Festivali i Këngës 60 was the 60th edition of the annual Albanian music competition Festivali i Këngës. It was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania, and consisted of two semi-finals on 27 and 28 December, respectively, and the final on 29 December 2021. The three live shows were directed by Redi Treni and hosted by Ardit Gjebrea, Isli Islami, Jonida Maliqi, Kelvi Kadilli and Xhemi Shehu. Ronela Hajati with the song "Sekret" emerged as the winner of the contest and represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy.
| Festivali i Këngës 2021 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dates | |
| Semi-final 1 | 27 December 2021 (Contestants night) |
| Semi-final 2 | 28 December 2021 (Duet night) |
| Final | 29 December 2021 (Eurovision night) |
| Host | |
| Venue | Palace of Congresses, Tirana |
| Presenter(s) |
|
| Host broadcaster | Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) |
| Participants | |
| Number of entries | 20 |
| Vote | |
| Voting system | Jury |
| Winning song | "Sekret" by Ronela Hajati |
Format
editThe 60th edition of Festivali i Këngës was organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in order to determine Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy.[1][2] The contest consisted of two semi-finals on 27 and 28 December and the grand final on 29 December 2021.[1][3] The three live shows were hosted by Albanian presenters Ardit Gjebrea, Isli Islami, Kelvi Kadilli, Xhemi Shehu and singer Jonida Maliqi.[1][4] In contrast to the prior year's outdoor location due to the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, the contest was again held as per tradition at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania.[5]
Contestants
editRTSH opened an application period for interested artists and composers to submit their applications between 2 July and 30 September 2021 to the broadcaster before extending it to 15 October.[6][7][8] A provisory list of 20 artists followed on 9 November 2021, shortlisted by a jury panel consisting of Gjebrea, Arta Marku, Elton Deda, Klodian Qafoku, Marjan Deda, Redi Treni and Zefina Hasani to compete in the semi-finals of the contest.[9][10] Their songs were made available to listen to on the RTSH's official YouTube channel on 3 December 2021.[11]
| Artist | Song | Composer(s) | Lyricist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alban Ramosaj | "Theje" | Marko Polo | Alban Ramosaj |
| Denis Skura | "Pse nuk flet, mama?" | Petrit Sinameti | |
| Endri and Stefi Prifti | "Triumfi i jetës" | Jetmir Barbullushi | Zhuliana Jorganxhi |
| Evi Reçi | "Më duaj" | Flamur Shehu | Zhuliana Jorganxhi |
| Gjergj Kaçinari | "Në ëndërr mbete ti" | Gjergj Kaçinari | |
| Janex | "Deluzional" | Janex | |
| Kastro Zizo | "Kujë" | Kastro Zizo | |
| Kelly | "Meteor" | Kelly | |
| Mirud | "Për dreq" | Kledi Bahiti | Mirud |
| Rezarta Smaja | "E jemja nuse" | Shkodra Elektronike | |
| Ronela Hajati | "Sekret" | Marko Polo, Ronela Hajati | Ronela Hajati |
| Sajmir Çili | "Nën maskë" | Sajmir Çili | Pandi Laço |
| Shega | "Një" | Giorgio Fusco | |
| Urban Band | "Padrejtësi" | Urban Band | |
| Artist | Song | Composer(s) | Lyricist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eldis Arrnjeti | "Refuzoj" | Bujar Daci | Eldis Arrnjeti |
| Ester Zahiri | "Hiena" | Kledi Bahiti | |
| Kejsi Rustja | "Vallëzoj me ty" | Kejsi Rustja | |
| Olimpia Smajlaj | "Dua" | Genti Lako | Olimpia Smajlaj |
| Viola Xhemali | "Eja si erë" | Sokol Marsi | |
| Xhuli Pjetraj | "Baladë" | Enis Mullaj | Eriona Rushiti |
Shows
editContestants night
edit
The first show took place on 27 December 2021 at 21:00 (CET).[13][14] Three out of six contestants of the New artists section were selected by a seven-member jury panel, consisting of Anxhela Peristeri, Agim Doçi, Anxhela Faber, Osman Mula, Rozana Radi, Olsa Toqi and Olti Curri, to advance to the third show of the contest.[13][15] However, all 14 contestants of the Established artists section advanced to the third show with no qualifications taking place beforehand.[16]
Key: Qualifier
| Draw | Artist | Song |
|---|---|---|
1
|
Kelly | "Meteor" |
2
|
Mirud | "Për dreq" |
3
|
Urban Band | "Padrejtësi" |
4
|
Evi Reçi | "Më duaj" |
5
|
Kastro Zizo | "Kujë" |
6
|
Ester Zahiri | "Hiena" |
7
|
Viola Xhemali | "Eja si erë" |
8
|
Eldis Arrnjeti | "Refuzoj" |
9
|
Kejsi Rustja | "Vallëzoj me ty" |
10
|
Xhuli Pjetraj | "Baladë" |
11
|
Olimpia Smajlaj | "Dua" |
12
|
Shega | "Një" |
13
|
Gjergj Kaçinari | "Në ëndërr mbete ti" |
14
|
Denis Skura | "Pse nuk flet, mama?" |
15
|
Endri and Stefi Prifti | "Triumfi i jetës" |
16
|
Janex | "Deluzional" |
17
|
Ronela Hajati | "Sekret" |
18
|
Sajmir Çili | "Nën maskë" |
19
|
Rezarta Smaja | "E jemja nuse" |
20
|
Alban Ramosaj | "Theje" |
Duet night
editThe second show took place on 28 December 2021 at 21:00 (CET).[18][19] The contestants performed in a duet with previous personalities of Festivali i Këngës except the three newcomers, who presented acoustic versions of their songs.[20]
| Draw | Artist(s) | Song |
|---|---|---|
1
|
Evi Reçi and Liljana Kondakçi | "Më duaj" |
2
|
Denis Skura and Bashkim Alibali | "Pse nuk flet, mama?" |
3
|
Rezarta Smaja and Irma Libohova | "E jemja nuse" |
4
|
Ester Zahiri | "Hiena" |
5
|
Eldis Arrnjeti | "Refuzoj" |
6
|
Olimpia Smajlaj | "Dua" |
7
|
Alban Ramosaj and Gjergj Leka | "Theje" |
8
|
Janex and Pirro Çako | "Deluzional" |
9
|
Shega and Gili | "Një" |
10
|
Kastro Zizo and Justina Aliaj | "Kujë" |
11
|
Urban Band and Kozma Dushi | "Padrejtësi" |
12
|
Endri, Stefi Prifti and Myfarete Laze | "Triumfi i jetës" |
13
|
Mirud and Afërdita Zonja | "Për dreq" |
14
|
Ronela Hajati and Sabri Fejzullahu | "Sekret" |
15
|
Gjergj Kaçinari and Mihrije Braha | "Në ëndërr mbete ti" |
16
|
Kelly and Aleksandër Gjoka | "Meteor" |
17
|
Sajmir Çili and Luan Zhegu | "Nën maskë" |
Eurovision night
editThe third show took place on 29 December 2021 at 21:00 (CET).[22][23] For the first time, the contestants were permitted to perform in English or any other language.[24] The winner of the contest was determined by the combination of the votes by the seven-member jury panel of the first show of the contest.[13] Ronela Hajati with the song "Sekret" emerged as the winner and was thus announced as Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.[25][26]
Key: Winner Second place Third place
| Draw | Artist | Song |
|---|---|---|
1
|
Olimpia Smajlaj | "Dua" |
2
|
Denis Skura | "Pse nuk flet, mama?" |
3
|
Kelly | "Meteor" |
4
|
Sajmir Çili | "Nën maskë" |
5
|
Ester Zahiri | "Hiena" |
6
|
Kastro Zizo | "Kujë" |
7
|
Urban Band | "Padrejtësi" |
8
|
Gjergj Kaçinari | "Në ëndërr mbete ti" |
9
|
Evi Reçi | "Më duaj" |
10
|
Mirud | "Për dreq" |
11
|
Endri and Stefi Prifti | "Triumfi i jetës" |
12
|
Ronela Hajati | "Sekret" |
13
|
Shega | "Një" |
14
|
Janex | "Deluzional" |
15
|
Alban Ramosaj | "Theje" |
16
|
Eldis Arrnjeti | "Refuzoj" |
17
|
Rezarta Smaja | "E jemja nuse" |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Festivali i Këngës, ëndrra e çdo artisti në edicionin jubilar të 60-të" (in Albanian). RTSH. 20 December 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ Granger, Anthony (29 December 2021). "Tonight: Albania Selects for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ Farren, Neil (4 November 2021). "Albania: Festivali i Këngës 60 Dates Revealed". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ "Festivali i Këngës, 20 garues për të përfaqësuar Shqipërinë në Eurovision" (in Albanian). Euronews Albania. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ Bird, Lisa (8 December 2021). "Festivali i Këngës 60 format and hosts confirmed". ESCXtra. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "Festivali i 60-të njofton fazën e përzgjedhjes" (in Albanian). RTSH. 2 July 2021. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ Tejeci, Erdi (5 July 2021). "Albania: RTSH opens song submissions for Festivali i Këngës 60". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ Granger, Anthony. "Today: Festivali i Këngës 60 & Junior Fest Submissions Close". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "Shpallet lista e këngëtarëve pjesëmarrës në Festivalin e 60-të" (in Albanian). RTSH. 9 November 2021. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ "Albania: anunciados los participantes de la 60ª edición del Festivali I Këngës". ESCplus (in Spanish). 9 November 2021. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ a b c "Albania shares 'Festivali i Këngës' songs". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 3 December 2021. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ "À l'affiche cette semaine: Albanie 2022 – 60ème Festivali i Këngës" (in French). Eurovision-fr. 26 December 2021. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Fest 60' nis sonte nata e parë" (in Albanian). RTSH. 27 December 2021. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ Jiandani, Sanjay (Sergio) (27 December 2021). "Tonight: Festivali i Kenges 60 kicks off in Albania" (in Albanian). EscToday. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ Adams, William Lee (28 December 2021). "FiK 60: Three newcomers advance from Night 1 of Albania's Eurovision 2022 selection". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ Santos, Pedro (27 December 2021). "Albania 2022: 20 songs become 17 in Festivali i Këngës #60". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ Santos, Pedro (27 December 2021). "Albania 2022: 20 songs become 17 in Festivali i Këngës #60". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "Sonte, nata e dytë e Fest'60" (in Albanian). RTSH. 28 December 2021. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ Jiandani, Sanjay (Sergio) (28 December 2021). "Tonight: Festivali i Kenges 60 Show #2 in Albania". EscToday. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ Santos, Pedro (29 December 2021). "Albania 2022: The second night of Festivali i Këngës #60". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ Santos, Pedro (29 December 2021). "Albania 2022: The second night of Festivali i Këngës #60". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "Fest' 60 – sonte nata finale e Festivalit të Këngës në RTSH" (in Albanian). RTSH. 29 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ Jiandani, Sanjay (Sergio) (29 December 2021). "Tonight: Festivali i Kenges 60 Grand Final in Albania". EscToday. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ Vautrey, Jonathan (29 December 2021). "Albania: Ronela Hajati wins Festivali i Këngës 60 and will sing 'Sekret' at Eurovision 2022". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ "The 'Sekret' is out: Ronela Hajati will represent Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 29 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ "Ronela Hajati fiton vendin e parë në Festivalin e Këngës" (in Albanian). RTSH. 29 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ Santos, Pedro (29 December 2021). "Albania: Ronela Hajati wins ticket to Eurovision 2022 with 'Sekret'". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.