Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022
Albania is scheduled to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy. Its entry will be selected through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës, which will be organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2021.
| Eurovision Song Contest 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | ||||
| National selection | ||||
| Selection process | Festivali i Këngës 60 | |||
| Selection date(s) | Semi-finals: 27 December 2021 28 December 2021 Final: 29 December 2021 | |||
| Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
| ||||
Background
Prior to the 2022 contest, Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest seventeen times since its first entry in 2004. The nation's highest placing in the contest, to this point, was fifth place, which was achieved in 2012 with the song "Suus" performed by Rona Nishliu. Albania achieved its second-highest placing during their first participation in 2004, with the song "The Image of You" by Anjeza Shahini finishing in seventh place. During its tenure in the contest, the nation failed to qualify for the final seven times, with the 2016 and 2017 entries being the most recent non-qualifiers. Since 2018, it managed to qualify for the final in both the 2018 and 2019 contests, as well as in the 2021 contest, with Anxhela Peristeri finishing 21st place with "Karma".[1] In July 2021, the national broadcaster of Albania, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), confirmed Albania's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Italy.[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
Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) will organise the 60th edition of Festivali i Këngës in order to select the nation's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.[2] The competition will consist of two semi-finals on 27 and 28 December, respectively, and the final on 29 December 2021.[4][5] The three live shows will be hosted by Albanian presenters Ardit Gjebrea, Isli Islami, Kelvi Kadilli, Xhemi Shehu and singer Jonida Maliqi.[6] From 5 July 2021 to 15 October 2021, interested artists were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster.[7][8] A provisional list of 20 artists was released on 9 November 2021, as shortlisted by a jury panel consisting of Ardit Gjebrea, Arta Marku, Elton Deda, Klodian Qafoku, Marjan Deda, Redi Treni and Zefina Hasani to compete in the semi-finals of the contest.[9][10] Their entries were announced on the following 3 December.[11]
| Artist | Song | Composer(s) | Lyricist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alban Ramosaj | "Theje" | Marko Polo | Alban Ramosaj |
| Denis Skura | "Pse nuk flet, mama?" | Petrit Sinameti | |
| Endri and Stefi Prifti | "Triumfi i jetës" | Jetmir Barbullushi | Zhuliana Jorganxhi |
| Evi Reçi | "Më duaj" | Flamur Shehu | Zhuljana Jorganxhi |
| Gjergj Kaçinari | "Në ëndërr mbete ti" | Gjergj Kaçinari | |
| Janex | "Deluzional" | Janex | |
| Kastro Zizo | "Kujë" | Kastro Zizo | |
| Kelly | "Meteor" | Kelly | |
| Mirud | "Për dreq" | Kledi Bahiti | Mirud |
| Rezarta Smaja | "E jemja nuse" | Shkodra Elektronike | |
| Ronela Hajati | "Sekret" | Marko Polo | Ronela Hajati |
| Sajmir Çili | "Nën maskë" | Sajmir Çili | Pandi Laço |
| Shega | "Një" | Giorgio Fusco | |
| Urban Band | "Padrejtësi" | Urban Band | |
| Artist | Song | Composer(s) | Lyricist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eldis Arrnjeti | "Refuzoj" | Bujar Daci | Eldis Arrnjeti |
| Ester Zahiri | "Hiena" | Kledi Bahiti | |
| Kejsi Rustja | "Vallëzoj me ty" | Kejsi Rustja | |
| Olimpia Smajlaj | "Dua" | Genti Lako | Olimpia Smajlaj |
| Viola Xhemali | "Eja si erë" | Sokol Marsi | |
| Xhuli Pjetraj | "Baladë" | Enis Mullaj | Eriona Rushiti |
At Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Contest 2022 is scheduled to take place at the PalaOlimpico in Turin, Italy, and will consist of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 10 and 12 May and the grand final on 14 May 2022.[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, are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals to compete for the final; the top 10 countries from their respective semi-finals progress to the grand final.[14]
References
- "Countries: Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- Jiandani, Sanjay (Sergio) (5 July 2021). "Albania: RTSH confirms participation in Eurovision 2022: Fest 60 preparations kick off". ESCtoday. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- "All about Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 14 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- Farren, Neil (4 November 2021). "Albania: Festivali i Këngës 60 Dates Revealed". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- Tejeci, Erdi (9 November 2021). "Albania: Festivali i Këngës 60 artists include MIRUD, Alban Ramosaj and Ronela Hajati". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- "Festivali i Këngës, 20 garues për të përfaqësuar Shqipërinë në Eurovision". Euronews Albania (in Albanian). 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- "Festivali i 60-të njofton fazën e përzgjedhjes" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 2 July 2021. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- Tejeci, Erdi (5 July 2021). "Albania: RTSH opens song submissions for Festivali i Këngës 60". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- "Shpallet lista e këngëtarëve pjesëmarrës në Festivalin e 60-të" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 9 November 2021. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- "Albania: anunciados los participantes de la 60ª edición del Festivali I Këngës". ESCplus (in Spanish). 9 November 2021. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- "Albania shares 'Festivali i Këngës' songs". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 3 December 2021. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- "Albania shares 'Festivali i Këngës' songs". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 3 December 2021. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
- "Turin, Italy, to host the 66th Eurovision Song Contest in May 2022 🇮🇹". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 8 October 2021. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- "Rules–Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2021.