It’s the Albanian Eurovision selection that has taken huge strides this year, delivering a variety of songs that cut across genre and pull the contest into 2017.

And now, as local media imalbania.com reports, a professional jury — and only a professional jury — will decide the results of Festivali i Kenges 56 and who will get the opportunity to sing for Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.

This marks a quick reversal of last year’s contest, where RTSH, for the first time, added a public vote into the mix. At the time there was a great deal of drama, as the public was initially promised 40% of the vote…but ultimately contributed to just 1/13th of the final tally (while 12 jurors made up the remainder). Removing it shouldn’t make that much of a difference then.

“In this edition the public will not vote,” Klozeta Kurti, the PR of the Festival, said.

“The main idea of publishing the songs on YouTube and on the radio was to let the public get to know the songs and support them on the stage.”

FiK 56 finalists announced on Friday

Kurti also confirmed that the finalists will be revealed only on Friday, at the end of the second semi-final.

“There won’t be a voting [announcement] in the first night. At the end of the second semi-final the songs that made it through to the final will be revealed.”

Yesterday RTSH revealed the semi-final allocation and running order for the two shows. Tonight’s show will include fan favourites Mariza Ikonomi, Eugent Bushpepa and Manjola Nallbani.

FIK 56: FIRST NIGHT RUNNING ORDER

  1. Elton Deda – “Fjalët”
  2. Mariza Ikonomi – “Unë”
  3. Endri & Stefi Prifti – “Mesazh”
  4. Evans Rama – “Gjurmët”
  5. David & Genc Tukici – “Të pandarë”
  6. Voltan Prodani – “E pamundur”
  7. Eugent Bushpepa – “Mall”
  8. Rezarta Smaja & Luis Ejlli – “Ra një yll”
  9. Bojken Lako – “Sytë e shpirtit”
  10. Manjola Nallbani – “I njëjti qiell”
  11. Redon Makashi – “Ekziston”

Special guests will also join the show.

Tonight we’ll see Riccardo Cocciante, the Italian singer who coached Elhaida Dani on The Voice of Italy, and they will sing “Notre Dame de Paris” together.

The show will be hosted by Albanian journalist and television host Adi Krasta, who has hosted the festival five times before — in 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2006.

How to watch FiK56 online and outside of Albania

The show will start tonight at 20:40 CET and is scheduled to run for two hours. Here is a video by Eurovision Albania explaining how you can watch Festivali i Kenges this evening.

READ MORE ALBANIA EUROVISION NEWS

51 Comments
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Exceeder
Exceeder
6 years ago

Albania is so behind the times it’s unreal. It’s a small miracle theyre comfortable using microphones so far behind the times that they are

Dansk27
Dansk27
6 years ago
Reply to  Exceeder

You don’t even make any sense at all, troll!

irish esc
irish esc
6 years ago

eugent was amazing last night his performance gave me life i hope he win and reprensts albania at esc : )

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Eugent has WORLD CLASS VOCALS. Seriously, I can’t believe how effortless that was live!!

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Videos of tonight’s perfomances are all on Youtube already, if you’re interested…

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

“Mall” was just amazing! Eugent can do very well at ESC.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

Link please?

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask
Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

Fantastic. Thank you. 🙂
I only finished work an hour ago, so I’m watching the performances now.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

After tonight, here are my top 5 from the first semi:

1. Luiz and Rezarta
2. Mariza
3. Eugent
4. Bojken
5. Manjola

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Based on performance (not songs):
1. Eugent
2. Elton
3. Mariza
4. Marjola
5. (I’m struggling… sorry! I would only put 4 through.)

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

4 = Manjola* (sorry for the typo)

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago

Instead of advancing it’s removed again…

Azaesc
Azaesc
6 years ago

My absolute favorite is Orgesa’s song but I unfortunately don’t see juries going for it. I guess I’ll root for Inis and Xhesika, since they have a more realistic chance.

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

Only the jury? It worries me. I’m afraid we’ll end up with a great vocalist with a ballad. Hope I’m wrong.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  AngieP

Probably a great vocalist with a ballad… which will probably be translated as well. I assume “Piedestal” would become “Pedestal” and “Perjete” would become “Forever” by February or so. It’s such a shame Albania always feels the need to translate into English and thus becoming less unique.

bulgariastan
bulgariastan
6 years ago

Not sure if anyone else has pointed this out but on the header image, it says Manhole Nallbani instead of Manjola…

Michael Adam
Michael Adam
6 years ago
Reply to  bulgariastan

Haha Omg I just saw that and I wanted to post it. That’s very odd…!

Héctor
Héctor
6 years ago

I really hope they don’t choose the typical ballad that get stuck in ESC Semifinals. As Robyn said, this year FiK has some interesting options. They don’t need to go for the highest note! Anyway, in 2016, the jury gave the 2nd place to Aslaidon Zaimaj with “Mërme qe söt” who was my fav and something really up to our days!

Héctor
Héctor
6 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

So maybe they won’t go for a dated ballad, I mean.

blondboybc
blondboybc
6 years ago

Cheering for Eugent Bushpepa in tonight’s semi! Not sure about 100% jury voting…let’s hope they understand quality in both song and voice…too many screaming divas have been sent in many ESC events. Dare to be different, Albania!

KESC
KESC
6 years ago

Albania should really change their selection method. FIK doesn’t work for them, doesn’t RTSH get it? The only time they achieved a TOP 10 place was in 2012, and since then, they’ve always missed the finals, with the exception of 2015. And why? Because Elhaida’s song was later internally selected, and suited her better. All the Albanian contestants so far had beautiful voices. Eneda, Lindita, Hersi, but all three songs were not catchy or interesting. If they want to choose their contestants via FiK, they can do so. But they should only select the artist, and the song should be… Read more »

Ines
Ines
6 years ago
Reply to  KESC

yess so true i am from Albania and all i can say evrybody here despise this festival. it was so bad last year everyone criticize it for being unproffesional. I hope this year we send a decent entry. My expections are are very low though 🙁

blondboybc
blondboybc
6 years ago
Reply to  KESC

They said they posted the songs online so people could hear the songs in advance and “support them”, but the public has NO say in the outcome? How does that even make sense? Based on yt views, Eugent is faring the best at over 52 k views!

Chris
Chris
6 years ago

I’m not sure if it is a good idea. Since it’s just a jury vote, Inis Neziri will win it all. That means just one thing, Albania stays in the semi final. Reason? They just try with similar female ballads for few years and this will be another in the row. I have to admit that ‘Piedestal’ is such a great song and would like it if it makes to the final but it’s was already seen 100 times. In my opinion, Orgesa Zaimi would be a perfect choice for Albania. Fingers crossed, Orgesa Zaimi to Lisbon!

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago

100% jury vote —> Inis winning —> Semi-Final exit for Albania.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Sadly. And FiK is so strong this year.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

I haven’t heard their songs apart from a terrible screamfest (I think it was Piedestal), but knowing them, they’ll choose the most old-fashioned and clichéd entry in the bunch.

Matthew
Matthew
6 years ago

No televotes?! All they need now is cheesy hosts, horrific camera angles, endless interval acts and crappy results and it will just be like JESC 2016

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Kii. Another flop in the basket then.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

So, to watch it, we have to download an app on our phones? No possibility of watching it on our computers (unless a kind soul provides us a You Tube link)?

William Lee Adams
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Last year it was available on the RTSH live stream Not 100% clear yet, but it will hopefully work again tonight: http://rtsh.al/rtsh-live/RTSH-HD.html

tvfan
tvfan
6 years ago

The good link is this one : http://rtsh.al/rtsh-live/RTSH1-HD.html 😉

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

Thank you William Lee Adams and tvfan 🙂 I hope it works. 🙂

MTD
MTD
6 years ago

Oh, FIK again trying to be Sanremo, but for poor souls.

At least they stage in late years is an improvement. This one looks like taken from the Oscars show.

Either way, whichever song RTSH bosses choose (let’s not fool ourselves), will be revamped and from the first, will be among the last ESC known songs of the season.

Roll on New Year!

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  MTD

Uh, Sanremo has televote and we, paying people, defeated those tasteless juries that wanted the lullaby chanteuse Fiorella Mannoia to win as a career prize.

MTD
MTD
6 years ago

Oh, I really, really wanted Vietato Morire to win it all because it is a great song, and better than the other two. It is a timeless tune, unlike the already forgotten monkey and the snoozefest of the lady.

Marco
Marco
6 years ago

worst selection ever

Mark
Mark
6 years ago

So Albania won’t be winning Eurovision in 2018.

Cabemaru
Cabemaru
6 years ago

Oooh only a profesional jury. I don’t like it

Xepher
Xepher
6 years ago

So we’re gonna have another female ballad this year from Albania I assume?

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Xepher

You’ll find out on Saturday. How much would you bet on it? 😉

Mark
Mark
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

FiK jury always chooses the wrong song.

KESC
KESC
6 years ago

100% jury votes? What the hell? Why choosing an entry via national final, if it will be choosen by the jury either way?!
I really don’t get countries that use the method 100% jury votes. A national selection normally stands for the jury’s and the public’s votes.

I’m afraid Albania is on the wrong way again.

thespb01
thespb01
6 years ago
Reply to  KESC

I don’t know why you’re so surprised. All Albanian entries since 2007 have been chosen by a jury.

Xepher
Xepher
6 years ago
Reply to  thespb01

Last year was a 12 person jury and televote for the final

Mark
Mark
6 years ago
Reply to  Xepher

FiK needs a lot to improve on.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Gets ready for the backlash in this comments section…

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

hahaha ^^

Volare
Volare
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

I’d rather get ready for spamming trolls like you 😉

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago
Reply to  Volare

Yeah, whatever.