists who made it to the final did their best to claim the five-member jury’s vote and win the festival and the  ticket to Rotterdam in May as well.

The contestants

In order of appearance the 12 current runners-up were:

1. Valon Shehu – “Kutia e Pandorës” (Pandora’s box)

2. Sara Bajraktari – “Ajër” (Air)

3. Robert Berisha – “Ajo nuk është unë” (This is not me)

4. Tiri Gjoci – “Me gotën bosh” (With an empty glass)

5. Bojken Lako – “Malaseen” (Without seeing me)

6. Arilena Ara – “Shaj” (Sweet as the curse)

7. Gena – “Shqiponja e lirë” (Free eagle)

8. Kamela Islamaj – “Më ngjyros” (Draw me)

9. Alberie Hadergjonaj – “Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua” (Where can I find someone to live)

10. Elvana Gjata – “Me tana” (With all)

11. Olta Boka – “Shkrime në mur” (Slogans on the wall)

12. Era Rusi – “Eja Merre” (Come and get it)

This evening, Eleni Foureira, who just before leaving for the USA, shone a spot on the FiK58 stage with all her big hits! But what we would like to dwell on is in the words of Eleni Foureira shortly after her interpretation is over. The popular singer commented on the refugee and the fact that Greece is the only country that has received so many immigrants on its territory and treated them, with the audience in the room applauding. ! Before the results came also Guisy Ferreri, the Italian superstar who has made success in and out of her country.

The results at Festivali i Këngës 58 were determined exclusively by the jury vote in which apart from two domestic music professionals, Greek Dimitris Kontopoulos, Swedish Christer Bjorkman and Icelander Felix Bergsson were involved.

In third place was Sara Bajraktari and in second place Elvana Gjata!

Albania at the Eurovision Contest

In 2020 we will have Albania’s 17th entry in the contest, which debuted in 2004, with Anjeza Shahini and “The Image Of You”, which reached seventh place! RTSH showed interest in the Eurovision song contest in 2003. However, three more countries made their debut that year and Albania was not eligible to participate. In the following years it managed to qualify seven times in the final and many more in the semifinals.

The best it won was 2012 with Rona Nishliu and “Suus”. The last two years it has managed to qualify for the final and obviously wants to continue her series.

In Tel Aviv Albania was represented by Jonida Maliqi with “Ktheju Land”, after winning the FiK 57 first! She managed to score 90 points and finish 17th in the final!

Listen to Albanian participation for Eurovision 2020 below:

 

Albania: The running order of the Festivali i Këngës 58 Semi-finals

On December 22, we will find out the first Eurovision 2020 entry, after the final of the Festivali i Këngës 58. But earlier this year, 20 FiK candidates will compete in the two semifinals for the 10 tickets leading to the final. Albanian Public Broadcaster (RTSH) earlier revealed the distribution of the songs in the semifinals, as well as the order in which they will appear.

First Semi-final (December 19th):

  1. Nadia & Genc Tukiçi – “Ju flet Tirana” 
  2. Sara Bajraktari – “Ajër” 
  3. Devis Xherahu – “Bisedoj me serenatën” 
  4. Kanita – “Ankth” 
  5. Kamela Islamaj – “Më ngjyros” 
  6. Bojken Lako – “Malaseen” 
  7. Elvana Gjata – “Me tana” 
  8. Aldo Bardhi – “Melodi
  9. Renisi Gjoka – “Loja” 
  10. Albërie Hadërgjonaj “Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua

Second Semi-final ?(December 20th):

  1. Kastro Zizo (né Kleviz Bega) – “Asaj” 
  2. Tiri Gjoci – “Me gotën bosh” 
  3. Olta Boka – “Botë për Dy
  4. Era Rusi – “Eja Merre
  5. Wendi Mancaku – “Ende” 
  6. Robert Berisha – “Ajo nuk është unë” 
  7. Gena – “Shqiponja e lirë” 
  8. Eli Fara & Stresi – “Bohem” 
  9. Arilena Ara “Shaj” 
  10. Valon Shehu – “Kutia e Pandorës” 

The innovation in FiK regulations compared to previous years, is that this year the results will also be determined by an international committee, which has already invited important personalities to staff it. Among those invited by RTSH to the international committee, as we revealed in our previous article, Greek author Dimitris Kontopoulos. FiK 58 is presented by Alketa Vejsiu.

Albania: Candidate songs to be unveiled on 9 December | Foureira, Mahmood, Giusy Ferreri on Fik stage

A short while ago, Albanian public broadcaster announced that the 20 songs participating in the 2019 Festivali i Song will be announced on Monday, December 9th.

The 20 candidates for the Festivali i Kenges to claim the Rotterdam ticket are:

1. Albrei Hadergjonaj
2. Aldo White
3. Arilena Ara
4. Bojken Lako
5. Devis Xherah
6. Eli Fara & Stress
7. Elvana Gjata
8. The Era of Russia
9. Gena
10. Genc Tukiqi
11. Kanita Suma
12. Kamela Islamaj
13. Castro Zizo
14. Olta Boka
15. Renis Gjoka
16. Robert Berisha
17. Sara Bajraktari
18. Tiri Gjoci
19. Valon Shehu
20. Wendi Mancaku

Interval Acts by favourite Eurostars

A few days ago, we informed you that explosive Eleni Foureira will make her appearance at FiK 2019.The news now seems to be confirmed with the sexy singer getting ready to set fire to the stage once again.

He may not have won this year’s Contest, but he made the most success of any artist. The reason for Mahmood to land on the FiK stage for a strong appearance.

Finally, a great Italian artist also announces this in Albania’s largest festival.

Guisy Ferreri who has taken part in San Remo in the past, will also come to the FiK stage to impress us once again with her distinctive voice.

The two FiK semifinals will take place on December 19th and 20th, while the Grand Final, where we will also learn Albania’s 17th representative at the Eurovision Song Contest, will take place on December 22nd. Alketa Vejsiu will be the host of the Festivali i Kenges 58.