Rotterdam 2021🇦🇱 Albania

🇦🇱 Albania: Dates for Festivali i Këngës 59 announced

This year's edition is set to be held outdoors due to the pandemic

After confirming their participation for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest, RTSH has confirmed that they will continue their tradition and use Festivali i Këngës to select their representative for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest. They have today revealed the provisional dates and location for the festival.

Today, in an outdoor, socially-distanced press conference, Albanian broadcaster RTSH announced that the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës 59  is set to be held between the 17th and 26th of December. Notably, the contest is set to be held outside near the Italia Square in Tirana due to COVID-19. However, the broadcaster noted that this is subject to both weather and the state of the pandemic.

Whereas last year’s show was hosted by the iconic Alketa Vejsiu, this year’s edition will be hosted by Blendi Salaj and Jonida Vokshi were announced as the hosts for this year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHP7O_QHAoa/

26 songs and 26 artists

With the reveal of the participants, the name of the entries, that the competing artists will be singing has also been revealed.

  • Peng – Devis Xherahu
  • Valixhja e kujtimeve – Orgesa Zaimi
  • Kush je ti dashuri – Festina Mejzini
  • E morën botën – Franc Koruni
  • Pendesë – Inis Neziri
  • Kam me t’ba me kajt – Sardi Strugaj
  • Më jep jetë – Gjergj Kaçinari
  • Nëse vdes – Durim Morina (Mirudi)
  • Tjerr – Evi Reçi
  • Vashëzo – Rosela Gjylbegu
  • Vallja e jetës – Klevis Bega (Kastro Ziso)
  • Do t’ja dal – Klinti Çollaku
  • Karma – Anxhela Peristeri
  • Si ajo – Wendi Mancaku
  • Ty – Fatos Shabani
  • Vajzë – Florent Abrashi
  • Njësoj – Enxhi Nasufi
  • Ajo vajza – Kamela Islamaj
  • Zjarri im – Era Rusi
  • Erikson Lloshi – Jo
  • Më mbron – Xhesika Polo
  • Ora e jetës – Manjola Nallbani
  • E lirë – Giliola Haveriku
  • Nënë – Viktor Tahiraj
  • Vendi im – Agim Poshka
  • Meteor – Stefan Marena

With the reveal of the list, it is official that Festivali i Këngës 58 winner Arilena Ara will not be returning to the competition this year. At the time of writing the date of when the entries will be released is yet to be announced.

Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest

Albania debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest back in 2004 and has participated every year since. Anjeza Shahini was the first to fly the country’s flag at the contest with her song ‘The Image of You‘. She finished in 7th place with 106 points. 

Over the years, Albania qualified for the final on 8 occasions. So far, their best result is Rona Nishliu’s 5th place achieved in Baku in 2012 with her iconic ballad ‘Suus‘. 

In 2020, Albania was due to be represented by Arilena Ara, with her song ‘Fall From the Sky‘. She had controversially won Festivali i Kenges 58 with “Shaj” the previous December, which had been translated for the contest. It was set to participate in the second semi-final of the 2020 contest prior to the contest’s cancellation.

Are you looking forward to Festivali i Këngës? Who would you like to represent Albania at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter@escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our reactions to the news in the upcoming months.

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