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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: FiK61 songs will be presented directly through the Live Shows!

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Through her personal account on Instagram, Arbana Osmani, presenter of Festivali i Këngës 61, confirmed that the songs competing in Festivali i Këngës 61 will not be revealed until the live shows in December.

This means that after many years, the songs of the artists at FiK61, will be presented directly through the show nights, just like in Sanremo.

FiK 61 will take place on 19,20,21,22 of December 2022. The Albanian Public Broadcaster RTSH, revealed that for the first time, the act which is going to represent Albania in Eurovision will be decided entirely by a public vote, while a jury will vote to determine the results of the festival, but its verdict will not be considered for the act which will represent Albania.

This replaces the previous methods used at Festivali i Këngës, where a jury alone or a jury in combination with a televote would select the winner of Festivali i Këngës, who would represent Albania at Eurovision. This year will also see three different prizes awarded by the jury:

  • First, Second and Third in the jury vote
  • First for young artists and alternative groups
  • First for established artists

Popular singer Flori Mumajesi will be the artistic director of the 61st version of the festival. The artists that will take part are:

  • 2 Farm – “Atomike” (Atomic)
  • Alban Kondi & Lorela Karoshi – “Melodi” (Melody)
  • Albina Kelmendi – “Duje” (Prayer)
  • Anduel Kovaçi – “Malli” (Merchandise)
  • Aris Bako – “Sonte dua të jem me ty” (Tonight I want to be with you)
  • Melodajna Mancaku – “Gjysma e zemrës sime” (Half of my heart)
  • Elisa Lila – “Evita”
  • Enxhi Nasufi – “Burrë” (Man)
  • Erma Mici – “Kozmosi i dashurisë” (The cosmos of love)
  • Evi Reçi – “Ma kthe” (Give me back)
  • Fabian Basha – “Një gotë” (A glass)
  • Fifi (Filloreta Raçi) – “Stop”
  • Franc Koruni – “Në pritje” (Pending)
  • Genti Hoxha – “Ajër” (Air)
  • Gjergj Kaçinari – “Dje” (Yesterday)
  • Luna Causholli – “Jetën ta fal” (I forgive life)
  • LYNX – “Nëse ke besim” (If you have faith)
  • Manjola Nallbani – “Dua” (Love)
  • Permit of Stay – “Fobia” (Phobias)
  • Petrit Çarkaxhiu – “Emri yt mirësi” (Your name is good)
  • Rezearta Smaja – “N’Eden” (In Eden)
  • Rovena Dilo – “Motit” (Weather)
  • Sara Kapo – “Para teje” (Before you)
  • Serxhio Hajdini – “Vështirë” (Tough)
  • Urban Band – “Në çdo hap” (At every step)
  • Vanesa Soni – “Aroma jonë” (Our fragrence)

The previous version of the festival was won by Ronela Hajati with the song “Secret” which despite being high in the betting odds, placed 12th in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2022.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Albanian participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, in Liverpool!

Albania: The public will decide the country’s representative for Eurovision 2023!

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The Albanian public broadcaster, RTSH, made a considerable change in the selection process for their entry in Eurovision.

In a previous announcement, RTSH stated that Festivali i Këngës will include public vote once again, after many years. However, no one imagined how much the public vote will affect the final resutl. Today’s announcement states that Albania’s representative  in Eurovision 2023 will be chosen, for the first time only by public vote! On the same time, the jury will decide on the results for Festivali i Këngës.

This way, all the previous voting systems of Festivali i Këngës, where the jury or the jury along with public determined the final result, are negated. One more difference in this year’s festival is that the jury will give out three awards:

  • First, Second and Third in the jury vote
  • First for young artists and alternative groups
  • First for established artists

Below is a full list of participants and songs in Festivali i Këngës 61:

  • 2 Farm – “Atomike” (Atomic)
  • Alban Kondi & Lorela Karoshi – “Melodi” (Melody)
  • Albina Kelmendi – “Duje” (Prayer)
  • Anduel Kovaçi – “Malli” (Merchandise)
  • Aris Bako – “Sonte dua të jem me ty” (Tonight I want to be with you)
  • Melodajna Mancaku – “Gjysma e zemrës sime” (Half of my heart)
  • Elisa Lila – “Evita”
  • Enxhi Nasufi – “Burrë” (Man)
  • Erma Mici – “Kozmosi i dashurisë” (The cosmos of love)
  • Evi Reçi – “Ma kthe” (Give me back)
  • Fabian Basha – “Një gotë” (A glass)
  • Fifi (Filloreta Raçi) – “Stop”
  • Franc Koruni – “Në pritje” (Pending)
  • Genti Hoxha – “Ajër” (Air)
  • Gjergj Kaçinari – “Dje” (Yesterday)
  • Luna Causholli – “Jetën ta fal” (I forgive life)
  • LYNX – “Nëse ke besim” (If you have faith)
  • Manjola Nallbani – “Dua” (Love)
  • Permit of Stay – “Fobia” (Phobias)
  • Petrit Çarkaxhiu – “Emri yt mirësi” (Your name is good)
  • Rezearta Smaja – “N’Eden” (In Eden)
  • Rovena Dilo – “Motit” (Weather)
  • Sara Kapo – “Para teje” (Before you)
  • Serxhio Hajdini – “Vështirë” (Tough)
  • Urban Band – “Në çdo hap” (At every step)
  • Vanesa Soni – “Aroma jonë” (Our fragrence)

As of now, RTSH has not revealed the dates for Festivali i Këngës 61 will be held. Traditionally the contest takes plce in mid-December.

The previous winner of Festivali i Këngës and Albania’s representative in Eurovision 2022 was Ronela Hajati with the song “Sekret“ but despite the big hype for her song by the fans, she didn’t manage to qualify for the Grand Final, ending up in 12th place in the first semi-final:

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the Albanian participation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, in Liverpool!

Source: rtsh.al

Albania: The Revamp and the Video Clip of “Sekret” will be released in early March!

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Ronela Hajati, the winner of Festivali i Këngës 60, started shooting the video clip of “Sekret” in the south of Albania, with a strong message for the preservation of our natural heritage. The clip of the song is filmed along the Aoos river, in Vyllis. Another part of the filming will take place in Argyrokastro and in Tepeleni.

The video clip, will be published in early March on the official Eurovision Youtube channel and will show some of the most seductive Albanian women, as a postcard for all Eurovision fans.

Until then, you can enjoy some photos from the shoots:

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding Albania’s participation in Eurovision 2022!

Source: RTSH 

Albania: Elhaida Dani returns to Festivali i Kenges!

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She is one of the most popular singers in Albania and as everything shows, in a few months we will see her again at the Festivali i Kenges, claiming to represent her country in the 66th Eurovision Song Contest. We are of course talking about Elhaida Dani who confirms the rumors that existed in the past and wanted her as one of the participants in the upcoming FiK!

Elhaid Dani has a karmic relationship with Italy, the country that will host Eurovision 2022, since in 2013 she won the first edition of The Voice of Italy, winning in the final with an inconceivable 70% of the votes!

In recent years, many have supported the possibility of Elhaida Dani returning to the Eurovision stage. In 2022 this is very likely to happen, if of course FiK wins, which will be held as usual next December.

Recently, through her Instagram profile, she responded positively to the urging of a fan to represent Albania once again in the European song contest, saying:

– When will you understand that the whole of Europe wants to see you again in Eurovision?

– All of Europe? You say; Let’s go then

This will be Elhaida’s third entry in FiK, which she won in 2014 with the song Diell. Elhaida then changed the song with which she participated in Eurovision 2015, performing I’m Alive, occupying the 17th place in the final.

Would you like to see Elhaida Dani representing Albania again in the Eurovision Song Contest?

Albania: The stage is being built for FiK 59 but its dates are still uncertain!

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The construction of the FiK 59 stage started today in the Italy square of Tirana. So far, the Albanian public television RTSH has not officially confirmed the dates of the festival.

By December 26, RTSH sources say that FiK 59 will take place, although they have not yet finalized the deadlines, waiting to see the developments with the pandemic, the internal unrest that broke out in the last days due to the murder of a citizen by the police, but also the mood of the weather. Do not forget that FiK 59 will take place outdoors and the weather plays an important role in its smooth running.

However, the construction of the tent started today:

It was previously reported from unofficial sources that FiK 59 would take place this week. So far, however, RTSH has not confirmed such a thing.

We remind you that the contestants of FiK 59 are the following:

Hosts of FiK 59 will be Jonida Vokshi and Blendi Salaj.

Stay tuned to Eurovision Fun for all FiK 59 developments!

Albania: Listen to the songs of Festivali i Këngës 59!

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The first candidate songs for Eurovision 2021 are a fact! Albanian public television a few minutes ago posted on YouTube the candidate songs of the Festivali i Këngës 59.

26 contestants will claim victory at Festivali i Këngës 59, the Albanian festival through which the country’s representative in the Eurovision Song Contest is selected.

Below you can listen to the candidate songs:

We remind you that the three-day, Festivali i Këngës 59 will take place in the last days of December, but in an open space for the first time. Specifically due to the pandemic, FiK will not take place in the established Congress Palace, but in the Italian Square of Tirana. Presenters of FiK 59 will be Jonida Vokshi and Blendi Salaj.

Source: RTSH

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

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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: Three-member International Panel at FiK 2019

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In a few days we will be able to listen to the songs competing at Festivali i Kenges 58 to claim Albanian representation at Eurovision 2020. An important innovation for this year’s FiK is the introduction of an international jury, next to the classic jury. Among the 3 members of the international committee a popular and beloved Greek creator will be!

The results at Festivali i Kenges with some minor variations are determined each year by a special jury comprising people from the home music scene. This year, RTSH, having managed to get very popular contestants, decided to have an international jury. This was recently confirmed by a private Albanian TV station, though you first read it on EurovisionFun!

https://twitter.com/IgliLime/status/1203018451088003072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1203018451088003072&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Feurovisionfun.com%2F2019%2F12%2F%25ce%25b1%25ce%25bb%25ce%25b2%25ce%25b1%25ce%25bd%25ce%25af%25ce%25b1-%25cf%2584%25cf%2581%25ce%25b9%25ce%25bc%25ce%25b5%25ce%25bb%25ce%25ae%25cf%2582-%25ce%25b4%25ce%25b9%25ce%25b5%25ce%25b8%25ce%25bd%25ce%25ae%25cf%2582-%25ce%25b5%25cf%2580%25ce%25b9%25cf%2584%25cf%2581%25ce%25bf%25cf%2580%25ce%25ae-%25cf%2583%25cf%2584%2F

As we have revealed to you, a Greek creator who has a lot to do with the Eurovision contest  will be at the Festivali i Kenges international committee and will add special interest along with Eleni Foureira as a guest at this year’s event for all of us Greeks.

We remind you that 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

The Festivali i Kenges 58, will take place in Tirana on December 19, 20 and 22, and the winner will represent Albania at the 65th Eurovision Song Contest in May in Rotterdam.

Albania: FiK 58 dates will not be changed

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Despite being circulated online in recent hours, Albanian public broadcaster does not appear to be moving the dates of FiK 2019. The strong earthquake that struck the country and more than 50 deaths seemed to be the reason for the transfer of FiK 2019, which will also feature Albania’s next Eurovision 2020 representative for next month. But that is not the case.

As we have already seen through FiK’s Instagram account, live orchestra rehearsals have begun, which of course would not happen if the festival were held next month. But more importantly, to believe that the dates of FiK 2019 are not going to change, is the fact that the Greek author, whom we informed in a previous article that he was invited to be a member of the festival’s jury, has  been informed of the dates already known and has arranged with him his travel tickets to Tirana.

Albanian public television, RTSH, therefore prepares for the Festivali i Kenges 58 in Tirana on December 19, 20 and 22 and the winner will represent Albania at the 65th Eurovision Song Contest in May in Rotterdam. The innovation in the 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.

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