Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012

Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the song "Suus" performed by Rona Nishliu. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2011. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest eight times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest, the song was promoted by a music video and live performances in Cyprus, Hungary, Montenegro, Romania and the Netherlands.

Eurovision Song Contest 2012
Country Albania
National selection
Selection processFestivali i Këngës 50
Selection date(s)Semi-finals:
26 December 2011
27 December 2011
Final:
29 December 2011
Selected entrantRona Nishliu
Selected song"Suus"
Selected songwriter(s)Rona Nishliu
Finals performance
Semi-final resultQualified (2nd, 146 points)
Final result5th, 146 points
Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2011 • 2012 • 2013►

Albania was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, which took place on 22 May 2012. Performing as number five, the nation was announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the grand final. In the final on 26 May 2012, it performed as number three and placed fifth out of the 26 participating countries, scoring 146 points.

Background
Main article: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2012 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest eight times since its first entry in 2004.[1] The country'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] During its tenure in the contest, Albania failed to qualify for the final three times, with the 2011 entry being the most recent non-qualifier.[2] The nation's national broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), has organised Festivali i Këngës since its inauguration in 1962.[3] Since 2003, the winner of the competition has simultaneously won the right to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest.[3]

Before Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës
The official logo of the 50th edition of Festivali i Këngës. The competition was organised to select Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.

Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) organised the 50th edition of Festivali i Këngës in order to select Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.[4] The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 26 and 27 December, respectively, and the grand final on 29 December 2011.[5] The three live shows were hosted by Albanian television presenter Enkeleida Zeko, Albanian model Hygerta Sako and Albanian actor Nik Xhelilaj.[6][7] In October 2011, the broadcaster published a provisory list of 28 competing artists that were shortlisted to compete in the two semi-finals of the contest.[8] In December, a few days prior to the scheduled live shows, RTSH ultimately released the songs and composers of the competing artists.[9]

Competing entries
Participating entries
Artist(s) Song Composer Lyricist
Altin Goci "Kthehëm prapë" Altin Goci K. Shehu
Bashkim Alibali "Këngën time merr vehtë" Bashkim Alibali Jorgo Papingji
Bojken Lako and Breza "Të zakonshëm" Bojken Lako
Claudio La Regina "Kur të pasha" Flli Scaravaglione Claudio La Regina
Dr. Flori "Personale" Dr. Flori
Elhaida Dani "Mijëra vjet" Endri Sina Sokol Marsi
Elton Deda "Kristal" Elton Deda Sokol Marsi
Endri and Stefi Prifti "Iluzion" Voltan Prodani Timo Flloko
Entela Zhula "Ndjehem bosh" Edmond Veizaj Entela Zhula
Evans Rama "Ti nuk mundesh" Fabian Asllani I. Hoxha
Frederik Ndoci "Oh, jeta ime" Lejla Agolli Frederik Ndoci
Gerta Mahmutaj "Pyete zemrën" Flamur Shehu Rozana Radi
Goldi Halili "Rroj për dashurinë" Fatrin Krajka Agim Doçi
Herciana Matmuja "Aty ku më le" Shpëtim Kushta Agron Tufa
Iris Hoxha "Pa ty" Edmon Rrapi L. Shqiponja
Kamela Islamaj "Mbi yje" Alban Male I. Sojli
Kujtim Prodani "Digjem" Kujtim Prodani A. Biba
Mariza Ikonomi "Më ler të të dua" Sokol Marsi Jorgo Papingji
Marjeta Billo "Vlen sa një jetë" Klodian Qafoku Arben Duka
Marsida Saraçi "Eja më merr" Enis Mullaj Arbër Arapi
Orinda Huta "Dorëzohem" Alban Kondi Turjan Hyska
Rona Nishliu "Suus" Florent Boshnjaku Rona Nishliu
Rudina Delia "Më kërko" Luan Zhegu Rudina Delia
Saimir Braho "Ajër" Ilir Dangellia I. Kurti, Saimir Braho
Samanta Karavello "Zgjomë një tjetër ëndërr" Gent Myftaraj Pandi Laço
Sindi Berisha "Braktisur" Kristi Popa P. Truja
Toni Mehmetaj "Ëndrra e parë" Edmond Zhulali Agim Doçi
Xhensila Myrtezaj "Lulet mbledh për hënën" Genti Lako Perikli Papingji
Semi-finals

The two semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës took place on 26 December and 27 December 2011, and were broadcast live at 20:30 (CET) on the respective dates.[10][11] 14 songs competed in each semi-final, with 10 entries in the first and second semi-final, respectively, qualifying for the grand final.[12][13] The interval acts for the semi-finals featured guest performances by Nigerian singer Eddy Wata and English singer Katherine Ellis.[6]

Final

The grand final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 29 December 2011 and was broadcast live at 20:30 (CET).[14] The winner was determined by the combination of the votes from a seven-member jury, consisting of Aldo Shllaku, Edi Xhani, Ndriçim Xhepa, Redon Makashi, Robert R, Zana Shuteriqi and Zhani Ciko.[14] Each member of the jury voted by assigning scores from 1–8, 10 and 12 points to their preferred songs.[14] Rona Nishliu emerged as the winner and was simultaneously announced as the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.[15] The results of the final are summarised in the table below:[15]

Final–29 December 2011
Draw Artist(s) Song Points Result
1
 Bojken Lako and Breza "Të zakonshëm" 18 10
2
 Saimir Braho "Ajër" 50 3
3
 Marjeta Billo "Vlen sa një jetë" 0 14
4
 Herciana Matmuja "Aty ku më le" 0 14
5
 Xhensila Myrtezaj "Lulet mbledh për hënën" 8 13
6
 Toni Mehmetaj "Ëndërra e parë" 10 12
7
 Iris Hoxha "Pa ty" 19 9
8
 Gerta Mahmutaj "Pyete zemrën" 0 14
9
 Bashkim Alibali "Këngën time merr vehtë" 0 14
10
 Altin Goci "Kthehem prapë" 38 5
11
 Elton Deda "Kristal" 55 2
12
 Endri and Stefi Prifti "Iluzion" 25 6
13
 Rona Nishliu "Suus" 77 1
14
 Kamela Islamaj "Mbi yje" 25 6
15
 Frederik Ndoci "Oh, jeta ime" 0 14
16
 Mariza Ikonomi "Më ler të të dua" 13 11
17
 Elhaida Dani "Mijëra vjet" 0 14
18
 Rudina Delia "Më kërko" 0 14
19
 Samanta Karavello "Zgjomë një tjetër ëndërr" 47 4
20
 Dr. Flori "Personale" 21 8

Promotion

A music video for "Suus" premiered via the Eurovision Song Contest's official YouTube channel of the Eurovision Song Contest on 17 March 2012.[16] For promotional purposes, Nishliu embarked on a small tour with live performances at various at various events related to the contest, including in Cyprus, Hungary, Montenegro, Romania and the Netherlands.[17][18][19]

At Eurovision
Rona Nishliu performing during the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2012 took place at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan, and consisted of two semi-finals held on 22 and 24 May, respectively, and the grand final on 26 May 2012.[20] According to the Eurovision rules, all participating countries, apart from 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 final, although the top 10 countries from the respective semi-final progress to the grand final.[21]

On 25 January 2012, a special allocation draw was held at the Buta Palace in Baku that placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in.[22] Albania was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 22 May, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.[22] Once all the competing songs for the 2012 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 5, following Romania and preceding Belgium.[23]

At the end of the show, the country was announced among the top 10 entries in the first semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the grand final. Soon after the first semi-final, it was announced that it would be performing third in the grand final, following Hungary and preceding Lithuania.[24]

Voting

The tables below visualise a breakdown of points awarded to Albania in both the first semi-final and the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, as well as by the country on both occasions.[25][26] In the semi-final, the country finished in second place with a total of 146 points, including 12 from Austria, Azerbaijan, Italy, Montenegro and Switzerland.[25] In the final, Albania finished in fifth position, being awarded a total of 146 points, including 12 awarded by Italy, Macedonia, San Marino and Switzerland.[26] Albania awarded its 12 points to Montenegro in the semi-final, and to Greece in the final of the contest.[25][26]

Points awarded to Albania
Points awarded to Albania (Semi-final 1)[25]
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)[26]
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

Points awarded by Albania

References
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  3. 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 25 January 2021.
  4. Sahiti, Gafurr (2 October 2011). "Albania: FiK 50 to span over 4 nights!". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  5. Sahiti, Gafurr (25 August 2011). "Albania: No confirmation yet for Eurovision 2012". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  6. Steen, Thomas (26 December 2011). "Albania: Alt klart for Festivali i Këngës" (in Norwegian). escNorge. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  7. Ian (27 December 2011). "First semi final in Albania – 10 songs to the final". EuroVisionary. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  8. Hondal, Victor (22 October 2011). "Exclusive: Participants for Festivali i Këngës revealed". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  9. Sahiti, Gafurr (17 December 2011). "Exclusive: FiK song titles and lyricists announced". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  10. "This Monday: Semi 1 in Albania". escgo!. 26 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  11. "This Tuesday: Semi 2 in Albania". escgo!. 27 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
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  13. "Albania: Second semi final results". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  14. Van Gorkum, Steef (29 December 2011). "Live: Festivali i Këngës Grand Final". ESCDaily. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  15. Brey, Marco (29 December 2011). "Rona Nishliu to represent Albania!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  16. "Rona Nishliu–Suus (Albania) Eurovision Song Contest Official Preview Video". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  17. Mikheev, Andy. "Rona Nishliu on ESCKaz". ESCKaz. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
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  19. Batlle, Patricia (23 April 2012). "Auf Tuchfühlung mit 23 Nationen" (in German). ARD. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  20. "Eurovision Song Contest–Baku 2012". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 12 August 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  21. "Eurovision Song Contest–Rules". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  22. "Results of the Semi-Final allocation draw". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 25 January 2012. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  23. "Results of the 2012 Running Order Draw!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 20 March 2012. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  24. "Grand Final: Running Order". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 21 April 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  25. "Eurovision Song Contest–Baku 2012: First Semi-Final (Albania)". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 22 May 2012. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  26. "Eurovision Song Contest–Baku 2012: Grand Final Scoreboard (Albania)". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 26 May 2012. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
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