🇦🇱 Albania: Public Will Select Entry for Eurovision 2023

For the first time the Albanian public alone will select the nations entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

RTSH has announced this morning that the Albanian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will be selected alone by public voting. This announcement means that Albanian representative will be selected by the public, while a jury will determine the results of Festivali i Këngës.

This replaces the previous methods used at Festivali i Këngës, where a jury alone or a jury in combination with a televote would select the winner of Festivali i Këngës, who would represent Albania at Eurovision. This year will also see three different prizes awarded by the jury:

• First, Second and Third in the jury vote
• First for young artists and alternative groups
• First for established artists

The full list of participants and songs in Festivali i Këngës 61 follows:

• 2 Farm – “Atomike” (Atomic)
• Alban Kondi & Lorela Karoshi – “Melodi” (Melody)
• Albina Kelmendi – “Duje” (Love it)
• Anduel Kovaçi – “Malli” (Yearning)
• Aris Bako – “Sonte dua të jem me ty” (Tonight I want to be with you)
• Melodajna Mancaku – “Gjysma e zemrës sime” (Half of my heart)
• Elisa Lila – “Evita”
• Enxhi Nasufi – “Burrë” (Man)
• Erma Mici – “Kozmosi i dashurisë” (The cosmos of love)
• Evi Reçi – “Ma kthe” (Give me back)
• Fabian Basha – “Një gotë” (A glass)
• Fifi (Filloreta Raçi) – “Stop”
• Franc Koruni – “Në pritje” (Pending)
• Genti Hoxha – “Ajër” (Air)
• Gjergj Kaçinari – “Dje” (Yesterday)
• Luna Causholli – “Jetën ta fal” (I give you my life)
• LYNX – “Nëse ke besim” (If you have faith)
• Manjola Nallbani – “Dua” (Love)
• Permit of Stay – “Fobia” (Phobias)
• Petrit Çarkaxhiu – “Emri yt mirësi” (Your name is good)
• Rezearta Smaja – “N’Eden” (In Eden)
• Rovena Dilo – “Motit” (Weather)
• Sara Kapo – “Para teje” (Before you)
• Serxhio Hajdini – “Vështirë” (Tough)
• Urban Band – “Në çdo hap” (At every step)
• Vanesa Soni – “Aroma jonë” (Our fragrence)

RTSH has not yet revealed when Festivali i Këngës 61 will be held. Traditionally the contest is held in mid-December.

Image source: EBU / Nathan Reinds | Source: RTSH