Check your Internet connection and book some time away from the family gathering: Albania has confirmed the dates of its Eurovision 2022 national selection. As is Eurovision tradition, Festivali i Këngës will kick the ESC season into high gear. And we now know it’ll do so between 27 and 29 December.
Albanian national broadcaster RTSH has not yet announced any details about Festivali i Këngës 60, but the dates were published by Eurovision Albania — the official and highly reliable national branch of the OGAE fan network.
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The Festival will begin on 27 December with the first night of the show, followed by second night on 28 December. The grand final will unfold on 29 December.
Obviously the pandemic still looms large on the minds of producers and health officials. Although details remain hard to come by, our sources tell us that — unlike last year — the 2021 festival will be held indoors. It’s not yet clear whether there will be an orchestra.
You’ll recall that last year’s festival was held in a large public square, helping reduce the chance of transmission. Some singers privately said they were freezing, but that was a small price to pay to ensure the health and safety of those involved.
RTSH is expected to reveal the names of the participants for the 60th edition of Festivali i Këngës next week.
Last year, Anxhela Peristeri won the festival with her dramatic ballad “Karma”. She went on to give the song a major revamp — boosting its ethnic power — and worked with Swedish stage maestro Sacha Jean-Baptiste to create a memorable stage show. Our girl seemed to control the weather and the LED screen, unleashing drama that matched her epic voice and undeniable stage presence. Good karma, indeed!
Are you excited for this year’s festival? Which artists do you hope to see on the list? Let us know down below.
I will be excited abou it when they start doing things transparently and kicking out corrupt juries
I hope they keep the orchestra. Live music can lift a song in a very powerful way. They should have a televote though.
A large symphony orchestra is too much. A small band would be better.
Albania’s pop-music scene is really incredible for such a small country. I always wondered why FiK isn’t the Melodifestivalen of the Balkans, because they certainly have the potential to do so. I hope FiK makes some dramatic changes to their voting process because as we’ve seen in the past it’s dominated by ‘older’ people who prefer traditional ballads.
We have a Mello for the Balkans called Kënga Magjike??
For all the Balkan countries or just Albania? If it’s just Albania, I wonder why that’s not being used as a selection
So we will have our Fikmas present after Christmas and not before this year. Albania is still on the way to have the first esc act selected for the 2022 season, a tradition now, or maybe we will have some BIG surprises before but I doubt it, I can’t see some countries revealing their artists and songs in november or december, knowing moreover that some wait until almost the deadline in march…
Oh and Albania please don’t choose a power ballad this year please!! I like that but I would like to see another kind of music from you.
Technically, it would still be the Christmas season until Epiphany/Feast of the Three Kings 2 weeks later (for those following the Gregorian calendar).
🙂
Yeah of course I meant I was used to have the 1st esc song selected from Albania before the d-day december 25th 😉 but you’re right it’s still during the Christmas season and during the end of the year festivities.
You’re forgetting that Czech Republic is also going to have their online national final in December as well, and depending on when they actually schedule it, Albania might not be the first country to reveal their song this season.
Oh yeah you’re right! How could I forget Czech Republic, my mistake.
We’re so used to Albania Having the first song out that it’s a bit of a shift in adjustment that it’s not gonna be the only one Kick off 2022.
Please not a typical Balkan ballad by a female singer… I really love ballads but that’s too much for Albania , maybe it’s time to send something different
I’m not against that kind of music, but I do think it’s time for Albania to send something different
The thing with Albania is that they have a quality and diverse line-up, but usually go for the same style for a winner. In the last ten years, 2013 and 2018 were the only outliers to a diva belting ballad modem operandi. While I often tend to like that style when done well (2019, for instance, was superb), I see how this creates a perception that FiK remains stuck in a loop. Statistically, songs that haven’t been translated fared better in the contest. Perhaps FiK could, like FdC, soften their stance on English language songs. Not because I want to… Read more »
Having some sort of public vote would also be welcome, it doesn’t make sense to leave the whole decision in the hands of a bunch of jurors.
Speaking of FdC, the invited songwriters for 2022 were announced today. I’m sure that Bernardo is already preparing that traditional post with some background on them.
I fully agree. While we can only wonder who would’ve won on that front in a last couple of years, I do have my guesses: 2021 – As we didn’t have a clear frontrunner, and Anxhela is really a big name in Albania, there is no reason to think that the top result would’ve been any different. However, what is sure is that Inis Neziri, Mirud, and Era Rusi would have finished with better results. 2020 – Arilena would’ve still had a shot, but I suspect that Elvana would have it in a bag. 2019 – It would’ve been between… Read more »
Since the jurors have been harsh on some of the artists you mentioned and all of the winners were quite popular too, I guess most of the times the winner would be the same. But the top 3s could be radically different.
Finally, we’ve got some dates. But I wonder if these late dates for Albania’s selection, means that Czech Republic will actually Have their song selected first depending on when they schedule it
Hopefully Inside this year.Hope Era Rusi comes back with another banger.#nomoreballads
I’d like to see Albania send something different to eurovision
Judging by what we’ve seen, I find it VERY unlikely that we will see something different with all the power on the hands of some old aged jurors that only go for ethnic ballads. Public vote is NEEDED if we want some change but I don’t see it happening any time soon. 🙁
I don’t know why Albania’s festival still doesn’t have a Tele vote portion when every other country with a national selection or festival does, or televote only. Even Italy’s San Remo has a televote, and That festival predates FIK, Even before Eurovision existed. This might sound very harsh, but I think the only way that Albania can change is if it fails to qualify next year. Only then will they get the message that they can’t send the same kind of song every year.
Well they did not qualify in 2014 and 2016 and 2017, yet nothing has changed .. not even After the double elimination. I doubt about any changes in the future..
Oh and 2013 ! So 2 double elimination haha
that or if no one come with a ballad.
So why do they have no televote?
the only way for them to send something different is by ditching fik and going internal
Nice and Early! Looking forward to see the song. I don’t particularly normally like Albania’s songs but fingers crossed this year.
Ah that’s a bummer.