Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016

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Eurovision Song Contest 2016
Country Albania
National selection
Selection processFestivali i Këngës 54
Selection date(s)Semi-finals:
25 December 2015
26 December 2015
Final:
27 December 2015
Selected entrantEneda Tarifa
Selected song"Fairytale"
Selected songwriter(s)Olsa Toqi
Finals performance
Semi-final resultFailed to qualify (16th)
Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2015 • 2016 • 2017►

Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden, with the song "Fairytale" performed by Eneda Tarifa. The nation's entry was selected in December 2015 through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). Initially titled "Përrallë", the song was remastered and translated into English for its Eurovision participation.

By 2016, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 12 times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the 2016 contest, the song was promoted by a music video and several live performances across Europe. Albania was drawn to compete in the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 12 May 2016. Performing 17th (second to last), the nation was not among the top 10 entries of its semi-final and therefore failed to qualify for the final, marking Albania's sixth non-qualification in the contest. When the results were released shortly after, Albania had placed 16th with 45 points.

Background

Main article: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2016 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 12 times since its first entry in 2004. Its first entry was the song "The Image of You" performed by Anjeza Shahini, which finished in seventh place, the nation's second-highest placing as of 2023. The country's highest placing by 2016 had been fifth, which it achieved in 2012 with the song "Suus" performed by Rona Nishliu. Albania had previously failed to qualify for the final four times, most recently in 2014.[1] The Albanian broadcaster that broadcast the 2016 contest in Albania and organised the selection process for its entry was Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). The Albanian song contest Festivali i Këngës has been organised annually since 1964 and has been used as the country's entry selection method since its debut in 2004.[2]

Before Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës

The national broadcaster of Albania, RTSH, organised the 54th edition of Festivali i Këngës with the objective of determining the country's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.[3][4] The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 25 and 26 December, respectively, and the final on 27 December 2015.[3] The three live shows were held at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana and hosted by Blerta Tafani and Pandi Laço.[5] The contest featured Laço as the screenwriter and Elton Deda as the artistic director.[5][6]

Competing entries

RTSH invited interested artists and composers to submit their entries between 29 and 30 September 2015.[7][8] All songs were required to be in the Albanian language, all performers were required to be at least 16 years of age, and singers and composers could only submit one song while lyricists could only submit two songs.[9] On 16 October 2015, RTSH announced the 30 artists and songs selected for the competition by a special committee and among the competing artists were two previous Albanian Eurovision Song Contest entrants: Luiz Ejlli (2006) and Adrian Lulgjuraj (2013).[3] One substitution was made prior to the event: "Era" performed by Edea Demaliaj was replaced by "Një shishe në oqean" performed by Orgesa Zaimi.[10]

The competing entries were released to the public online through the broadcaster's website on 4 December 2015.[11] Throughout December 2015, Radio Tirana aired the competing entries and interviewed the artists on the programme Gjithçka Shqip hosted by Andri Xhahu and Artemisa Deda.[12] On 10 December, 40-second promotional video clip montages of all of the entries were released by the broadcaster.[13]

Key:   Withdrawn   Replacement entry

Competing entries[10]
Artist Song Songwriter(s)
Adrian Lulgjuraj "Jeto dhe ëndërro" Adrian Lulgjuraj
Andi Tanko "Dielli vazhdon të më ngrohë" Edmond Mancaku
Aslajdon Zaimaj "Merrmë që sot"
  • Briz Musaraj
  • Gerald Xhari
Besa Krasniqi "Liroje zemrën" Besa Krasniqi
Dilan Reka "Buzëqesh"
  • Ergisa Cenuka
  • Endri Sina
Edea Demaliaj "Era"
  • Adrian Hila
  • Pandi Laço
Egert Pano "Mos ik"
  • Egert Pano
  • Enrieta Sina
Egzon Pireci "Triumf"
  • Faton Dolaku
  • Egzon Pireci
Eneda Tarifa "Përrallë" Olsa Toqi
Enxhi Nasufi "Infinit"
  • Klodian Qafoku
  • Florian Zyka
Erga Halilaj "Monolog"
  • Erga Halilaj
  • Gjergj Kaçinari
Evans Rama "Flakë"
  • Helena Halilaj
  • Gent Lako
Flaka Krelani "S'je për mua" Qëndrim Krelani
Florent Abrashi "Të ndjek çdo hap" Fabian Asllani
Genc Tukiçi "Sa të dashuroj" Genc Tukiçi
Jozefina Simoni "Një det me ty"
  • Sokol Marsi
  • Enis Mullaj
Klajdi Musabelliu "Ndodh edhe kështu"
  • Klajdi Musabelli
  • Perikli Papingji
Klodian Kaçani and Rezarta Smaja "Dashuri në përjetësi"
  • Agim Doçi
  • Edmond Zhulali
Kozma Dushi "Një kafe"
  • Vladimir Kotani
  • Jorgo Papingji
Kristi Popa "Ajo çfarë ndjej"
  • Jorgo Papingji
  • Kristi Popa
Lindi Islami "Për një mrekulli"
  • Lindi Islami
  • Gerald Xhari
Luiz Ejlli "Pa mbarim"
  • Marian Deda
  • Agim Doçi
Niku and Entela Zhula "Muza" Entela Zhula
Nilsa Hysi "Asaj"
  • Nilsa Hysi
  • Indri Topi
Orgesa Zaimi "Një shishe në oqean"
  • Agron Tufa
  • Diana Ziu
Renis Gjoka "Ato që s'ti them dot" Renis Gjoka
Revolt Klan "Dashurinë s'e gjejmë dot" Revolt Klan
Sigi Bastri "Engjëll i lirë"
  • Silivi Bastri
  • Endrit Shani
Simbol "Artiste"
  • Martin Çipi
  • Simbol
Teuta Kurti "Në sytë e mi" Sokol Marsi
Voltan Prodani "Dëgjoje këngën o Atë"
  • Zhuljana Jorganxhi
  • Voltan Prodani

Semi-finals

The two semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës took place on 25 December and 26 December 2015 and were broadcast at 20:45 (CET).[14] In each semi-final, a total of 15 songs competed of which 11 entries in each semi-final, selected by a jury, advanced to the final.[5][15][16]

Key:   Qualifier

Final

The final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 27 December 2015 and was broadcast at 20:45 (CET).[15] A jury determined Eneda Tarifa as the winner of the contest with the song "Përrallë".[17][18]

Key:   Winner   Second place   Third place

Final–27 December 2015[15][17]
Draw Artist(s) Song Result
1
 Sigi Bastri "Engjëll i lirë"
2
 Klodian Kaçani and Rezarta Smaja "Dashuri në përjetësi" 4
3
 Dilan Reka "Buzëqesh" 7
4
 Adrian Lulgjuraj "Jeto dhe ëndërro"
5
 Erga Halilaj "Monolog"
6
 Evans Rama "Flakë" 10
7
 Jozefina Simoni "Një det me ty"
8
 Egert Pano "Mos ik"
9
 Genc Tukiçi "Sa të dashuroj"
10
 Kozma Dushi "Një kafe"
11
 Luiz Ejlli "Pa mbarim"
12
 Teuta Kurti "Në sytë e mi" 8
13
 Besa Krasniqi "Liroje zemrën"
14
 Nilsa Hysi "Asaj" 6
15
 Kristi Popa "Ajo çfarë ndjej"
16
 Flaka Krelani "S'je për mua" 3
17
 Enxhi Nasufi "Infinit" 5
18
 Lindi Islami "Për një mrekulli"
19
 Florent Abrashi "Të ndjek çdo hap"
20
 Eneda Tarifa "Përrallë" 1
21
 Renis Gjoka "Ato që s'ti them dot" 9
22
 Aslajdon Zaimaj "Merrmë që sot" 2

Preparation and promotion

For the purposes of participating in Eurovision, a remastered and English-language version of "Përrallë" titled "Fairytale" was released on 13 March 2016.[19] Its release was accompanied by a music video uploaded to the official YouTube channel of the Eurovision Song Contest.[20][21] For further promotion, Tarifa embarked on a small tour with live performances at various Eurovision Song Contest-related events in Amsterdam, London, and Tel Aviv.[22][23][24][25] This included participation in the eighth annual Eurovision in Concert series, an event held at the club Melkweg in Amsterdam, Netherlands, that was staged to serve as a preview party for the year's entries.[22]

At Eurovision

The

Big 5", consisting of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, were required to qualify from one of the two semi-finals to compete for the final, with the top 10 countries from each semi-final progressing to the final of the contest.[27] On 26 January 2016, an allocation draw was held at the Stockholm City Hall that placed each country into one of the two semi-finals and determined which half of the show they would perform in.[28] Albania was placed into the second semi-final, to be held on 12 May, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.[28]

Once all the competing songs for the 2016 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; Albania was set to perform at position 18, following Georgia and preceding Belgium.[29] However, the nation's performing position shifted to 17, following Romania's disqualification from the contest on 22 April and subsequent removal from the running order of the second semi-final.[30]

Performances

Eneda Tarifa performing during a rehearsal prior the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.

Tarifa took part in technical rehearsals on 5 and 7 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 11 and 12 May.[31] This included the jury show on 11 May where the professional juries of each country watched and voted on the competing entries.[32] The performance saw Tarifa dressed in a long gold dress standing atop a gold LED stage floor.[33] When viewed together, the dress appeared to extend into the floor as one continuous piece covering the stage. Surrounding Tarifa were accents and pyrotechnics also of gold color.[34] She was joined on stage by three backing vocalists: Besa Krasniqi, Venera Lumani and Xhoni Jesku.[35]

At the end of the second semi-final, the country was not announced among the top 10 entries in the semi-final and therefore failed to qualify for the final,[36] marking the sixth time Albania had failed to qualify in the contest.[1] It was later revealed that Albania placed 16th in the semi-final, receiving a total of 45 points: 35 points from the televoting and 10 points from the juries.[37]

Voting

See also: Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest

Voting during the three live shows of the Eurovision Song Contest was conducted under a new system that involved each country now awarding two sets of points from 1–8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting.[38] Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who were citizens of the country they represented, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency.[38] This jury judged each entry based on vocal capacity, the stage performance, the song's composition and originality and the overall impression by the act.[38][39] 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 could not vote impartially and independently.[38] The individual rankings of each jury member as well as the nation's televoting results were released shortly after the final.[38]

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Albania and awarded by Albania in the second semi-final and final of the contest, and the breakdown of the jury voting and televoting conducted during the two shows:

Points awarded to Albania

Points awarded to Albania (Semi-final 2)[40]
Score Televote Jury
12 points  Macedonia
10 points   Switzerland
8 points  Italy  Serbia
7 points
6 points
5 points
4 points
3 points  Slovenia
2 points  Belgium  Bulgaria
1 point

Points awarded by Albania

Detailed voting results

The following members comprised the Albanian jury:[39]

  • Edison Misso (jury chairperson)
  • Kejsi Tola
  • Flamur Shehu
  • Nisida Tufa
  • Agim Doçi
Detailed voting results from Albania (Semi-final 2)[41]
Draw Country Jury Televote
E. Misso K. Tola F. Shehu N. Tufa A. Doçi Rank Points Rank Points
01  Latvia 9 10 9 10 10 10 1 12
02  Poland 7 8 10 9 9 9 2 15
03   Switzerland 14 11 12 12 11 11 8 3
04  Israel 8 5 6 7 7 7 4 11
05  Belarus 15 16 11 13 17 14 16
06  Serbia 1 4 2 3 4 3 8 14
07  Ireland 11 17 16 14 15 15 13
08  Macedonia 2 2 3 1 2 1 12 1 12
09  Lithuania 17 12 17 15 12 16 7 4
10  Australia 3 1 1 2 3 2 10 5 6
11  Slovenia 4 7 4 6 5 5 6 10 1
12  Bulgaria 5 3 5 4 1 4 7 4 7
13  Denmark 10 9 8 8 6 8 3 9 2
14  Ukraine 6 6 7 5 8 6 5 6 5
15  Norway 13 15 13 11 14 12 2 10
16  Georgia 12 14 15 16 13 13 17
17  Albania
18  Belgium 16 13 14 17 16 17 3 8
Detailed voting results from Albania (Final)[40]
Draw Country Jury Televote
E. Misso K. Tola F. Shehu N. Tufa A. Doçi Rank Points Rank Points
01  Belgium 20 22 24 24 16 25 14
02  Czech Republic 21 23 25 16 15 14 22
03  Netherlands 22 24 23 21 14 24 24
04  Azerbaijan 19 21 11 11 12 13 19
05  Hungary 8 14 9 9 13 10 1 10 1
06  Italy 4 7 3 2 10 3 8 2 10
07  Israel 10 4 18 12 2 8 3 17
08  Bulgaria 11 13 6 6 3 7 4 3 8
09  Sweden 16 6 15 15 8 11 8 3
10  Germany 18 11 20 17 17 18 15
11  France 3 9 1 1 9 2 10 11
12  Poland 14 20 13 22 7 14 6 5
13  Australia 1 1 2 3 1 1 12 1 12
14  Cyprus 25 25 21 20 11 23 12
15  Serbia 15 15 12 19 26 19 26
16  Lithuania 13 17 22 23 18 20 7 4
17  Croatia 24 18 16 18 19 21 20
18  Russia 7 5 7 7 4 4 7 4 7
19  Spain 9 12 4 4 5 5 6 23
20  Latvia 23 8 17 13 20 17 21
21  Ukraine 17 2 8 8 25 12 5 6
22  Malta 5 16 5 5 21 9 2 16
23  Georgia 26 26 26 26 22 26 25
24  Austria 6 19 19 14 23 16 13
25  United Kingdom 2 10 10 10 6 6 5 18
26  Armenia 12 3 14 25 24 15 9 2

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