62 was the 62nd edition of the annual Albanian music competition . The contest was organised by (RTSH) at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania. It consisted of two semi-finals held on 19 and 20 December 2023, followed by a nostalgia night on 21 December and concluded with the grand final on 22 December 2023. The four live shows were hosted by Adriana Matoshi, Kledi Kadiu, Krisa Çaushi, and Xhuliano Dule. Mal Retkoceri emerged as the winner of the contest with his song "Çmendur". The Albanian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 was determined by public voting, with Besa Kokëdhima and her song "" being chosen.
Format
The 62nd edition of was organised by (RTSH) and took place from 19 to 22 December 2023. The contest consisted of two semi-finals on 19 and 20 December, followed by a nostalgia night on 21 December and concluded with the grand final on 22 December. The four live shows were hosted by Adriana Matoshi, Kledi Kadiu, Krisa Çaushi, and Xhuliano Dule, and were held at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania. The contest was under the artistic direction of Bojken Lako, with Enkel Demi serving as the screenwriter.
Voting
As in the preceding edition of the contest, the determination of the winner of was conducted through a jury vote. The winner would not receive an invitation to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. Instead, a separate televote was designated to select the Albanian representative for the 2024 contest. Eligible voters in the televoting system included the audiences from both Albania and Kosovo.
Contestants
The schedule for musical submissions to the RTSH was opened on 1 September and closed on 10 October 2023. During this period, the broadcaster received over 80 submissions from a diverse group of artists and composers, encompassing participants among others from Albania, Kosovo, Italy and the United States. For the first time, the selection panel was only informed of the identities of the applicants after the submission process had concluded aimed to ensure a fairer outcome in the selection. On 17 October, RTSH published a provisional list of 31 participants selected for the contest. Subsequently, on 1 November, it was announced that artists Samanta Karavella and Kejsi Tola would withdraw from the contest. They were subsequently replaced by Irma Lepuri and the PeterPan Quartet. Further changes to the participants occurred on 1 December, when Sardi Strugaj also announced his withdrawal from the contest. In his place, Eden Baja was designated as a replacement participant.
Key: Withdrawn Replacement
+ Contestants: Established artists Artist(s) Song Songwriter(s) Andi Tanko "" Andi Tanko Anduel Kovaçi " Anduel Kovaçi Arsi Bako "" Besa Kokëdhima "" Besa Krasniqi "" Besa Krasniqi Big Basta and Vesa Luma "" Eldis Arrnjeti "" Elsa Lila "" Elsa Lila Festina Mejzini "" Sokol Marsi Kastro Zizo "2073" Kejsi Tola "" Melodajn Mancaku "" Olimpia Smajlaj "" Samanta Karavella "" Sardi Strugaj "" Sardi Strugaj Sergio Hajdini "" Sergio Hajdini Tiri Gjoci ""
+ Contestants: New artists Artist Song Songwriter(s) Bledi Kaso "" Eden Baja "" Anxhela Llaha Erina and the Elementals "" Irma Lepuri "" Irma Lepuri Jasmina Hako "" Jehona Ponari "" Jehona Ponari Kleansa Susaj "" Luan Durmishi "" Mal Retkoceri "" Mal Retkoceri Martina Serreqi "" Michela Paluca "" Olsi Ballta "" Bledar Gramo PeterPan Quartet "" Santino De Bartolo "" Santino De Bartolo Shpat Deda "" Shpat Deda Stivi Ushe "" Troy Band ""
Shows
Semi-finals
The semi-finals of took place on 19 and 20 December 2023 and were broadcast live at 21:00 (CET) on the respective dates. The running order for both semi-finals of the contest was determined during a press conference held on 1 November. The first semi-final presented Albanian singer Viola Gjyzeli, who represented Albania in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023, and Italian singer Umberto Tozzi as special guests. Albanian musicians, including Rachelle Andrioti, Aleksandër Gjoka and Indrit Mesiti, performed in the second semi-final.
Key: Automatic Qualifier Qualifier
+ Semi-final 119 December 2023 Artist Song Result Stivi Ushe "" Besa Kokëdhima "" Aut. Qualified Mal Retkoceri "" Qualified Eldis Arrnjeti "" Aut. Qualified Shpat Deda "" Qualified Jehona Ponari "" PeterPan Quartet "" Qualified Festina Mejzini "" Aut. Qualified Kastro Zizo "2073" Aut. Qualified Luan Durmishi "" Melodajn Mancaku "" Aut. Qualified Olsi Ballta "" Andi Tanko "" Aut. Qualified Sergio Hajdini "" Aut. Qualified Santino De Bartolo "" Olimpia Smajlaj "" Aut. Qualified
+ Semi-final 220 December 2023 Artist(s) Song Result Big Basta and Vesa Luma "" Aut. Qualified Elsa Lila "" Aut. Qualified Jasmina Hako "" Michela Paluca "" Qualified Anduel Kovaçi " Aut. Qualified Kleansa Susaj "" Qualified Eden Baja "" Erina and the Elementals "" Qualified Irma Lepuri "" Qualified Arsi Bako "" Aut. Qualified Tiri Gjoci "" Aut. Qualified Besa Krasniqi "" Aut. Qualified Bledi Kaso "" Troy Band "" Martina Serreqi "" Qualified
Nostalgia Night
The nostalgia night of took place on 21 December 2023 at 21:00 (CET). Prominent Albanian artists provided accompaniment to some of the contestants in performing renditions of historical popular songs. Following the conclusion of the show, a jury evaluated the performances and selected eight out of 17 contestants from the New artists category to advance to the grand final. The remaining 14 contestants from the Established artists category automatically qualified for the grand final without the need for further evaluation. Kosovo-Albanian artist Adelina Ismaili was a special guest of the show, where she performed her song "".
+ Nostalgia Night21 December 2023 Artist(s) Guest artist(s) Song Eldis Arrnjeti Myfarete Laze "" Besa Krasniqi Eranda and Irma Libohova "" Kleansa Susaj and Michela Paluca "" Sergio Hajdini Eneda Tarifa "" Arsi Bako Eugent Bushpepa "" Olimpia Smajlaj Fitnete Tuda "" Jasmina Hako and Mal Retkoceri "Fairytale" PeterPan Quartet and Troy Band "" Festina Mejzini Florent Abrashi "" Tiri Gjoci Sidrit Bejleri "" Andi Tanko Angus Dei "" Erina and the Elementals and Olsi Ballta "Hard Rock Hallelujah" Irma Lepuri and Shpat Deda "" Jehona Ponari and Martina Serreqi "Wild Dances" Melodajn Mancaku Edmond Mancaku "" Big Basta and Vesa Luma Elton Deda "" Eden Baja Anxhela Llaha "Satellite" Anduel Kovaçi Ilir Shaqiri "" Kastro Zizo Rea Nuhu "" Besa Kokëdhima Jehona Sopi "" Elsa Lila Enrico Melozzi "" Luan Durmishi and Santino De Bartolo "" Bledi Kaso and Stivi Ushe "Arcade"
Final
The grand final of took place on 22 December 2023 at 21:00 (CET). Though there were only 22 finalists in the grand final, all 31 contestants, including those who were eliminated, were eligible for the selection of the Albanian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. Several influential figures attended the live show, including the President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, Speaker of the Parliament, Lindita Nikolla, as well as the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti. Performing guests included Albanian singer Aurela Gaçe, actor Nik Xhelilaj, and Kosovo-Albanian singer La Fazani, who was the winner of the inaugural edition of in Kosovo.
The jury determined Mal Retkoceri as the winner of the contest with his song "". Tiri Gjoci secured second place with "", while Shpat Deda took third place with "". The PeterPan Quartet was awarded the Best Newcomer Award for their song "", and Martina Serreqi received the Critic's Choice Award for her song "". Additionally, the winner of the televoting was Besa Kokëdhima with her song "", which concurrently designated her as the Albanian representative for Eurovision 2024.
Key: Winner Second place Third place
+ Grand final22 December 2023 Artist Song Place Kastro Zizo "2073" Mal Retkoceri "" Erina and the Elementals "" Melodajn Mancaku "" Tiri Gjoci "" Kleansa Susaj "" Irma Lepuri "" Festina Mejzini "" Eldis Arrnjeti "" Martina Serreqi "" Besa Krasniqi "" Sergio Hajdini "" Olimpia Smajlaj "" Anduel Kovaçi " Michela Paluca "" PeterPan Quartet "" Besa Kokëdhima "" Arsi Bako "" Elsa Lila "" Andi Tanko "" Shpat Deda "" Big Basta and Vesa Luma ""
Broadcasts
The four live shows of Festivali i Këngës were broadcast from 19 December to 22 December 2023 on RTSH in Albania. Each evening comprised a dedicated program on RTSH 24 and Radio 2, wherein participating artists shared insights into their behind-the-scenes experiences. Furthermore, the shows were transmitted through Radio Televizioni i Kosovës (RTK) in Kosovo. The grand final was also broadcast on Radio i Televizija Crne Gore through the Radio Crne Gore channel in Montenegro, as well as on Makedonska Radio Televizija through the MRT 2 channel in North Macedonia.
+ Broadcasters of Festivali i Këngës Country Broadcaster Channel Show(s) RTSH RTSH 1 All shows Radio Tirana RTK Show 13 RTK 1 Final RTCG Radio Crne Gore MRT MRT 2
See also Festivali i Këngës Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024
References
References