Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018

Eurovision Song Contest 2018
Country  Albania
National selection
Selection process Festivali i Këngës 56
Selection date(s) Semi-finals:
21 December 2017
22 December 2017
Final:
23 December 2017
100% Jury Voting (all shows)[1]
Selected entrant Eugent Bushpepa
Selected song "Mall"
Selected songwriter(s) Eugent Bushpepa
Finals performance
Semi-final result Qualified (8th, 168 points)
Final result 11th, 184 points
Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2017 • 2018 • 2019►

Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. The Albanian broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar organised the national final Festivali i Këngës 56 to select the Albanian entry for the 2018 contest in Lisbon, Portugal. Eugent Bushpepa won the contest with the song "Mall", which subsequently was the song that represented Albania in Lisbon.

Background

Prior to the 2018 Contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fourteen times since its first entry in 2004.[2] The nation's best placing in the contest was fifth, which it achieved in 2012 with the song "Suus" performed by Rona Nishliu. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004, Albania had, to this point, featured in seven finals. In 2017 Albania failed to qualify for the final with the song "World" performed by Lindita Halimi, placing 14th in the first semi-final, scoring 76 points.

The Albanian national broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar broadcasts the event within Albania and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. The Albanian competition Festivali i Këngës has been organised every year since 1964 and has been used as Albania's Eurovision selection method since its debut in 2004. Details regarding the 56th edition of Festivali i Këngës were announced on 17 October 2017[3]; however, the Albanian broadcaster formally confirmed their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 on 4 October 2017.[4]

Before Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës 56

Festivali i Këngës 56 was the 56th annual edition of the Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës and the fifteenth time the competition determined the artist and song that would represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest, this time selecting their 2018 contest entry. The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 21 and 22 December 2017 and a final on 23 December 2017.[5]

Competing entries

Artist[6] Song[7] English Translation Music (m) / Lyrics (l)
AkullThyesit "Divorci" The divorce Bledar Shishmani (m&l)
Artemisa Mithi "E dua botën" I love the world Flamur Shehu (m) / Agim Doçi (l)
Bojken Lako "Sytë e shpirtit" The eyes of the soul Bojken Lako (m&l)
Denisa Gjezo "Zemër ku je" My love, where are you Mario Deda (m) / Aurel Thëllimi (l)
Elton Deda "Fjalët" The words Elton Deda (m) / Orges Toçe (l)
Endri & Stefi "Mesazh" Message Endri Prifti (m&l)
Ergi Bregu "Bum bum" Boom boom Klodian Rexhepaj (m) / Ergi Bregu-Latifllari (l)
Eugent Bushpepa "Mall" Yearning Eugent Bushpepa (m&l)
Evans Rama "Gjurmët" The traces Genti Lako (m) / Migjena Lako (l)
Genc & David Tukiçi "Të pandarë" Inseparable Genc Tukiçi (m) / Agim Xheka (l)
Inis Neziri "Piedestal" Pedestal Gridi Kraja (m) / Florian Zyka (l)
Lorela Sejdini "Pritëm edhe pak" Wait for me some more Florent Boshnjaku (m) / Yll Limani (l)
LYNX "Vonë" Late Grupi LYNX (m&l)
Manjola Nallbani "I njëjti qiell" The same sky Elgit Doda (m) / Rozana Radi (l)
Mariza Ikonomi "Unë" I Mariza Ikonomi (m) / Florian Zyka (l)
NA & Festina Mezini "Tjetër jetë" Another life Kreshnik Koshi (m&l)
Orgesa Zaimi "Ngrije zërin" Raise your voice Briz Musaraj (m) / Olti Curri (l)
Redon Makashi "Ekziston" You exist Redon Makashi (m) / Timo Flloko (l)
Rezarta Smaja & Luiz Ejlli "Ra një yll" A star has fallen Edmond Zhulali (m) / Agim Doçi (l)
Tiri Gjoci "Orë e ndalur" Stopped clock Enis Mullaj (m) / Tahir Gjoci (l)
Voltan Prodani "E pamundur" Impossible Voltan Prodani (m) / Zhuliana Jorganxhi (l)
Xhesika Polo "Përjetë" Forever Marko Polo (m) / Endrit Mumajesi (l)

Semi-finals

The Albanian national broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar revealed on 19 December 2017 the allocation of participating acts for both semi finals of the 56th Festivali i Këngës.[8]

  Finalist

Final

The final took place on 23 December 2017. Fourteen entries qualified from two semifinals - eight from semifinal 1 and six from semifinal 2. The winner was decided by a five-member jury.

Final – 23 December 2017
Draw Artist Song Place
1 Redon Makashi "Ekziston" 2
2 NA & Festina Mejzini "Tjetër jetë" N/A
3 Voltan Prodani "E pamundur"
4 Denisa Gjezo "Zemër ku je"
5 Tiri Gjoci "Orë e ndalur"
6 Orgesa Zaimi "Ngrije zërin"
7 Rezarta Smaja & Luiz Ejlli "Ra një yll"
8 Artemisa Mithi "E dua botën"
9 Manjola Nallbani "I njëjti qiell"
10 Inis Neziri "Piedestal" 3
11 Bojken Lako "Sytë e shpirtit" N/A
12 Mariza Ikonomi "Unë"
13 Eugent Bushpepa "Mall" 1
14 Elton Deda "Fjalët" N/A

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2018 took place at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal and consisted of two semi-finals on 8 and 10 May and the final on 12 May 2018. According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big 5" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) were required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progressed to the final.

Semi-final

Albania performed third in the first semi-final, following the entry from Iceland and preceding the entry from Belgium. At the end of the night, Albania were one of the ten countries announced as having qualified for the final, their first qualification since 2015. Following the semi-final, Eugent Bushpepa joined the other qualifiers in a press conference where they drew to see which half of the grand final they would perform in. Albania was drawn to perform in the first half of the grand final.

Voting

Voting during the three shows involved each country awarding two sets of points from 1-8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting. Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency. This jury judged each entry based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act. In addition, no member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member as well as the nation's televoting results were released shortly after the grand final.

Points awarded to Albania

Points awarded to Albania (Semi-final 1)
Televote
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
Jury
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)
Televote
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
Jury
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

Points awarded by Albania

Split voting results

The following five members comprised the Albanian jury: [9]

  • Elton Deda – Chairperson – singer, music producer, pianist
  • Ben Andoni – journalist
  • Bojken Lako – singer, TV and theater director
  • Rosela Gjylbegu – singer
  • Kamela Islamaj – singer

Commentators and spokespersons

For the seventh year in a row, the commentator and the spokesperson of Albania in Eurovision is Andri Xhahu, the tv and radio host on RTSH.

References

  1. ↑ https://wiwibloggs.com/2017/12/21/festivali-kenges-56-jury-vote-will-100-decide-winner/205072/
  2. ↑ "Albania Country Profile". EBU. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  3. ↑ Nathan, Stella (17 October 2017). "Festivali i Këngës final set for the 23rd of December!". escbubble.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  4. ↑ "Albania: Eurovision 2018 Participation Confirmed". eurovoix.com. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  5. ↑ Juhász, Ervin (15 November 2017). "Semi finalists of Festivali i Kenges revealed!". escbubble.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  6. ↑ Anthony, Granger (5 December 2017). "Albania: Festivali i Këngës songs revealed". eurovoix.com. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  7. ↑ Anthony, Granger (5 December 2017). "Albania: Festivali i Këngës songs revealed". eurovoix.com. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  8. ↑ Juhász, Ervin (19 December 2017). "Allocation of the semi finalists of Festivali i Kenges revealed!". escbubble.com. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  9. ↑ Groot, Evert (30 April 2018). "Exclusive: They are the expert jurors for Eurovision 2018". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
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