Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021
| Eurovision Song Contest 2021 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country |  Albania | |||
| National selection | ||||
| Selection process | Festivali i Këngës 59 | |||
| Selection date(s) | TBA | |||
| Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
| ||||
Albania is scheduled to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Its entry will be selected through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in 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] In 2020, Arilena Ara was due to represent the nation in the 2020 contest before its cancellation due to the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its rapid spread across Europe.[2]
Before Eurovision
Festivali i Këngës
The national broadcaster of Albania, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), will organise the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës to select their participant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.[3][4] The event is due to be held in December 2020 with two semi-finals and the grand final.[3][5] The broadcaster opened a submission period between August and October for artists and composers to participate in the competition.[6] A jury panel, consisting of Agim Doçi, Alma Bektashi, Eugent Bushpepa, Jonida Maliqi and Klodian Qafoku, scored all received songs.[7] On 28 October, the broadcaster published a provisory list of twenty-six artists and songs shortlisted to compete in the two semi-finals of the contest.[8][9]
Competing entries
| Artist(s) | Song | Composer(s) | Lyricist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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" | ||
| Erikson Lloshi | "Jo" | ||
| Evi Reçi | "Tjerr" | Olsa Toqi | Florian Zyka |
| Fatos Shabani | "Ty" | ||
| Festina Mejzini | "Kush je ti dashuri" | Flamur Shehu | Jorgo Papingji |
| Florent Abrashi | "Vajzë" | ||
| Franc Koruni | "E morën botën" | Franc Koruni | |
| Giliola 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 | "Ajo vajza" | Kamela Islamaj | Megi Hasani |
| Kastro Zizo | "Vallja e jetës" | Klevis Bega | |
| Klinti Çollaku | "Do t'ja dal" | Endrit Shani | Pandi Laço |
| Manjola Nallbani | "Ora e jetës" | Eriona Rushiti | Eriona Rushiti |
| Mirud | "Nëse vdes" | Durim Morina[10] | |
| 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" | ||
| Viktor Tahiraj | "Nënë" | ||
| Wendi Mancaku | "Si ajo" | ||
| Xhesika Polo | "Më mbron" | ||
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.[11] 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.[12] The top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the grand final.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Countries: Albania". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ "Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam is cancelled". European Broadcasting Union. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ 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 (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.
- ^ "Eurovision Song Contest–Rotterdam 2021". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
- ^ "Rules–Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.