| Year: | 2011 |
| Country: | Albania |
| Preselection: | Festivali i Këngës 49 |
| Preselection Date: | Semi-finals: 23 December 2010 24 December 2010 Final: 25 December 2010 |
| Entrant: | Aurela Gaçe |
| Song: | Feel the Passion |
| Sf Result: | Failed to qualify (14th) |
Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany, with the song "Feel the Passion" performed by Aurela Gaçe. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2010. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest seven times since its first entry in . Prior to the contest, the song was promoted by a music video and live performances both in Belarus, Greece, Turkey and the Netherlands. Albania was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 10 May 2011. Performing as number three, the nation was not announced among the top 10 entries of the semi-final and therefore failed to qualify for the grand final, marking Albania's third non-qualification in the contest.
See main article: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Prior to the 2011 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest seven times since its first entry in .[1] The nation's highest placing in the contest, to this point, had been seventh place, which it achieved in 2004 with the song "The Image of You" performed by Anjeza Shahini.[1] During its tenure in the contest, Albania failed to qualify for the final two times, with the entry being the most recent non-qualifier.[1] The nation's national broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), has organised Festivali i Këngës since its inauguration in 1962.[2] Since 2003, the winner of the competition has simultaneously won the right to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest.[2]
RTSH organised the 49th edition of Festivali i Këngës to determine Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 23 and 24 December, respectively, and the grand final on 25 December 2010. The three live shows were hosted by Albanian singer Jonida Maliqi, presenter Josif Gjinpali and actress Mirela Naska.[3] The contest featured two categories, one dedicated to established artists and the other to newcomer artists.[4] The two semi-finals each featured 16 competing entries performed by established artists and three competing entries performed by newcomers.[5] The votes of a jury panel selected 11 entries from the established artists in each semi-final to advance to the final, while the votes of an alternate jury panel selected one entry from the newcomer artists in each semi-final to advance to the final.[5] In the final, the 18 competing entries were voted upon by a jury panel in order to select the winner. As a result of technical issues with the orchestra, the music was presented through a pre-recorded playback, while the artists performed live.[6]
RTSH invited interested artists and composers to submit their entries between 12 September and 20 October 2010.[7] The deadline was later extended to 6 November 2010 in order to give more time for the artists participating in Kënga Magjike to work on their entries.[7] On 15 November 2010, RTSH announced the 38 artists and songs selected for the competition by a special committee consisting of Altin Goci, Fatmir Hysi, Hajg Zaharian, Kozeta Mamaqi, Mefarete Laze, Thoma Gaqi and Zef Çoba.[4]
Key: Withdrawn
| +Competing entries | ||||
| Artist(s) | Song | Songwriter(s) | Lyricist(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Established category | ||||
| Adhurim Demiri | "24 orët" | Adhurim Demiri | ||
| Agim Poshka | "Bota com vetmi" | colspan="2" | ||
| Alban Skënderaj and Miriam Cani | "Ende ka shpresë" | Alban Skënderaj, Miriam Cani | ||
| Ardita Tusha | "Dikur besoja" | colspan="2" | ||
| Aurela Gaçe | "Kënga ime" | Shpëtim Saraçi | Sokol Marsi | |
| Besa Kokëdhima | "E bukura dhe bisha" | Besar Likaj | Dalina Buzi | |
| Blerina Shalari | "Lutjes apo dashurisë" | Blerina Shalari | ||
| Denis Hasa | "Mbi xhaketën time" | Xhavit Ujkani | Ismail Kadare | |
| Dorian Nini | "Mirë se vini në Shqipëri" | Jetmir Barbullushi | Perikli Papingji | |
| Dorina Garuci | "Mirëmbrëma engjëlli im" | Sokol Marsi | Jorgo Papingji | |
| Emi Bogdo | "Letër për ty" | Suela Kalaja | ||
| Enkeleda Arifi | "Një dashuri" | Adrian Hila | Pandi Laço | |
| Entela Zhula | "Lojë në dashuri" | Edmond Veizaj | Entela Zhula | |
| Ernis Cili and Onanta Spahiu | "FAM" | Ernis Cili | ||
| Etmond Mancaku | "Dashuri pas emrit" | Etmond Mancaku | ||
| Evans Rama | "Sonte" | colspan="2" | ||
| Francesk Radi | "Kemi dasëm'o" | Francesk Radi | Agim Doci | |
| Goldi Halili | "Në krahët e tu" | Fatrin Keajka | ||
| Heldi Kraja | "E diela pa ty" | Heldi Kraja | ||
| Herci Matmuja | "Me cilin rri ti dashuri" | Gent Myftarai | Agron Tufa | |
| Humus | "S'ka" | Humus | ||
| Kamela Islamaj | "Jetova për ty" | A. Male | Olti Curri | |
| Kejsi Tola | "Pranë" | Kristi Popa | Florian Zyka | |
| Klajdi Musabelliu | "Vetëm ti" | L. Jorganxhi | Zh. Jorganxhi | |
| Kujtim Prodani | "Ti ishe kryevepër" | Kujtim Prodani | Arben Duka | |
| Linda Halimi | "Nuk e kam pritur" | Linda Halimi | ||
| Marjeta Billo | "Perjetësi" | Klodian Qafoku | Dr. Flori | |
| Marsida Saraci | "Vetem s'jemi në botë" | Valentin Veizi | Arben Duka | |
| Mateus Froku | "Dimër në shpirt" | Kledi Bahiti | Dr. Flori | |
| NRG Band | "Mina-Mina" | NRG Band | ||
| Orges Toce | "Mari" | Orges Toce | ||
| Selami Kolonja | "Marmara" | Selami Kolonja | ||
| Sajmir Braho | "Shtegëtar i jetës time" | E. Sina | Sajmir Braho | |
| Sonila Mara | "Egoist" | Sonila Mara | ||
| Xhejsi Jorgaqi | "Rastësi" | G. Lako | J. Papingji | |
| Newcomers category | ||||
| Albi Xhepa and Semi Jaupaj | "Dritë" | Sam Jaupaj | Bojken Lako | |
| Bledi Polena | "Të jemi të dy" | colspan="2" | ||
| Ilir Kazaferi | "Nuk ke faj" | Ilir Kazaferi | ||
| Maria Prifti | "Pasuri e pasurive" | Frederik Ndoci | A.Doci | |
| Megi Laska | "Ëndrat ekzistojnë" | Fabian Asllani | Megi Laska | |
| Rudina Delia | "Pa botë" | Rudina Delia | ||
| Shpat Deda | "Të kam afër" | Shpat Deda | ||
The semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës took place on 23 December and 24 December 2010 on the respective dates. Seventeen contestants participated in each semi-final, with the highlighted ones progressing to the grand final.[8] [9]
| +Semi-final 123 December 2010 | |||||||||||||
| Draw | Artist(s) | Song | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Established category | |||||||||||||
| Selami Kolonja | "Marmara" | ||||||||||||
| Alban Skënderaj and Miriam Cani | "Ende ka shpresë" | ||||||||||||
| Orges Toce | "Mari" | ||||||||||||
| Kamela Islamaj | "Jetova për ty" | ||||||||||||
| Blerina Shalari | "Lutjes apo dashurisë" | ||||||||||||
| Ernis Cili and Onanta Spahiu | "FAM" | ||||||||||||
| Dorian Nini | "Mirë se vini në Shqipëri" | ||||||||||||
| Etmond Mancaku | "Dashuri pas emrit" | ||||||||||||
| Ardita Tusha | "Dikur besoja" | ||||||||||||
| Klajdi Musabelliu | "Vetëm ti" | ||||||||||||
| Evans Rama | "Sonte" | ||||||||||||
| Dorina Garuci | "Mirëmbrëma engjëlli im" | ||||||||||||
| Herci Matmuja | "Me cilin rri ti dashuri" | ||||||||||||
| Agim Poshka | "Bota com.vetmi" | ||||||||||||
| Marsida Saraci | "Vetem s'jemi në botë" | ||||||||||||
| Entela Zhula | "Lojë në dashuri" | ||||||||||||
| Newcomers category | |||||||||||||
| Ilir Kazaferi | "Nuk ke faj" | ||||||||||||
| Maria Prifti | "Pasuri e pasurive" | ||||||||||||
| Megi Laska | "Ëndrat ekzistojnë" | ||||||||||||
| +Semi-final 224 December 2010 | |||||||||||||
| Draw | Artist(s) | Song | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Established category | |||||||||||||
| Adhurim Demiri | "24 orët" | ||||||||||||
| Besa Kokëdhima | "E bukura dhe bisha" | ||||||||||||
| Emi Bogdo | "Letër për ty" | ||||||||||||
| Denis Hasa | "Mbi xhaketën time" | ||||||||||||
| Kujtim Prodani | "Ti ishe kryevepër" | ||||||||||||
| Goldi Halili | "Në krahët e tu" | ||||||||||||
| Marjeta Billo | "Perjetësi" | ||||||||||||
| Françesk Radi | "Kemi dasëm'o" | ||||||||||||
| Aurela Gaçe | "Kënga ime" | ||||||||||||
| Heldi Kraja | "E diela pa ty" | ||||||||||||
| Sonila Mara | "Egoist" | ||||||||||||
| Mateus Frroku | "Dimër në shpirt" | ||||||||||||
| Xhejsi Jorgaqi | "Rastësi" | ||||||||||||
| Enkeleda Arifi | "Një dashuri" | ||||||||||||
| Kejsi Tola | "Pranë" | ||||||||||||
| Sajmir Braho | "Shtegëtar i jetës time" | ||||||||||||
| Newcomers category | |||||||||||||
| Albi Xhepa and Semi Jaupaj | "Dritë" | ||||||||||||
| Bledi Polena | "Të jemi të dy" | ||||||||||||
| Rudina Delia | "Pa botë" | ||||||||||||
The grand final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 25 December 2010 and was broadcast live at 20:30 (CET).[10] [11] Determined by the combination of the votes from a seven-member jury, Aurela Gaçe with "Kënga ime" emerged as the winner and was thus announced as Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.[11] [12]
| +Final25 December 2010 | |||||
| Draw | Artist(s) | Song | Points | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francesk Radi | "Kemi dasëm'o" | 13 | 8 | ||
| Herci Matmuja | "Me cilin rri ti dashuri" | 7 | 11 | ||
| Goldi Halili | "Në krahët e tu" | 0 | 18 | ||
| Marsida Saraci | "Vetem s'jemi në botë" | 2 | 16 | ||
| Besa Kokëdhima | "E bukura dhe bisha" | 13 | 9 | ||
| Alban Skënderaj and Miriam Cani | "Ende ka shpresë" | 66 | 2 | ||
| Enkeleda Arifi | "Një dashuri" | 36 | 5 | ||
| Aurela Gaçe | "Kënga ime" | 82 | 1 | ||
| Maria Prifti | "Pasuri e pasurive" | 5 | 14 | ||
| Sajmir Braho | "Shtegëtar i jetës time" | 48 | 3 | ||
| Dorian Nini | "Mirë se vini në Shqipëri" | 34 | 6 | ||
| Selami Kolonja | "Marmara" | 6 | 12 | ||
| Xhejsi Jorgaqi | "Rastësi" | 44 | 4 | ||
| Albi Xhepa and Semi Jaupaj | "Dritë" | 0 | 18 | ||
| Dorina Garuci | "Mirëmbrëma engjëlli im" | 34 | 6 | ||
| Kamela Islamaj | "Jetova për ty" | 12 | 10 | ||
| Orges Toce | "Mari" | 3 | 15 | ||
| Denis Hasa | "Mbi xhaketën time" | 6 | 13 |
A music video for "Feel the Passion" premiered via the Eurovision Song Contest's official YouTube channel on 16 March 2011.[13] For promotional purposes, Gaçe embarked on a small tour with live performances at various events related to the contest, including in Belarus, Greece, Turkey and the Netherlands.[14] [15] [16] [17] [18]
The Eurovision Song Contest 2011 took place at Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany, and consisted of two semi-finals held on 10 and 12 May, respectively, and the grand final on 14 May 2011.[19] According to the Eurovision rules, all participating countries, except the host nation and the "Big Four", consisting of,, and the, were required to qualify from one of the two semi-finals to compete for the grand final.[20] The top 10 countries from the respective semi-final progress to the grand final.[20] On 17 January 2011, a special allocation draw was held that placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in.[21] Albania was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 10 May, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.[21] Once all the competing songs for the 2011 contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the producers of the contest rather than through another draw, for preventing similar songs being placed next to each other.[22] Albania was set to perform in position 3, following and preceding .[22] At the end of the first semi-final, the country was not announced among the top 10 entries in the semi-final and therefore failed to qualify for the grand final, marking Albania's third non-qualification in the Eurovision Song Contest.[1]
The tables below visualise a breakdown of points awarded to Albania in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, as well as by the country for both the second semi-final and grand final. In the semi-final, Albania finished in 14th place with a total of 47 points, including 12 from and 8 from both and .[23] In the final, Albania awarded its 12 points to Turkey in the first semi-final, and to in the final of the contest.[23] [24]