Albania: RTSH reveals the contestants of the 59th Festivali i Këngës

The Albanian national broadcaster, RTSH , has unveiled the candidate acts of the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës, the show via which the country will select its Eurovision 2021 representative.

The Albanian national selection moves on to the next stage as RTSH has made public the participants of Festivali i Këngës 59. A total of 26 contestants will compete in December’s show in order to earn the right to represent the nation at Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam.

A special committee made up by Alma Bektashi, Jonida Maliqi, Agim Doçi, Klodian Qafoku, Eugent Bushpepa listened and evaluated the songs submitted to RTSH and picked out the ones to compete in the country’s national final.

Thus the potential ESC 2021 hopefuls are the following 26 acts and songs:

Peng– Devis Xherahu

Valixhja e kujtimeve– Orgesa Zaimi

Kush je ti dashuri– Festina Mejzini

E morën botën– Franc Koruni

Pendesë– Inis Neziri

Kam me t’ba me kajt– Sardi Strugaj

Më jep jetë– Gjergj Kaçinari

Nëse vdes– Durim Morina (Mirudi)

Tjerr– Evi Reçi

Vashëzo– Rosela Gjylbegu

Vallja e jetës– Klevis Bega (Kastro Ziso)

Do t’ja dal– Klinti Çollaku

Karma– Anxhela Peristeri

Si ajo– Wendi Mancaku

Ty– Fatos Shabani

Vajzë– Florent Abrashi

Njësoj– Enxhi Nasufi

Ajo vajza– Kamela Islamaj

Zjarri im– Era Rusi

Jo– Erikson Lloshi

Më mbron– Xhesika Polo

Ora e jetës– Manjola Nallbani

E lirë– Giliola Haveriku

Nënë– Viktor Tahiraj

Vendi im– Agim Poshka

Meteor– Stefan Marena

Therefore, according to the list this year’s hopeful Arilena Ara will not attempt to represent the country in Eurovision 2021.

The Eurovision Story So far

In 2004 Albania debuted in the contest with Anjeza Shahini with the entry “The Image of You”, which came 7th . The country hasn’t achieve to win in its 15 appearances until now. Its best result was came in 2012 with Rona Nishliu and her 5th placing in Baku with her song “Suus”.

In 2019 Jonida Maliqi won the Festivali i Kenges 2018 and and went on represent Albania at its 16th participation in the competition. Her song Ktheju Tokes ended in the 17th place of the Grand final.

This year Arilena Ara was set to perform her song Fall From Sky on the Eurovision stage in Rotterdam, but saw her journey remaining unfinished due to the coronavirus pandemic after the contest’s unprecedent cancellation .