Eurovision Song Contest 2024
Country Albania
National selection
Selection processFestivali i Këngës 62
Selection date(s)22 December 2023
Selected entrantBesa Kokëdhima
Selected song"Zemrën n'dorë"
Selected songwriter(s)
Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2023 • 2024

Albania is set to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden, with "Zemrën n'dorë" performed by Besa Kokëdhima. The entry was selected by a separate voting during the traditional national selection competition Festivali i Këngës, organised by Albanian broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH).

Background

Prior to the 2024 contest, Albania has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 19 times since its first entry in 2004. The nation's highest placing in the contest, to this point, has been the fifth place, which was achieved in 2012 with the song "Suus" performed by Rona Nishliu. Albania accomplished its second-highest placing when first participating in 2004, with the song "The Image of You" performed by Anjeza Shahini, finishing in seventh place. During its tenure in the contest, the nation failed to qualify for the final eight times, with the 2022 entry being the most recent non-qualifier. In 2023, the nation qualified for the final, ultimately placing 22nd and scoring 76 points with the song "Duje" performed by Albina and Familja Kelmendi.[1]

The Albanian national broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), broadcasts the contest within Albania and organises Festivali i Këngës, an annual music competition which has been consistently used as the Albanian national selection format for the contest since the country's 2004 debut.[1] On 30 August 2023, the broadcaster confirmed Albania's intention to participate in the 2024 contest, and released the trailer for Festivali i Këngës;[2][3] shortly after, RTSH confirmed it would continue to use the festival as the Albanian selection method for the contest.[4]

Before Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës

The Albanian representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 was selected during the 62nd edition of Festivali i Këngës, an annual music competition in Albania organised by RTSH at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. The event took place between 19 and 22 December 2023 and was hosted by Adriana Matoshi and Kledi Kadiu.[5][6][7][8] The winner of the festival was selected by a jury, while a separate televoting selected Albania's entry for Eurovision.[9] The broadcaster opened an application period for interested artists and composers to submit their applications on 1 September 2023, lasting until 10 October 2023,[4][10] and ultimately selected 31 contestants.[11] After the entries were announced, three artists withdrew, but were all replaced by other entrants.[12]

Final

The grand final of Festivali i Këngës was held on 22 December 2023. Besa Kokëdhima with "Zemrën n'dorë" emerged as the winner of the public vote and was thus chosen as the Albanian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.[13]

Code Artist Song
1 Stivi Ushe "Askush si ty"
2 Besa Kokëdhima "Zemrën n'dorë"
3 Mal Retkoceri "Çmendur"
4 Eldis Arrnjeti "Një kujtim"
5 Shpat Deda "S'mund t'fitoj pa ty"
6 Jehona Ponari "Evol"
7 PeterPan Quartet "Edhe një herë"
8 Festina Mejzini "Melos"
9 Kastro Zizo "2073"
10 Luan Durmishi "Përsëritja"
11 Melodajn Mancaku "Nuk jemi më"
12 Olsi Ballta "Unë"
13 Andi Tanko "Herë pas here"
14 Sergio Hajdini "Uragan"
15 Santino De Bartolo "Dua të rri me ty"
16 Olimpia Smajlaj "Asaj"
17 Big Basta and Vesa Luma "Mbinatyrale"
18 Elsa Lila "Mars"
19 Jasmina Hako "Ti"
20 Michela Paluca "Për veten"
21 Anduel Kovaçi "Nan'"
22 Kleansa Susaj "Pikturë"
23 Eden Baja "Ajër"
24 Erina and the Elementals "Jetën n'skaj"
25 Irma Lepuri "Më prit"
26 Arsi Bako "Zgjohu"
27 Tiri Gjoci "Në ëndërr"
28 Besa Krasniqi "Esenciale"
29 Bledi Kaso "Çdo gjë mbaroi"
30 Troy Band "Horizonti i ëndrrave"
31 Martina Serreqi "Vetëm ty"

After Festivali i Këngës

In early January 2024, Kokëdhima confirmed that "Zemrën n'dorë" will undergo a revamp ahead of the contest.[14]

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will take place at the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden, and consist of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 7 and 9 May and the final on 11 May 2024. All nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final will progress to the final. On 30 January 2024, an allocation draw will be held to determine which of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show, each country will perform in; the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) splits up the competing countries into different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 "Albania". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  2. ↑ Bijuvignesh, Darshan (30 August 2023). "Albania: RTSH Confirms Eurovision 2024 Participation". Eurovoix. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. ↑ @festivali_kenges_rtsh (30 August 2023). "Festivali i Këngës në Radio Televizionin Shqiptar – Edicioni 62 – PO VJEN!" [Festivali i Këngës on Radio Televisioni Shqiptar – Edition 62 – IT'S COMING!] (in Albanian). Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via Instagram.
  4. 1 2 Ibrayeva, Laura (1 September 2023). "Albania: RTSH Opens Submissions for Festivali i Këngës 62". Eurovoix. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  5. ↑ Ntinos, Fotios (14 October 2023). "Albania: The potential dates of Festivali i Këngës 62!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  6. ↑ Festivali i Këngës në RTSH [@festivali_kenges_rtsh] (19 December 2023). "Pritjes i erdhi fundi..." [The wait is over...] (in Albanian). Retrieved 19 November 2023 – via Instagram.
  7. ↑ Bijuvignesh, Darshan (1 November 2023). "Albania: More Details of Festivali i Këngës 62 Announced Including Line-up Change". Eurovoix. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  8. ↑ Festivali i Këngës në RTSH [@festivali_kenges_rtsh] (8 November 2023). "Kemi kënaqësine t'ju paraqesim: KLEDI KADIU Prezantues #FEST62" [We are pleased to present to you: KLEDI KADIU Presenter of #FEST62] (in Albanian). Retrieved 8 November 2023 – via Instagram.
  9. ↑ Argyropoulos, Dimitris (1 November 2023). "Albania: The public will choose the 2024 Eurovision representative, while the jury the winner of Festivali i Këngës 62!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Van Dijk, Sem Anne (19 September 2023). "Albania: RTSH Announces Submissions Deadline for Festivali i Këngës 62". Eurovoix. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  11. ↑ Juhász, Ervin (17 October 2023). "Meet all the participants of the 62nd Festivali i Këngës!". ESCBubble. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  12. ↑ Van Dijk, Sem Anne (11 December 2023). "Albania: Eden Baja Replaces Sardi Strugaj in Festivali i Këngës". Eurovoix. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Albania: Besa wins ticket to Eurovision 2024". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  14. ↑ Adams, William Lee (2 January 2024). "Albania's Besa Kokëdhima confirms 'Zemrën n'dorë' revamp — what are your suggestions?". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  15. ↑ Van Dijk, Sem Anne (13 December 2023). "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Allocation Draw on January 30". Eurovoix. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
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