Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017

Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Kyiv, Ukraine, with the song "World" performed by Lindita Halimi. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2016. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 13 times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest, the song was promoted by a music video and live performances in Israel, the Netherlands and Spain. Albania was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 9 May 2017. Performing as number fourth, the nation was not announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore failed to qualify for the grand final, marking Albania's seventh non-qualification in the contest.

Eurovision Song Contest 2017
Country Albania
National selection
Selection processFestivali i Këngës 55
Selection date(s)Semi-finals:
21 December 2016
22 December 2016
Final:
23 December 2016
Selected entrantLindita Halimi
Selected song"World"
Selected songwriter(s)
  • Gerald Xhari
  • Klodian Qafoku
Finals performance
Semi-final resultFailed to qualify (14th, 76 points)
Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2016 • 2017 • 2018►

Background
Main article: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2017 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 13 times since its first entry in 2004.[1] The country's highest placing in the contest, to this point, had been the fifth place, which it achieved in 2012 with the song "Suus" performed by Rona Nishliu.[1] The first entry was performed by Anjeza Shahini with the song "The Image of You" and finished in the seventh place, the nation's second-highest placing to date.[1] During its tenure in the contest, Albania failed to qualify for the grand final six times, with the 2016 entry being the most recent non-qualifier.[2] The country's national broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), organises Festivali i Këngës in order to select the nation's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. In September 2019, the broadcaster confirmed Albania's participation in the 2017 contest in Kyiv, Ukraine.[3]

Before Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës

The national broadcaster of Albania, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), organised the 55th edition of Festivali i Këngës to determine their participant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2017.[4] The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 21 and 22 December, respectively, and the grand final on 23 December 2016.[5][6][7] The three live shows were hosted by Albanian singer Ledina Çelo and actor Kasem Hoxha.[8] On 13 November, RTSH published a provisory list of 24 artists and songs shortlisted to compete in the two semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës.[9] On 19 December 2016, it published the allocation draw of the participating contestants for each semi-final.[10]

Competing entries
Participating entries[9]
Artist(s) Song Composer(s) Lyricist
Albulena Jashari "Fjalët ia lë zemrës" Briz Musaraj, Marsela Çibukaj Gerald Xhari
Classic Boys "Dashuria për jetën" Endri Sina Saimir Braho
Dilan Reka "Mos harro" Edmond Zhulali Agim Doçi
Edea Demaliaj "Besoj në ëndrra" Fabian Asllani Edea Demaliaj
Edona Vatoci[lower-alpha 1] "Mirëmëngjës" Edona Vatoci
Elson Braha "Edhe një herë" Adrian Hila Pandi Laço
Erlind Zeraliu "Dhimbja e gëzimit" Vasil Tole Fatos Arapi
Agnesa Çavolli and Fabiola Agalliu "Shkon e vjen" Sokol Marsi Fabiola Agalliu
Festina Mejzini "Atje lart" Eriona Rushiti
Flaka Krelani "Osiris" Qëndrim Krelani
Franc Koruni "Macka" Franc Koruni
Genc Salihu "Këtu" Genc Salihu
Lindita Halimi "Botë" Klodian Qafoku Gerald Xhari
Linda Rukaj "Vija e lumit" Linda Rukaj
Lorela "Me ty" Alban Kondi Turjan Hyska
LYNX "Sot" LYNX
Luka Hajdani and Serxhio Hajdini "Koha plaket" Serxhio Hajdini Luka Hajdini
Neki Emra "Dashuri dhe urrejtje" Neki Emra Albatros Rexha
Orges Toçe "Shi diamantësh" Orges Toçe
Rezarta Smaja "Pse prite gjatë" Xhevdet Gashi Arsim Bujaku
Tiri "Më zgjo" Enis Mullaj Sokol Marsi
Xhejni Lito "Pritja" Indrit Lelo
Xhesika Polo "Eva jam unë" Marko Polo Alex Seitaj
XUXI "Metropol" Genti Lako Ana Gramo
Yll Limani "Shiu" Ilirjana Blakaj, Yll Limani
Semi-finals

The semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës took place on 21 December and 22 December 2016, and were broadcast at 20:30 and 21:00 (CET) on the respective dates.[5][6][12][13] 12 contestants participated in each semi-final, with the highlighted ones progressing to the grand final.[14]

Final

The grand final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 23 December 2016 and was broadcast at 20:30 (CET).[7] In it, the results of the competition were determined by a 60/40 combination of votes from a jury panel and a public internet vote.[7][15][16] Before the end of the show, Lindita Halimi emerged as the winner and was simultaneously announced as the representative of Albania for the Eurovision Song Contest 2017.[16][17]

Final–23 December 2016[7]
Draw Artist Song Votes[18] Points Result
Jury Internet
1
 Franc Koruni "Macka" 12 0 12 11
2
 Lorela "Me ty" 8 0 8 12
3
 Xhesika Polo "Eva jam unë" 5 0 5 14
4
 XUXI "Metropol" 30 0 30 5
5
 Agnesa Çavolli and Fabiola Agalliu "Shkon e vjen" 7 0 7 13
6
 Dilan Reka "Mos harro" 43 7 50 3
7
 Lindita Halimi "Botë" 80 5 85 1
8
 Flaka Krelani "Osiris" 27 3 30 5
9
 Rezarta Smaja "Pse prite gjatë" 20 4 24 7
10
 Edea Demaliaj "Besoj në ëndrra" 23 0 23 9
11
 Yll Limani "Shiu" 40 10 50 3
12
 LYNX "Sot" 13 1 14 10
13
 Orges Toçe "Shi diamantësh" 24 0 24 7
14
 Genc Salihu "Këtu" 52 2 54 2

Promotion

A music video for "World" was premiered on the official YouTube channel of the Eurovision Song Contest on 13 March 2017.[19][20] For further promotional purposes, Halimi embarked on a small tour with live performances at various events related to the contest, including in Amsterdam, Madrid and Tel Aviv.[21][22][23]

At Eurovision
Lindita during a press meet and greet at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 took place at the International Exhibition Centre in Kyiv, Ukraine, and consisted of two semi-finals held on 9 and 11 May, respectively, and the grand final on 13 May 2017.[24] According to the rules, all participating countries, apart from the host nation and the "Big 5", 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.[25]

On 31 January 2017, a special allocation draw was held in Kyiv that placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in.[26] Albania was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 9 May, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.[26] Once all the competing songs for the 2017 contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the producers of the contest rather than through another draw, for preventing similar songs being placed next to each other; Albania was set to perform in position four, following Australia and preceding Belgium.[27] At the end of the first semi-final, the country was not announced among the top 10 entries in the semi-final and therefore failed to qualify for the grand final, marking Albania's seventh non-qualification in the Eurovision Song Contest.[1]

Voting

The tables below visualise a breakdown of points awarded to Albania in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, as well as by the country for both the first semi-final and grand final. In the semi-final, Albania finished in 14th place with a total of 76 points, including 12 by the televoters from Montenegro and 10 from Moldova, and 10 points by the juries from Azerbaijan, Greece and Montenegro.[28] In the grand final, its televoters and juries awarded their 12 points to Italy and 10 points to Bulgaria.[29]

Points awarded to Albania
Points awarded to Albania (Semi-final 1)[28]
Televote
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
Jury
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

Points awarded by Albania

Split voting results

The following six members comprised the Albanian jury:[30]

  • Haig Zacharian (Chairperson) – professor
  • Olta Boka – singer
  • Endri Sina – composer
  • Orgesa Zaimi – singer
  • Marsela Cibukaj (Only semi-final) – singer
  • Aulon Naci (Only grand final) – composer
Split voting results from Albania (Semi-final 1)[28]
Draw Country Jury Televote
H. Zacharian O. Boka E. Sina M. Cibukaj O. Zaimi Average Rank Points Rank Points
01  Sweden 7 5 8 4 13 7 4 2 10
02  Georgia 4 10 16 8 8 10 1 17
03  Australia 12 2 7 5 9 6 5 10 1
04  Albania
05  Belgium 14 3 6 1 15 8 3 3 8
06  Montenegro 10 14 10 16 2 11 11
07  Finland 13 9 15 7 10 12 6 5
08  Azerbaijan 5 6 2 10 3 4 7 12
09  Portugal 8 1 11 3 11 5 6 1 12
10  Greece 1 8 1 11 4 3 8 5 6
11  Poland 9 11 3 12 6 9 2 9 2
12  Moldova 2 4 4 6 1 1 12 4 7
13  Iceland 17 17 17 13 12 17 7 4
14  Czech Republic 15 12 14 14 16 16 16
15  Cyprus 6 13 13 9 14 13 8 3
16  Armenia 3 7 5 2 5 2 10 13
17  Slovenia 11 15 9 15 17 14 15
18  Latvia 16 16 12 17 7 15 14
Split voting results from Albania (Final)[29]
Draw Country Jury Televote
H. Zacharian O. Boka E. Sina O. Zaimi A. Naci Average Rank Points Rank Points
01  Israel 15 19 17 14 11 16 15
02  Poland 19 17 18 15 12 17 25
03  Belarus 20 21 15 25 16 20 17
04  Austria 25 20 23 26 23 24 22
05  Armenia 2 6 4 5 5 4 7 24
06  Netherlands 13 15 20 18 18 18 18
07  Moldova 12 10 12 12 15 12 11
08  Hungary 26 18 21 16 20 21 5 6
09  Italy 4 1 1 1 1 1 12 1 12
10  Denmark 14 11 19 13 13 14 23
11  Portugal 10 2 5 6 2 5 6 3 8
12  Azerbaijan 17 12 9 9 10 9 2 12
13  Croatia 21 14 13 21 22 19 4 7
14  Australia 9 8 11 4 8 7 4 13
15  Greece 7 16 7 19 9 10 1 8 3
16  Spain 23 26 24 20 26 26 26
17  Norway 22 24 22 17 25 22 19
18  United Kingdom 5 3 2 2 4 3 8 14
19  Cyprus 6 22 14 11 19 15 16
20  Romania 16 13 6 8 7 8 3 7 4
21  Germany 18 23 25 22 24 23 21
22  Ukraine 24 25 26 23 21 25 20
23  Belgium 11 5 10 24 14 13 6 5
24  Sweden 8 9 16 10 17 11 9 2
25  Bulgaria 3 4 3 3 3 2 10 2 10
26  France 1 7 8 7 6 6 5 10 1

Notes
  1. In early December 2016, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) announced that Edona Vatoci would withdraw from the competition due to violation of the application rules.[11]

References
  1. "Countries: Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
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  21. Jordan, Paul (29 March 2017). "Eurovision in Concert sets a new record with 33 acts". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
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  26. Jordan, Paul; Nilsson, Helena (31 January 2017). "Eurovision 2017: Which country is in which Semi-Final?". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
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