Albania In The Eurovision Song Contest 2005
Background
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced in 2003 that Albania would debut at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004. Therefore, the country's national broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), chose the annual competition Festivali i Këngës as the selection method to determine Albania's representative for the contest. The first entry was performed by Anjeza Shahini with the song "The Image of You" which finished in seventh place at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004.
Before Eurovision
Festivali i Këngës
RTSH organised the 43rd edition of Festivali i Këngës to determine Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2005. The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 16 and 17 December, respectively, and the grand final on 18 December 2004. The three live shows were hosted by Albanian-Sudanese singer Hueyda El Sayed and presenter Leon Menkshi. Guest performances were featured from Albania's Eurovision Song Contest 2004 representative Anjeza Shahini, Italy's Eurovision Song Contest 1988 representative Luca Barbarossa and the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 Ruslana from Ukraine.
Competing entries
| Artist(s) | Song | Composer |
|---|---|---|
| Agim Poshka | "Të kam, s'të kam" | Agim Poshka |
| Aleksia Jani | "Zotit" | Aleksia Jani |
| Aurel Thëllimi | "Erë e marrë" | Erion Sheme |
| Barbana Dini | "Jeta këtu s'mbaron" | Bardbyl Hysa |
| Besiana Mehmedi | "Grafitë dashurie" | Nexhat Mujovi |
| Çlirim Denaj | "Ti ike" | Çlirim Denaj |
| Elsida Sinaj | "Harresë kujtimesh" | Roland Guli |
| Stela Risto | "Vështirë të flas, vështirë të puth" | Agron Xhunga |
| Floriana Muça | "Përtej dashurisë" | Mark Luli |
| Ingrid Jushi | "Vetëm një natë" | Falmur Shebu |
| Joe Artid Fejzo | "Me ty" | Joe Artid Fejzo |
| Jonida Maliqi | "Frikem se më pëlqen" | Adrian Hila |
| Julian Lekoçaj | "Do të fal" | Julian Lebkoçaj |
| Klajdi Musabelli | "Puthjen nuk ta kam harruar" | Vladimir Kotani |
| Kozma Dushi and Ermira Kola | "Të bashkëjetoj më ty" | Petrit Terkuçi |
| Kujtim Prodani | "Jetën ndryshe e shikoj" | Kujtim Prodani |
| Ledina Çelo | "Nesër shkoj" | Adrian Hila |
| Luiz Ejlli | "Hëna dhe yjet dashurojnë" | Shpetim Saraci |
| Mariza Ikonomi | "Kur dashuron" | Edmond Zhulali |
| Marsida Saraçi | "Më duaj gjatë" | Edmond Rrapi |
| Monika Trungu | "Ti më bën të pasur" | Gazmend Mullhi |
| Olsa Spata | "Pritje" | Spartak Tili |
| Redon Makashi | "Ndjej" | Redon Makashi |
| Rosela Gjylbegu and Arbër Arapi | "Pëshpëritje zemrash" | Shpetim Saraçi |
| Rovena Stefa | "Kthehem prap" | Alfred Kaçinari |
| Saimir Çili | "Ëndërr e gjallë" | Saimir Çili |
| Saimir Braho and Enkela Braho | "Përpara se ti të vish në këtë botë" | Saimir Braho |
| Samanta Karavella | "Buzëqeshja" | Valentin Veizi |
| Shpat Kasapi | "Jam, kam të fal" | Gramoz Kozeli |
| Soni Malaj | "Eja ne Ballkan" | Shefqet Hoxha |
| Tergita Gusta | "Me ty, pa ty" | Endri Sina |
| Vesa Luma, Teuta Kurti and Rona Nishliu | "Flakaresh" | Armend Rexhepagiq |
Shows
Semi-finals
The semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës took place on 16 December and 17 December 2004, respectively. 16 contestants participated in each semi-final, with the highlighted ones progressing to the grand final.
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Final
The grand final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 18 December 2004. Ledina Çelo emerged as the winner with "Nesër shkoj" and was simultaneously announced as Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2005.
Key: Winner Second place Third place
| Draw | Artist(s) | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kujtim Prodani | "Jetën ndryshe e shikoj" |
| 2 | Redon Makashi | "Ndjenjë" |
| 3 | Rovena Stefa | "Kthehem prapë" |
| 4 | Sajmir and Enkela Braho | "Para se të vish në këtë botë" |
| 5 | Joe Artid Fejzo | "Me ty" |
| 6 | Tergita Gusta | "Me ty, pa ty" |
| 7 | Marsida Saraçi | "Më duaj gjatë" |
| 8 | Luiz Ejlli | "Hëna dhe yjet dashurojnë" |
| 9 | Julian Lekoçaj | "Do të fal" |
| 10 | Mariza Ikonomi | "Kur dashuron" |
| 11 | Samanta Karavella | "Buzëqeshje" |
| 12 | Ledina Çelo | "Nesër shkoj" |
| 13 | Jonida Maliqi | "Frikem se më pëlqen" |
| 14 | Klajdi Musabelliu | "Puthjen nuk ta kam harruar" |
| 15 | Monika Trungu | "Ti më bën të pasur" |
| 16 | Rosela Gjylbegu and Arbër Arapi | "Pëshperitje zemrash" |
| 17 | Vesa Luma, Teuta Kurti and Rona Nishliu | "Flakareshë" |
| 18 | Ingrid Jushi | "Vetëm një natë" |
At Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Contest 2005 took place at the Palace of Sports in Kyiv, Ukraine, and consisted of a semi-final on 19 May and the grand final on 21 May 2005. According to the Eurovision rules, all participating countries, except the host nation and the "Big Four", consisting of France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, were required to qualify from the semi-final to compete for the final, although the top 10 countries from the semi-final progress to the final. Due to the top 11 result in the previous year, Albania automatically qualified for the contest's grand final and performed eighth, following Moldova and preceding Cyprus.
Voting
The tables below visualise a breakdown of points awarded to Albania in the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, as well as by the nation in the semi-final and final, respectively. In the grand final, Albania finished in 16th place, being awarded a total of 53 points, including 12 from Macedonia and 10 from both Greece and Switzerland. The nation awarded its 12 points to Macedonia in the semi-final and to Greece in the grand final of the contest.
Points awarded to Albania
| Score | Country |
|---|---|
| 12 points |  Macedonia
|
| 10 points | |
| 8 points |  Serbia and Montenegro
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| 7 points | |
| 6 points | |
| 5 points |  Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
| 4 points | |
| 3 points |  Austria
|
| 2 points | |
| 1 point |  France
|
Points awarded by Albania
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References
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- ^ "Countries: Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
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- ^ "Albania: Festivali i Këngës #43". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "Ledina Celo to sing for Albania in Kiev". ESCToday. 19 December 2004. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "Albania: 30 songs have been selected". ESCToday. 24 November 2004. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
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- ^ "Ledina Celo to sing 'Tomorrow I go'". ESCToday. 25 March 2005. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "Eurovision Song Contest–Kyiv 2005". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ Eurovision Song Contest 2005. Kyiv, Ukraine: European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 19–21 May 2005.
- ^ "Grand Final of Kyiv 2005". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ Bakker, Sietse (22 March 2005). "Running order of the Final". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ "Results of the Grand Final of Kyiv 2005". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ "Results of the Semi-Final of Kyiv 2005". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
