Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014

Eurovision Song Contest 2014
Eurovision Song Contest 2014
Country	Albania
National selection
Selection process	Festivali i Këngës 52
Selection date(s)	Semi-finals:; 26 December 2013; 27 December 2013; Final:; 28 December 2013
Selected entrant	Hersi
Selected song	"One Night's Anger"
Selected songwriter(s)	Genti Lako; Jorgo Papingji;
Finals performance
Semi-final result	Failed to qualify (15th, 22 points)
Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest

Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the song "One Night's Anger" performed by Hersi. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2013. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest ten times since its first entry in 2004.

Background

Prior to the 2014 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest ten times since its first entry in 2004.[1] The country's highest placing in the contest, to this point, had been the fifth place, which it achieved in 2012 with the song "Suus" performed by Rona Nishliu.[1] The first entry was performed by Anjeza Shahini with the song "The Image of You" and finished in the seventh place, the nation's second-highest placing to date.[1] During its tenure in the contest, Albania failed to qualify for the final four times, with the 2013 entry being the most recent non-qualifier.[1]

Before Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës

Festivali i Këngës 52 was the 52nd annual edition of the Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës and the eleventh time the competition was used to determine the artist and song that would represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest, this time selecting their 2014 contest entry. The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 26 and 27 December 2013 and a final on 28 December 2013, held at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana.[2][3] Enkel Demi hosted all three shows with Xhesika Berberi and Marinela Meta co-hosting the two semi-finals and Klea Huta co-hosting the final.[4]

The two semi-finals each featured eight artists performing their competing entries a duet of a past competing entry from Festivali i Këngës with another Albanian artist.[5] In the final, the sixteen competing entries were voted upon by a jury panel in order to select the winner. The seven-person jury panel consisted of:[6]

Agim Krajka – composer
Aleksandër Lalo – composer
Haig Zacharian – composer
Xhevahir Spahiu – writer
Petrit Malaj – actor
Eriona Rushiti – musicologist
Bojken Lako – singer

Competing entries

RTSH invited interested artists and composers to submit their entries on 8, 9 and 22 October 2013.[7] The broadcaster received approximately 40 submissions. On 4 November 2013, RTSH announced the sixteen artists and songs selected for the competition by a special committee.[8] One entry was later withdrawn: "Jeta në orën 4" performed by Orges Toçe. "Jehona" performed by NA was named as the replacement entry.

Key: Withdrawn Replacement entry

Competing entries
Artist(s)	Song	Songwriter(s)
Besiana Mehmeti and Shkodran Tolaj	"Jam larg"	Vullnet Ibrahimi
Blerina Braka	"Mikja ime"	Gramoz Kozeli
Edmond Mancaku and Entela Zhula	"Vetëm për ty"	Edmond Mancaku Alma Meraj
Frederik Ndoci	"Një ditë shprese"	Frederik Ndoci Agim Doçi
Hersiana Matmuja	"Zemërimi i një nate"	Genti Lako Jorgo Papingji
Klodian Kaçani	"Me ty"	Klodian Qafoku Florian Zyka
Luiz Ejlli	"Kthehu"	Marjan Deda Sokol Marsi
Lynx	"Princesha"	Lynx
Marjeta Billo	"Ti mungon"	Lambert Jorganxhi Florian Zyka
NA	"Jehona"	Enis Mullaj
Orges Toçe	"Ne mes"	Orges Toçe
Renis Gjoka	"Mjegulla"	Renis Gjoka Edmond Tupe
Rezarta Smaja	"Në zemër"	Sokol Marsi
Sajmir Braho	"Grua"	Endri Sina Sajmir Braho
Venera Lumani and Lindi Islami	"Natë e pare"	Endrit Shani Olti Curri
Xhejn and Enxhi Kumrija	"Kur qielli qan"	Xhejn Kumrija Enxhi Kumrija
Xhejsi Jorgaqi	"Ëndërrat janë ëndërra"	Xhejsi Jorgaqi

Semi-finals

The first semi-final took place on 26 December 2013. The interval acts for the first semi-final included 2013 Albanian Eurovision Song Contest entrants Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko. The second semi-final took place on 27 December 2013. The interval act for the second semi-final included the RTSH orchestra performing the Festivali I Këngës 1 winning song "Fëmija i parë".

Semi-final 1 – 26 December 2013
Draw	Contest Entry		Duet
Draw	Artist	Song	Duet Partner	Song (original artists)[9]
1	Luiz Ejlli	"Kthehu"	Mira Konçi	"I thuaj jo" (Ardit Gjebrea)
2	Rezarta Smaja	"Në zemër"	Elton Deda	"Vjeshta" (Redon Makashi)
3	Edmond Mancaku and Entela Zhula	"Vetëm për ty"	Altin Goci	"S’ma njohe zemrën" (Bashkim Alibali)
4	Venera Lumani and Lindi Islami	"Natë e pare"	Olta Boka	"Jeta nuk është lodër" (Arbërie Hadërgjonaj)
5	Xhejn and Enxhi Kumrija	"Kur qielli qan"	Redon Makashi	"Shi bie në Tiranë" (Fitnete Tuda and Vlera Kastrati)
6	Renis Gjoka	"Mjegulla"	Kejsi Tola	"Më dhe dritë nga syri yt" (Irma Libohova)
7	Blerina Braka	"Mikja ime"	Kamela Islamaj	"Zhgënjimi" (Alma Bektashi)
8	Hersiana Matmuja	"Zemërimi i një nate"	Endri and Stefi Prifti	"Ma ke prish gjumin e natës" (Sabri Fejzullahu and Ledina Çelo)

Semi-final 2 – 27 December 2013
Draw	Contest Entry		Duet
Draw	Artist	Song	Duet Partner	Song (original artists)[10]
1	NA	"Jehona"	Kozma Dushi	"Gjeologës" (Redon Makashi)
2	Marjeta Billo	"Ti mungon"	Juliana Pasha	"Dashuria e parë" (Anita Bitri)
3	Xhejsi Jorgaqi	"Ëndërrat janë ëndërra"	Eranda Libohova	"Gezimin njerzve u a shtoj" (Liljana Kondakçi)
4	Klodian Kaçani	"Me ty"	Rovena Dilo	"Rrjedh në këngë e ligjërime" (Vaçe Zela)
5	Frederik Ndoci	"Një ditë shprese"	Irma Libohova	"Shqipëri o vendi im" (Avni Mula/Ema Qazimi)
6	Besiana Mehmeti and Shkodran Tolaj	"Jam larg"	Myfarete Laze	"A do të vish (Alo, Alo, Alo)" (Luan Zhegu)
7	Sajmir Braho	"Grua"	Flaka Krelani	"Ecën në shi" (Aleksandër Gjoka)
8	Lynx	"Princesha"	Eneda Tarifa	"Jemi emri i vetë jetes" (Tingulli i Zjarrtë)

Final

The final took place on 28 December 2013. Sixteen entries competed. At the conclusion of the show, as voted upon by a seven-member jury panel who each awarded points from 1 to 8, 10 and 12 to their top ten songs, "Zemërimi i një nate" performed by Hersiana Matmuja was selected as the winner.[11] The interval acts for the final included Eurovision Song Contest 2013 winner Emmelie de Forest and The Voice of Italy winner Elhaida Dani.[12]

Final – 28 December 2013
Draw	Artist	Song	Points	Place
1	Hersiana Matmuja	"Zemërimi i një nate"	69	1
2	Besiana Mehmeti and Shkodran Tolaj	"Jam larg"	12	13
3	Luiz Ejlli	"Kthehu"	20	10
4	Frederik Ndoci	"Një ditë shprese"	33	5
5	NA	"Jehona"	25	7
6	Klodian Kaçani	"Me ty"	45	2
7	Venera Lumani and Lindi Islami	"Natë e pare"	37	4
8	Blerina Braka	"Mikja ime"	16	12
9	Xhejsi Jorgaqi	"Ëndërrat janë ëndërra"	0	16
10	Xhejn and Enxhi Kumrija	"Kur qielli qan"	28	6
11	Lynx	"Princesha"	6	15
12	Marjeta Billo	"Ti mungon"	18	11
13	Sajmir Braho	"Grua"	40	3
14	Rezarta Smaja	"Në zemër"	25	7
15	Edmond Mancaku and Entela Zhula	"Vetëm për ty"	10	14
16	Renis Gjoka	"Mjegulla"	22	9

Detailed Jury Votes
Draw	Song	A. Krajka	A. Lalo	H. Zacharian	X. Spahiu	P. Malaj	E. Rushiti	B. Lako	Total
1	"Zemërimi i një nate"	8	12	7	12	10	8	12	69
2	"Jam larg"		2		5		1	4	12
3	"Kthehu"			5	8	5	2		20
4	"Një ditë shprese"	5	8	8		7	4	1	33
5	"Jehona"				1	2	12	10	25
6	"Me ty"	7	6	12		12		8	45
7	"Natë e pare"	10	10	3		4	10		37
8	"Mikja ime"	6			10				16
9	"Ëndërrat janë ëndërra"								0
10	"Kur qielli qan"	4	4		6		7	7	28
11	"Princesha"			1		3		2	6
12	"Ti mungon"	3		4	2	6		3	18
13	"Grua"		5	10	7	8	5	5	40
14	"Në zemër"	12	7	6					25
15	"Vetëm për ty"	2	1		4		3		10
16	"Mjegulla"	1	3	2	3	1	6	6	22

At Eurovision

Hersi performing during the dress rehearsal of the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2014 took place at B&W Hallerne in Copenhagen, Denmark, and consisted of two semi-finals held on 6 and 8 May, respectively, and the grand final on 10 May 2014.[13] According to the Eurovision rules, all participating countries, apart from the host nation and the "Big Five", consisting of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, were required to qualify from one of the two semi-finals to compete for the final, although the top 10 countries from the respective semi-final progress to the grand final.[14]

On 20 January 2014, a special allocation draw was held at the Copenhagen City Hall in Copenhagen that placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in.[15] Albania was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 6 May, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.[15] Once all the competing songs for the contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the producers of the contest rather than through another draw, for preventing similar songs being placed next to each other; Albania was set to perform in position 6, following Iceland and preceding Russia.[16] At the end of the first semi-final, the country was not announced among the top 10 entries and therefore failed to qualify for the final, marking Albania's fifth non-qualification in the Eurovision Song Contest.[1][17]

Voting

The tables below visualise a breakdown of points awarded to Albania in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, as well as by the country for both the first semi-final and grand final. The points awarded by Albania in both the first semi-final and the final were based on 100% jury voting due to either technical issues with the televoting or an insufficient number of valid votes cast during the televote period.

Points awarded to Albania

Points awarded to Albania (Semi-final 1)[18]
Score	Country
12 points	Montenegro
10 points
8 points
7 points
6 points
5 points	San Marino
4 points
3 points
2 points	Belgium Denmark
1 point	Netherlands

Points awarded by Albania

Points awarded by Albania (Semi-final 1)[18]
Score	Country
12 points	Montenegro
10 points	Hungary
8 points	San Marino
7 points	Azerbaijan
6 points	Sweden
5 points	Armenia
4 points	Moldova
3 points	Ukraine
2 points	Netherlands
1 point	Portugal

Points awarded by Albania (Final)[19]
Score	Country
12 points	Spain
10 points	Italy
8 points	Hungary
7 points	Sweden
6 points	Montenegro
5 points	Austria
4 points	Germany
3 points	San Marino
2 points	Greece
1 point	Malta

Detailed voting results

The following members comprised the Albanian jury:[20]

Edmond Zhulali (jury chairperson) – composer/producer
Alfred Kacinari – composer/producer
Jetmir Barbullushi – composer, conductor, musician
Mira Tuci – journalist for art and culture
Engjëll Ndocaj – journalist, producer, director

Detailed voting results from Albania (Semi-final 1)[21]
Draw	Country	E. Zhulali	A. Kacinari	J. Barbullushi	M. Tuci	E. Ndocaj	Jury Rank	Points
01	Armenia	4	5	11	1	14	6	5
02	Latvia	12	10	10	15	10	13
03	Estonia	14	12	7	13	9	12
04	Sweden	3	4	5	5	7	5	6
05	Iceland	13	15	13	14	11	15
06	Albania
07	Russia	15	13	15	7	13	14
08	Azerbaijan	7	6	4	2	3	4	7
09	Ukraine	8	8	12	10	6	8	3
10	Belgium	10	14	8	9	12	11
11	Moldova	9	7	6	12	8	7	4
12	San Marino	6	3	3	8	2	3	8
13	Portugal	11	11	14	11	5	10	1
14	Netherlands	5	9	9	6	15	9	2
15	Montenegro	2	2	1	4	1	1	12
16	Hungary	1	1	2	3	4	2	10

Detailed voting results from Albania (Final)[22]
Draw	Country	E. Zhulali	A. Kacinari	J. Barbullushi	M. Tuci	E. Ndocaj	Jury Rank	Points
01	Ukraine	15	17	17	24	13	19
02	Belarus	18	8	26	25	22	23
03	Azerbaijan	12	14	16	7	26	15
04	Iceland	24	26	18	26	14	24
05	Norway	23	19	19	18	15	20
06	Romania	22	16	9	14	16	16
07	Armenia	9	13	20	6	25	13
08	Montenegro	6	10	5	5	3	5	6
09	Poland	14	18	21	23	23	22
10	Greece	3	22	15	15	2	9	2
11	Austria	11	6	4	4	6	6	5
12	Germany	7	2	8	8	17	7	4
13	Sweden	1	12	1	1	9	4	7
14	France	17	5	22	22	7	12
15	Russia	26	25	25	16	18	25
16	Italy	2	3	3	9	1	2	10
17	Slovenia	13	15	14	13	19	14
18	Finland	16	9	13	19	24	17
19	Spain	4	1	6	2	4	1	12
20	Switzerland	25	24	23	20	20	26
21	Hungary	5	4	2	3	5	3	8
22	Malta	8	23	7	17	8	10	1
23	Denmark	20	21	24	21	11	21
24	Netherlands	19	20	12	11	21	18
25	San Marino	10	11	10	10	10	8	3
26	United Kingdom	21	7	11	12	12	11

References

"Countries: Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
Brey, Marco (4 November 2013). "Albania: Dates and line-up for national selection confirmed". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
"Festivali i Këngës në RTSH, edicionin e 52-të vetëm 16 këngë konkurente" (in Albanian). Agjencia Kombëtare e Lajmeve NOA. 7 November 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
Sahiti, Gafurr (19 December 2013). "Albania: 3 new Festivali i Këngës hosts announced". Esctoday.com. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
Qendro, Helio (4 November 2013). "Albania: Dates change and 16 competing acts revealed". Esctoday.com. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
"Zbulohet juria dhe drejtuesit e festivalit të Këngës në RTSH" (in Albanian). Agjencia Kombëtare e Lajmeve NOA. 21 December 2013. Archived from the original on 23 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
Sahiti, Gafurr (14 September 2013). "Albania: RTSH calls for songs, deadline 9th of October". Esctoday. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
"Krijimet në konkurim" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar. 2013. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
"Nis edicioni i 52 i Festivalit të Këngës në RTSH, të gjitha këngët në garë!" (in Albanian). 77news.al. 26 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
"Sonte nata e parë e Festivalit në RTSH. Këngët dhe konkurrentët pjesëmarrës" (in Albanian). Republika. 26 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
Omelyanchuk, Olena (28 December 2013). "Hersi Matmuja wins Festivali i Këngës!". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
Mile, Alma (13 December 2013). "Fituesja e Eurosong 2013, kumbarja e Festivalit në RTSH" (in Albanian). Gazeta Panorama ONLINE. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
"Eurovision Song Contest–Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
"Eurovision Song Contest–Rules". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
Escudero, Victor M. (20 January 2014). "Allocation Draw results: Who's in which Semi-Final?". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
Siim, Jarmo (24 March 2014). "Running order for Eurovision Semi-Finals decided". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
"First Semi-Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
"Results of the First Semi-Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
"Results of the Grand Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
Brey, Marco (1 May 2014). "Who will be in the expert juries?". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
"Full Split Results | First Semi-Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
"Full Split Results | Grand Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2021.

External links

Festivali i Këngës Official Website

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[Profile:_Albania-1] "Countries: Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.

[ALB1-2] Brey, Marco (4 November 2013). "Albania: Dates and line-up for national selection confirmed". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 5 November 2013.

[ALB3-3] "Festivali i Këngës në RTSH, edicionin e 52-të vetëm 16 këngë konkurente" (in Albanian). Agjencia Kombëtare e Lajmeve NOA. 7 November 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.

[4] Sahiti, Gafurr (19 December 2013). "Albania: 3 new Festivali i Këngës hosts announced". Esctoday.com. Retrieved 19 December 2013.

[ALB2-5] Qendro, Helio (4 November 2013). "Albania: Dates change and 16 competing acts revealed". Esctoday.com. Retrieved 5 November 2013.

[6] "Zbulohet juria dhe drejtuesit e festivalit të Këngës në RTSH" (in Albanian). Agjencia Kombëtare e Lajmeve NOA. 21 December 2013. Archived from the original on 23 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.

[7] Sahiti, Gafurr (14 September 2013). "Albania: RTSH calls for songs, deadline 9th of October". Esctoday. Retrieved 19 November 2020.

[8] "Krijimet në konkurim" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar. 2013. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.

[9] "Nis edicioni i 52 i Festivalit të Këngës në RTSH, të gjitha këngët në garë!" (in Albanian). 77news.al. 26 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.

[10] "Sonte nata e parë e Festivalit në RTSH. Këngët dhe konkurrentët pjesëmarrës" (in Albanian). Republika. 26 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.

[11] Omelyanchuk, Olena (28 December 2013). "Hersi Matmuja wins Festivali i Këngës!". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 28 December 2013.

[12] Mile, Alma (13 December 2013). "Fituesja e Eurosong 2013, kumbarja e Festivalit në RTSH" (in Albanian). Gazeta Panorama ONLINE. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.

[13] "Eurovision Song Contest–Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.

[Rules-14] "Eurovision Song Contest–Rules". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.

[Allocation_draw-15] Escudero, Victor M. (20 January 2014). "Allocation Draw results: Who's in which Semi-Final?". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2021.

[16] Siim, Jarmo (24 March 2014). "Running order for Eurovision Semi-Finals decided". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2021.

[17] "First Semi-Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.

[2014semi1-18] "Results of the First Semi-Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.

[2014final-19] "Results of the Grand Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.

[20] Brey, Marco (1 May 2014). "Who will be in the expert juries?". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 1 May 2014.

[2014detailedsemi1-21] "Full Split Results | First Semi-Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2021.

[2014detailedfinal-22] "Full Split Results | Grand Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2021.