Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 explained

Year:2018
Country:Albania
Preselection:Festivali i Këngës 56
Preselection Date:Semi-finals:
21 December 2017
22 December 2017
Final:
23 December 2017
Entrant:Eugent Bushpepa
Song:Mall
Sf Result:Qualified (8th, 168 points)
Final Result:11th, 184 points

Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal, with the song "Mall" performed by Eugent Bushpepa. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2017. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fourteen times since its first entry in . Prior to the contest, the song was promoted by a music video and live performances in the Netherlands and Spain.

Albania was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 8 May 2018. Performing as number three, the nation was announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the final. In the grand final on 12 May, it performed as number 12 and placed 11th out of the 26 participating countries, scoring 184 points.

Background

See main article: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Prior to the 2018 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fourteen times since its first entry in .[1] The nation's highest placing in the contest, to this point, had been the fifth place, which it achieved in with the song "Suus" performed by Rona Nishliu.[1] The first entry was performed by Anjeza Shahini with the song "The Image of You" and finished in the seventh place, Albania's second-highest placing to date.[1] During its tenure in the contest, Albania failed to qualify for the final seven times, with both the and entries being the most recent non-qualifiers.[2] [3]

In October 2017, the national broadcaster of Albania, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), officially confirmed Albania's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal.[4] RTSH broadcasts the contest within Albania and organises the selection process for the nation's entry.[5] Since its debut in 2004, it has consistently selected its entry through the long-standing competition Festivali i Këngës.[5]

Before Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës

Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) organised the 56th edition of Festivali i Këngës in order to select the nation's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.[6] The event consisted of two semi-finals on 21 and 22 December, and the grand final on 23 December 2017.[7] The three live shows were hosted by television presenter and journalist Adi Krasta, who had previously hosted the event five times prior to 2018.[8] In October 2017, RTSH confirmed that the nation would participate in the contest and that once again, Festivali i Këngës would be used as the selection process for the entry.[9] Over 70 acts submitted applications to the broadcaster for consideration during the submission period held from 2 November to 10 November 2017.[10] The names of the 22 songs and singers selected to compete in the two semi-finals were released on 13 November.[10] [11]

Shows

Semi-finals

The semi-finals took place on 21 and 22 December 2017 and were broadcast at 20:45 (CET), respectively.[12] [13] The allocation draw of the participating entries for each semi-final was published on 19 December, a few days before the event.[14] The interval acts for the first semi-final included performances from Italian singer-songwriter Riccardo Cocciante and Albanian singer Elhaida Dani, the latter of whom represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.[15] The results of the semi-finals are outlined in the tables below, however of the 22 entries, 14 progressed to the grand final.[16]

+ Semi-final 121 December 2017
DrawArtistSong
1Elton Deda"Fjalët"
2Mariza Ikonomi"Unë"
3Endri & Stefi"Mesazh"
4Evans Rama"Gjurmët"
5Genc and David Tukiçi"Të pandarë"
6Voltan Prodani"E pamundur"
7Eugent Bushpepa"Mall"
8"Ra një yll"
9Bojken Lako"Sytë e shpirtit"
10Manjola Nallbani"I njëjti qiell"
11Redon Makashi"Ekziston"
+ Semi-final 222 December 2017
DrawArtistSong
1Orgesa Zaimi"Ngrije zërin"
2Denisa Gjezo"Zemër ku je"
3NA and Festina Mejzini"Tjetër jetë"
4Lorela Sejdini"Pritëm edhe pak"
5Artemisa Mithi"E dua botën"
6Ergi Bregu"Bum bum"
7Akullthyesit"Divorc"
8Xhesika Polo"Përjetë"
9Inis Neziri"Piedestal"
10Tiri Gjoci"Orë e ndalur"
11Lynx"Vonë"
Final

The grand final took place on 23 December 2017 and was broadcast at 20:45 (CET).[17] It consisted of the fourteen entries that had qualified for the final, including eight from the first semi-final and six from the second semi-final. The results were determined by a jury panel consisting of Adrian Hila, Ilirian Zhupa, Limoz Dizdari, Markelian Kapedani and Zana Çela.[18] [19] After gathering the maximum points from the jury, "Mall" by Eugent Bushpepa emerged as the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest.[20] The results of the final are summarized in the table below:

Key: Winner Second place Third place

+ Final23 December 2017
DrawArtistSong
1Redon Makashi"Ekziston"
2NA and Festina Mejzini"Tjetër jetë"
3Voltan Prodani"E pamundur"
4Denisa Gjezo"Zemër ku je"
5Tiri Gjoci"Orë e ndalur"
6Orgesa Zaimi"Ngrije zërin"
7"Ra një yll"
8Artemisa Mithi"E dua botën"
9Manjola Nallbani"I njëjti qiell"
10Inis Neziri"Piedestal"
11Bojken Lako"Sytë e shpirtit"
12Mariza Ikonomi"Unë"
13Eugent Bushpepa"Mall"
14Elton Deda"Fjalët"

Promotion

An accompanying music video for "Mall" premiered on the official YouTube channel of the Eurovision Song Contest on 26 March 2018.[21] [22] Apart from the music video, Eugent Bushpepa traveled to the city of Aveiro on the Atlantic Ocean to film his introductory postcard, serving as an introduction for each participating country and artist.[23] [24] The postcard shows him visiting the fishermen's houses, fish warehouses and the salt mines of Aveiro.[24] For further promotional purposes, the singer embarked on a small tour with live performances at various Eurovision Song Contest-related events, including Amsterdam and Madrid.[25] [26] In addition, he was scheduled to perform in London but was forced to withdraw due to issues obtaining a visa.[27]

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2018 took place at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 8 and 10 May and the grand final on 12 May 2018.[28] According to the rules, each participating country, except the host country and the "Big Five", consisting of,,,, and the, were required to qualify from one of the two semi-finals to compete for the grand final, although, the top ten countries from the respective semi-final progress to the grand final.[29]

In January 2018, a special allocation draw was held at the City Hall of Lisbon that placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in.[30] Albania was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 8 May, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.[30] Once all the competing songs for the 2018 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.[31] Albania was set to perform in position three, following and preceding .[31] At the end of the semi-final, the nation was announced among the top 10 entries and therefore qualified to compete in the grand final.[32] [33] Four days later at the grand final on 12 May, Albania appeared twelfth in the running order, following and preceding .[34] [35]

Voting

Voting during the three shows involved each country awarding two sets of points, including one from their professional jury and the other from televoting. Songs were given points ranging from 1 though 8, then 10 and 12, from lowest to highest ranking. Each nation's jury consisted of five music professionals, who are citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency. This jury judged each entry based on vocal capacity, the stage performance, the song's composition and originality, and the act's overall impression. In addition, no member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member as well as the nation's televoting results were released shortly after the grand final.[36]

The tables below visualise a breakdown of points awarded to Albania in the first semi-final and final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, as well as by the nation on both occasions. In the semi-final, Albania finished in eighth place, being awarded a total of 162 points, including 12 by the televoters from, and the same number of points by the juries from and .[37] In the final, Albania reached the 11th place with 184 points, including 12 by the televoters from and Macedonia, and 12 by the juries from .[38]

Detailed voting results

The following members comprised the Albanian jury:[39] [40]

+
DrawCountryJuryTelevote
RankPointsRankPoints
013 3 17 4 17 6 5 4 7
0217 10 16 17 16 17 18
03
047 11 1 8 8 7 4 15
0518 15 15 18 15 18 9 2
0613 13 2 9 9 10 1 11
075 6 3 6 3 2 10 7 4
086 9 4 1 10 4 7 13
0915 5 18 14 18 14 5 6
108 7 5 7 2 5 6 6 5
112 2 10 3 14 3 8 16
1214 8 9 10 13 13 17
1311 16 12 16 5 12 8 3
144 4 11 5 12 8 3 2 10
1512 14 13 12 11 16 3 8
1610 17 6 11 7 11 12
179 12 7 13 1 9 2 10 1
1816 18 14 15 6 15 14
191 1 8 2 4 1 12 1 12
+
DrawCountryJuryTelevote
RankPointsRankPoints
0120 16 24 16 23 23 18
0213 13 23 15 18 14 25
0321 17 17 14 16 18 19
0418 20 14 13 17 16 15
0515 15 11 17 12 11 9 2
0617 21 12 12 24 13 7 4
0723 19 22 18 22 25 13
0816 22 13 19 14 17 24
0911 14 21 20 19 15 8 3
108 6 10 9 9 8 3 16
114 5 3 4 6 5 6 3 8
12
133 3 6 5 5 4 7 6 5
149 10 9 10 8 10 1 17
1519 12 20 21 21 21 20
1614 23 19 22 25 24 14
1712 25 15 23 20 20 11
185 4 5 3 4 3 8 5 6
1910 7 8 7 10 9 2 22
207 9 7 8 7 7 4 21
2122 24 16 24 11 19 23
226 8 4 6 3 6 5 10 1
2324 18 25 25 13 22 12
2425 11 18 11 15 12 4 7
251 2 2 2 2 2 10 2 10
262 1 1 1 1 1 12 1 12

Notes and References

  1. Web site: . Countries: Albania . 26 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201026144748/https://eurovision.tv/country/albania . 26 October 2020.
  2. Web site: . Stockholm 2016: Second Semi-final–Scoreboard . 28 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028134452/https://eurovision.tv/event/stockholm-2016/second-semi-final . 28 October 2020 . dead .
  3. Web site: . Kyiv 2017: First Semi-final–Scoreboard . 28 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028134643/https://eurovision.tv/event/kyiv-2017/first-semi-final . 28 October 2020.
  4. Web site: Jiandani . Sanjay (Sergio) . ESCToday . Albania: RTSH confirms participation in Eurovision 2018 . 18 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112012301/http://esctoday.com/149320/albania-rtsh-confirms-participation-eurovision-2018/ . 12 November 2020 . 2 October 2017.
  5. Web site: European Broadcasting Union (EBU) . All about Albania . 17 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170801070832/https://eurovision.tv/story/all-about-albania . 1 August 2017 . 14 July 2012.
  6. Web site: Brown . Alistair . Eurovoix . Albania: Eurovision 2018 Participation Confirmed . 28 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028145607/https://eurovoix.com/2017/10/04/albania-eurovision-2018-participation-confirmed/ . 28 October 2020 . 4 October 2017.
  7. Web site: . Festivali i 56-të i Këngës në RTSH . 26 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201026151251/https://www.rtsh.al/festivali-i-56-te-i-kenges-ne-rtsh/ . 26 October 2020 . sq.
  8. Web site: Stella . Nathan . ESCBubble . Festivali I Këngës Final Set For The 23rd Of December! . 28 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028145809/http://escbubble.com/2017/10/festivali-kenges-final-set-23rd-december/ . 28 October 2020 . 17 October 2017.
  9. Web site: Jiandani . Sanjay (Sergio) . ESCToday . Albania: RTSH confirms participation in Eurovision 2018 . 24 April 2020 . 2 October 2017.
  10. Web site: Herbert . Emiy . Eurovoix . Albania: Festivali i Këngës songs revealed . 28 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028150406/https://eurovoix.com/2017/12/05/albania-festivali-i-kenges-songs-revealed/ . 28 October 2020 . 5 December 2017.
  11. Web site: Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) . Rikthehen të mëdhenjtë e muzikës, shpallen finalistët e Festivalit të 56-të të Këngës në RTSH . 28 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028150548/https://www.rtsh.al/lajme/rikthehen-te-medhenjte-e-muzikes-shpallen-finalistet-e-festivalit-te-56-te-te-kenges-ne-rtsh/ . 28 October 2020 . sq . 13 November 2017.
  12. Web site: Knoops . Roy . ESCToday . Watch now: Albania's Festivali i Këngës 56 kicks off with semi-final 1 . 7 May 2020 . 21 December 2017.
  13. Web site: Knoops . Roy . ESCToday . Watch now: Semi-final 2 of Festivali i Këngës 56 in Albania . 7 May 2020 . 22 December 2017.
  14. Web site: Ervin . Juhász . ESCBubble . Allocation of the semi-finalists of Festivali i Kenges revealed! . 5 May 2020 . 19 December 2017.
  15. Web site: Avelino . Gerry . Eurovoix . Tonight: Festivali i Këngës 56 Semi-final One . 7 May 2020 . 21 December 2017.
  16. Web site: Halpin . Chris . . 4 finalists revealed for Festivali i Këngës 56 after second semi-final . 8 May 2020 . 23 December 2017.
  17. Web site: Knoops . Roy . ESCToday . Watch now: Grand Final of Festivali i Këngës 56 in Albania . 7 May 2020 . 23 December 2017.
  18. Web site: Tejeci . Erdi . . Festivali i Kenges 56: Jury vote will 100% decide the winner . 28 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028145954/https://wiwibloggs.com/2017/12/21/festivali-kenges-56-jury-vote-will-100-decide-winner/205072/ . 28 October 2020 . 21 December 2017.
  19. Web site: Avelino . Gerry . Eurovoix . Albania: Eugent Bushpepa wins Festivali i Këngës 56 with "Mall" . 28 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028150234/https://eurovoix.com/2017/12/23/albania-eugent-bushpepa-wins-festivali-i-kenges/ . 28 October 2020 . 23 December 2017.
  20. Web site: Jordan . Paul . Eugent Bushpepa to represent Albania at Eurovision 2018! . 8 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200508134259/https://eurovision.tv/story/eugent-bushpepa-to-represent-albania-in-eurovision-2018 . 8 May 2020 . 24 December 2017.
  21. Web site: . Eugent Bushpepa - Mall - Albania - Official Music Video - Eurovision 2018 . 5 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180731131251/https://eurovision.tv/video/eugent-bushpepa-mall-albania-official-music-video-eurovision-2018-1 . 31 July 2018 . 26 March 2018.
  22. News: . Eugent Bushpepa - Mall - Albania Official Music Video . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211115/o-i2Rjbq8nw. 2021-11-15 . live. 26 March 2018 . 5 May 2020.
  23. Web site: Beks . Ephraïm . . Destination Lisbon (#4): Meet Eugent Bushpepa from Albania . 25 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200425152038/https://eurovision.tv/story/destination-lisbon-part-four-eugent-bushpepa-albania-eurovision-2018 . 25 April 2020 . 20 March 2018.
  24. Web site: Jiandani . Sanjay (Sergio) . ESCToday . Albania: Eugent Bushpepa films his Eurovision postcard in Aveiro . 5 May 2020 . 20 February 2020.
  25. Web site: Wolther . Irving . . Zehn Jahre "Eurovision in Concert" in Amsterdam . 5 May 2020 . 16 April 2018. de.
  26. Web site: Zwart, Josianne. Escudero, Victor M.. . ¡Gracias Madrid! — this was the ESPreParty 2018! . 5 May 2020 . 25 April 2018.
  27. Web site: Kristjans . Kristin . . POLL: Which London Eurovision 2018 act impressed you the most with their live performance? . 5 May 2020 . 6 April 2018.
  28. Web site: . Eurovision Song Contest–Lisbon 2018 . 30 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201030181813/https://eurovision.tv/event/lisbon-2018 . 30 October 2020.
  29. Web site: . Eurovision Song Contest–Rules . 24 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200408073043/https://eurovision.tv/about/rules/ . 8 April 2020.
  30. Web site: Zwart . Josianne . Jordan . Paul . European Broadcasting Union (EBU) . Which countries will perform in which Semi-final at Eurovision 2018? . 24 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200216090941/https://eurovision.tv/story/results-of-the-semi-final-allocation-draw-2018 . 16 February 2020 . 29 January 2018.
  31. Web site: Zwart . Josianne . . Running order for Eurovision 2018 Semi-finals revealed . 24 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190919224305/https://eurovision.tv/story/running-order-eurovision-2018-semi-finals-revealed . 19 September 2019 . 3 April 2018.
  32. Web site: Groot . Evert . . First Semi-Final: 10 Acts Qualify for Eurovision 2018 Grand Final . 18 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201018013505/https://eurovision.tv/story/ten-qualifiers-first-semi-final-eurovision-2018 . 18 October 2020 . 8 May 2018 . dead .
  33. Web site: Second Semi-final of Lisbon 2018 . European Broadcasting Union (EBU) . 8 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210508165744/https://eurovision.tv/event/lisbon-2018/second-semi-final . 8 May 2021 . live.
  34. Web site: . Eurovision 2018: This is the running order of the Grand Final! . 17 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190630151050/https://eurovision.tv/story/exclusive-running-order-eurovision-2018-grand-final . 30 June 2019 . 11 May 2018.
  35. Web site: Grand Final of Lisbon 2018 . European Broadcasting Union (EBU) . 8 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210508165804/https://eurovision.tv/event/lisbon-2018/grand-final . 8 May 2021 . live.
  36. Web site: Groot . Evert . . Exclusive: These are the expert jurors for Eurovision 2018 . 30 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201030181007/https://eurovision.tv/story/exclusive-jury-members-eurovision-2018 . 30 October 2020 . 30 April 2018.
  37. Web site: Results of the First Semi-final of Lisbon 2018 . European Broadcasting Union (EBU) . 9 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210509153656/https://eurovision.tv/event/lisbon-2018/first-semi-final/results/albania . 9 May 2021 . live.
  38. Web site: Results of the Grand Final of Lisbon 2018 . European Broadcasting Union (EBU) . 9 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210509153830/https://eurovision.tv/event/lisbon-2018/grand-final/results/albania . 9 May 2021 . live.
  39. Web site: Groot . Evert . . Exclusive: These are the expert jurors for Eurovision 2018 . 30 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201030181007/https://eurovision.tv/story/exclusive-jury-members-eurovision-2018 . 30 October 2020 . 30 April 2018.
  40. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20180430223836/https://service.accredion.com/file/b1c27e16-2af7-4a93-89dc-7eb736a988f5.pdf. Jury members (v1). 2018. 30 April 2018. dead. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 15 March 2021.