Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021
| Eurovision Song Contest 2021 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country |  Albania | |||
| National selection | ||||
| Selection process | Festivali i Këngës 59 | |||
| Selection date(s) | Semi-finals: 21 December 2020 22 December 2020 Final: 23 December 2020 | |||
| Selected artist(s) | Anxhela Peristeri | |||
| Selected song | "Karma" | |||
| Selected songwriter(s) | Olti Curri, Kledi Bahiti | |||
| Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
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Albania will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands with the song "Karma" performed by Anxhela Peristeri and written by Kledi Bahiti and Olti Curri. Its entry was selected through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in 23 December 2020.
Background
Prior to the 2021 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixteen times since its first entry in 2004.[1] Its highest placing in the contest, to this point, had been the fifth place, which the nation achieved in 2012 with the song "Suus" performed by Rona Nishliu.[1] However, its first entry was performed by Anjeza Shahini with the song "The Image of You" finishing in the seventh place, the nation's second-highest placing to date.[1] During its tenure in the contest, the nation failed to qualify for the final seven times, with both, the 2016 and 2017 entries, being the most recent non-qualifiers.[1] Since 2018, Albania managed to qualify for the final in both, the 2018 and 2019 contest with Eugent Bushpepa finishing in eleventh place with "Mall" and Jonida Maliqi placing in seventeenth place with "Ktheju tokës".[1]
Before Eurovision
Festivali i Këngës
The national broadcaster of Albania, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), organised the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës to select their participant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.[2][3] It consisted of one semi-final spanned over two nights on 21 and 22 December and the final on 23 December 2020.[4][5] The three live shows were hosted by Albanian actress Jonida Vokshi and Albanian host Blendi Salaj.[6][7] The broadcaster opened a submission period between August and October for artists and composers to participate in the competition.[8] A jury panel, consisting of Agim Doçi, Alma Bektashi, Eugent Bushpepa, Jonida Maliqi and Klodian Qafoku, scored all received songs.[9] On 28 October, the broadcaster published a provisory list of twenty-six artists and songs shortlisted to compete in the semi-final of the contest.[10][11] On 16 November, the broadcaster ultimately released all of the competing songs on its official YouTube channel.[12]
Competing entries
| Artist(s) | Song | Composer(s) | Lyricist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agim Poshka | "Vendi im" | Agim Poshka | |
| Anxhela Peristeri | "Karma" | Kledi Bahiti | Olti Curri |
| Devis Xherahu | "Peng" | Devis Xherahu | Pandi Laço |
| Enxhi Nasufi | "Njësoj" | Endri Buka | Enxhi Nasufi |
| Era Rusi | "Zjarri im" | Enis Mullaj | Era Rusi, Eriona Rushiti |
| Erik Lloshi | "Jo" | Enis Mullaj | Endrit Mumajesi |
| Evi Reçi | "Tjerr" | Olsa Toqi | Florian Zyka |
| Fatos Shabani | "Ty" | Fatos Shabani | |
| Festina Mejzini | "Kush je ti dashuri" | Flamur Shehu | Jorgo Papingji |
| Florent Abrashi | "Vajzë" | Bledi Shishmani | |
| Franc Koruni | "E morën botën" | Franc Koruni | |
| Gigliola Haveriku | "E lirë" | Endrit Shani | Pandi Laço |
| Gjergj Kaçinari | "Më jep jetë" | Gjergj Kaçinari | Gjergj Kaçinari, Ilir Krasniqi |
| Inis Neziri | "Pendesë" | Inis Neziri | Elhaid Cufi |
| Kamela Islamaj | "Kujtimet s'kanë formë" | Kamela Islamaj | Megi Hasani |
| Kastro Zizo | "Vallja e jetës" | Klevis Bega | |
| Klint Çollaku | "Do t'ja dal" | Endrit Shani | Pandi Laço |
| Manjola Nallbani[a] | "Ora e jetës" | Eriona Rushiti | |
| Mirud | "Nëse vdes" | Durim Morina[15] | |
| Orgesa Zaimi | "Valixhja e kujtimeve" | Gridi Kraja | Olti Curri |
| Rosela Gjylbegu | "Vashëzo" | Eriona Rushiti | Rosela Gjylbegu |
| Sardi Strugaj | "Kam me t'ba me kajt" | Edesa Malci | Sardi Strugaj |
| Stefan Marena | "Meteor" | Gramoz Kozeli | Klotilda Klo Harka |
| Viktor Tahiraj | "Nënë" | Viktor Tahiraj | |
| Wendi Mancaku | "Vesi i shpirti tim" | Rozana Radi | |
| Xhesika Polo | "Më mbron" | Marko Polo | Aleksandër Seitaj |
Shows
Semi-finals
The two semi-finals took place on 21 December and 22 December 2020 and were broadcast at 21:00 (CET).[5][16] As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the performances of the semi-final and final were pre-recorded prior to the scheduled dates.[17] During the first night, the competing participants performed the official studio version of their entries, while on the second night, they presented their acoustic versions.[17] After the first night, the votes of an expert jury panel selected eighteen songs to advance to the final.[18]
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Final
The final took place on 23 December 2020 and was broadcast at 21:00 (CET).[5][16] The winner will be chosen by a seven-member jury consisting of Prec Zogaj, Rame Lahaj, Robert Radoja, Vasil Tole, Zana Shuteriqi and to others.[19] Before the end of the show, Anxhela Peristeri emerged as the winner of the competition and was simultaneously announced as the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
| Final – 23 December 2020 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draw | Artist(s) | Song | Result | ||||||||||
1
|
Sardi Strugaj | "Kam me t'ba me kajt" | 2
| ||||||||||
2
|
Xhesika Polo | "Më mbron" | —
| ||||||||||
3
|
Orgesa Zaimi | "Valixhja e kujtimeve" | —
| ||||||||||
4
|
Wendi Mancaku | "Ves I shpirtit im" | —
| ||||||||||
5
|
Era Rusi | "Zjarri im" | —
| ||||||||||
6
|
Gjergj Kaçinari | "Më jep jetë" | —
| ||||||||||
7
|
Rosela Gjylbegu | "Vashëzo" | —
| ||||||||||
8
|
Devis Xherahu | "Peng" | —
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9
|
Mirud | "Nëse vdes" | —
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10
|
Gigliola Haveriku | "E lirë" | —
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11
|
Viktor Tahiraj | "Nënë" | —
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12
|
Kamela Islamaj | "Kujtimet s'kanë formë" | —
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13
|
Florent Abrashi | "Vajzë" | —
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14
|
Inis Neziri | "Pendesë" | —
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15
|
Evi Reçi | "Tjerr" | —
| ||||||||||
16
|
Anxhela Peristeri | "Karma" | 1
| ||||||||||
17
|
Festina Mejzini | "Kush je ti dashuri" | 3
| ||||||||||
18
|
Kastro Zizo | "Vallja e jetës" | —
| ||||||||||
At Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 is scheduled to take place at Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and will consist of two semi-finals held on 18 and 20 May, and the grand final on 22 May 2021.[20] According to the Eurovision rules, each participating country, except the host country and the "Big 5", consisting of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals to compete for the final.[21] The top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the grand final.[21] On 17 November 2020, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that the semi-final allocation draw for the 2021 contest will not be held.[22] Instead, the semi-finals will feature the same line-up of countries as determined by the draw for the cancelled 2020 contest's semifinals, which was held on 28 January 2020 at the Rotterdam City Hall, meaning that Albania was drawn to participate into the second half of the second semi-final.[22]
Notes
- ^ Prior to the first semi-final, Nallbani announced that she has tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and she has not withdrawn from the competition.[13] However, during the scheduled rehearsals of the competition, she was ultimately forced to withdraw.[14]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Countries: Albania". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ Jiandani, Sanjay (Sergio) (17 September 2020). "Albania: RTSH confirms participation in Eurovision 2021". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ Adams, William Lee (17 September 2020). "Albania confirms Eurovision 2021 participation…and its hope to use Festivali i Këngës as the selection method". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ Jansen, Esma (1 July 2020). "Albania: RTSH confirms Festivali i Këngës 59… but will Arilena Ara be there?". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ a b c Hertlein, Benjamin (14 December 2020). "Albanien: 59. Festivali i Këngës am 21., 22. und 23. Dezember 2020" (in German). ESC kompakt. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Drejtuesit e Festivalit të 59-të prezantojnë platformën e edicionit të ri" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 6 November 2020. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ Tejeci, Erdi (6 November 2020). "Festivali i Këngës 59: Albania sets December dates and confirms outdoor, open-air location". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ Christou, Costa (14 August 2020). "Albania: RTSH launches preparations for Festivali i Këngës 59". ESCXTRA. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ "Ja këngët e Fest '59" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 29 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ Smith, David (28 October 2020). "Albania: 26 artists confirmed for Festivali i Këngës 59…including Orgesa Zaimi, Inis Neziri and Era Rusi". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ Jumawan, Tim (28 October 2020). "Participants for Festivali i Këngës 59 is confirmed". ESCXtra. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ Smith, David (16 November 2020). "Listen: Albania's RTSH reveals all 26 competing songs of Festivali i Këngës 59". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ Tejeci, Erdi (1 December 2020). "Albania: FiK 59 contestant Manjola Nallbani tests positive for Covid-19". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- ^ Christou, Costa (16 December 2020). "First two nights of Festivali i Këngës 59 to be pre-recorded?". ESCXtra. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- ^ Smith, David (29 October 2020). "Albania: Mirud teases a "Me Tana" style dance bop for Festivali i Këngës 59". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ a b Muldoon, Padraig (21 December 2020). "Festivali i Këngës 59: How to watch Albania's Eurovision 2021 selection online". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ a b Farren, Neil (16 December 2020). "Albania: Festivali i Këngës 59 to Be Mostly Pre-Recorded". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ "The finalists for Festivali i Këngës have been announced". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 22 December 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ^ Adams, William Lee (23 December 2020). "Who should win Festivali i Këngës 59? Inis Neziri tops our readers poll with Era Rusi in second". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Eurovision Song Contest–Rotterdam 2021". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Rules–Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ a b Groot, Evert (17 November 2020). "2020 Semi-Final line-up to stay for 2021". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.