We at That Eurovision Site will be ranking national finals throughout this coming season. The next national final that the team have taken a closer look at is Festivali i Këngës 2024, which will take place between the 19th and 22nd of December. Festivali i Këngës 2024 will select the Eurovision representative for Albania in Basel.
Who is taking part in Festivali i Këngës 2024 ?
There are 30 songs taking part in Festivali i Këngës 2024 . The 30 artists taking part are as follows:
| Artist | Entry | Songwriter/s |
| Algert Sala | “Bosh” | Algert Sala |
| Alis Kallacej | “Mjegull” | Alis Kallacej, Alban Kondi |
| Ardit Çuni | “Amane” | Ardit Çuni, Stivi Ushe |
| Devis Xherahu | “Ka Momente” | Devis Xherahu, Ertemiona Mejdani, Marly & Santi |
| Detit | “Larg” | Timo Flloko, Valentin Markvukaj |
| Elvana Gjata | “Karnaval” | Elvana Gjata, Lira Blakaj |
| Endrik Beba | “Ishe Ti” | Endrik Beba |
| Epos | “Kurajo Dhe Zjarr” | Algert Kashari |
| Erma Mici | “Mbaje” | Kledi Bahiti, Erma Mici & Rozana Radi |
| Frensi Revania | “Rreziko” | Frensi Revania, Alban Male |
| Gjergj Kaçinari | “Larg Jetës Pa Ty” | Gjergj Kaçinari |
| Gresa Gjocera | “E Vërteta” | Gresa Gjocera & Endrit Shani |
| Jet | “Gjallë” | Elios Shuli & Inis Neziri |
| Kejsi Jazxhi | “Kur Bota Hesht” | Sardi Strugaj & Briz Musaraj |
| Kleansa Susaj | “Ta Dija” | Pejana Elezi, Kledi Bahiti & Kleansa Susaj |
| Klea Dina | “Dashuri Ndiej” | Drenusha Zajmi, Klea Dina & Agron Dina |
| Laorjan Ejlli and Adelina Corraj | “A Thu!” | Melita Vjerdha & Laorjan Ejlli |
| Lorenc Hasrama | “Frymë” | Petro Xhori |
| Luna Çausholli | “Qiell Apo Ferr” | Ermira Çausholli & Luna Çausholli |
| Mal | “Antihero” | Mal Retkoceri |
| Martina Serreqi | “Nëse Qaj” | Sardi Strugaj |
| Mihallaq Andrea | “Porositë E Babait” | Ardiana Dragoj & Mihallaq Andrea |
| Nita Latifi | “Zemrës” | Nita Latifi & Lorenc Hasrama |
| Orgesa Zaimi | “I Parë” | Enis Mullaj & Eriona Rushiti |
| Rea Nuhu | “Sot” | Rea Nuhu |
| Ronaldo Mesuli | “N’zemër” | Ronaldo Mesuli |
| Santino de Bartolo | “Kur Nata Vjen Si Bora” | Santino de Bartolo |
| Shkodra Elektronike | “Zjerm” | Beatriçe Gjergji & Lekë Gjeloshi |
| Stine | “E Kishim Nis” | Stine |
| Vesa Smolica | “Lutem” | Eriona Rushiti |
Who are our favourites from Festivali i Këngës 2024?
We ranked the songs taking part in this heat of Eurosong, using a 1-30 ranking. 1 being our favourite, 30 being our least favourite song. We then calculated the average of all our rankings. Right below, you can see our top three for this selection.
3rd. Jet – “Gjallë” (5.0):
2nd. Elvana Gjata – “Karnaval” (3.25):
1st. Shkodra Elektronike – “Zjerm” (3.0):
What did some of our team members have to say about their favourite songs from XX 2024?
Molly (Gjallë): What makes this song a favourite for me is that it has this cinematic element to it that makes it sound like some sort of Anime opening. The way it builds up into the main part makes it sound so amazing and with good staging is could be a phenomenal performance to see from this artist. I hope that the live performance holds up to the song.
Kittens (Karnaval): It’s very rare for me that I can find something out of FiK to really enjoy, but boyyy does this one hit. This song feels like an obvious high scorer in Tirana despite the sometimes heavy handed production (but that’s easily fixed in an obvious revamp, because it’s Albania), and has wide commercial appeal without needing any particular extra explanation. If this gets through to Eurovision, I can see it doing quite well, with Elvana Gjata having quite the charisma and stage experience to add to the mix. All I ask is don’t screw it up on the revamp please
Rory (Zjerm): Albania has always been known to take the orchestral approach, with very little foray into other genres or styles. “Zjerm” completely changes that and offers a perfect blend between the orchestral and the electronic, with thumping drums, folk instruments and a hypnotising chorus sticks in the head without a doubt. It also lends itself to bombastic staging, which has worked well for RTSH in the past. One more benefit for this is that won’t have to be cut down to fit Eurovision requirements; Albania, save yourself the chaos and pick a song that is completely ready to go to Basel!
What is Festivali i Këngës?
Albania’s Festivali i Këngës long predates Albania’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Since 1962, Albanian musicians perform for the broadcast audience in December. At inception, Festivali i Këngës focused on “light music”, a populist kind of classical music. Following the end of a period of censorship in the 1970s and 80s, performers chose from a variety of genres, and love songs, political entries, and rock music became more common; starting in the 1990s, diasporia Albanian singers were also allowed to participate. The entries at FiK have since then often reflected political and social issues prevalent in Albania, such as the transition away from communism, the rash of pyramid schemes in the mid-1990s, and the fragmentation of family units. As of 2004, the winner of Festivali i Këngës gains first refusal to represent Albania at Eurovision; however, beginning in 2022, the jury winner is separate from the televote winner, the latter of whom gets to go to Eurovision.
Albania’s Eurovision Journey
In 2004, Albania made their debut into the Eurovision Song Contest with Anjeza Shahini with “Image of You”, which placed 7th in the final. Since their debut, Albania has participated 20 times, and made the final 10 times. They achieved their best result in 2012, where Rona Nishliu placed 5th with “Suus”.
Besa represented Albania in 2024 with the song “Titan”. “Titan” performed in the second semi-final, where it ultimately placed fifteenth out of sixteen, receiving 14 points from the televote.
Who would you like to see represent Albania in Basel? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky for all things Czechia at Eurovision 2024!
News Source: That Eurovision Site
Photo Credit: RTSH