Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
| Eurovision Song Contest 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country |  Albania | |||
| National selection | ||||
| Selection process | Festivali i Këngës 49 | |||
| Selection date(s) | Semi-finals: 23 December 2010 24 December 2010 Final: 25 December 2010 | |||
| Selected artist(s) | Aurela Gaçe | |||
| Selected song | "Feel the Passion" | |||
| Finals performance | ||||
| Semi-final result | Failed to qualify (14th, 47 points) | |||
| Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
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Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany, with the song "Feel the Passion" performed by Aurela Gaçe. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2010.
Background
Prior to the 2011 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest seven times since its first entry in 2004.[1] The nation's highest placing in the contest, to this point, had been the seventh place, which it achieved in 2004 with the song "The Image of You" performed by Anjeza Shahini.[1] During its tenure in the contest, Albania failed to qualify for the final two times, with the 2007 entry being the most recent non-qualifier.[1] In September 2010, the national broadcaster of Albania, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), officially confirmed Albania's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany.[2] RTSH broadcasts the contest within Albania and organises the selection process for the nation's entry.[3] Since its debut in 2004, it has consistently selected its entry through the long-standing competition Festivali i Këngës.[3]
Before Eurovision
Festivali i Këngës
RTSH organised the 49th edition of Festivali i Këngës to determine Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 23 and 24 December, respectively, and the grand final on 25 December 2010.[4] Due to technical problems with the orchestra, the basic music was in playback.[5] All three shows were hosted by Jonida Maliqi, Josif Gjinpali and Mirela Naska.[6]
The two semi-finals each featured sixteen competing entries performed by established artists and three competing entries performed by newcomers. The votes of a jury panel selected eleven entries from the "established artists" category in each semi-final to advance to the final, while the votes of an alternate jury panel selected one entry from the "newcomers" category in each semi-final to advance to the final. In the final, the eighteen competing entries were voted upon by a jury panel in order to select the winner. The seven-person jury panel who voted in the "established artists" category and the final consisted of:[7]
- Aleksandër Peçi – composer
- Artan Minarolli – producer, film director
- David Tukiçi – singer, composer
- Edison Miso – composer
- Edmond Tullumani – producer
- Manjola Nallbani – singer
- Robert Radoja – pianist, songwriter
The five-person jury panel who voted in the "newcomers" category consisted of:[7]
- Gerta Heta – singer, hostess
- Jerida Sakaj – radio presenter
- Andi Islami – radio director
- Evis Trebicka – producer
- Suarda Braho – actress
RTSH invited interested artists and composers to submit their entries between 12 September and 20 October 2010. The deadline was later extended to 6 November 2010 in order to give more time for the artists participating in Kënga Magjike 2010 to work on their entries.[8] On 15 November 2010, RTSH announced the thirty-eight artists (thirty-two established artists and six newcomers) and songs selected for the competition by a special committee consisting of Thoma Gaqi, Hajg Zaharian, Zef Çoba, Mefarete Laze, Altin Goci, Kozeta Mamaqi and Fatmir Hysi.[9][10]
Competing entries
| Participating entries | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Artist(s) | Song | Composer(s) | |
| Adhurim Demiri | "24 orët" | Adhurim Demiri | |
| Agim Poshka | "Bota com.vetmi" | Agim Poshka, Olsa Poshka | |
| Alban Skënderaj & Miriam Cani | "Ende ka shpresë" | Alban Skënderaj, Miriam Cani | |
| Albi Xhepa & Semi Jaupaj | "Dritë" | Bojken Lako | |
| Ardita Tusha | "Dikur besoja" | Dritan Caushi, Gjergj Jorgaqi | |
| Aurela Gaçe | "Kënga ime" | Shpëtim Saraçi, Sokol Marsi | |
| Besa Kokëdhima | "E bukura dhe bisha" | Besar Likaj, Dalina Buzi | |
| Bledi Polena | "Të jemi të dy" | Mihal Bica, Eugen Bica, Monika Katro | |
| Blerina Shalari | "Lutjes apo dashurisë" | Blerina Shalari | |
| Denis Hasa | "Mbi xhaketën time" | Xhavit Ujkani, Ismail Kadare | |
| Dorian Nini | "Mirësevini ne Shqipëri" | Jetmir Barbullushi, Perikli Papingji | |
| Dorina Garuci | "Mirëmbrëma engjëlli im" | Sokol Marsi, Jorgo Papingji | |
| Emi Bogdo | "Letër për ty" | Suela Kalaja | |
| Enkeleda Arifi | "Një dashuri" | Adrian Hila, Pandi Laço | |
| Entela Zhula | "Stuhi e diell" | Edmond Veizaj, Entela Zhula | |
| Ernis Çili & Onanta Spahiu | "Fam" | Ernis Çili | |
| Etmond Mancaku | "Dashuri pas emrit" | Etmond Mancaku | |
| Evans Rama | "Sonte" | Evans Rama | |
| Heldi Kraja | "E diela pa ty" | Heldi Kraja | |
| Herciana Matmuja | "Me cilin rri ti dashuri" | Gent Myftarai, Agron Tufa | |
| Ilir Kazaferi | "Nuk je këtu" | Ilir Kazaferi | |
| Kamela Islami | "Jetova për të dy" | Alban Male, Olti Curri | |
| Kejsi Tola | "Pranë" | Kristi Popa, Florian Zyka | |
| Klajdi Musabelliu | "Vetëm ti" | Lambert Jorganxhi, Zhuljana Jorganxhi | |
| Kujtim Prodani | "Ti ishe kryevepër" | Kujtim Prodani, Arben Duka | |
| Maria Prifti | "Pasuri e pasurive" | Frederik Ndoci, Agim Doçi | |
| Marsida Saraci | "Vetëm s'jemi në botë" | Valentin Veizi, Arben Duka | |
| Mateus Froku | "Dimër në shprit" | Kledi Bahiti, Dr. Flori | |
| Megi Laska | "Endërrat ekzistojnë" | Fabian Asllani, Megi Laska | |
| Orges Toçe | "Mari" | Orges Toçe | |
| Rudina Delia | "Tek ti gjeta dashurinë" | Rudina Delia | |
| Sajmir Braho | "Shtegëtar i jetës time" | Endri Sina, Saimir Braho | |
| Selami Kolonja | "Ëndërr Kosovë" | Selami Kolonja | |
| Sonila Mara | "Egoist" | Sonila Mara | |
| Xhejsi Jorgaqi | "Rastësi" | Genti Lako, Jorgo Papingji | |
Shows
Semi-finals
The first semi-final took place on 23 December 2010 and the second semi-final took place on 25 December 2010. Nine entries from each semi-final, eight established artists and a newcomer, qualified to the final based on the votes of two separate jury panels.
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Final
The final took place on 25 December 2010. Nine entries that qualified from each of the two semi-finals, all together eighteen entries, competed. At the conclusion of the show, as voted upon by a seven-member jury panel who each awarded points from 1 to 8, 10 and 12 to their top ten songs, "Kënga ime" performed by Aurela Gaçe was selected as the winner.[11] The interval acts for the final included 2010 Albanian Eurovision Song Contest entrant Juliana Pasha and 2010 Turkish Eurovision Song Contest entrants maNga.[12]
| Final – 25 December 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draw | Artist | Song | Points | Place |
| 1 | Françesk Radi | "Kemi dasëm'o" | 13 | 8 |
| 2 | Herciana Matmuja | "Me cilin rri ti dashuri" | 7 | 11 |
| 3 | Goldi Halili | "Në krahët e tua" | 0 | 17 |
| 4 | Marsida Saraci | "Vetëm s'jemi në botë" | 2 | 16 |
| 5 | Besa Kokëdhima | "E bukura dhe bisha" | 13 | 9 |
| 6 | Alban Skënderaj & Miriam Cani | "Ende ka shpresë" | 66 | 2 |
| 7 | Enkeleda Arifi | "Një dashuri" | 36 | 5 |
| 8 | Aurela Gaçe | "Kënga ime" | 82 | 1 |
| 9 | Maria Prifti | "Pasuri e pasurive" | 5 | 14 |
| 10 | Sajmir Braho | "Shtegëtar i jetës time" | 48 | 3 |
| 11 | Dorian Nini | "Mirësevini ne Shqipëri" | 29 | 7 |
| 12 | Selami Kolonja | "Ëndërr Kosovë" | 6 | 12 |
| 13 | Xhejsi Jorgaqi | "Rastësi" | 44 | 4 |
| 14 | Albi Xhepa & Semi Jaupaj | "Dritë" | 0 | 18 |
| 15 | Dorina Garuci | "Mirëmbrëma ëngjëlli im" | 34 | 6 |
| 16 | Kamela Islami | "Jetova për të dy" | 12 | 10 |
| 17 | Orges Toçe | "Mari" | 3 | 15 |
| 18 | Denis Hasa | "Mbi xhaketën time" | 6 | 13 |
At Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Contest 2011 took place at Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany, and consisted of two semi-finals held on 10 and 12 May, respectively, and the grand final on 14 May 2011.[13] According to the Eurovision rules, all participating countries, except the host nation and the "Big Five", consisting of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, were required to qualify from one of the two semi-finals to compete for the grand final, although the top 10 countries from the respective semi-final progress to the grand final of the contest.[14] On 17 January 2011, a special allocation draw was held that placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, with Albania being placed into the first, to be held on 10 May.[15] Once all the competing songs for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the producers of the contest rather than through another draw; the nation was set to perform at position 3, following Norway and preceding Armenia.[16] At the end of the semi-final, the nation was not announced among the top 10 entries and therefore failed to qualify for the final, marking Albania's third non-qualification in the Eurovision Song Contest.[3]
Voting
The tables below visualise a breakdown of points awarded to Albania in the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, as well as by the country for the semi-final and grand final, respectively. In the semi-final, Albania finished in 14th place, being awarded a total of 47 points, including 12 from Greece and 8 from both San Marino and Turkey.[17] The nation awarded its 12 points to Turkey in the semi-final and to Italy in the grand final of the contest.[17][18]
Points awarded to Albania
| Points awarded to Albania (Semi-final 1)[17] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 points | 10 points | 8 points | 7 points | 6 points |
| 5 points | 4 points | 3 points | 2 points | 1 point |
Points awarded by Albania
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References
- ^ a b c "Countries: Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ Sahiti, Gafurr (12 September 2010). "Albania: RTSH denies local rumours and confirms Eurovision participation". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ a b c "All about Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 14 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Festivali 49 i Këngës në Radio". RTSH (in Albanian). Retrieved 17 November 2010.
- ^ Sahiti, Gafurr (18 September 2010). "Albania: FiK 2011 underway, more details announced". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- ^ Sahiti, Gafurr (6 November 2010). "Albania: Jonida Maliqi to host Festivali i Këngës 49". ESCToday.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ a b Sahiti, Gafurr (22 December 2010). "Exclusive: The jury of Festivali i Këngës announced". Esctoday. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ Sahiti, Gafurr (23 October 2010). "Albania: Deadline to accept songs extended". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
- ^ "Festivali i 49-të, konkurrentët" (in Albanian). 21 November 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ Sahiti, Gafurr (15 November 2010). "Albania: 38 semi-finalists announced". Esctoday. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ Sahiti, Gafurr (25 December 2010). "Tonight: National final in Albania". Esctoday. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ Sahiti, Gafurr (18 December 2010). "Albania: maNga to perform at Festivali i Këngës 49". ESCToday.com. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
- ^ "Eurovision Song Contest–Dusseldorf 2011". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "Eurovision Song Contest–Rules". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "Results of the Semi-Final Allocation Draw". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 17 January 2011. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ "Results of the Running Order Draw!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 15 March 2011. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Results of the Semi-final–Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Results of the Final–Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.