Eurovision Song Contest 2014
Country	Albania
National selection
Selection process	Festivali i Këngës 52
Selection date(s)	Semi-finals: 26 December 2013 27 December 2013 Final: 28 December 2013
Selected entrant	Hersi
Selected song	"One Night's Anger"
Selected songwriter(s)	Genti Lako Jorgo Papingji
Finals performance
Semi-final result	Failed to qualify (15th, 22 points)
Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2013 • 2014 • 2015►

Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the song "One Night's Anger" performed by Hersi. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2013. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest ten times since its first entry in 2004. Prior to the contest, the song was promoted by a music video and several live performances across Europe. Albania was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 6 May 2014. Performing as number 6th, the nation was not announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore failed to qualify for the final, marking Albania's fifth non-qualification in the contest.

Background

Prior to the 2014 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest ten 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 three times, with the 2013 entry being the most recent non-qualifier.^[2]

Before Eurovision

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2014 took place at B&W Hallerne in Copenhagen, Denmark, and consisted of two semi-finals held on 6 and 8 May, respectively, and the final on 10 May 2014.^[18] 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.^[19][20] On 20 January 2014, an allocation draw was held at the Copenhagen City Hall in Copenhagen that placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, and determined which half of the show they would perform in.^[21] Albania was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 6 May, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.^[21] Once all the competing songs for the contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the producers of the contest rather than through another draw, to prevent similar songs being placed next to each other; Albania was set to perform in position 6, following Iceland and preceding Russia.^[22] The contest was broadcast within Albania on the RTSH network, with Andri Xhahu providing commentary, a role he also performed at the prior years contest.^[23]

Hersi performing during the dress rehearsal of the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014.

Hersi took part in technical rehearsals on 28 April and 2 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 5 and 6 May.^[24] This included the jury final on 6 May where the professional juries of each country, responsible for 50 percent of each country's vote, watched and voted on the competing entries.^[25] At the end of the first semi-final, the country was not announced among the top 10 entries and therefore failed to qualify for the final, marking Albania's fifth non-qualification in the Eurovision Song Contest.^[1][26]

Voting

See also: Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest

Voting during the three shows involved each country awarding points from 1-8, 10 and 12 as determined by a combination of 50% national jury and 50% televoting. Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent. 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. 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.^[19] In the first semi-final, Albania placed 15th with 22 points, which included the top 12 points from Montenegro.^[27] The nation awarded its 12 points to Montenegro in the first semi-final and Spain in the final.^[27][28] Xhahu was the Albanian spokesperson who announced the country's voting results during the shows.^[23][29]

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to and awarded by Albania in the first semi-final and final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, respectively. The points awarded by Albania in both the first semi-final and the final were based solely on the jury's vote due to an insufficient number of votes cast during the televote period.

Points awarded to Albania

Points awarded to Albania (Semi-final 1)[27] Score Country 12 points  Montenegro 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points  San Marino 4 points 3 points 2 points  Belgium  Denmark 1 point  Netherlands Points awarded by Albania Points awarded by Albania (Semi-final 1)[27] Score Country 12 points  Montenegro 10 points  Hungary 8 points  San Marino 7 points  Azerbaijan 6 points  Sweden 5 points  Armenia 4 points  Moldova 3 points  Ukraine 2 points  Netherlands 1 point  Portugal Points awarded by Albania (Final)[28] Score Country 12 points  Spain 10 points  Italy 8 points  Hungary 7 points  Sweden 6 points  Montenegro 5 points  Austria 4 points  Germany 3 points  San Marino 2 points  Greece 1 point  Malta Detailed voting results The following members comprised the Albanian jury:[30] Edmond Zhulali (jury chairperson) Alfred Kacinari Jetmir Barbullushi Mira Tuci Engjëll Ndocaj Detailed voting results from Albania (Semi-final 1)[31] Draw Country E. Zhulali A. Kacinari J. Barbullushi M. Tuci E. Ndocaj Jury Rank Points 01  Armenia 4 5 11 1 14 6 5 02  Latvia 12 10 10 15 10 13 03  Estonia 14 12 7 13 9 12 04  Sweden 3 4 5 5 7 5 6 05  Iceland 13 15 13 14 11 15 06  Albania 07  Russia 15 13 15 7 13 14 08  Azerbaijan 7 6 4 2 3 4 7 09  Ukraine 8 8 12 10 6 8 3 10  Belgium 10 14 8 9 12 11 11  Moldova 9 7 6 12 8 7 4 12  San Marino 6 3 3 8 2 3 8 13  Portugal 11 11 14 11 5 10 1 14  Netherlands 5 9 9 6 15 9 2 15  Montenegro 2 2 1 4 1 1 12 16  Hungary 1 1 2 3 4 2 10 Detailed voting results from Albania (Final)[32] Draw Country E. Zhulali A. Kacinari J. Barbullushi M. Tuci E. Ndocaj Jury Rank Points 01  Ukraine 15 17 17 24 13 19 02  Belarus 18 8 26 25 22 23 03  Azerbaijan 12 14 16 7 26 15 04  Iceland 24 26 18 26 14 24 05  Norway 23 19 19 18 15 20 06  Romania 22 16 9 14 16 16 07  Armenia 9 13 20 6 25 13 08  Montenegro 6 10 5 5 3 5 6 09  Poland 14 18 21 23 23 22 10  Greece 3 22 15 15 2 9 2 11  Austria 11 6 4 4 6 6 5 12  Germany 7 2 8 8 17 7 4 13  Sweden 1 12 1 1 9 4 7 14  France 17 5 22 22 7 12 15  Russia 26 25 25 16 18 25 16  Italy 2 3 3 9 1 2 10 17  Slovenia 13 15 14 13 19 14 18  Finland 16 9 13 19 24 17 19  Spain 4 1 6 2 4 1 12 20   Switzerland 25 24 23 20 20 26 21  Hungary 5 4 2 3 5 3 8 22  Malta 8 23 7 17 8 10 1 23  Denmark 20 21 24 21 11 21 24  Netherlands 19 20 12 11 21 18 25  San Marino 10 11 10 10 10 8 3 26  United Kingdom 21 7 11 12 12 11 References 1 2 3 4 "Countries: Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021. ↑ "Second Semi-Final of Malmö 2013". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021. 1 2 3 "Festivali i Këngës kicks off in Albania tonight". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 26 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023. ↑ Sahiti, Gafurr (14 September 2013). "Albania: RTSH calls for songs, deadline 9th of October". ESC Today. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023. 1 2 Sahiti, Gafurr (27 December 2013). "Watch now: Festivali i Këngës 52 second show". ESC Today. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023. ↑ "Krijimet në konkurim" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2023. 1 2 Granger, Anthony (26 December 2013). "Albania: Festivali i Kenges Semi Final 1 Tonight". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2023. 1 2 Granger, Anthony (27 December 2013). "Albania: Festivali i Kenges Semi Final 2 Tonight". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2023. ↑ "Nis edicioni i 52 i Festivalit të Këngës në RTSH, të gjitha këngët në garë!" (in Albanian). 77 News. 26 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2023. ↑ "Sonte nata e parë e Festivalit në RTSH. Këngët dhe konkurrentët pjesëmarrës" (in Albanian). Republika. 26 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2023. 1 2 Granger, Anthony (28 December 2013). "Albania: Festivali i Kenges Final Tonight". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2023. 1 2 "Hersi Matmuja wins Festivali i Këngës!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 29 December 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023. ↑ "Albania: Festivali i Këngës #52". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023. ↑ "Hersi – One Night's Anger (Albania) 2014 Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 16 March 2014. Archived from the original on 19 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020. ↑ Besim, Ramadan (4 April 2014). "Hersiana Matmuja starts promotional tour in San Marino". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2020. ↑ Sahiti, Gafurr (3 April 2014). "Albania: Hersi kicks off promo tour in San Marino". ESC Today. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2020. ↑ "Eurovision in Concert 2014" (in German). ESC – Fairytales. 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2020. ↑ "Eurovision Song Contest–Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021. 1 2 "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. ↑ "Eurovision Song Contest–Rules". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021. 1 2 Escudero, Victor M. (20 January 2014). "Allocation Draw results: Who's in which Semi-Final?". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2021. ↑ Siim, Jarmo (24 March 2014). "Running order for Eurovision Semi-Finals decided". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2021. 1 2 Xhahun, Andri (1 May 2014). "Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Live në RTSH me Andri Xhahun" [Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Live on RTSH with Andri Xhahun]. Info Media Albania (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2023. ↑ Lewis, Pete (4 April 2014). "Eurovision 2014: rehearsal schedules released". ESCToday. pp. 1–8. Retrieved 12 November 2023. ↑ Roxburgh, Gordon (7 May 2014). "Now the juries decide on the second Semi-Final". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2014. ↑ "First Semi-Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021. 1 2 3 4 "Results of the First Semi-Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021. 1 2 "Results of the Grand Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021. ↑ Roxburgh, Gordon (10 May 2014). "'Good evening Copenhagen' – Voting order revealed". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. ↑ Brey, Marco (2 May 2014). "Who will be in the expert juries?". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2023. ↑ "Full Split Results | First Semi-Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2023. ↑ "Full Split Results | Grand Final of Copenhagen 2014". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2021.