RTSH, the Albanian broadcaster has officially confirmed the participation at Eurovision Song Contest 2011. The 49th edition of Festivali i Kenges will take place in December as usual and RTSH has already launched a call for songs.

The rumours in the Albanian media about Albania pulling out of theEurovision Song Contest and the new system to choose the Albanian representative prove to be false as the Albanian broadcaster has officially confirmed to Esctoday.com the participation of the countryin 2011. Once again, Albania will be amongst the first countries to select the entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. Traditionally the winner of Festivali i Kënges represents the country in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Festivali i Këngës is a long standing tradition in the Albanian music industry. Since 2003 it has been used to select Albania’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. Albania entered Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 2004.

In December 2003, Anjeza Shahini won the 42nd edition of Festivali i Këngës with the song Imazhi yt and got a ticket for Eurovision. In 2004 she represented Albania in Istanbul with the song Image of you. She came 7th in the final and achieved the best Albanian result at Eurovision Song Contest.

The 49th edition of Festivali I Këngës will take place in December but the dates hasn’t been set yet.
Meanwhile, RTSH has already launched a call for songs. The deadline for the submission of the songs is mid October.
Popular Albanian names and are tipped to return to the Festivali i Këngës this year.

Juliana Pasha represented Albania at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest with the song It’s all about you. She came 16th in the final with 62 points.

Stay tuned on esctoday.com for the latest news on Festivali in Këngës.

Winning songs of Festivali i Këngës of last decade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6m0h95R_u8