Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006

Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Athens, Greece, with the song "Zjarr e ftohtë" performed by Luiz Ejlli. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2005. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest two times since its first entry in 2004. Due to the non-top 11 result in the previous contest, Albania was drawn to compete in the semi-final of the contest, which took place on 18 May 2006. Performing as number six, the nation was not announced among the top 10 entries of the semi-final and therefore failed to qualify for the grand final, marking Albania's first non-qualification in the contest.

Eurovision Song Contest 2006
Country	Albania
National selection
Selection process	Festivali i Këngës 44
Selection date(s)	Semi-finals: 16 December 2005 17 December 2005 Final: 18 December 2005
Selected artist(s)	Luiz Ejlli
Selected song	"Zjarr e ftohtë"
Selected songwriter(s)	Klodian Qafoku Florian Kondi
Finals performance
Final result	Failed to qualify (14th)
Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2005 • 2006 • 2007►

Background

Main article: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2006 contest, Albania had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest two times since its first entry in 2004.^[1] The country's highest placing in the contest, to this point, had been the seventh place, which it achieved in 2004 with the song "The Image of You" performed by Anjeza Shahini.^[1] Albania's national broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), has organised Festivali i Këngës since its inauguration in 1962.^[2] Since 2003, the winner of the competition has simultaneously won the right to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest.^[2]

Before Eurovision

Festivali i Këngës

RTSH organised the 44th edition of Festivali i Këngës to determine Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 16 and 17 December, respectively, and the grand final on 18 December 2005.^[3][4] The three live shows were hosted by Albanian singer Soni Malaj and presenter Drini Zeqo.^[5]

Competing entries

Competing entries^[4]

Artist	Song
Agim Poshka	"Nostalgji"
Alberie Hadergjonaj	"Ah, sikur kjo jetë"
Anjeza Shahini	"Pse ndal"
Armando Bimi	"Mall"
Aurel Thëllimi	"Dhe kur kujtesa"
Besart Halimi	"Loja dashuri"
Denisa Macaj and Entela Zhula	"Kur zemra prek një dashuri"
Edona Llalloshi	"Vetëm një puthje"
Era Rusi	"Nuk je ëndërr"
Eri	"Dumbade"
Erinda Dhima	"Për ju"
Ermiona Lekbello	"Gjysëm ëndërr je o grua"
Erti Hizmo and Flaka Krelani	"Për ty"
Edmond Mancaku	"Ish dashuri dhe jo mëkat"
Evis Mula	"E dua këngën"
Guximtar Rushani	"Lotë dashurie"
Ingrid Jushi	"Po dhe jo"
Joe Artid Fejzo	"Zhurma e heshtjes"
Julian Lekoçaj	"Niki"
Kozma Dushi	"Se nuk plaken ëndrrat"
Kujtim Prodani	"Theva kokën si pa dashur"
Luiz Ejlli	"Zjarr e ftohtë"
Manjola Nallbani	"S'mjafton një jetë"
Mariza Ikonomi and Erion Korini	"Edhe fati qan"
Marsida Saraçi	"Do të doja"
Mateus Froku	"Tu ëngjëll unë promethe"
Miriam Cani	"Shko"
Pandora	"Pritja"
Rudi	"Qyteti im"
Saimir Çili	"Hipokrizi"
Sfinks	"Heshtje"
Sonila Mara	"Vjeshtë me ty"
Tonin Marku	"Syte e dashurisë"
Yllka Kuqi	"Të gjeta"

Shows

Semi-finals

The semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës took place on 16 December and 17 December 2005, respectively.^[3] 17 contestants participated in each semi-final, with the highlighted ones progressing to the grand final.^[6][7]

Semi-final 1 – 16 December 2005[6] Draw Artist Song 1 Besart Halimi "Loja dashuri" 2 Sfinks "Heshtje" 3 Rudi "Qyteti im" 4 Edmond Mancaku "Ish dashuri dhe jo mëkat" 5 Aurel Thëllimi "Dhe kur kujtesa" 6 Julian Lekoçaj "Niki" 7 Erinda Dhima "Për ju" 8 Edona Llalloshi "Vetëm një puthje" 9 Tonin Marku "Sytë e dashurisë" 10 Agim Poshka "Nostalgji" 11 Evis Mula "Ku t'a gjej unë këngën" 12 Mateus Frroku "Ti ëngjëll, unë prometë" 13 Era Rusi "Nuk je ëndërr" 14 Ermiona Lekbello "Gjysëm ëndërr je o grua" 15 Erti Hizmo and Flaka Krelani "Për ty' 16 Joe Artid Fejzo "Zhurma e heshtjës" 17 Kozma Dushi "Nuk plaken ëndrrat"

Semi-final 2 – 17 December 2005[7] Draw Artist Song 1 Eri and Perfect Bliss "Dumbade" 2 Sonida Mara "Vjeshtë me ty" 3 Armando Dimi "Mall" 4 Guximtar Rushani "Lotë Dashurie" 5 Yllka Kuqi "Të gjeta" 6 Pandora "Pritja" 7 Denisa Macaj and Entela Zhula "Kur zemra prek një dashuri" 8 Sajmir Çili "Hipokrizi" 9 Luiz Ejlli "Zjarr e ftohtë" 10 Ingrid Jushi "Po dhe jo" 11 Kujtim Prodani "Theva kokën si pa dashur" 12 Albërie Hadërgjonaj "Ah sikur kjo jetë" 13 Manjola Nallbani "S'mjafton një jetë" 14 Marsida Saraçi "Do të doja" 15 Anjeza Shahini "Pse ndal' 16 Miriam Cani "Shko" 17 Mariza Ikonomi and Erion Korini "Edhe fati qan"

Final

The grand final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 18 December 2005.^[3] Luiz Ejlli emerged as the winner with "Zjarr e ftohtë" and was simultaneously announced as Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006.^[8]

Key:   Winner   Second place   Third place

Final – 18 December 2005^[9]

Draw	Artist	Song
1	Kujtim Prodani	"Theva kokën si pa dashur"
2	Manjola Nallbani	"S'mjafton një jetë"
3	Edona Llalloshi	"Vetëm një puthje"
4	Eri and Perfect Bliss	"Dumbade"
5	Marsida Saraçi	"Do të doja"
6	Mateus Frroku	"Ti ëngjëll, unë promete"
7	Mariza Ikonomi and Erion Korini	"Edhe fati qan"
8	Kozma Dushi	"Se nuk plaken ëndrrat"
9	Denisa Macaj and Entela Zhula	"Kur zemra prek një dashuri"
10	Sonida Mara	"Vjeshtë me ty"
11	Anjeza Shahini	"Pse ndal"
12	Albërie Hadërgjonaj	"Ah sikur kjo jetë"
13	Sajmir Çili	"Hipokrizi"
14	Evis Mula	"Ku t'a gjej unë këngën"
15	Luiz Ejlli	"Zjarr e ftohtë"
16	Erti Hizmo and Flaka Krelani	"Për ty"
17	Miriam Cani	"Shko"
18	Era Rusi	"Nuk je ëndërr"
19	Agim Poshka	"Nostalgji"
20	Erinda Dhima	"Për ju"

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2006 took place at the O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens, Greece, and consisted of a semi-final on 18 May and the grand final on 20 May 2006.^[10] According to the Eurovision rules at the time, 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.^[11] Due to its non-top 11 result in the 2005 contest, Albania was required to compete in the semi-final.^[12] It was set to perform in position six, following Belarus and preceding Belgium.^[13] At the end of the semi-final, the country was not announced among the top 10 entries and therefore failed to qualify for the final, marking Albania's first non-qualification in the Eurovision Song Contest.^[1]

Voting

The tables below visualise a breakdown of points awarded to Albania in the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, as well as by the country for both the semi-final and grand final. In the semi-final, Albania finished in 14th place with a total of 58 points, including 12 from Macedonia and 10 from Switzerland.^[14] Albania awarded its 12 points to Macedonia in the semi-final and to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the grand final of the contest.^[15]

Points awarded to Albania

Points awarded to Albania (Semi-final)^[14]

Score	Country
12 points	Macedonia
10 points	Switzerland
8 points
7 points	Croatia  Greece
6 points
5 points	Bosnia and Herzegovina
4 points
3 points	Germany  Norway  Turkey
2 points	Russia  Sweden  United Kingdom
1 point	Armenia  Slovenia

Points awarded by Albania

Points awarded by Albania (Semi-final)[14] Score Country 12 points  Macedonia 10 points  Bosnia and Herzegovina 8 points  Bulgaria 7 points  Slovenia 6 points  Turkey 5 points  Sweden 4 points  Cyprus 3 points  Armenia 2 points  Netherlands 1 point  Ireland

Points awarded by Albania (Final)[15] Score Country 12 points  Bosnia and Herzegovina 10 points  Sweden 8 points  Greece 7 points  Turkey 6 points  Spain 5 points  Germany 4 points  Russia 3 points  Macedonia 2 points  Romania 1 point  Malta

References

1. "Countries: Albania". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
2. Knoops, Roy (21 December 2017). "Watch now: Albania's Festivali i Këngës 56 kicks off with semi-final 1". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
3. "Festivali 44 i Këngës në Radio" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
4. "Albania: Festivali i Këngës #44". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
5. Bakker, Sietse (13 December 2005). "Albania selects, participants unknown". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
6. Rau, Oliver (16 December 2005). "Line-up of first Albanian semifinal". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
7. Rau, Oliver (17 December 2005). "Line-up of second Albanian semifinal". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
8. Bakker, Sietse (19 December 2005). "Luiz Ejlli represents Albania in Athens". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
9. Bakker, Sietse (18 December 2005). "Tonight: Albanian national selection". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
10. "Eurovision Song Contest–Athens 2006". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
11. Eurovision Song Contest 2006. Athens, Greece: European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 18–20 May 2006.
12. Baransi, Fouad (25 June 2020). "Throwback To Athens – Eurovision 2006". ESC Bubble. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
13. "Eurovision Song Contest–Athens 2006 Semi-final". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 6 December 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
14. "Results of the Semi-Final of Athens 2006". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
15. "Results of the Grand Final of Athens 2006". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.