A red carpet. A packed crowd. And glorious voices with eye-catching staging. That was all on show in Kosovo’s capital Prishtina on Saturday during the Grand Final of Festivali i Këngës në RTK, the inaugural song festival that will serve as the country’s national final for Eurovision if it’s ever admitted to the contest.
The winner of FiKRTK has been crowned and it’s La Fazani with the song “Oj Kosovë.” The energetic number is all about the singer’s love for Kosovo and its people.
It was a historic win — and one marked at the highest level. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti awarded the trophy to La Fazani — also known as Arbër Salihu.
Even though he will not be able to represent Kosovo at the Eurovision Song Contest, since it’s not yet allowed to compete, he still loves his country — in fact, that’s exactly what he says in the lyrics of the song: “I know I cannot go to Eurovision, but I love you Kosovo.”
La Fazani was also the winner of Prishtina Award, an award given by the Municipality of Kosovo.
Second place went to Angus Dei with “Një zemër për dy” (One heart for two). Director-General of RTK, Shkumbin Ahmetxhekaj, awarded Angus the prize.
“This is an award – debt repayment for all those artists who have received awards from Radio Television of Albania,” Ahmetxhekaj said, a reference to the fact that so many Kosovar artists — like Rona Nishliu — have competed and won at big festivals in Albania like FiK.
Albin Nikprelaj received third place in FiKRTK with the song “Ajo”, a song composed by Eriona Rushiti and Enis Mullaj, who composed Albania’s 2019 and 2023 Eurovision Song Contest entries.
Earlier this week, Noel Curran — the Director-General of the European Broadcasting Union — sent a video congratulation RTK on “the cultural revival” that the competition marks. The video message gave many Eurovision fans in the country hope that they will one day be welcome at Eurovision.
The Director-General of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) l, Noel Curran congrats Kosovo (RTK) for the first edition of FESTIVALI I KENGES, hope #Kosovo will invite soon at #Eurovision @EBU_HQ @Eurovision pic.twitter.com/E8A807wquI
— Eurovision Kosovo (@ESCKOSOVO) October 26, 2023
I love Kosovo. I want Kosovo in Eurovision. This song is not a way to prove you should be in Eurovision. It’s awful
Agree. Urban Band and Auron had better entries and would better showcase Kosovo’s potential for doing well in the contest. Not a nationalistic song that (almost) makes “I Love Belarus” sound like a masterpiece.
The winner was cringey. I like the third place “Ajo,” though.
It would be cool if the top 5 or so were given a spot in Albania’s festival.
Belarus was thrown out of Eurovision, yet there is a push for Kosovo to get in? Seriously??
Well, they can keep Azerbaijan company then.
With how things are going, Serbia will be eventually kicked out too, don’t worry
They won’t. They are a sovereign nation recognised by all countries.
So are Belarus and Russia, but too fascist for a European contest at this point. Our contest is for Western values, not for that horrible parallel world order that Russia, China, Belarus, Serbia, and the like want to create. EBU should stop using UN membership as a requirement at this point.
You forgot to mention Israel, they should be kicked out too. Or do you think that Israel represents Western values?
Yesterday my sister and I had a contest to determine which of us would go if our house allowed to enter eurovision.
Spoiler alert, I won, where’s my article Wiwibloggs?
like it or not, we all know they will be part of eurovision one day
As a song and potential Eurovision entry, that was bad, a wall of horrible sounding mess. But I guess it’s good to know Kosovo can set up a functional Nationa Final.
Not gonna fall for the politics as they’ll participate in Eurovision depending on the current interests. I’d like to see them participating as well as some other countries, but I refuse to have another active member of the Balkan bloc-voting
For people who are confused: This is being reported on because there were EBU representatives at the show. There is an implication that the Kosovan broadcaster has made a bid for entry and the EBU is considering it. Due to the political climate, it will probably stall out here unless Serbia agrees to some kind of deal on the subject (other countries do have regional broadcasters that are also EBU members, so they could do this without technically conceeding sovereignty). The presence of the EBU representatives is most likely why wiwibloggs thought it was worth talking about. Yes, the propaganda… Read more »
This!
Cringe fest. I don’t see the point of this. Kosovo not Ebu member.
Why is this here? This is not a national final. Kosovo isn’t even part of the EBU. It’s not eligible to participate in Eurovision.
It’s certainly impressive they were all eben able to hold this! Hoping for more Eastern European and Balkan countries to enter the contest. Maybe it’s time Kosovo were admitted if they are being so serious about this? And Eurovision was even mentioned!
NotReal Entry From a NotReal Country . Who Would Guess That ? This Is Just Simple Nato Propganda
jadu mi kurac. Kosovo is independent country with 93% albanians
calm down! did you wake up and choose to be this negative. sure, they’re not in EBU but is this really the place to go off.
Mi compa el alucín
This is giving ”I love Belarus” realness but it’s way worse. Cringy lyrics, outfit and performance overall. It screams propaganda for Eurovision participation.
Sorry Kosovo, there were better songs.
Also, I am not sure I understand why this is worthy of making an article about – it’s not Eurovision-related, Kosovo is not taking part in Eurovision. Are you going to report about every song festival (outside the Eurovision bubble) taking place in Europe? No hate, just feedback.
Last but not least, Kosovo is not recognised by all EBU members.
I think possibly they’re reporting on this because of how seriously Kosovo were taking this? Like, if they were admitted, this would 100% be their entry.
Seriously taking what? A national song festival that has nothing to do with Eurovision? It’s just another music festival taking place like hundreds in Europe.
Kosovo is not an EBU member.
-7 reactions on this, where 100% is truth from A to Z.. ok
ikr? I can imagine where those downvotes come from lol it’s funny when people get triggered by normal responses. My comment was not hateful.
Hahahah definitely political song for a political contest, obviusly Kosovo couldn’t care less for Eurovision. This is Belarus all over again.
Ok flop