Merry FiKmas everyone! National final season is well and truly underway. Following this weekend’s Vidbir, where Ukraine chose their entry for Eurovision 2023, we now come together for Festivali i Këngës as Albania celebrate their music scene and select their artist and song for Liverpool.
Festivali I Këngës: Night 3
26 artists are competing both to win Festivali i Këngës, and to become Albania’s next Eurovision representative. This year, in a change to the competition, Albania’s Eurovision act will be chosen through a public SMS vote, rather than being jury-selected.
Check out our previous nights’ recaps here!
Now that we’ve heard all our competing songs, tonight 16 of the competing artists took to the stage for covers night. Each performed a song from a previous edition of Festivali i Këngës. Here’s what we heard!
| Running Order | Artist | Song Title |
| 1 | Lynx & Aleksander Gjoka | “Ecèn Ne Shi” |
| 2 | Enxhi Nasufi & Edea Demaliaj | “Mos Qaj” |
| 3 | Evi Reçi & Irma Libohova | “Te Kerkoj” |
| 4 | Petrit Çarkaxhiu & Bojken Lako | “Asgje E Larget” |
| 5 | Rezarta Smaja & Luan Zhegu | “A Do Te Vish” |
| 6 | Sergio Hajdini & Kamela Islamaj | “Ne Ishim Tre” |
| 7 | Elsa Lila & Capital T | “Pyes Lotin” |
| 8 | Fabian Basha & Eranda Libohova | “Kthehu Për Vehte Pêr Mua” |
| 9 | Rovena Dilo & Soni Malaj | “Ante” |
| 10 | Franc Koruni & Altin Goci | “Enderroj” |
| 11 | Fifi & Flori Mumajesi | “Larg U Largova” |
| 12 | Albina Kelmendi & Josif Gjipali | “Na Lini Tè Jetojme” |
| 13 | Maniola Nallbani & Eneda Tarifa | “Kur E Humba Niè Dashuri” |
| 14 | 2 Farm & Redon Makashi | “Dikur Luaja Me Ndjenjen E Saj” |
| 15 | Alban Kondi & Lore & West Side Family | “Jehone” |
| 16 | Gjergj Kaçinari & Elhaida Dani | “Natën Vone” |
What else happened tonight?
In tonight’s show, RTSH opened the SMS vote, which will be used to select Albania’s Eurovision entry and representative for Eurovision 2023. All 26 of the competing artists in this year’s festival will have an equal footing and is still in the running to represent the country in Liverpool.
Tonight’s show also saw reigning Eurovision champions Kalush Orchestra perform a medley of their songs for the audience and viewers alike, including their Eurovision 2022 entry “Stefania”, which saw them recieve a standing ovation from the crowd.
Albania’s Eurovision Journey
In 2004, Albania made its debut into the Eurovision Song Contest with Anjeza Shahini with “Image of You” which managed to place 7th in the final. Since their debut, Albania has participated 18 times, and made the final 10 times, with their best result in 2012 where Rona Nishliu placed 5th with “Suus”. In 2022, Ronela Hajati represented Albania with “Sekret”. However, despite being a fan favorite, Albania did not manage to make the final, placing 12th with 58 points from both the juries and televoters.
Who gave your favourite performances tonight? Could any of these songs get Albania back to the Eurovision final? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok as we prepare for Eurovision 2023!
News Source: RTSH
Photo Credit RTSH
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