61 was the 61st edition of the annual Albanian music competition . The contest was organised by (RTSH) at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania. It encompassed two semi-finals held on 19 and 20 December, succeeded by a nostalgia night on 21 December and culminated in the final on 22 December 2022. The four live shows were hosted by Arbana Osmani. Elsa Lila resulted as the winner of the contest with the song "Evita". The Albanian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 was selected by the public, with "" performed by Albina and Familja Kelmendi emerging as the representative.

Format

The 61st edition of was organised by (RTSH) and consisted of three semi-finals on the respective dates of 19, 20 and 21 December and the final on 22 December 2022. The four live shows were hosted by Albanian presenter Arbana Osmani and held at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania. Osmani directed the contest along with Bojken Lako, Eduart Grishaj, Eraldo Rexho and Shpëtim Saraçi.

Voting structure

The selection process for the winner of the 61st edition of and Albanian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 underwent a significant change. Prior to this, the winner was determined by a jury vote, which faced controversy due to allegations of nepotism and corruption. In response, the organisers of RTSH introduced a new system combining public and jury voting. While the top three and two prizes would continue to be chosen by the jury, the winner would no longer receive an invitation to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. Instead, the Albanian representative for the contest would be selected through a separate televoting process.

Contestants

RTSH initiated an application period for artists and composers interested in participating in the 61st edition of from 3 June to 30 October 2022. Following the application process, a provisional list of 26 participants was published by the broadcaster on 27 October, three days prior to the end of the application period.

+Competing entriesArtist(s)SongComposer(s)Lyricist2 Farm"Atomike"Klevis Bega (Kastro Zizo), Renan Berati, Redvis MaziAlban Kondi and Lorè"Melodi"Alban KondiAlbina & Familja Kelmendi"Duje"Enis MullajEriona RushitiAnduel Kovaçi"Malli"Irkenc HykaArsi Bako"Sonte dua të jem me ty"Osman MulaEvis MulaElsa Lila"Evita"Elsa LilaEnxhi Nasufi"Burrë"Enxhi Nasufi, Andrei "Alandy" VornicuErma Mici"Kozmosi i dashurisë"Erma Mici, Andi LazajErma MiciEvi Reçi"Ma kthe"Ervin GonxhiVojsava AllaFabian Basha"Një gotë"Alban Kondi, Fabian BashaAlban KondiFifi"Stop"Filloreta "Fifi" Raçi, Fatjo MiftarajFilloreta "Fifi" RaçiFranc Koruni"Në pritje"Franc KoruniGent Hoxha"Ajër"Jeris KasoElio ShuliGjergj Kaçinari"Dje"Gjergj KaçinariLuna Çausholli"Jetën ta fal"Endri ShaniPandi LaçoLynx"Nëse ke besim"LynxManjola Nallbani"Duaj"Kledi BahitiManjola NallbaniMelodajn Mancaku"Gjysma e zemrës sime"Wendi MancakuMelodajn MancakuPermit of Stay"Fobia"Ergys MetaPetrit Çarkaxhiu"Emri yt mirësi"Petrit ÇarkaxhiuRezarta Smaja"N'Eden"Eriona RushitiRovena Dilo"Motit"Aldo ShqalshiRovena DiloSara Kapo"Para teje"Sara KapoSergio Hajdini"Vështirë"Serxhio HajdiniUrban Band"Në çdo hap"Klodian RexhepajFlorian "Kelly" ÇarkanjiVanesa Sono"Aroma jonë"Vanesa SonoAlban Kondi

Shows

Semi-finals

The semi-finals of took place on 19 December and 20 December 2022 and were broadcast live at 21:00 (CET) on the respective dates. Albanian actress Margarita Xhepa was the special guest of the first semi-final, performing a monologue to raise awareness about domestic violence against women and share her own experiences. Following the conclusion of the second semi-final, five out of ten contestants from the New artists were selected by a jury to advance to the final, while all 16 contestants from the Big artists automatically qualified for the final.

Key: Automatic Qualifier Qualifier

+ Semi-final 119 December 2022 Artist Song Result Enxhi Nasufi "" Aut. Qualified Erma Mici "" Qualified Fabian Basha "" Aut. Qualified Anduel Kovaçi "" Fifi "Stop" Aut. Qualified Urban Band "" Qualified 2 Farm "" Aut. Qualified Sara Kapo "" Rezarta Smaja "" Aut. Qualified Albina and Familja Kelmendi "" Aut. Qualified Sergio Hajdini "" Aut. Qualified Luna Çausholli "" Rovena Dilo "" Aut. Qualified

+ Semi-final 220 December 2022 Artist Song Result Melodajn Mancaku "" Qualified Permit of Stay "" Arsi Bako "" Gjergj Kaçinari "" Aut. Qualified Franc Koruni "" Aut. Qualified Petrit Çarkaxhiu "" Aut. Qualified Elsa Lila "Evita" Aut. Qualified Gent Hoxha "" Qualified Evi Reçi "" Aut. Qualified Manjola Nallbani "" Aut. Qualified Lynx "" Aut. Qualified Alban Kondi and Lore "" Aut. Qualified Vanesa Sono "" Qualified

Nostalgia Night The nostalgia night of took place on 21 December 2022 at 21:00 (CET). During the show, prominent Albanian singers accompanied the Big artists in performing renditions of historic songs from previous editions of .

+ Nostalgia Night21 December 2022 Artist(s) Song Lynx and Aleksandër Gjoka "" 1993 Aleksandër Gjoka Enxhi Nasufi and Edea Demaliaj "" 1997 Djemtë e detit Evi Reçi and Rosela Gjylbegu "" 1988 Eranda and Irma Libohova Petrit Çarkaxhiu and Bojken Lako "" 1999 Bojken Lako Rezarta Smaja and Luan Zhegu "" 1987 Luan Zhegu Sergio Hajdini and Kamela Islamaj "" 1965 Fiqrete Kapo and Qemal Kërtusha Elsa Lila and Capital T "" 1996 Elsa Lila Fabian Basha and Eranda Libohova "" 1996 Eranda Libohova Rovena Dilo and Soni Malaj "" 2000 Rovena Dilo Franc Koruni and Altin Goci "" 1991 Ritfolk Fifi and Flori Mumajesi "" 1993 Haxhi Dauti Albina Kelmendi and Josif Gjipali "" 1991 Tingulli i zjarrtë Manjola Nallbani and Eneda Tarifa "" 1993 Manjola Nallbani 2 Farm and Redon Makashi "" 1994 Redon Makashi Alban Kondi, Lore and West Side Family "" 2008 West Side Family Gjergj Kaçinari and Elhaida Dani "" 1972 Vaçe Zela

Final

The final of took place on 22 December 2022 at 21:00 (CET). Albanian-Belgian singer Gala Dragot and Ukrainian group Kalush, who won the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, were the interval acts of the final. The jury, consisting of Alma Bektashi, Elton Deda, Genc Salihu, Jeani Ciko and Rita Petro, determined Elsa Lila as the winner of the contest with the song "Evita". The Albanian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 was selected by televoting, with Albina and Familja Kelmendi with the song "" being named as the country's chosen representatives. Erma Mici received the award for the Best New Artist, while Rovena Dilo was awarded the Career Award.

Key: Winner Second place Third place

+ Final22 December 2022 Artist Song Place 2 Farm "" Sergio Hajdini "" Gjergj Kaçinari "" Alban Kondi and Lore "" Vanesa Sono "" Elsa Lila "Evita" Erma Mici "" Franc Koruni "" Gent Hoxha "" Petrit Çarkaxhiu "" Melodajna Mancaku "" Manjola Nallbani "" Urban Band "" Enxhi Nasufi "" Rovena Dilo "" Fifi "Stop" Rezarta Smaja "" Evi Reçi "" Fabian Basha "" Albina and Familja Kelmendi "" Lynx ""

Broadcasts

The four live shows of Festivali i Këngës were broadcast live from 19 December to 22 December 2022 on RTSH in Albania and Radio Televizioni i Kosovës (RTK) in Kosovo. RTSH further provided international live streaming of the shows through their official website, without any accompanying commentary.

+ Broadcasters Country Show(s) Broadcaster(s) All shows Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) Radio Televizioni i Kosovës (RTK)

See also Festivali i Këngës Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023

References