Tonight: Festival i Këngës 59 kicks off with the first show
The Albanian national selection kicks off tonight with the first show of Festival i Këngës 59 that will select the nation’s representative at Eurovision 2021.
National selection sesaon opens with the first national final taking place in Albania, as the first show of the iconic festival Festival i Këngës, 3 shows of which will take place on December 21, 22 and the final on December 23. The music event will be hosted by Blendi Salaj and Jonida Vokshi and will be directed by Martin Leka. All three shows will ufold in an open air venue, namely next to the Italia Square in Tirana due to the COVID-19 restrictions in the country.
A total of 25 act will perform in this year’s national selection. During this evening’s show the contestants will perform the studio version of their entries showcasing their Eurovision 2021 staging proposals. The 25 acts that will take the stage tonight are:
- Devis Xherahu – Peng
- Orgesa Zaimi – Valixhja e kujtimeve
- Festina Mejzini – Kush je ti dashuri
- Franc Koruni – E morën botën
- Inis Neziri – Pendesë
- Sardi Strugaj – Kam me t’ba me kajt
- Gjergj Kaçinari – Më jep jetë
- Durim Morina (Mirudi) – Nëse vdes
- Evi Reçi – Tjerr
- Rosela Gjylbegu – Vashëzo
- Klevis Bega (Kastro Ziso) – Vallja e jetës
- Klint Çollaku – Do t’ja dal
- Anxhela Peristeri – Karma
- Wendi Mancaku – Vesi i shpirti tim
- Fatos Shabani – Ty
- Florent Abrashi – Vajzë
- Enxhi Nasufi – Njësoj
- Kamela Islamaj – Kujtimet s’kanë formë
- Era Rusi – Zjarri im
- Erikson Lloshi – Jo
- Xhesika Polo – Më mbron
- Giliola Haveriku – E lirë
- Viktor Tahiraj – Nënë
- Agim Poshka – Vendi im
- Stefan Marena – Meteor
The show will hit our screens at 20:30 CET and you can watch it on:
- RTSH 1
- RTSH HD
- RTHS 1 webcast
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 .