Festivali i Këngës 58

The Festivali i Këngës 2019 was the 58th edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës. It was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) at the Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana, Albania, and consisted of two semi-finals on 19 and 20 December, respectively, and the final on 22 December 2019. The three live shows were hosted by Alketa Vejsiu. The winner of the contest was Arilena Ara with the song "Shaj", after receiving 67 points with two points ahead over Elvana Gjata with the song "Me tana". Ara was then scheduled to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, before its cancellation related to the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Festivali i Këngës 2019
Dates
Semi-final 119 December 2019
Semi-final 220 December 2019
Grand final22 December 2019
Host
VenuePallati i Kongreseve, Tirana
Presenter(s)Alketa Vejsiu
Host broadcasterRadio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH)
Opening act
Interval act
Participants
Number of entries20
Vote
Voting systemJury
Winning song"Shaj" by Arilena Ara

Background and format

The 58th edition of Festivali i Këngës was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) for determining for determining Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. The former consisted of two semi-finals on 19 and 20 December, respectively, and the final on 22 December 2019, and was held at the Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana.[1] The three live shows were hosted by Albanian television presenter Alketa Vejsiu.[1]

Interval acts

Related to the interval acts, RTSH released the first details prior to the start of the live shows.[2][3][4] The opening act of the first semi-final featured Albanian singer Jonida Maliqi performing "Ktheju tokës".[5] The interval act featured Italian singer Mahmood, who performed "Barrio" and "Soldi".[6] The second semi-final's interval act included Agim Krajka and Lindita Theodhori who performed "Kafe Flora".[7] During the grand final, Italian singer Giusy Ferreri and Albanian-Greek singer Eleni Foureira performed mashups of several of their songs.[4]

Contestants

Prior to the scheduled event, in October 2019, RTSH published a provisory list of 20 artists shortlisted to compete in the two semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës, with the songs being revealed on 9 December.[8][9] The broadcaster had previously opened a submission period for artists and composers to participate in the competition between May and September 2019.[10]

Participating entries[8]
Artist(s) Song Composer(s) Lyricist
Albërie Hadërgjonaj "Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua" Adrian Hila Timo Flloko
Aldo Bardhi "Melodi" Antoni Polimeni, Richy Sebastian Aldo Bardhi
Arilena Ara "Shaj" Darko Dimitrov, Lazar Cvetkovski Lindon Berisha
Bojken Lako "Malaseen" Bojken Lako
Devis Xherahu "Bisedoj me serenatën" Devis Xherahu Jorgo Papingji
Eli Fara and Stresi "Bohem" Eli Fara Rozana Radi
Elvana Gjata "Me tana" Elvana Gjata
Era Rusi "Eja merre" Darko Dimitrov Era Rusi
Gena "Shqiponja e lirë" Gena Endrit Mumajesi
Genc Tukiçi and Nadia Tukiçi "Ju flet Tirana" Genc Tukiçi Agim Xheka
Kamela Islamaj "Më ngjyros" Kamela Islamaj Megi Hasani
Kanita Suma "Ankth" Boban Apostolov Lindon Berisha
Kastro Zizo "Asaj" Gramoz Kozeli, Klevis Bega
Olta Boka "Botë për dy" Florent Boshnjaku Genc Salihu
Renis Gjoka "Loja" Renis Gjoka Ilir Krasniqi
Robert Berisha "Ajo nuk është unë" Filloreta Raci
Sara Bajraktari "Ajër" Adrian Hila
Tiri Gjoci "Me gotën bosh" Everest Ndreca Pandi Laço
Valon Shehu "Kutia e Pandorës" Eugent Bushpepa Elvis Preni
Wendi Mancaku "Ende" Wendi Mancaku Endrit Mumajesi

Semi-finals

Semi-final 1

The first semi-final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 19 December 2019 and was broadcast live at 21:00 (CET).[11][12] 10 contestants participated in the first semi-final, while the highlighted contestants qualified for the grand final.[12][13][14]

Semi-final 1–19 December 2019[12]
Draw Artist(s) Song
1
 Bojken Lako "Malaseen"
2
 Kanita Suma "Ankth"
3
 Devis Xherahu "Bisedoj me serenatën"
4
 Aldo Bardhi "Melodi"
5
 Kamela Islamaj "Më ngjyros"
6
 Genc Tukiçi and Nadia Tukiçi "Ju flet Tirana"
7
 Sara Bajraktari "Ajër"
8
 Elvana Gjata "Me tana"
9
 Renis Gjoka "Loja"
10
 Albërie Hadërgjonaj "Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua"

Semi-final 2

The second semi-final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 20 December 2019 and was broadcast live at 21:00 (CET).[11][15] 10 contestants participated in the second semi-final, while the highlighted contestants qualified for the grand final.[14][15]

Semi-final 2–20 December 2019[15]
Draw Artist(s) Song
1
 Robert Berisha "Ajo nuk është unë"
2
 Wendi Mancaku "Ende"
3
 Kastro Zizo "Asaj"
4
 Tiri Gjoci "Me gotën bosh"
5
 Era Rusi "Eja merre"
6
 Olta Boka "Botë për dy"
7
 Valon Shehu "Kutia e Pandorës"
8
 Arilena Ara "Shaj"
9
 Eli Fara and Stresi "Bohemë"
10
 Gena "Shqiponja e lirë"

Final

The grand final of the competition took place on 22 December 2019 and was broadcast live at 21:00 (CET).[11][16] The contestants that qualified for the final were announced on 21 December 2019, and the winner was determined by a five-member jury consisting of two Albanian members and three international members with connections to the Eurovision Song Contest.[17][18][19] The five-member jury was made up of Christer Björkman (Sweden), Dimitris Kontopoulos (Greece), Felix Bergsson (Iceland), Mikaela Minga (Albania) and Rita Petro (Albania).[20][21]

Prior to the end of it, Arilena Ara emerged as the winner of the competition and was simultaneously announced as the country's representative for the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest.[22][23][24] Following the results of the competition, mixed reactions followed, with multiple individuals criticising the results itself and attributing the singer's victory to arranged voting.[25] The detailed voting results of the final are summarised in the table below:[19] However, in March 2020, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced the Eurovision Song Contest's cancellation due to the pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Europe.[26]

Final–22 December 2019[16]
Draw Artist Song C. Björkman D. Kontopoulos F. Bergsson M. Minga R. Petro Total Result
1
 Valon Shehu "Kutia e Pandorës" 1 2 7 7 6 23 8
2
 Sara Bajraktari "Ajër" 13 10 10 8 9 50 3
3
 Robert Berisha "Ajo nuk është unë" 9 3 2 3 1 18 10
4
 Tiri Gjoci "Me gotën bosh" 2 4 8 6 3 23 8
5
 Bojken Lako "Malaseen" 3 8 3 18 13 45 4
6
 Arilena Ara "Shaj" 10 13 13 13 18 67 1
7
 Gena "Shqiponja e lirë" 4 7 1 1 5 18 10
8
 Kamela Islamaj "Më ngjyros" 6 6 4 9 10 35 6
9
 Albërie Hadërgjonaj "Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua" 7 5 6 5 4 27 7
10
 Elvana Gjata "Me tana" 18 18 18 2 8 64 2
11
 Olta Boka "Botë për dy" 5 1 5 4 2 17 12
12
 Era Rusi "Eja merre" 8 9 9 10 7 43 5

See also

References
  1. "Nis countdown-i: Zbulohen datat kur do të mbahet Festivali i 58-të i Këngës në RTSH!" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 28 October 2019. Archived from the original on 9 May 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  2. "Alketa Vejsiu, interviste ekskluzive për 'Aperitiv Fest' në RTSH, zbulon të ftuarit specialë në 3 netët e Festivalit të 58-të" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 6 December 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  3. "Alketa Vejsiu zbulon të ftuarit specialë të 'Festivalit të Këngës'" (in Albanian). Blitz. 7 December 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  4. "Jo 3, por plot 15 minuta spektakël, Eleni Foureira premton t'i vërë flakën finales së Festivalit të Këngës!" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 15 December 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  5. Outerson, Michael (19 December 2019). "Albania: The first ten acts perform at Festivali i Këngës 58 but willl any of them be heading to Eurovision". EuroVisionary. Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  6. Gallagher, Robyn (6 December 2019). "Festivali i Këngës 58: Songs to be released on 9 December, Mahmood confirmed as interval act". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  7. Outerson, Michael (20 December 2019). "Albania: Second semi final of Festivali i Këngës 58 takes place and the finalists are still to be announced". EuroVisionary. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  8. "Festivali i 58-të i Këngës në RTSH, juria përzgjedh 20 këngëtarët pjesëmarrës" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 24 October 2019. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  9. Lauren (8 December 2019). "Albania: Festivali i Këngës 2019 song titles and composers revealed". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  10. Granger, Anthony (28 May 2019). "Albania: Festivali i Këngës 58 Submissions Open". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  11. "Netët e Festivalit" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). Archived from the original on 24 April 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  12. Agadellis, Stratos (19 December 2019). "Watch now: Festivali i Këngës 58 begins in Albania with first semi-final". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  13. "Përfundon nata e parë e Fest '58" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 20 December 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  14. Gallagher, Robyn (16 December 2019). "Albania: Semi-final allocations and running order confirmed for Festivali i Këngës 58". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  15. Casellini, Stefano (20 December 2019). "Watch now: The second semi-final of Festivali i Këngës 58 in Albania". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  16. Agadellis, Stratos (22 December 2019). "Watch now: The Grand Final of Festivali i Këngës 58 in Albania". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  17. "Fest '58, dalin finalistët e natës së tretë" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 21 December 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  18. Casellini, Stefano (21 December 2019). "Albania: The final line-up of Festivali i Këngës 58 is complete!". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  19. "Fest' 58, dalin pikët e plota të jurisë" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 23 December 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
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  23. "Festivali i 58-të i Këngës, Arilena Ara do të përfaqësojë Shqipërinë në Eurovizion" (in Albanian). Euronews Albania. 23 December 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
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  25. Muldoon, Padraig (23 December 2019). "'I am speechless' – Festivali i Këngës 58 host Alketa Vejsiu speaks out amidst social media controversy". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
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