Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004

Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul, Turkey, with the song "The Image of You" performed by Anjeza Shahini. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2003. This marked the first time that Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. The nation was drawn to compete in the semi-final of the contest, which took place on 12 May 2004. Performing as number 13, it was announced among the top 10 entries of the semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the final. In the final on 15 May, Albania performed as number nine and placed seventh out of the 24 participating countries, scoring 106 points.

Eurovision Song Contest 2004
Country Albania
National selection
Selection processFestivali i Këngës 42
Selection date(s)Semi-finals:
18 December 2003
19 December 2003
Final:
20 December 2003
Selected entrantAnjeza Shahini
Selected song"The Image of You"
Finals performance
Semi-final resultQualified (4th, 167 points)
Final result7th, 106 points
Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
2004 • 2005►

Background
Main article: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced in 2003 that Albania would debut at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004.[1] The nation had previously planned to debut at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003, however, the nation was unable to take part that year after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided that too many countries would be relegated from participation in 2003 if the country took part.[2] The country's national broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), chose the annual competition Festivali i Këngës as the selection method to determine Albania's representative for the contest.[3]

Before Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës

RTSH organised the 42nd edition of Festivali i Këngës to determine Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2004.[4][5] The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 18 and 19 December, respectively, and the grand final on 20 December 2003.[4][5] The three live shows were hosted by Albanian singer Ledina Çelo and presenter Adi Krasta.[5]

Competing entries
Participants[5]
Artist(s) Song
Andi Kongo "Sikur të rroja sa kjo botë"
Anila Jonuzi "E kam një sekret"
Anisa Dervina "Sytë e zemrës"
Anjeza Shahini "Imazhi yt"
Arbër Arapi "Bota ime"
Arjan Hasanbelliu "Nata"
Aurel Thëllimi "Dashuri dhe lojë"
Bashkim Rodoni "Rritu pa mbarim"
Edmond Mancaku "Trill vjeshte"
Elvana Gjata "Pranë teje"
Eneda Tarifa "Qëndroj"
Erida Rexhepi "Kthehu"
Ermiona Lekbello "Ç'punë ke ti me dashurinë"
Evis Mula "E dashuruar"
Fazile Syla "Jeto jetën tënde"
Françesk Radi "Syri i saj po më verbon"
Gjergj Jorgaqi "Dua dhe s'dua"
Klajdi Musabelliu "Një shpresë për jetën time"
Kozma Dushi "E nesërmja tjetër kujt i takon"
Kujtim Prodani "Ju të dashurat e mia"
Mariza Ikonomi "Mbi urë"
Orges Toçi "Eja"
Rijet Pirani "Ike"
Rosela Gjylbegu "Hirushja"
Rovena Dilo "Njëmijë zemra"
Rudi and Ingrid Jushi "Me ty"
Saimir Braho "Fjala"
Saimir Çili "Sa herë vjen pranvera"
Voltan Prodani "Kthehu dhe kujtohu"
Semi-finals

The semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës took place on 18 December and 19 December 2003, respectively.[6] 14 contestants participated in the first semi-final and 15 in the second semi-final, with the highlighted ones progressing to the grand final.[6]

Final

The grand final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 20 December 2003.[7] The results of the competition were determined by a 50/50 combination of votes from a jury panel and a public televote.[7] Anjeza Shahini emerged as the winner with "Imazhi yt" and was simultaneously announced as Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2004.[7]

Key:   Winner   Second place   Third place

Final–20 December 2003[7]
Draw Artist Song
1 Arbër Arapi "Bota ime"
2 Kujtim Prodani "Ju të dashurat e mia"
3 Anisa Dervina "Sytë e zemrës"
4 Françesk Radi "Syri i saj po më verbon"
5 Rudi and Ingrid Jushi "Me ty"
6 Edmond Mancaku "Trill vjeshte"
7 Evis Mula "E dashuruar"
8 Kozma Dushi "E nesërmja tjetër kujt i takon"
9 Klajdi Musabelliu "Një shpresë për jetën time"
10 Rovena Dilo "Njëmijë zemra"
11 Mariza Ikonomi "Mbi urë"
12 Anjeza Shahini "Imazhi yt"
13 Eneda Tarifa "Qëndroj"
14 Rosela Gjylbegu "Hirushja"
15 Ermiona Lekbello "Ç'punë ke ti me dashurinë"
16 Orges Toçe "Eja"
17 Voltan Prodani "Kthehu dhe kujto"
18 Andi Kongo "Sikur të rroja sa kjo botë"

At Eurovision
Anjeza Shahini performing during the grand-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 took place at Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul, Turkey, and consisted of a semi-final on 12 May and the grand final on 15 May 2004.[8] For the first time, a semi-final round was introduced in order to accommodate the influx of nations that wanted to compete in the contest.[9] According to the Eurovision rules, all participating countries, except the host nation and the "Big Four", consisting of France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, were required to qualify from the semi-final to compete for the final, although the top 10 countries from the semi-final progress to the final.[10] A debuting country, Albania was set to compete in the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 at position 13, following Lithuania and preceding Cyprus.[11][12][13] At the end of the show, the nation was announced among the top 10 entries of the semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the grand final of the contest.[14] In the grand final, it was announced that it would be performing ninth, following Germany and preceding Ukraine.[15]

Voting

The tables below visualise a breakdown of points awarded to Albania in the semi-final and grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, as well as by the nation on both occasions. In the semi-final, the nation finished in fourth place with a total of 167 points, including 12 from Macedonia and 10 from Switzerland.[16] In the grand final, Albania finished in seventh position, being awarded a total of 106 points, including 12 points from Macedonia and 10 points from both Greece and Malta.[17] The nation awarded its 12 points to Greece in both the semi-final and final of the contest.[16][17]

Points awarded to Albania

Points awarded by Albania

References
  1. Bakker, Sietse (15 October 2003). "38 countries participate in Eurovision 2004". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  2. Bakker, Sietse (27 November 2002). "No new countries at next Eurovision Song Contest". ESCToday. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  3. "All about Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 14 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  4. Bakker, Sietse (17 December 2003). "Albanian national final this Saturday". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  5. "Albania: Festivali i Këngës #42". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  6. Rau, Oliver (19 December 2004). "Albanian semifinals finished". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  7. Rau, Oliver (21 December 2004). "Anjeza Shahini wins Albanian final". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  8. "Eurovision Song Contest–Istanbul 2004". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  9. "Eurovision Song Contest 60th Anniversary Press Pack" (PDF). European Broadcasting Union (EBU). p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  10. Eurovision Song Contest 2004. Istanbul, Turkey: European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 12–15 May 2004.
  11. Baransi, Fouad (11 June 2020). "Throwback To Istanbul – Eurovision 2004". ESC Bubble. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  12. "Eurovision Song Contest–Istanbul 2004 Semi-Final". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  13. Bakker, Sietse (23 March 2004). "Eurovision 2004: this is the running order!". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  14. "Semi-Final of Istanbul 2004". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  15. "Grand Final of Istanbul 2004". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  16. "Results of the Semi-Final of Istanbul 2004". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  17. "Results of the Grand Final of Istanbul 2004". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
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