It’s the first national final of the season. Now Albanian broadcaster RTSH has confirmed the 22 acts who will be competing in Festivali i Këngës 56 in December. And there are a lot of familiar faces.
The broadcaster released the names of the 22 competing acts today. The FiK 56 line-up is a mix of established artists, Albanian music legends and newcomers.
One of the hot favourites going into the contest is Artemisa Mithi who will make her FiK debut. She was previously a contestant on The Voice Kids. Earlier this year she competed on The Voice of Albania, where she made it to the live shows but was eliminated in week one.
Also debuting is Inest Neziri, who previously won the TV talent show Gjeniu i Vogël 5 and Lorela Sejdini (now known as LORELA) who competed on The Voice of Albania. Xhesika Polo, who was third on X Factor 2012, made her FiK debut last year and competed on Kenga Magijke 2017, will also return.
Returning to the line-up is Bojken Lako. The Albanian rock legend is a four-time FiK veteran, and placed second in 2014 with “Të ndjej”.
Elton Deda was a coach on the first three series of The Voice of Albania. He also completed in FiK in 2011, where he was Rona Nishliu’s runner-up with “Kristal”.
Well-known Albanian singer Eugent Bushpepa returns to Festivali i Këngës after almost a decade. Other iconic Albanian performers to return to FiK include Manjola Nallbani, Mariza Ikonomi, Redon Makashi and brotherly duo Stefi & Endri Prifti.
Rock bands NA and LYNX are back, while the group AKULLTHYESIT makes their FiK debut.
Other FiK returning artists include Rezarta Samja & Luis Ejlli who will be performing as a duo this time, as well as Evans Rama and Voltan Prodani.
Missing from the line-up is X Factor winner Arilena Ara. Earlier in the year, she was strongly rumoured as one of the competing acts, even with the suggested that she would be the intended winner. But she won’t be taking part in FiK 56.
Festivali i Këngës 56 – competing artists
- AKULLTHYESIT – “Divorci” (Divorce)
- Artemisa Mithi – “E dua botën” (I love the world)
- Bojken Lako – “Sytë e shpirtit” (The eyes of the soul)
- David & Genc Tukiqi – “Të pandarë” (Inseperable)
- Denisa Gjezo – “Zemër ku je” (Dear heart, where you are)
- Elton Deda – “Fjalët” – (Words)
- Ergi Bregu-Latifllari – “Bum Bum”
- Eugent Bushpepa “Mall” (Yearning)
- Evans Rama – “Gjurmët” (Traces)
- Inest Neziri – “Piedestal” – (Pedestal)
- LORELA – “Pritem edhe pak” (Wait a little longer)
- LYNX – “Vonë” (Late)
- Manjola Nallbani – “I njejti qiell” (The same sky)
- Mariza Ikonomi – “Unë” (Me)
- NA & Festina Mezini – “Tjetër jetë” (Another life)
- Orgesa Zaimi – “Ngrije zërin” (Speak up)
- Redon Makashi – “Ekzistoj” (I exist)
- Rezarta Samja & Luis Ejlli – “Ra një yll” (A star fell)
- Stefi & Endri Prifti – “Mesazh” (Message)
- Tahir Gjoci – “Orë e ndaluar” (Stopped clock)
- Voltan Prodani – “Pse të desha” (Why would I love you?)
- Xhesika Polo – “Përjetë” (Forever)
The number of competing acts is down on previous years. In 2014, 29 acts competed, 2015 had 32 acts, while last year’s show had 27 competitors.
While the competing song titles have been revealed, it is expected that the songs won’t be revealed until the live shows.
The 22 acts will first face the semi-finals on 21 and 22 December, and then the lucky finalists will compete at the grand final on 23 December.
The winner of Festivali i Këngës 56 will be Albania’s act for Eurovision 2018. However, the winning songs traditionally receive a substantial revamp before being confirmed as the Eurovision entry.
What do you think of the Festivali i Këngës line-up? Which acts are you excited about? Can any of these acts give Albania its first Eurovision win? Tell us what you think!
They held a conference today with singers and media. Now saying that all songs will air on radio and will be posted fully online. They asked singers to wrap up their recordings because they needed to start putting everything on YouTube. One of the disqualified entrants from the preselection (Kastro Zizo) went nuts on Top Show, he started screaming uncontrollably over not being selected for the semis. He’s saying the government censored his song because it talks about people wanting to immigrate. Flaka Krelani was also invited to talk.
Link to Conference: https://www.facebook.com/RadioTelevizioniShqiptarRTSH/videos/1616646268402906/
Link to Kastro Zizo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBw0CJXoT10
Xeshika Polo had by far, my favorite song in last years FiK. So excited.
I totally agree!!! She was robbed, I still listen to that song!
It has to be said that FIK is a very outdated selection for Eurovision.
Although its tradition in Albania for FIK Albania really should move to using Kenga majia (however you spell it)
Fik is only good for dated ballads or dated rock songs unfortunately.
The last time a FIK song qualified for the final was 2012 since 2015 they changed to I’m alive.
I doubt Albania has much of a chance to do well at Eurovision unless they change.
Hope their songs are a bit more current this year. Otherwise…
One of my favourite national finals 🙂 Live music, and not any overdone stage shows. FIK is always very interesting to follow.
From this name of singers / bands, I look most forward to Na and Lynx. (of those I can remember) Their past entries were great.
No Flaka 🙁
Osiris was one of my favourite songs of Eurovision 2017
Bojken, Elton, Redon and Mariza are the “it’s their time to win” singers, and one of them will likely do it. Manjola, Orgesa, Xhesika, Eugent, Rezarta/Luiz are very good singers too but I don’t see them winning. They will probably have what are considered “difficult to sing entries” that usually go nowhere, along with the Stefi and Tukiqi brothers. The others are good live/pro singers, but unless they have good composers, the jury won’t give them much. Usually the public vote gives new singers a better chance, but it’s not that type of show.
If any, I think its Lynx turn to win. Their songs in the past were great. Na hadgood songs too. Surely some others too, but those are the ones I rememner
i was really hoping for yll limani, shiu was a masterpierce. but this looks like a fairly decent lineup from one of my favorite national finals.
Oh…. yes…..that song was clearly the best amongst the Albanian line-up and the voters had agreed
Hoping he atleast sent in one of his composed entries!! There was one in their JESC NF from him
It would be nice if they could send the winning song to Eurovision without changing it, whichever artist is may be.
Based on what a spokesperson from RTSH wrote in an article a few weeks ago, she said that this year there will be a lot of pop rock and that the winner will be very difficult to predict. There will also be a post-festival show after the semis and the final. She said that this year they just want a good time with good singers who can sing difficult songs and genres live, and that they won’t focus too much on Eurovision as a criteria for determining the winner. In a recent interview, the host Adi Krasta said that the… Read more »
Interesting 🙂 Lots of poprock sounds promissing indeed!
Also good that they just go for what they like. Not what they think is “right” for ESC. Should be the criteria in any NF I think – go for the actual music taste of the country.
Festina is back!? (Bit unsure, it could be a different artist without the ‘j’ in the surname, but what are the chances?) Although the teaming with the rock band suggests it won’t be like last year, but one can hope, eh?
Rockbands are welcome. I must say I’m a bit bored with “big ballads” from Albania.
I’m also a fan of rock songs, but Festina’s performance last year was so perfect I hoped the style would get a second chance this time. Maybe one day, but a good start of giving space to different music styles could be sending something else than a big ballad.
I agree. Suus was great I think though. A big ballad – sort of, but more original
Rezarta <3
Great Rezarta, Xhesika and LYNX are back!
Lynx 🙂
Mariza Ikonomi is coming back! Yeah!!
She had some dance songs in the past, didn’t she? From the name I think I liked her songs