Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019

Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel, with the song "Ktheju tokës" performed by Jonida Maliqi. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2018. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifteen times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest, the song was promoted by a music video and live performances in the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Eurovision Song Contest 2019
Country Albania
National selection
Selection processFestivali i Këngës 57
Selection date(s)Semi-finals:
20 December 2018
21 December 2018
Final:
22 December 2018
Selected entrantJonida Maliqi
Selected song"Ktheju tokës"
Selected songwriter(s)Eriona Rushiti
Finals performance
Semi-final resultQualified (9th, 96 points)
Final result17th, 90 points
Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2018 • 2019 • 2020►

Albania was drawn to compete in the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 16 May 2019. Performing as number 14, the nation was announced among the top 10 entries of the second semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the final. In the grand final on 18 May 2019, it performed as number two and placed 17th out of the 26 participating countries, scoring 90 points.

Background
Main article: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2019 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fifteen 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" finishing 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 final seven times, with both the 2016 and 2017 entries being the most recent non-qualifiers.[2][3] In 2018, the nation qualified for the final with Eugent Bushpepa finishing in 11th place with "Mall".[1]

In September 2018, the national broadcaster of Albania, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), officially confirmed Albania's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, Istrael.[4] RTSH broadcasts the contest within Albania and organises the selection process for the nation's entry.[5] Since its debut in 2004, it has consistently selected its entry through the long-standing competition Festivali i Këngës.[5]

Before Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës
Ana Golja co-hosted the 57th edition of Festivali i Këngës.

Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) organised the 57th edition of Festivali i Këngës to select their participant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019.[6] The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 20 and 21 December, respectively, and the grand final on 22 December 2018.[7] The three live shows were hosted by Albanian-Canadian actress Ana Golja and Albanian television presenter Viktor Zhusti.[8] The broadcaster had previously confirmed the nation's participation in the contest in September 2018.[9] It opened a submission period between 16 May and 30 September 2018 for artists and composers to participate in the competition.[10] The list of competing artists and songs was officially revealed on 17 October 2018, being shortlisted to compete in the two semi-finals of the contest.[11][12]

Competing entries
Participating entries
Artist[11] Song[11] Composer(s) Lyricist
Alar Band "Dashuria nuk mjafton" Elgit Doda Klea Huta
Artemisa Mithi and Febi Shkurti "Dua ta besoj" Febi Shkurti
Aurel Thëllimi "Të dua ty" Ardita Bufaj, Aurel Thëllimi Aurel Thëllimi
Bojken Lako "Jeto jetën" Bojken Lako Xhevdet Bajraj
Bruno Pollogati "Nuk ka stop" Bruno Pollogati Endrit Mumajesi
Dilan Reka "Karma" Gridi Kraja Florian Zykaj
Eliza Hoxha "Peng" Eliza Hoxha
Elona Islamaj "Në këtë botë kalimtarë" Elona Islamaj
Elton Deda "Qetësisht" Elton Deda
Eranda Libohova "100 pyetje" Genti Myftaraj Pandi Laço
Gjergj Leka "Një ditë tjetër" Gjergj Leka
Jonida Maliqi "Ktheju tokës" Eriona Rushiti
Kelly "A më ndjen" Kelly
Klinti Çollaku "Me jetë" Endrit Shani Pandi Laço
Klodiana Vata "Mbrëmje e pafund" Edmond Zhulali Jorgo Papingji
Kujtim Prodani "Babela" Kujtim Prodani
Lidia Lufi "Rrëfehem" Enis Mullaj Lidia Lufi
Lorela Sejdini "Vetmi" Lorela Sejdini
Marko Strazimiri and Imbro "Leyla" Adrian Hila
Mirud "Nënë" Elhaida Dani Durim Morina
Orgesa Zaimi "Hije" Gentian Lako
Soni Malaj "Më e fortë" Irkenc Hyka Lindon Berisha
Vikena Kamenica[lower-alpha 1] "Natën e mirë" Vikena Kamenica
    Semi-finals

    The semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës took of place on 20 December and 21 December 2018, and were broadcast live at 20:45 (CET) on the respective dates.[15][16] The first semi-final was closed by Italy's Eurovision Song Contest 2018 representative Ermal Meta.[17][18] In it, the competing artists traditionally performed in cooperation with a symphonic orchestra.[15][19] During the second semi-final, the 22 acts delivered performances of the final versions of their entries as intended to be performed on the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest.[16]

    Final

    The grand final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 22 December 2018 and was broadcast live at 20:45 (CET).[20][21] On the same day, prior to the live show, 14 songs competed and the winner was determined by the combination of the votes from a nine-member jury panel consisting of Agim Krajka, Arta Marku, Dorian Çene, Haig Zacharian, Olsa Toqi, Pali Kuke, Rona Nishliu, Rovena Dilo and Shpëtim Kushta.[21][22][23] Before the end of the show, Jonida Maliqi emerged as the winner and was simultaneously announced as the Albania's representative for the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.[24][25] The results of the final are summarized in the table below:[24]

    Final–22 December 2018
    Draw Artist Song Points Result
    1
    		 Marko Strazimiri and Imbro[lower-alpha 2] "Leyla" 142 8
    2
    		 Gjergj Leka "Një ditë tjetër" 131 10
    3
    		 Elton Deda "Qetësisht" 156 7
    4
    		 Eranda Libohova[lower-alpha 3] "100 pyetje" 181 3
    5
    		 Jonida Maliqi "Ktheju tokës" 228 1
    6
    		 Eliza Hoxha "Peng" 127 11
    7
    		 Orgesa Zaimi "Hije" 121 13
    8
    		 Bojken Lako "Jeto jetën" 138 9
    9
    		 Soni Malaj "Më e fortë" 166 5
    10
    		 Artemisa Mithi and Febi Shkurti "Dua ta besoj" 113 14
    11
    		 Dilan Reka "Karma" 169 4
    12
    		 Alar Band "Dashuria nuk mjafton" 124 12
    13
    		 Lidia Lufi "Rrëfehem" 219 2
    14
    		 Klinti Çollaku "Me jetë" 163 6

    Promotion

    A music video for "Ktheju tokës" premiered via the Eurovision Song Contest's official YouTube channel on 10 March 2019.[27] Outside of the music video, Jonida Maliqi travelled to the Banias Nature Reserve at Mount Hermon in Israel to film her introductory postcard.[28] In the postcard, she is seen dressed in 1950s style clothing while walking through the surroundings. Maliqi is subsequently joined by four female dancers on the edge of a waterfall, where they perform an interpretive dance choreography.[29][30] For further promotion, the singer embarked on a small tour with live performances at various Eurovision Song Contest-related events, including in Amsterdam, London and Madrid.[31][32][33]

    At Eurovision
    Jonida Maliqi during a rehearsal for the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019.

    The Eurovision Song Contest 2019 took place at Expo Tel Aviv in Tel Aviv, Israel, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 14 and 16 May and the grand final on 18 May 2019.[34] 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, 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.[35]

    On 28 January 2019, a special allocation draw was held at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in Tel Aviv that placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in.[36] Albania was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 16 May, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.[36] Once all the competing songs for the 2019 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.[37] Albania was set to perform in position 14, following Russia and preceding Norway.[37] At the end of the semi-final, the nation was announced among the top 10 entries and therefore qualified to compete in the grand final.[38]

    Voting

    Voting during the three shows involved each nation awarding two sets of points from 1–8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting. Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the nation they represent, with their names being published before the contest to ensure transparency. This jury judged each entry based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act. In addition, no member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member as well as the nation's televoting results were released soon after the grand final.[39]

    The tables below visualise a breakdown of points awarded to Albania in the second semi-final and final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, as well as by the nation on both occasions. In the semi-final, Albania finished in ninth place, being awarded a total of 96 points, including 12 by the televoters from Italy, North Macedonia and Switzerland, and the same amount of points by the juries from North Macedonia.[40] In the final, Albania reached the 17th place with 90 points, including 12 by the televoters from Italy and North Macedonia, and eight by the juries from Montenegro and North Macedonia.[41] The nation's televoters awarded its 12 points to Norway in the semi-final and to Russia in the final.[40][41] Its juries awarded its 12 points to North Macedonia in both the semi-final and final.[40][41]

    Points awarded to Albania
    Points awarded to Albania (Semi-final 2)[40]
    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 to Albania (Final)[41]
    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 five members comprised the Albanian jury:[39]

    • Dilan Reka – singer
    • Eranda Libohova – singer
    • Gent Rushi – Chairperson – pedagogue, jazz musician
    • Julka Gramo – singer, moderator, entertainer
    • Vikena Kamenica – mezzo-soprano
    Split voting results from Albania (Semi-final 2)[40]
    Draw Country Jury Televote
    G. Rushi E. Libohova D. Reka J. Gramo V. Kamenica Average Rank Points Rank Points
    01 Armenia10141417121414
    02 Ireland11111313131215
    03 Moldova1259958313
    04  Switzerland667476556
    05 Latvia17161515151716
    06 Romania14131110171312
    07 Denmark15121271111101
    08 Sweden285364774
    09 Austria31010121010117
    10 Croatia7761189283
    11 Malta833645611
    12 Lithuania16171614141665
    13 Russia914833892
    14 Albania
    15 Norway131517161615112
    16 Netherlands4985974210
    17 North Macedonia1221111238
    18 Azerbaijan5412221047
    Split voting results from Albania (Final)[41]
    Draw Country Jury Televote
    G. Rushi E. Libohova D. Reka J. Gramo V. Kamenica Average Rank Points Rank Points
    01 Malta18121115161711
    02 Albania
    03 Czech Republic1018248171624
    04 Germany71715991217
    05 Russia1277125101112
    06 Denmark6191911181421
    07 San Marino252525242525210
    08 North Macedonia2564111256
    09 Sweden114132125613
    10 Slovenia8132014131518
    11 Cyprus22333104715
    12 Netherlands15881041147
    13 Greece141421147492
    14 Israel219919111312
    15 Norway13152120201965
    16 United Kingdom11161413191820
    17 Iceland23231725242322
    18 Estonia20211816222216
    19 Belarus16201622232125
    20 Azerbaijan942183883
    21 France31010768319
    22 Italy565576538
    23 Serbia17242318152023
    24  Switzerland19216321074
    25 Australia4111217292101
    26 Spain24222223212414

    Notes
    1. On 3 December 2018, RTSH announced that Vikena Kamenica would withdraw from the 57th edition of Festivali i Këngës due to scheduling issues.[13] Kamenica was subsequently replaced by Artemisa Mithi and Febi Shkurti.[14]
    2. Due to technical issues during the performance, Marko Strazimiri & Imbro had to perform again after all the performances.[26]
    3. Due to technical issues during the performance, Eranda Libohova had to perform again after all the performances.[26]

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