Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

Albania will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with the song "Karma" performed by Anxhela Peristeri. Its entry was selected through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2020. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixteen times since its first entry in 2004. Albania is set to compete in the second semi-final of the contest, which will take place on 20 May 2021.

Eurovision Song Contest 2021
Country Albania
National selection
Selection processFestivali i Këngës 59
Selection date(s)Semi-finals:
21 December 2020
22 December 2020
Final:
23 December 2020
Selected entrantAnxhela Peristeri
Selected song"Karma"
Selected songwriter(s)Olti Curri
Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2020 • 2021

Background
Main article: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2021 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest sixteen times since its first entry in 2004.[1] The nation'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, Albania's second-highest placing to date.[1] During its tenure in the contest, the nation failed to qualify for the final seven times, with both the 2016 and 2017 entries being the most recent non-qualifiers.[1] Since 2018, it managed to qualify for the final in both the 2018 and 2019 contest with Eugent Bushpepa finishing 11th place with "Mall" and Jonida Maliqi placing 17th with "Ktheju tokës".[1]

In September 2020, the national broadcaster of Albania, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), officially confirmed Albania's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.[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
Main article: Festivali i Këngës 59
Eugent Bushpepa was part of the artistic committee who selected the 26 entries for the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës.[4] Bushpepa represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 and finished in 11th place.[5]

Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) organised the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës in order to select the nation's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.[6][7] The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 21 and 22 December, respectively, and the final on 23 December 2020.[8][9] The three live shows were hosted by Albanian actress Jonida Vokshi and host Blendi Salaj.[10][11] From August 2020 to 2 October 2020, interested artists were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster.[12] An artistic committee, consisting of Agim Doçi, Alma Bektashi, Eugent Bushpepa, Jonida Maliqi and Klodian Qafoku, reviewed the received submissions and chose 26 artists and songs shortlisted to compete in the semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës.[4][13][14] On 16 November, RTSH ultimately released all of the competing songs on its official YouTube channel.[15]

Contestants
Participants
Artist Song Composer Lyricist(s)
Agim Poshka "Vendi im" Agim Poshka
Anxhela Peristeri "Karma" Kledi Bahiti Olti Curri
Devis Xherahu "Peng" Devis Xherahu Pandi Laço
Enxhi Nasufi "Njësoj" Endri Buka Enxhi Nasufi
Era Rusi "Zjarri im" Enis Mullaj Era Rusi, Eriona Rushiti
Erik Lloshi "Jo" Enis Mullaj Endrit Mumajesi
Evi Reçi "Tjerr" Olsa Toqi Florian Zyka
Fatos Shabani "Ty" Fatos Shabani
Festina Mejzini "Kush je ti dashuri" Flamur Shehu Jorgo Papingji
Florent Abrashi "Vajzë" Bledi Shishmani
Franc Koruni "E morën botën" Franc Koruni
Gigliola Haveriku "E lirë" Endrit Shani Pandi Laço
Gjergj Kaçinari "Më jep jetë" Gjergj Kaçinari Gjergj Kaçinari, Ilir Krasniqi
Inis Neziri "Pendesë" Inis Neziri Elhaid Cufi
Kamela Islamaj "Kujtimet s'kanë formë" Kamela Islamaj Megi Hasani
Kastro Zizo "Vallja e jetës" Klevis Bega
Klint Çollaku "Do t'ja dal" Endrit Shani Pandi Laço
Manjola Nallbani[lower-alpha 1] "Ora e jetës" Eriona Rushiti
Mirud "Nëse vdes" Durim Morina[18]
Orgesa Zaimi "Valixhja e kujtimeve" Gridi Kraja Olti Curri
Rosela Gjylbegu "Vashëzo" Eriona Rushiti Rosela Gjylbegu
Sardi Strugaj "Kam me t'ba me kajt" Edesa Malci Sardi Strugaj
Stefan Marena "Meteor" Gramoz Kozeli Klotilda Klo Harka
Viktor Tahiraj "Nënë" Viktor Tahiraj
Wendi Mancaku "Vesi i shpirtit tim" Rozana Radi
Xhesika Polo "Më mbron" Marko Polo Aleksandër Seitaj
Semi-finals

The two semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës took place on 21 December and 22 December 2020 and were broadcast at 21:00 (CET) on the respective dates.[9][19] As a result of the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the performances of the semi-finals and final were pre-recorded prior to the scheduled dates.[20] During the first semi-final, the competing participants performed the official studio version of their entries, while on the second semi-final, they presented their acoustic versions.[20] Prior to the second semi-final, the votes of an expert jury panel selected eighteen songs to advance to the final.[21]

Final

The final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 23 December 2020 and was broadcast at 21:00 (CET).[9][19] 18 songs competed and the winner was determined by the combination of the votes from a seven-member jury panel consisting of Andri Xhahu, Kastriot Çaushi, Prec Zogaj, Rame Lahaj, Robert Radoja, Vasil Tole and Zana Shuteriqi.[22] Before the end of the show, Anxhela Peristeri with "Karma" emerged as the winner of the competition and was simultaneously announced as the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.[23][24]

Key:   Winner   Second place   Third place

Final–23 December 2020
Draw Artist Song
1
 Sardi Strugaj "Kam me t'ba me kajt"
2
 Xhesika Polo "Më mbron"
3
 Orgesa Zaimi "Valixhja e kujtimeve"
4
 Wendi Mancaku "Vesi i shpirtit tim"
5
 Era Rusi "Zjarri im"
6
 Gjergj Kaçinari "Më jep jetë"
7
 Rosela Gjylbegu "Vashëzo"
8
 Devis Xherahu "Peng"
9
 Mirud "Nëse vdes"
10
 Gigliola Haveriku "E lirë"
11
 Viktor Tahiraj "Nënë"
12
 Kamela Islamaj "Kujtimet s'kanë formë"
13
 Florent Abrashi "Vajzë"
14
 Inis Neziri "Pendesë"
15
 Evi Reçi "Tjerr"
16
 Anxhela Peristeri "Karma"
17
 Festina Mejzini "Kush je ti dashuri"
18
 Kastro Zizo "Vallja e jetës"

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 is scheduled to take place at Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and will consist of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 18 and 20 May and the grand final on 22 May 2021.[25] 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, although the top 10 countries from the respective semi-final progress to the grand final.[26] On 17 November 2020, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that the semi-final allocation draw for the 2021 contest will not be held.[27] Instead, the semi-finals will feature the same line-up of countries as determined by the draw for the cancelled 2020 contest, which was held on 28 January 2020 at the Rotterdam City Hall.[27] Albania was drawn to participate into the second half of the second semi-final.[27]

Notes
  1. Prior to the first semi-final, Nallbani announced that she has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and she has not withdrawn from the competition.[16] However, during the scheduled rehearsals of the competition, she was ultimately forced to withdraw.[17]

References
  1. "Countries: Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  2. Jiandani, Sanjay (Sergio) (17 September 2020). "Albania: RTSH confirms participation in Eurovision 2021". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  3. "All about Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 14 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  4. "Ja këngët e Fest '59" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 29 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  5. Jordan, Paul (24 December 2017). "Eugent Bushpepa to represent Albania at Eurovision 2018!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  6. Jiandani, Sanjay (Sergio) (17 September 2020). "Albania: RTSH confirms participation in Eurovision 2021". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  7. Adams, William Lee (17 September 2020). "Albania confirms Eurovision 2021 participation…and its hope to use Festivali i Këngës as the selection method". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  8. Jansen, Esma (1 July 2020). "Albania: RTSH confirms Festivali i Këngës 59… but will Arilena Ara be there?". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  9. Hertlein, Benjamin (14 December 2020). "Albanien: 59. Festivali i Këngës am 21., 22. und 23. Dezember 2020" (in German). ESC kompakt. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  10. "Drejtuesit e Festivalit të 59-të prezantojnë platformën e edicionit të ri" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 6 November 2020. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  11. Tejeci, Erdi (6 November 2020). "Festivali i Këngës 59: Albania sets December dates and confirms outdoor, open-air location". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  12. Christou, Costa (14 August 2020). "Albania: RTSH launches preparations for Festivali i Këngës 59". ESCXTRA. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  13. Smith, David (28 October 2020). "Albania: 26 artists confirmed for Festivali i Këngës 59…including Orgesa Zaimi, Inis Neziri and Era Rusi". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  14. Jumawan, Tim (28 October 2020). "Participants for Festivali i Këngës 59 is confirmed". ESCXtra. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  15. Smith, David (16 November 2020). "Listen: Albania's RTSH reveals all 26 competing songs of Festivali i Këngës 59". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  16. Tejeci, Erdi (1 December 2020). "Albania: FiK 59 contestant Manjola Nallbani tests positive for Covid-19". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  17. Christou, Costa (16 December 2020). "First two nights of Festivali i Këngës 59 to be pre-recorded?". ESCXtra. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  18. Smith, David (29 October 2020). "Albania: Mirud teases a "Me Tana" style dance bop for Festivali i Këngës 59". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  19. Muldoon, Padraig (21 December 2020). "Festivali i Këngës 59: How to watch Albania's Eurovision 2021 selection online". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  20. Farren, Neil (16 December 2020). "Albania: Festivali i Këngës 59 to Be Mostly Pre-Recorded". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  21. "The finalists for Festivali i Këngës have been announced". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 22 December 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  22. "Albania Selects Anxhela Peristeri as its Eurovision Song Contest Entry". eXit news. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  23. "Anxhela Peristeri to represent Albania at Eurovision 2021!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 23 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  24. "Anxhela Peristeri fiton çmimin e parë në festivalin e 59-të të këngës" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 24 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  25. "Eurovision Song Contest–Rotterdam 2021". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  26. "Rules–Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  27. Groot, Evert (17 November 2020). "2020 Semi-Final line-up to stay for 2021". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
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