The first semi-final of Albania’s national final Festivali i Këngës 58 began tonight. The first ten competing acts performed their songs — but we won’t know which acts qualified for the grand final until after the second semi-final tomorrow night.

Like in 2018, the qualifying semi-finalists won’t be announced until all acts have performed. In 2018, eight entries qualified from the first semi-final but only six qualified from the second.

Tonight, the acts were assessed by an international expert jury, consisting of Greek Eurovision songwriter Dimitris Kontopoulos, Melodifestivalen producer Christer Björkman and Iceland’s Eurovision Head of Delegation Felix Bergsson.

Fan favourite Elvana Gjata was among the performers. She delivered a show-stopping performance of “Me tana”. Wearing a cool white suit, Elvana performed with nine dancers — four more than she would be allowed at Eurovision.

Another anticipated performance was Kanita Suma with “Ankth”. Wearing an elegant white gown, she performed her touching ballad.

Eurovision 2019 runner-up Mahmood made a guest performance. In the show’s interval, the Sanremo winner performed his new single “Barrio” and his Eurovision song “Soldi”, giving the FiK audience a taste of his contemporary urban R&B style.

The acts who have qualified for the grand final are expected to be named after the second semi-final on Friday night. The grand final will take place on Sunday 22 December.

FiK 58 semi-final one songs

The running order for the first semi-final was:

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

Poll: Which semi-final one songs should qualify for the grand final of Festivali i Këngës 58?

Which of tonight’s ten songs should make it to the grand final of Festivali i Këngës 58? Vote for your favourites in our poll. As always, you can vote for as many songs as you like, but you can only vote once — so make it count!

[polldaddy poll=10480476]

What do you think? Which performances stood out? Who do you think will qualify for the grand final? Tell us your thoughts below!

Follow all of our Albania Eurovision 2020 news.

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Petro Luarasi
Petro Luarasi
4 years ago

Duam ”Ajër”, sa më tepër ajër të pastër në muzikën shqiptare! Të nderuar dashamirës të muzikës së lehtë shqiptare mendoj se suksesi i një kënge në festivalin e RTSH (Televizionit Shteteror Shqiptar) duhet të bazohet tek emocionet artistike që ndjell melodia (mundësisht me taban shqiptar) teksti e vokali dhe aspak nga britmat, joshjet fizike, reklamat e influencat klanore. Prandaj bej thirrje qe te mbrojme, vleresojme e votojme kenget e kengetaret qe e meritojne sepse keshtu mbrojme vlerat e mirefillta dhe perfaqesimin tone sa me dinjitoz ne Festivalin Europian te Kenges. Une përkrah e dua talentin e ri dhe këngën qe… Read more »

diana
diana
4 years ago

Sara nje ze per tu admiruar E meriton Mbi te gjitha thjeshtesia

Manu Brakaj
4 years ago

Sara e meriton shum emocionues zeri i saj kenga shum shum e bukur???

Ivi
Ivi
4 years ago

Sara’s voice is amazing! My absolute favourite.

Dea_sh
Dea_sh
4 years ago

Sara is so young and taleted. She needs a chance

Jack
Jack
4 years ago

Elvana has the biggest potential that any other Albanian entry had. Her vocals where great, she danced really well and for the Fik standards it was a great performance. Albania will slay this year

Sand
Sand
4 years ago

Me tana was like a cheaper version of Fuego on stage

Lol
Lol
4 years ago
Reply to  Sand

Another comparison to Fuego…

Tom
Tom
4 years ago
Reply to  Sand

Kalomira left the chat

....
....
4 years ago

Elvana, Kamela and Kanita are my favorite, they were absolutely amazing! I’m kinda disappointed with Aldo, I expected more from him, tbh.

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  ....

Aldo was way better at Kenga Magjike this year, where he had a way better song than Melodi

#Elvana4TheWin, i hope she can only do the shami ribbon choreo better in the final

Ilira
Ilira
4 years ago

Sara the best .

Nevuana woite
Nevuana woite
4 years ago

Sara is the best!

Rita
Rita
4 years ago

Sara is the best!

Kredential
Kredential
4 years ago

IMO while Me tana is the best song, Elvana was kind of underwhelming. A good performance, but the choreography wasn’t the best and Elvana didn’t really make an effort to dance until the very end. Kanita imo gave the best performance, while there were sound mixing issues and she was a hit and miss at the beginning with the vocals, the song really shone tonight. Alberie was okay, song isn’t the best though. It’s a shame Kamela Ismalaj doesn’t have a better song (don’t get me wrong, it’s a good song but she can do better) because she’s got such… Read more »

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  Kredential

Elvana did have energy till the very end though

Christian
Christian
4 years ago

The semi-final destroyed the myth that modern up-tempo songs cannot be played by an orchestra. Elvana convinced me the most and she’s 110% on my 1st place.

Dawidek
Dawidek
4 years ago

Sara’s performance was by far the best ….. 15years old ? Gosh !!!

Indiana07
Indiana07
4 years ago

Kanita would make it to ESC final, I’m sure

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago

Elvana slayed it, in beginning i had goosebumps and i thought her whole performance was of a high entertainment value, also she sounded good throughout, which is difficult to sing and dance (i’ve seen other artists flop with their vocals when they go dancing) some in audience were already clapping when performance wasn’t even over, also loudest applause in FiK history she had got Kanita, also very good and still worth mentioning she is only 18 years old, and already this phenomenal in her vocals, keep challenging yourself girl, you’ll get there too where elvana is now Sara, surprise of… Read more »

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
4 years ago

It seems like Youtube is full of Elvana’s performance but I can’t find any others besides Ankth so I’ll talk about them alone My biggest worry with Elvana is gone so far – the vocals She delivered, nobody can take that from her Great dancing, very good vocals, but now I have another problem She was on stage with 8 dancers and backing vocalists If she goes to Eurovision, she’ll have to make it to 6 people total – including backing vocalists (and singing while dancing makes it harder to sing well) and less people will change the performance as… Read more »

Fionn
Fionn
4 years ago
Reply to  Roy Moreno

*2020

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
4 years ago
Reply to  Fionn

Oops you’re right xD Thanks!

FiK
FiK
4 years ago

Best of the night were Alberie, Elvana, Kamela.

Matthew
Matthew
4 years ago

My top 5 and the ones i think should go through are ALBËRIE HADËRGJONAJ, NADIA AND GENC TUKIÇI, KANITA SUMA, KAMELA ISLAMAJ, ELVANA GJATA.

Sara was a close 6th, my 7th-10 i did not really enjoy. Fik is very unpredictable (usually) but i think with a proper international jury they won’t be as shocking. I don’t see Nadia and Genc making it (sadly) same with Alberie, i see Aldo and maybe Sara making it instead.

James
James
4 years ago

Lot fo a good stuff from some of the performance I got to watch on Youtube. The one thing I can complain though would have to be the camera direction, which is a consistent issue with FIK. Not as bad like last year, there were shots that linger too long, shots of the same guitarist one too many times within a minute of one performance, and shots that failed to capture the choreography for “Melodi” and “Me Tana”, with the former being the one most affected by those missed shots.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
4 years ago

We’re not gonna find out who qualified until tomorrow? What an anti-climax!

Loin dici
4 years ago

Kamela snatched me.

Catriona Colville
Catriona Colville
4 years ago

Anyone really anticipating Gena tomorrow?

MaxHightower
MaxHightower
4 years ago

Wow, in my humble opinion Kamela KILLED IT! Great voice, good song and so much carisma, she filled the stage by herself, my goodness.

The dress was….. let’s say artistic, but is one of those dresses that you cannot take your eyes off, but I could stay behind it because whilst I found it captivating, it didn’t distract from Kamela’s performance.

Mr X
Mr X
4 years ago
Reply to  MaxHightower

Kamela was the best last night, no doubt. Elvana quite disapointing for me, I can´t understand the overwhelming hype.

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  Mr X

maybe ur more into that jazzy sort of music and not elvana’s music

everyone has different music tastes, but elvana did live up to some of the hype, many albanians at first weren’t keen on me tana but she got loudest applause out there so that also says something i guess

Aris Odi
Aris Odi
4 years ago

Elvana slayyyed

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
4 years ago

Elvana is winning this semi final for sure.
I think Sara and Kamela were the best of the rest in terms of performance. Kanita got better as the song went on.

I hope you got plenty of coffee in this morning, Robyn. I feel terrible! 😉

Catriona Colville
Catriona Colville
4 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

How do you know the tastes of the 3 judges will align with Eurovision fans? Remember Nene last year?

Loin dici
4 years ago

Fomer Fests were decided by entirely Albanian juries so they aren’t comparable.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
4 years ago

I’m thinking if the judges choose someone else to win, they might not be welcome back in Albania. 😉

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

If the judges are pressured into picking one song, then the whole point of having a contest is somehow undermined.

Yom
Yom
4 years ago

Im sorry but elvana was a long way from convincing tonight. It needs a staging revamp before the final else I don’t think it will win

hebbuzz
hebbuzz
4 years ago

My preference:

1. Elvana Gjata
2. Sara Bajraktari
3. Albërie Hadërgjonaj
4. Aldo Bardhi
5. Kanita Suma
6. Renis Gjoka
7. Kamila Islamaj
8. Devis Xherahu
9. Bojken Lako
10. Nadia & Genc Tukici

Colin
Colin
4 years ago

Quite a solid semi. Yes, Elvana and Aldo both seemed limited in choreography, but it seems like FiK wants to accentuate the vocals and dancing comes second. Nevertheless, both did well and should go through. Imagine the potential choreo in ESC. Sara absolutely killed in singing and so did Kamela. The latter’s costume was a… choice, but it didn’t stop her from owning the stage. Kanita also did well, even if it could get a bit instrumental heavy at times.

Sabrina
Sabrina
4 years ago

Kamela already had one of my favorite songs and her performance was awesome. Don’t know if she can win, but I hope at least people start paying attention to her. Elvana’s vocals were solid and “Me tana” proved to be a contender, I just feel she should move more in some parts of the performance (the same happened to Aldo, by the way, so maybe the sound issues made them avoid risks). Kanita’s vocals were uneven, but the song had actually more impact than I was imagining. Sara, on the other hand, did great, too bad her song is not… Read more »

Nicky91
Nicky91
4 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Elvana is living up towards the hype, she proved some of her doubters (yes myself included it made me realize i should’ve never been nervous or stressed at all)

i can see juries totally having seen the appeal of me tana, and elvana last night (i mean it is the complete picture)

LittleS
LittleS
4 years ago

My top 5 of semi final 1:
1.Kanitat
2.Kamela
3.Elvana
4.Sara
5.Alberie

Can’t wait to see tomorrow Era and Arilena!

Nikoletta
Nikoletta
4 years ago

Hmm, will it be the same jury who will also be voting in the final?

hebbuzz
hebbuzz
4 years ago
Reply to  Nikoletta

Hope not as Christer Bjorkman has been spotted in semi 1 🙁

Rasmus
Rasmus
4 years ago
Reply to  hebbuzz

Albania must the Europes most stupid country who first ask Christer themself for his help. He didnt ask Albania. He dont care about Albania. But when he is there he really want them to do well. Then you complain on him!!!!!!!!!!!

impressiveinstants
impressiveinstants
4 years ago

1. Elvana
2. Kanita
3. Kamelia

The rest can go home.

Nikki
Nikki
4 years ago

Christmass wouldn’t be Christmas without the FiK, and FiK wouldn’t be the FiK without sound problems…

alex
alex
4 years ago

and by the way wtf… the jury formed by a greek, a swedish and an icelandish will choose the winners??? wtf with juries from albania or public from albania??? so weird

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  alex

I only think it’s a bad idea if the same five people select three quarters of all songs. We will get 41 similar sounding songs and that’s underwhelming.

Rasmus
Rasmus
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

and when do they do that? in ESC its not like that.

Apple
Apple
4 years ago
Reply to  alex

Because it makes sense. At Eurovision, Albania cannot vote for Albania, so getting the opinions of people from other countries is smart

Thor
Thor
4 years ago
Reply to  Apple

Pretty sure that Romanians disagree with you there

kiki
kiki
4 years ago
Reply to  Thor

well i think there was a shock when neither the 2 of the favorites didnt win, so propably thats why Romanians didnt like the international jury and due the fact that Romania didnt qualify, well im pretty sure that we wont have international jury in the near future. But lets just forget about this and enjoy a new season of eurovison

Rasmus
Rasmus
4 years ago
Reply to  alex

They try this for everytime the albanians have chosen the wrong winner. So maybe this time it will be better. It cant be worse so.

Fionn
Fionn
4 years ago

Elvanaaaaaa???

Ugna
Ugna
4 years ago
Reply to  Fionn

Was by far the best tonight.

alex
alex
4 years ago

im not able to follow this festival… semifinal running order that not coincide with the one that you have up there and when the 5 semifinalist will be chosen … i ve seen the whole show and they did not say nothing about the finalist so.. wtf can someone explain please??

Garrow
Garrow
4 years ago
Reply to  alex

People say that 6 artists from each semi final will be chosen for the final on Sunday. So show will consist of 12 performances.

Tom
Tom
4 years ago
Reply to  Garrow

I heard 5