Festivali i Këngës 62
Festivali i Këngës 2023 is set to be the 62nd edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës, organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). It will be held in December 2023 at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana,[3] and it will be hosted by Arbana Osmani.[2] The winner of the competition will go on to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.[4][5]
| Festivali i Këngës 2023 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dates | |
| Semi-final 1 | 19 December 2023 (TBC) |
| Semi-final 2 | 20 December 2023 (TBC) |
| Semi-final 3 | 21 December 2023 (TBC) |
| Final | 22 December 2023 (TBC)[1] |
| Host | |
| Venue | Palace of Congresses Tirana, Albania |
| Presenter(s) | Arbana Osmani[2] |
| Musical director | Eduart Grishaj[2] |
| Artistic director | Bojken Lako |
| Host broadcaster | Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) |
| Participants | |
| Number of entries | 31 |
| Vote | |
| Voting system | Jury vote and televote |
Format
Voting structure
After the introduction of the televote in the previous edition, which constituted a separate selection from the jury vote, the 62nd edition of Festivali i Këngës will see the two being combined in a 50/50 ratio to determine a single winner, who will go on to represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest.[4] The artistic director, Bojken Lako, discussed the possibility of changing the public/jury vote ratio to 60/40.[6]
Contestants
RTSH opened an application period for artists and composers interested in participating in the 62nd Festivali i Këngës on 1 September 2023,[5][7] later setting a deadline of 10 October 2023.[8][9] At the closing of the submission period, over 80 entries had been received.[10][11] Despite the initial plan to select 14 established artists and 13 newcomers,[4] a total of 31 artists appeared on the list of selected competing acts, which was published on 17 October.[12][13]
For the first time, the selection panel was only informed of the identities of the applicants after the process, in order to secure a fairer outcome; it was also the first time that two poets formed part of the panel.[14]
Among the selected artists are Elsa Lila, who won the 1996, 1997 and 2022 festivals; and Kejsi Tola, who won the 2008 festival and represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009.
| Artist(s) | Song | Songwriter(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Andi Tanko | "Herë pas here" | Andi Tanko |
| Anduel Kovaci | "Nan'" | Anduel Kovaci |
| Arsi Bako | "Zgjohu" |
|
| Besa Kokëdhima | "Zemrën n'dorë" |
|
| Besa Krasniqi | "Esenciale" | Besa Krasniqi |
| Big Basta and Vesa Luma | "Mbinatyrale" |
|
| Bledi Kaso | "Çdo gjë mbaroi" |
|
| Eldis Arrnjeti | "Një kujtim" |
|
| Elsa Lila | "Mars" | Elsa Lila |
| Erina and The Elementals | "Jetën n'skaj" |
|
| Festina Mejzini | "Melos" | Sokol Marsi |
| Jasmina Hako | "Ti" |
|
| Jehona Ponari | "Evol" | Jehona Ponari |
| Kastro Zizo | "2073" |
|
| Kejsi Tola | "Vallëzoj me dritën" |
|
| Kleansa Susaj | "Pikturë" |
|
| Luan Durmishi | "Përsëritja" |
|
| Mal Retkoceri | "Çmendur" | Mal Retkoceri |
| Martina Serreqi | "Vetëm ty" |
|
| Melodajn Mancaku | "Nuk jemi ne" |
|
| Michela Paluca | "Për veten" | Enis Mullaj |
| Olimpia Smajlaj | "Asaj" |
|
| Olsi Ballta | "Unë" | Bledar Gramo |
| Samanta Karavella | "N'majë" |
|
| Santino De Bartolo | "Dua të rri me ty" | Santino De Bartolo |
| Sardi Strugaj | "Boshatisur" | Sardi Strugaj |
| Sergio Hajdini | "Uragan" | Sergio Hajdini |
| Shpat Deda | "S'mund t'fitoj pa ty" | Shpat Deda |
| Stivi Ushe | "Askush si ty" |
|
| Tiri Gjoci | "Në ëndërr" |
|
| Troy Band | "Horizonti i ëndrrave" |
|
References
- Ntinos, Fotios (14 October 2023). "Albania: The potential dates of Festivali i Këngës 62!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
- Unterlechner, Sebastian (3 February 2023). "Arbana Osmani Confirmed As Host For The Next Two Editions Of Festivali I Këngës". ESCBubble. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- "Albania: 'Festivali i Këngës 62' lineup is announced". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- Ntinos, Fotios (9 October 2023). "Albania: A 50/50 combination of jury and public vote will decide the winner of Festivali i Këngës 62!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- Ibrayeva, Laura (1 September 2023). "Albania: RTSH Opens Submissions for Festivali i Këngës 62". Eurovoix. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- "Fest' 62 në RTSH, drejtori artistik Bojken Lako: Përzgjedhja ishte e drejtë, s'mbajtëm anë" [Fest 62 on RTSH, artistic director Bojken Lako: The selection was fair, we did not take sides]. RTSH Lajme (in Albanian). RTSH. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- Festivali i Këngës në RTSH [@festivali_kenges_rtsh] (1 September 2023). "Filluan aplikimet për FESTIVALIN E KËNGËS NË RTSH" [Applications for the FESTIVALI I KËNGËS of RTSH have begun] (in Albanian). Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Instagram.
- Festivali i Këngës në RTSH [@festivali_kenges_rtsh] (18 September 2023). "Afati i fundit për dorëzimin e këngëve në Festivalin e Këngës në Radio Televizionin Shqiptar, EDICIONI 62, është data: 10 TETOR 2023" [The deadline for submitting songs to the Festivali i Këngës on Radio Televizioni Shqiptar, EDITION 62, is the date: 10 OCTOBER] (in Albanian). Retrieved 19 September 2023 – via Instagram.
- van Dijk, Sem Anne (19 September 2023). "Albania: RTSH Announces Submissions Deadline for Festivali i Këngës 62". Eurovoix. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- Farren, Neil (12 October 2023). "Albania: More Than 80 Submissions for Festivali i Këngës 62". Eurovoix. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- Toroveci, Keti (12 October 2023). "Festivali i këngës në RTSH/ Mbyllen aplikimet, mbi 80 krijime nga të gjith" [Festivali i Këngës në RTSH/ Applications are closed, over 80 entries in total]. Festivali i Këngës (in Albanian). RTSH. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- "Festivali 62 i Këngës në RTSH, shpallen artistët pjesëmarrës në ngjarjen" [Festivali 62 i Këngës në RTSH, the artists participating in the event have bene announced]. RTSH Lajme (in Albanian). RTSH. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- Juhász, Ervin (17 October 2023). "Meet all the participants of the 62nd Festivali i Këngës!". ESCBubble. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
- Granger, Anthony (26 October 2023). "Albania: Song Selection Process Was Revamped For Festivali i Këngës 62". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
