Just mere few days earlier, the Albanian broadcaster (RTSH) had revealed that around 80 entries had been received in contention for the annual Festivali i Këngës, and without any hesitation, we also just recently learned who the participants will be, for the 62nd edition of the music festival.
Festivali i Këngës 62
Originally, it was announced that 27 songs would take part in the festival, but it appears that this has been upped to 31 entries instead. Additionally, it has been confirmed that the winner this year will be decided by a combination of both juries and viewers who each will accommodate for 50% of the result. Unlike last year, the overall winner was purely selected by the juries, while viewers decided who would get to represent Albania at the song contest.
These are the 31 participants of the festival this year(alphabetical order):
- Andi Tanko – “Herë pas here“
- Anduel Kovaci – “Nan“
- Arsi Bako – “Zgjohu“
- Besa Kokëdhima – “Zemrën n’dorë“
- Besa Krasniqi – “Esenciale“
- Big Basta and Vesa Luma – “Mbinatyrale“
- Bledi Kaso – “Cdo gjë mbaroi“
- Eldis Arnjeti – “Një kujtim“
- Elsa Lila – “Mars“
- Erina and The Elementals – “Jetën n’skaj“
- Festina Mejzini – “Melos“
- Jasmina Hako – “Ti“
- Jehona Ponari – “Evol“
- Kastro Zizo – “2073“
- Kejsi Tola – “Vallëzoj me dritën“
- Kleansa Susaj – “Pikturë“
- Luan Durmishi – “Përsëritja“
- Mal Retkoceri – “Cmendur“
- Martina Serreqi – “Vetëm ty“
- Melodajn Mancaku – “Nuk jemi ne“
- Michela Paluca – “Për veten“
- Olimpia Smajlaj – “Asaj“
- Olsi Ballta – “Unë“
- Samanta Karavello – “N’majë“
- Santino De Bartolo – “Dua të rri me ty“
- Sardi Strugaj – “Boshatisur“
- Sergio Hajdini – “Uragan“
- Shpat Deda – “S’mund t’fitoj pa ty“
- Stivi Ushe – “Askush si ty“
- Tiri Gjoci – “Në ëndërr“
- Troy Band – “Horizonti i ëndrrave“
The annual song festival usually takes place around the end of the year, and is expected to do this year as well. There are speculated dates, but an official announcement is still awaited, for when exactly the show will take place.
Among some of the entrants, we do find Elsa Lila who won the festival last year, but as mentioned already, the winner of the festival last year would not become the Albanian entrant.
However, someone who already has represented Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest is Kejsi Tola. She represented the country back in 2009 with the song “Carry Me In Your Dreams“, when the contest was held in Moscow, Russia.
Some others who have also participated in the festival in the past, includes Besa Krasniqi, Olimpia Smajlaj, Kastro Zizo, and Samanta Karavello. Lastly, Besa Kokëdhima also has some past Festivali i Këngës experience, but has also participated in Selecția Națională in Romania.
In 2023, Albania was represented by Albina and her family, whom were selected purely by the public last year, despite not winning Festivali i Këngës. Together they sang “Duje” which managed to qualify the country to the final, where in the end, the song finished 22nd in the final, with a total of 76 points.
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Source(s): RTSH.al (In Albanian)
