Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007

Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in Helsinki, Finland, with the song "Hear My Plea" performed by Frederik Ndoci and Aida Ndoci. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2006. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest three times since its first entry in 2004. Due to the non-top 11 result in the previous contest, Albania was drawn to compete in the semi-final of the contest, which took place on 10 May 2007. Performing as number 11, the nation was not announced among the top 10 entries of the semi-final and therefore failed to qualify for the grand final, marking Albania's second non-qualification in the contest.

Eurovision Song Contest 2007
Country Albania
National selection
Selection processFestivali i Këngës 45
Selection date(s)Semi-finals:
21 December 2006
22 December 2006
Final:
23 December 2006
Selected entrantFrederik Ndoci and Aida Ndoci
Selected song"Hear My Plea"
Finals performance
Semi-final resultFailed to qualify (17th, 49 points)
Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2006 • 2007 • 2008►

Background
Main article: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2007 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest three times since its first entry in 2004.[1] The nation's highest placing in the contest, to this point, had been the seventh place, which it achieved in 2004 with the song "The Image of You" performed by Anjeza Shahini.[1] Albania's national broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), has organised Festivali i Këngës since its inauguration in 1962.[2] Since 2003, the winner of the competition has simultaneously won the right to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest.[2]

Before Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës

RTSH organised the 45th edition of Festivali i Këngës to determine Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 21 and 22 December, respectively, and the grand final on 23 December 2006.[3][4] The three live shows were hosted by Albanian presenter Adi Krasta, actress Ermela Teli and singer Vesa Luma.[3]

Competing entries
Participating entries[3]
Artist Song
Alban Skënderaj "Eklips"
Albërie Hadergjonaj "Të dua zemër ty të dua"
Amarda Arkaxhiu "Por ti mos trego"
Andi Kongo "Siluetë"
Arbër Arapi "Në fund të botës"
Besiana Mehmeti and Mustafa Ymeri "Kepi i shpreses se mirë"
Edmond Mancaku "Ne apo kjo kohë"
Eliza Hoxha "Hajde sonte"
Erion Korini "Falja do shpirt"
Ervin Bushati "Hajde"
Evans Rama "Nata e fundit"
Evis Mula "Rrëfim në mesnatë"
Frederik Ndoci and Aida Ndoci "Balada e gurit"
Greta Koçi "Eja zemër"
Greta Tafa "Blozë e bardhë"
Hersiana Matmuja "Ah jetë, o jetë!"
Joe Artid Fejzo "Vallë përse?"
Jonida Maliqi "Pa identitet"
Kujtim Prodani "Kjo është jeta"
Mariza Ikonomi "Ku është dashuria"
Mateus Frroku "Trill i një natë"
Rosela Gjylbegu "Pa ty, pa mua"
Rovena Stefa "Ti më do"
Saimir Braho "Mik i dhimbjes"
Saimir Çili "Të jetosh!?"
Samanta Karavello "Ylli im polar"
Sfinks "Mos perëndo"
Silva Gunbardhi "Dua të jem"
Sonila Mara "Do të shkruaj një letër"
Tonin Marku "Ëndrra ime"
Voltan Prodani and Alfred Habibi "Jemi kaq të largët"
Semi-finals

The semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës took place on 21 December and 22 December 2006, respectively.[3] 15 contestants participated in the first semi-final and 16 in the second, with the highlighted ones progressing to the grand final.[4]

Final

The grand final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 23 December 2006 and was broadcast at 21:00 (CET).[4] Frederik Ndoci and Aida Ndoci emerged as the winners with "Balada e gurit" and were simultaneously announced as representing Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007.[5]

Final–23 December 2006[4]
Draw Artist(s) Song Points[5] Result
1
 Albërie Hadërgjonaj "Të dua zemër ty të dua" 10 11
2
 Hersiana Matmuja "Ah jetë, oh jetë" 11 10
3
 Mariza Ikonomi "Ku është dashuria" 49 3
4
 Arbër Arapi "Në fund të botës" 14 9
5
 Alban Skënderaj "Eklips" 37 7
6
 Eliza Hoxha "Hajde sonte" 10 12
7
 Amarda Arkaxhiu "Por ti mos trego" 48 4
8
 Evis Mula "Rrëfim në mesnatë" 39 6
9
 Greta Koçi "Eja zemër" 40 5
10
 Kujtim Prodani "Kjo është jeta" 4 14
11
 Jonida Maliqi "Pa identitet" 21 8
12
 Rosela Gjylbegu "Pa ty, pa mua" 52 2
13
 Saimir Braho "Mik i dhimbjes" 6 13
14
 Besiana Mehmeti and Mustafa Ymeri "Kepi i shpresës së mirë" 3 15
15
 Frederik Ndoci and Aida Ndoci "Balada e gurit" 55 1
16
 Tonin Marku "Ëndrra ime" 0 16

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 took place at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland, and consisted of a semi-final on 10 May and the grand final on 12 May 2007.[6] According to the Eurovision rules, all participating countries, except the host nation and the "Big Four", consisting of France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, were required to qualify from the semi-final to compete for the final, although the top 10 countries from the semi-final progress to the final.[7] Due to its non-top 11 result in the 2006 contest, Albania was required to compete in the semi-final.[8] It was set to perform at position 11, following the Netherlands and preceding Denmark.[9] At the end of the semi-final, the country was not announced among the top 10 entries and therefore failed to qualify for the final, marking Albania's second non-qualification in the Eurovision Song Contest.[1]

Voting

The tables below visualise a breakdown of points awarded to Albania in the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, as well as by the country for the semi-final and grand final, respectively. In the semi-final, Albania finished in 17th place, being awarded a total of 49 points, including 10 from Macedonia and 8 from Greece.[10] The nation awarded its 12 points to Turkey in the semi-final and to Spain in the grand final of the contest.[10][11]

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

Points awarded by Albania

References
  1. "Countries: Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  2. Knoops, Roy (21 December 2017). "Watch now: Albania's Festivali i Këngës 56 kicks off with semi-final 1". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  3. "Albania: Festivali i Këngës #45". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  4. Kasapoglou, Yiorgos (23 December 2007). "Tonight Albania decides the entry for Helsinki". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  5. Klier, Marcus (24 December 2006). "Aida & Frederik Ndoci to Helsinki". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  6. "Eurovision Song Contest–Helsinki 2007". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 30 April 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  7. Eurovision Song Contest 2007. Helsinki, Finland: European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 10–12 May 2007.
  8. Baransi, Fouad (6 July 2020). "Throwback To Helsinki–Eurovision 2007". ESC Bubble. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  9. "Eurovision Song Contest–Helsinki 2007 Semi-final". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  10. "Results of the Semi-final–Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 2 May 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  11. "Results of the Final–Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
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