FiKmas is near, as Eurovision fans get ready for Albania’s long-running song contest Festivali i Këngës 58. And things are a step closer, with the allocations and running order released for the contest’s two semi-finals.

The news was shared today by Eurovision Albania — the Albanian chapter of the OGAE fan network.

The acts have been evenly divided into two semi-finals of ten acts. This is returning to the tradition of two semi-finals, after the format shift for FiK57. Last year, all acts performed in each semi-final. In the first, the artists performed their songs with the RTSH Symphonic Orchestra, while on the second night, they performed the songs with the Eurovision arrangement.

The first semi-final opens with Nadia and Genc Tukiçi’s emotional ode to Albania’s capital, “Ju flet Tirana”. The show will close with Albërie Hadërgjonaj and her ballad”Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua”. The first semi-final also includes hot favourite Elvana Gjata, who will perform “Me tana” in the seventh slot.

The second semi will kick off with Kastro Zizo delivering his jaunty tune “Asaj”. The show will close with some orchestral rock drama when Valon Shehu performs “Kutia e Pandorës”.

Festivali i Këngës 58 – first semi-final running order

  1. Nadia and Genc Tukiçi – “Ju flet Tirana”
  2. Sara Bajraktari – “Ajër”
  3. Devis Xherahu – “Bisedoj me serenatën”
  4. Kanita Suma – “Ankth”
  5. Kamela Islamaj – “Më ngjyros”
  6. Bojken Lako – “Malaseen”
  7. Elvana Gjata – “Me tana”
  8. Aldo Bardhi – “Melodi”
  9. Renis Gjoka – “Loja”
  10. Albërie Hadërgjonaj – “Ku ta gjej dikë ta dua”

Festivali i Këngës 58 – second semi-final running order

  1. Kastro Zizo – “Asaj”
  2. Tiri Gjoci – “Me gotën bosh”
  3. Olta Boka – “Botë për dy”
  4. Era Rusi – “Eja merre”
  5. Wendi Mancaku – “Ende”
  6. Robert Berisha – “Ajo nuk është unë”
  7. Gena – “Shqiponja e lirë”
  8. Eli Fara & Stresi – “Bohemë”
  9. Arilena Ara – “Shaj”
  10. Valon Shehu – “Kutia e Pandorës”

The first semi-final of Festivali i Këngës 58 will take place this coming Thursday, 19 December, with the second semi-final on Friday 20th. The grand final will take places two days later, on Sunday December 22. Festivali i Këngës 58 will decide Albania’s entry for Eurovision 2020.

What do you think of the Festivali i Këngës 58 running order? Who would you like to see represent Albania in Rotterdam? Tell us your thoughts below!

Read more Albania Eurovision news here

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Tom
Tom
4 years ago

Putting 2 backing singers for Jonida in one semi is crime ….
I want eagle in Rotterdam, so please to choose Gena – he is something between Oto and Jonida ….we didnt saw eagle in tel Aliv so i want to see eagle in rotterdam

Nikko
Nikko
4 years ago

Elvana Gjata is THE favourite to win. She is THE Albanian superstar right now. All her songs have more than 10 million views on youtube and Albania’s population is just above 2 millions.

Even announcing her as one of the participants for FiK was a huge news. It is like Adele decides to partisipate at UK’s “You Decide”

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9pnr7xgHjg
Elvana apparently going to be doing a form of traditional albanian dancing in her performance

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaDUBT3qRx4
here’s a longer sneak peek, and her enthusiasm in the interview is so lovely even though i don’t understand much of it

so i had help with translating, it seems one part of dance is inspired by her mom’s cleaning 🙂

but yeah that powerful orchestra beat, this dance, that catchy song i think it is a good combination, and i am glad elvana realized she needed something extra in her performance to live up to all that hype

James
James
4 years ago

Videos of some of the participants performing stripped-back performances of their songs are now on the RTSH Youtube channel. Check them out if you wanna see how they sound like live before the main shows.

Luuk
Luuk
4 years ago

So that means they are only gonna perform with the orchestra or only the more ‘modern’ ESC-version? I remember they performed both with and without orchestra last year

Glauk
Glauk
4 years ago
Reply to  Luuk

Only orchestra, no ESC-version this year.

Luuk
Luuk
4 years ago
Reply to  Glauk

Alright thanks. It’ll be interesting how elvana as a favourite will do with an orchestra (except the first 30sec,they are great anyway with an orchestra)

Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
4 years ago
Reply to  Luuk

I’ve heard a bit of the orchestral version of Me Tana on Twitter (don’t remember what the link was, but it was legit), and sadly its kinda terrible. I fear that, along with it being a pop song and juries stereotypically never liking pop, this will bring Me Tana’s chances of winning way down (but if Shqiponja E Lirë wins instead I’ll be semi-happy).

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  Ashton Schier

if there is no elvana in rotterdam, i won’t even watch the contest in may

the orchestra for me tana i personally like, that bit more power and the orchestra gave it a good go i guess

Gena winning would be a laugh, i mean at ESC he would be seen as a novelty act, and he gotta change lyrics since some are offensive towards serbia maybe with the ”Kosovo phrase”

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

sorry for my over-emotional reaction now, but for me personally the orchestral beat gives it more albanian feel

and btw if she wins there is no live orchestra anyway at ESC

but please no hate for elvana, this is exactly why i dislike overhype in the first place, bit of hype is good of course, it is a fun ethnic bop but now i see lots of hate for a girl who doesn’t deserve that in here

Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
4 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

I was never hating on Elvana, since Me Tana is absolutely spectacular and should win FiK and should place Top 5 at Eurovision. I have listened to the orchestral version a few times now, and I have actually grown to love it, it was just a bit jarring at first. This and her dancing (which you can watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaDUBT3qRx4) have actually made Me Tana even more special to me. 🙂

Mr X
Mr X
4 years ago
Reply to  Ashton Schier

The Eagle-Song is my personal favourite too, but Elvana isn´t bad at all….

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  Mr X

Elvana is a quite great live singer, it’s a strong battle here but she got what it takes to win, and if she doesn’t win ok i will still watch ESC, sorry what i said yesterday, but the dislike towards her makes me stress i believe in a Elvana, Era, Arilena top 3 could be possible, and i think international juries more work in favour of Elvana, while i think with albanian juries she could’ve flopped but i think we can expect more fair results now Bojken made the final last few editions because he has connections in albanian jury… Read more »

Loin dici
Loin dici
4 years ago

Again, we still don’t know if there would be any Albanian touch on the scoring. If there is any further updates, I’d love to hear about it.

If it turns out the rumors were true, which is no Albanian involvement in the results whatsoever, I think every song has their chance to shine.

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  Loin dici

there are just 3 foreign jury members, so yes this time a FiK without favouritism from albanian jury members

https://twitter.com/yaalbanias/status/1205880034143154176

a sneak peek at elvana’s me tana orchestra instrumentals, it has a lot more power than in studio

zheng
zheng
4 years ago

My top 5 1st semi
1. Elvana
2. Alberie
3. Kamela
4. Kanita
5.Aldo
2nd semi
1. Era
2.Gena
3. Arilena
4. Eli Fara & Stresi
5. Valon

Colin
Colin
4 years ago

Hmm… putting Elvana and Aldo in a row is an interesting decision to say at least. As both are among the few most energetic numbers, they would definitely better stick out if presented with a ballad in between. But since it’s 100% jury, it might not be a deciding factor.

An important question remains – Five out of each ten go through or is it arbitrary?

Glauk
Glauk
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Alketa (the presenter) confirmed five out of ten from each semi.

Nicolas
Nicolas
4 years ago
Reply to  Glauk

So is it true ? this is insane. The FIK finale with only 10 songs. How will they fit the show that is already endless with commercials, boring intervals. This year will be a nightmare to follow 3h30 of show for just 10 songs OMG…..

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

not too good for Aldo, since his song’s music sounds quite american, and compared to elvana’s me tana which juries will definitely hear then, i can see him being surprisingly out in semi

but Elvana has a fab running order position

i see elvana, era, kanita up there with juries, and to be completely honest i can see elvana as winner happen

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

I wouldn’t be surprised if Aldo misses out. It’s a bold choice to have a song like that in FiK. He would fare better in Melodifestivalen or NMGP. I’s like to see him qualifying and I wouldn’t mind seeing him win either, but I don’t think he’ll be a forth-runner. Even so, he is the one after Elvana, not the other way around, so I’d be on the edge on her place as well. She’ll have to bring ”her all” in order for that impact to last after Aldo is finished. Judging by what people are saying about her performances,… Read more »

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

I was filtered. Okay, in short:
– I don’t want for Elvana and Aldo to cancel each other out, but if they do, Elvana is the one who will qualify.
– Arilena and Valon are in excellent positions and both have songs of genre which Albania tends to like.
– Live vocals are a huge factor in FiK, so I expect Olta and Tiri to qualify.
– Elvana’s song has a big following already, so it would be smart to consider that.

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

i kinda think Elvana’s song can have more authenticity with live orchestra, i’m expecting violins in the intro section, and the upbeat pieces more hand drum, saxophone i guess

although not having the FiK experience, she had taken part in Kenga Magjike another live music festival in Albania and there she was quite good, same goes for Valon, who had different styles at KM compared to his rock song now

Nicolas
Nicolas
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

I think 14 acts will go to the final and if it follows the ancient rules it’s not automatically 7 songs from each SF advancing to the final. The Finalists will be revealed after the second SF and we can have more songs from a SF going to the final.
Eg 8+6 or even 9+5

Glauk
Glauk
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Honestly i think Also is out of the final…

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Glauk

I’m afraid it might be so. I’d love to see him qualify, but it would be surprising for him to do well in FiK. I believe he would probably do much better in Melfest. On the other hand, I think Olta Boka will qualify here, but I do believe her song would be eliminated among the first two in Melfest. Different festivals – different priorities, I guess.

Geo
Geo
4 years ago

Elvana for the win! For the rest…I don’t care

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  Geo

for Elvana’s sake, pls show more respect to other participants as well

i also want her to win, go to rotterdam, but at least i am also respectful towards any of other 19 artists

don’t let elvana get any hate, because of your overconfidence

Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
4 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

PREACH