Today (3rd December 2021) the broadcaster responsible for the Albanian participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, RTSH has revealed the 20 songs that will compete in Festivali I Këngës 60 to represent Albania at the 2022 edition of the contest. The contest is due to take place in Torino, Italy.
Who’s taking part?
20 acts will take part in this year’s Festivali i Këngës 60, which will be held over three nights from 27th to 29th December. The artists that will be taking part are:
- Alban Ramosaj – “Theje”
- Denis Skura – Pse nuk flet mama?”
- Eldis Arrnjeti – “Refuzoj”
- Evi Reci – “Me duaj
- Endri & Stefi – “Triumfi i jetes”
- Ester Zahiri – “Hijena”
- Gjergj Kacinari – “Ne enderr mbete ti”
- Janex – “Deluzional”
- Kastro Zizo – “Kuje”
- Kelly – “Meteor”
- Kejsi Rustja – “Vallezoj me ty”
- Mirud – “Per Dreq”
- Olimpia Smajlaj – “Dua”
- Rezarta Smaja – “E jemja nuse”
- Ronela Hajati – “Sekret”
- Sajmir Çili – “Nen Maske”
- Shega – “Nje”
- Urban Band – “Padrejtesti”
- Viola Xhemali – “Eja Si ere”
- Xhuliana Pjetra “Balade”
All of the participating entries are available on the RTSH YouTube channel on the following link, here.
Albania at Eurovision 2021
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 to English for the contest.
However, RTSH opted to run a fresh contest for FIK 59, which Arilena did not return for. FIK 59 was a festival like no other, taking place outdoors in Tirana’s Italia Square in late December due to the pandemic. 26 participants became 25 when Manjola Nallbani contracted COVID-19 shortly before the festival. The first two nights were pre-recorded, with the final night being broadcast live on December 23.
Despite the challenges, Anxhela Peristeri triumphed with her entry “Karma”. Following a subtle revamp, the song remained in Albanian in Rotterdam, where she qualified from the second semi-final in 10th. She ultimately placed 21st in the Grand Final with 57 points.
Who is your Fik-ing favourite? Who do you want to represent Albania? 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 follow us on Spotify and YouTube to see our reactions to the news in the run up to the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, which is due to take place in Turin, Italy!
