38 songs in competition for Albania’s Eurovision representative

TIRANA, Nov. 18 – Thirty-eight songs have been selected to participate in this year’s 49th edition of the Festivali i Kenges song contest whose winner will represent Albania in the 2011 Eurovision in Germany’s Dusseldorf. The annual festival organized by public broadcaster, RTSH, will be held from December 23 to 25 at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. A trio composed of Albanian internationally renowned tenor Josif Gjipali, singer Jonida Maliqi and actress Mirela Naska will host the festival.
An expert jury has selected 32 songs (established category) for 49th edition of Festivali i K쯧쳮 Besides that, 6 songs from newcomers category will be added to the semi finals.
Bojken Lako, the festival’s director, is convinced this edition will bring a perfect combination of traditional and modern elements.
This year’s favorites include Aurela Gace, a previous winner of the festival back in 1999 and 2011, who now shares her singing career between the United States and Albania. Other tough constants are last year’s hosts of the festival, duo Alban Skenderaj and his fiancꥠMiriam Cami, talented Besa Kokedhima and Kejsi Tola, Albania’s representative at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.
Last year, Albania’s pick, Juliana Pasha, reached the Final of Europe’s favourite TV-show and placed 16th with her song “It’s All About You.”