Eurovision Song Contest 2015
Country Albania
National selection
Selection processArtist: Festivali i Këngës 53
Song: Internal selection
Selection date(s)Artist: 28 December 2014
Song: 15 March 2015
Selected entrantElhaida Dani
Selected song"I'm Alive"
Selected songwriter(s)Sokol Marsi
Finals performance
Semi-final resultQualified (10th, 62 points)
Final result17th, 34 points
Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2014 • 2015 • 2016►

Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna, Austria, with the song "I'm Alive" performed by Elhaida Dani. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2014. Dani emerged as the winner of contest with the song "Diell", which was withdrawn as the Albanian entry at the request of one of the song's songwriters. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest eleven times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest, the song was promoted by a music video and live performances in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Albania was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 19 May 2015. Performing as number 14, 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 23 May, it performed as number 26 and placed 17th out of the 27 participating countries.

Background

Prior to the 2015 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest eleven times since its first entry in 2004.[1] The country's highest placing in the contest, to this point, had been the fifth place, which it achieved in 2012 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, the nation's second-highest placing to date.[1] During its tenure in the contest, Albania failed to qualify for the final four times, with the 2014 entry being the most recent non-qualifier.[1] The Albanian broadcaster for the 2015 Contest, who broadcast the event in Albania and organised the selection process for its entry, was Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH).[2] The Albanian contest Festivali i Këngës has been organised every year since 1964 and has been used as the country's selection method since its debut in 2004.[2]

Before Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës

Floriana Garo co-hosted the 53rd edition of Festivali i Këngës.

The national broadcaster of Albania, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), organised the 53rd edition of Festivali i Këngës with the objective to determine the country's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.[3] The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 26 and 27 December, respectively, and the grand final on 28 December 2014.[3] The three live shows were held at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana and hosted by Floriana Garo, Turjan Hyska and Liberta Spahiu.[3][4] Shpetim Saraçi assumed the position of artistic director, while Bledar Laço directed the contest.[5] Mira Tuci was responsible for the screenplay and the music production was led by Alfred Kaçinari and Edmond Zhulali.[5]

Contestants

Key:   Withdrawn

Contestants[6]
Artist Song Songwriter(s)
Agim Poshka "Në rrugën tonë"
  • Agim Poshka
  • Olsa Poshka
Altin Goci "Rock për gjithë jetën"
  • Altin Goci
  • Klodi Shehu
Ana Gramo "Në koma"
  • Genti Lako
  • Ida Nurçe
Andos Sinani "Më shiko drejt në sy" Andos Sinani
Grupi Aurora "Maria" Grupi Aurora
Besa Krasniqi "Koha kalon" Besa Krasniqi
Besiana Mehmeti and Shkodran Tolaj "Kështjella"
Bojken Lako Band "Të ndjej" Bojken Lako Band
Elhaida Dani "Diell"
  • Sokol Marsi
  • Aldo Shllaku
  • Viola Trebicka
Emi Bogdo "Një femër"
  • Lambert Jorganxhi
  • Florian Zyka
Enver Petrovci "Të vranë bukuri" Enver Petrovci
Enxhi and Xhejn Kumrija "Njeri"
  • Enxhi Kumrija
  • Xhejn Kumrija
Erga Halilaj "Ti s'më njeh"
Estela Brahimllari "Kjo natë" Edmond Veizaj
Florent Abrashi and Sigi Bastri "Eklips mbi oqean"
  • Florent Abrashi
  • Sokol Marsi
Gjergj Leka "Himn"
  • Zhuljana Jorganxhi
  • Gjergj Leka
Jozefina Simoni "Mendje trazi"
Julian Gjojdeshi "Himn jetës"
  • Fatos Arapi
  • Vasil S. Tole
Kelly "Nëse ti do" Kelly
Klajdi Musabelliu "Vetëm te ti besoj"
  • Klajdi Musabelliu
  • Jorgo Papingji
Kozma Dushi "Kënga jeta jonë"
  • Enver Shengjergji
  • Ylli Mestani
Lindita Halimi "S'të fal"
  • Lindita Halimi
  • Zzap & Chriss
Marsela Çibukaj "S'muj" Olsa Toqi
Mjellma Berisha "Sot jetoj" Enis Mullaj
Grupi Offchestra "Bajram"
  • Offchestra Band
  • Faruk Banjska
Revolt Klan "Më mungon"
  • Bruno Pollogati
  • Febi Shkurti
Rezarta Smaja "Më rrëmbe"
Saimir Braho "Kristal" Saimir Braho
Venera Lumani "Dua të jetoj"
  • Endrit Shani
  • Gerald Xhari

Semi-finals

The two semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës took place on 26 December and 27 December 2014 and were broadcast at 20:45 (CET) on the respective dates.[7][8] In each semi-final, a total of 13 songs competed of which nine entries in each semi-final, selected by a jury, advanced to the final.[9][10][11]

Key:   Qualifier

Final

The final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 28 December 2014 and was broadcast at 20:45 (CET).[13] The jury, consisting of Fatos Baxhaku, Genc Dashi, Agim Doçi, Alida Hisku, Rona Nishliu, Evi Reçi and David Tukiçi, determined Elhaida Dani as the winner of the contest with the song "Diell".[14][15]

Key:   Winner   Second place   Third place

Final–28 December 2014[13]
Draw Artist(s) Song Results
Points Place
1
 Besiana Mehmeti and Shkodran Tolaj "Kështjella" 31 4
2
 Bojken Lako Band "Të ndjej" 62 2
3
 Emi Bogdo "Një femër" 18 10
4
 Lindita Halimi "S'të fal" 45 3
5
 Mjellma Berisha "Sot jetoj" 22 8
6
 Enver Petrovci "Të vranë bukuri" 12 12
7
 Erga Halilaj "Ti s'më njeh" 15 11
8
 Rezarta Smaja "Më rrëmbe" 23 7
9
 Jozefina Simoni "Mendje trazi" 12 12
10
 Venera Lumani "Dua të jetoj" 20 9
11
 Altin Goci "Rock për gjithë jetën" 9 14
12
 Gjergj Leka "Himn" 24 6
13
 Klajdi Musabelliu "Vetëm te ti besoj" 0 16
14
 Saimir Braho "Kristal" 3 15
15
 Estela Brahimllari "Kjo natë" 0 16
16
 Marsela Çibukaj "S'muj" 28 5
17
 Agim Poshka "Në rrugën tonë" 0 16
18
 Elhaida Dani "Diell" 82 1

Song alternation

On 23 February 2015, Dani announced the withdrawal of "Diell" in a social media statement, attributing the decision to one of its authors, Aldo Shllaku, who revoked permission for its usage.[16] Martin Leka, the director of RTSH, elucidated that Shllaku declined the transfer of rights to the broadcaster, citing his exclusion from subsequent involvement despite the song's success at Festivali i Këngës.[17][18] Shllaku disclaimed professional responsibility, prompting Dani to confirm her agreement with the broadcaster to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest with a different song.[18] Subsequently, on 24 February, it was revealed that Dani would perform "I'm Alive" composed in collaboration with Sokol Marsi and Albanian producers Zzap & Chriss, at the contest.[19]

Promotion

A music video for "I'm Alive" debuted on the official YouTube channel of the Eurovision Song Contest on 15 March 2015 at 20:30 (CET).[20] As part of promotional efforts, both an Albanian-language rendition and an acoustic version were released on the same platform in May 2015.[21][22] Preceding the scheduled live shows, Dani engaged in a tour between March and April among others in Amsterdam and London.[23][24]

At Eurovision

Elhaida Dani performing her song "I'm Alive" at a dress rehearsal for the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2015 took place at Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, and consisted of two semi-finals held on 19 and 21 May, respectively, and the final on 23 May 2015.[25] According to the Eurovision rules, all participating countries, apart from the host nation and the "Big Five", 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, although the top 10 countries from the respective semi-final progress to the final.[26][27] In the 2015 contest, Australia also competed directly in the final as an invited guest nation.[28] The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into five different pots based on voting patterns from previous 10 years.[29] On 26 January 2015, an allocation draw was held that placed each nation into one of the two semi-finals and determined which half of the show they would perform in.[30] Therein, it was announced that Albania was scheduled to perform in the second half of the first semi-final of the contest.[30] Once all the competing songs for the 2015 contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the shows' producers rather than through another draw, so that similar songs were not placed next to each other.[31] Albania was set to perform at position 14, succeeding Denmark and preceding Romania.[31]

Preceding the semi-final, Dani participated in technical rehearsals held on 12 and 15 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 18 and 19 May.[32][33] These also encompassed the jury final, during which professional juries from each country, responsible for 50 percent of their respective votes, observed and evaluated the entries.[34] Albania's advancement to the grand final was announced after the semi-final show, with the country securing a place in the top ten.[35] Immediately after the semi-final, a winner's press conference convened for the ten countries that qualified, allowing their artists to participate in a draw determining their performance segment in the final.[36] Albania was designated to compete in the second half.[37] Following this draw, the show's producers akin to their role in the semi-finals arranged the running order for the final, positioning Albania to perform in position 26, succeeding Russia and preceding Italy.[38]

Voting

Voting during the three live shows of the Eurovision Song Contest consisted of 50 percent public televoting and 50 percent from a jury deliberation.[39] The jury consisted of five music industry professionals who were citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency.[39] This jury was asked to judge each contestant based on vocal capacity, the stage performance, the song's composition and originality and the overall impression by the act.[39] In addition, no member of a national jury could be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently.[39] After the grand final, the individual rankings of each jury member were released.[40] During the first semi-final, Albania achieved the eighth place in the televote with 66 points and secured ninth place in the jury vote with 61 points.[41] However, in the final, Albania held ninth place in the televote with 93 points and landed 26th in the jury vote with four points.[42]

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

Points awarded to Albania

Points awarded by Albania

Detailed voting results

The following members comprised the Albanian jury:[40]

  • Bojken Lako (jury chairperson)
  • Klodian Qafoku
  • Olsa Toqi
  • Arta Marku
  • Zhani Ciko
Detailed voting results from Albania (Semi-final 1)[45]
Draw Country B. Lako K. Qafoku O. Toqi A. Marku Z. Ciko Jury Rank Televote Rank Combined Rank Points
01  Moldova 6 2 7 6 5 4 13 9 2
02  Armenia 7 15 9 3 1 7 8 6 5
03  Belgium 10 11 3 10 9 9 4 5 6
04  Netherlands 9 7 13 1 8 8 10 10 1
05  Finland 11 13 14 15 13 14 9 14
06  Greece 4 1 5 7 3 2 1 1 12
07  Estonia 14 10 15 13 14 15 5 12
08  Macedonia 3 3 2 5 4 1 7 2 10
09  Serbia 5 6 4 2 6 3 15 11
10  Hungary 1 4 8 9 7 6 11 8 3
11  Belarus 15 12 6 11 12 12 14 15
12  Russia 8 14 1 12 11 11 2 4 7
13  Denmark 12 8 11 4 10 10 12 13
14  Albania
15  Romania 2 5 10 8 2 5 6 3 8
16  Georgia 13 9 12 14 15 13 3 7 4
Detailed voting results from Albania (Final)[46]
Draw Country B. Lako K. Qafoku O. Toqi A. Marku Z. Ciko Jury Rank Televote Rank Combined Rank Points
01  Slovenia 12 15 8 16 25 14 24 20
02  France 17 22 16 10 11 15 19 17
03  Israel 18 10 12 20 9 11 6 6 5
04  Estonia 11 12 10 12 21 10 8 7 4
05  United Kingdom 22 23 20 25 20 26 17 21
06  Armenia 24 16 26 15 15 20 25 23
07  Lithuania 23 17 25 17 17 23 23 24
08  Serbia 7 5 7 4 3 6 14 9 2
09  Norway 13 24 14 18 14 17 21 19
10  Sweden 5 8 5 3 1 5 5 4 7
11  Cyprus 25 25 24 21 12 25 22 25
12  Australia 10 6 11 9 16 8 10 8 3
13  Belgium 19 14 9 13 18 12 9 10 1
14  Austria 14 26 13 24 22 22 15 18
15  Greece 6 4 3 1 2 2 2 2 10
16  Montenegro 4 3 1 5 5 3 13 5 6
17  Germany 8 9 15 26 24 16 7 12
18  Poland 26 19 19 19 19 24 20 22
19  Latvia 2 18 6 7 13 7 16 13
20  Romania 16 13 22 14 8 13 12 14
21  Spain 20 7 17 22 23 19 11 16
22  Hungary 15 11 18 8 7 9 18 15
23  Georgia 9 20 21 11 26 18 4 11
24  Azerbaijan 21 21 23 23 10 21 26 26
25  Russia 3 2 4 6 6 4 3 3 8
26  Albania
27  Italy 1 1 2 2 4 1 1 1 12

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Countries: Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 "All about Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 14 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Albania: Eurovision entry selected in Festivali i Këngës". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 31 October 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  4. ↑ "Tonight: Festivali i Këngës kicks off in Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 26 December 2014. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Nisin provat, ja platforma e surprizat e festivalit e 53 në RTSH" (in Albanian). Shqiptarja. 25 December 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Më 27-28-29 dhjetor, 28 konkurrentë në Festivalin e Këngës në RTSH" (in Albanian). Shqiptarja. 30 October 2014. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  7. ↑ Granger, Anthony (26 December 2014). "Tonight: Festivali i Këngës Semi Final 1". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  8. ↑ Granger, Anthony (27 December 2014). "Tonight: Festivali i Këngës Semi Final 2". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "First finalists chosen in Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 27 December 2014. Archived from the original on 25 January 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Ramadan, Besim (27 December 2014). "Festivali i Këngës 53: 9 Acts Advance from Semi-Final 2". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  11. ↑ Juhász, Ervin (28 December 2014). "Running Order Of Tonight's Final Of Festivali I Kenges Revealed". Esc Bubble. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  12. 1 2 Brey, Marco (15 December 2014). "26 songs for Albanian national selection announced". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Watch tonight: The Albanian national final!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 28 December 2014. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  14. ↑ Gjebrea, Afërdita (27 December 2014). "Albania: 18 finalists ready for Festivali i Këngës". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  15. ↑ "Elhaida Dani to represent Albania!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 29 December 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  16. ↑ Niyazi, Dan (23 February 2015). "Albania: Diell withdrawn – A new song will be chosen for Vienna". ESCXtra. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  17. ↑ "Albania to compete with new song at Eurovision song contest". Tirana Times. 27 February 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  18. 1 2 "Leka për A1 Report: Shllaku nuk pranoi të jepte të drejtën e autorit" (in Albanian). Shqiptarja. 24 February 2015. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  19. ↑ Van Lith, Nick (24 February 2015). "Albania: Elhaida Dani to sing 'I'm Alive'". ESCXtra. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  20. ↑ "Elhaida Dani – I'm Alive (Albania) 2015 Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 15 March 2015. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  21. ↑ "Elhaida Dani – Në Jetë (Albania) 2015 Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 2 May 2015. Archived from the original on 24 April 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  22. ↑ "Elhaida Dani (Albania) – I'm Alive (New Acoustic Version)". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  23. ↑ "Tonight: Eurovision In Concert in Amsterdam". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 18 April 2015. Archived from the original on 6 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
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  25. ↑ "Eurovision Song Contest – Vienna 2015". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  26. ↑ "Rules of the 59th Eurovision Song Contest" (PDF). European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 20 September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  27. ↑ "Eurovision Song Contest–Rules". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  28. ↑ Siim, Jarmo (10 February 2015). "Australia to compete in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  29. ↑ Brey, Marco (25 January 2015). "Today: The Semi-Final Allocation Draw". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  30. 1 2 Escudero, Victor M. (26 January 2015). "Allocation Draw results: Who's in which Semi-Final?". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  31. 1 2 Siim, Jarmo (23 March 2015). "Running order of Semi-Finals revealed". Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  32. ↑ Brey, Marco; Omelyanchuk, Olena (12 May 2015). "A spectacular crescendo for Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  33. ↑ Escudero, Victor M. (15 May 2015). "Albania is alive with Elhaida Dani". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 17 May 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  34. ↑ Roxburgh, Gordon (18 May 2015). "Juries...start voting!". Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  35. ↑ Roxburgh, Gordon (19 May 2015). "We have our first ten finalists". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  36. ↑ Brey, Marco; Escudero, Victor M. (19 May 2015). "The first Semi-Final winners' press conference". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  37. ↑ Brey, Marco; Escudero, Victor M. (20 May 2015). "The first Semi-Final winners' press conference". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  38. ↑ "Running order for Grand Final revealed!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  39. 1 2 3 4 "Voting in 2015". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  40. 1 2 Bakker, Sietse (1 May 2015). "Exclusive: Here are this year's national juries!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 3 May 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  41. ↑ "Full Split Results | First Semi-Final of Vienna 2015". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original (XLS) on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  42. ↑ "Full Split Results | Grand Final of Vienna 2015". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original (XLS) on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  43. 1 2 "Results of the First Semi-Final of Vienna 2015". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  44. 1 2 "Results of the Grand Final of Vienna 2015". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  45. ↑ "Full Split Results | First Semi-Final of Vienna 2015". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  46. ↑ "Full Split Results | Grand Final of Vienna 2015". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
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