🇦🇱 Albania: Song Selection Process Was Revamped For Festivali i Këngës 62

The Artistic Director for Festivali i Këngës 62 has revealed that the song selection process was revamped for this year’s contest.

Speaking to RTSH, Bojken Lako has revealed that the song selection process for this year’s edition of Festivali i Këngës was revamped. As announced last week, the 31 entries were selected blindly without the jury knowing the singers associated with the songs. Mr Lako explained:

“This is the innovation of this year. In consultation, the members of the acceptance committee listened to the songs, the materials in the competition with numbers and not with the names of the singers, in order to be free in the selection. Another innovation: we had two poets for the texts as members of the commission. We want to improve the level of music,”

Mr Lako is positive about the songs that are in this years edition of Festivali i Këngës:

“We have a big space for new artists, music groups, different currents, a beautiful panorama of Albanian music, preserving the tradition and proposing new music, giving more value to the music scene,”

The competing entries in Festivali i Këngës 62 are:

• Besa Krasniqi – “Esenciale” (Essential)
• Eldis Arnjeti – “Një kujtim” (A memory)
• Elsa Lila – “Mars”
• Erina & The Elementals – “Jetën n’Skaj” (Life on the edge)
• Jasmina Hako – “Ti” (You)
• Jehona Ponari – “Evol” (Evolve)
• Olimpia Smajlaj – “Asaj” (Her)
• Sergio Hajdini – “Uragan” (Hurricane)
• Shpat Deda – “S’mund të fitoj pa ty” (I can’t win without you)
• Tri Gjoci – “Në ëndërr” (In a dream)
• Martina Serreqi – “Vetëm ty” (Only you)
• Big Basta & Vesa Luma – “Mbinatyrale” (Supernatural)
• Festina Mejzini – “Melos”
• Mal Retkoceri – “Çmendur” (Crazy)
• Michela Paluca – “Për veten” (For myself)
• Santino De Bartolo – “Dua të rri me ty” (I want to stay with you)
• Stivi Ushe – “Askush si ty” (Nobody like you)
• Kleansa Susaj – “Pikturë” (Painting)
• Kejsi Tola – “Vallëzoj me Dritën” (I dance with the light)
• Kastro Zizo – “2073”
• Andi Tanko – “Herë pas here” (From time to time)
• Anduel Kovaci – “Nane’”
• Arsi Bako – “Zgjohu” (Wake up)
• Besa Kokëdhima – “Zemrën n’dorë” (Heart in hand)
• Bledi Kaso – “Çdo gjë mbaroi” (Everything is over)
• Melodajn Mancaku – “Nuk jemi ne” (It’s not us)
• Olsi Ballta – “Unë” (I)
• Troy Band – “Horizonti i ëndrrave” (The horizon of dreams)
• Samanta Karavello – “N’majë” (At the top)
• Luan Durmishi – “Përsëritja” (Repetition)
• Sardi Struga – “Boshatisur” (Empty)

Elsa Lila won Festivali i Këngës 61 but did not go to Eurovision as a separate public vote was used to decide the Eurovision representative. Kejsi Tola represented Albania in 2009 with “Carry Me in Your Dreams”.

Festivali i Këngës 62 will be held from December 19 to 22 in the Palace of Congresses in Tirana.

Albania was represented by Albina & Familjia Kelmendi with the song “Duje” at the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. They performed 14th in the second semi-final and qualified in 9th place with 83 points from the public; receiving 12 points from the Rest of the World.

The Albanian family went on to perform 10th in the 2023 Grand Final, where they placed 22nd with 76 points.

Image source: Chloe Hashemi / EBU | Source: RTSH