Kënga Magjike (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈkəŋɡa maˈɟikɛ]; transl. "The Magic Song") is an annual music competition organised by the Albanian television broadcaster Televizioni Klan.[1] The music competition has been broadcasting annually since its inauguration in 1999 with the exception of 2020[2] and 2023.[citation needed]

Kënga Magjike
The official logo of Kënga Magjike
GenreVarious
DatesNovember, December, May
Location(s)Albania (1999–present)
Kosovo (2004–present)
Years active1999–present
FoundersArdit Gjebrea
WebsiteOfficial Website

The first edition of the contest was broadcast live by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar while all the editions from 2003 by Televizioni Klan. Ardit Gjebrea has been the main presenter of the contest since the first edition and in other occasions he has hosted with other co-presenters amongst them Brigitte Nielsen, Natalia Estrada, Songül Öden and Elia Zogu.

History

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1999–2005

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Ardit Gjebrea at Kënga Magjike 2009
 
Banner at the Palace of Congresses where Kënga Magjike 2016 was held

Throughout its history, different broadcasters have been credited with the production and airing of this event, including RTSH, Klan TV, TVA, RTV NRG (Albania) and RTV21, RTK (Kosovo), as well as many radio stations. It is currently produced and aired by Klan TV.

Kënga Magjike was created by singer, composer, host and organizer Ardit Gjebrea and began airing in 1999. It usually airs each November, with a few exceptions. It was originally aired as a three or four night event similar to Festivali i Këngës; however, in 2005 a new format of presenting the songs was introduced. Each song was broadcast one month prior to the semi-finals and the final in a special edition called "Duke Pritur Kënga Magjike..." (Awaiting Kënga Magjike...), giving the viewers a chance to vote for the songs that would pass on to the semi-finals through phone, text or online in the festival's official website. A jury was also used when determining which songs made it to the next stage.

2006–present

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This format was later replaced by the current system, where groups of songs are presented weekly in the E Diela Shqiptare (The Albanian Sunday) show on Klan TV hosted by Ardit Gjebrea. Established singers automatically pass to the semi-finals stage, while newcomers must rely on the verdict of a professional jury. Once the semi-finalists are determined and their acts are performed in the semis, it is the singers themselves who must vote for each other in a 1-through-30 (skipping 23, 25, 27, 28 and 29) point system to determine both the songs that will reach the finals and their final ranking. The professional jury, the organizers of the festival and the TV station are tasked with determining the titles of the prizes that each finalist will be awarded.

Following criticism for the use of playback in the delivery of songs, the organizers decided to limit the use of playback to just the weekly presentation stage in 2015. Established singers are allowed to use playback in this phase, while newcomers must sing live in order to receive a verdict by the jury. Nonetheless, the semi-finals and the final must all be delivered live by both established and debuting singers.

The festival has been praised for the diversity of music it has brought to the public, providing a great mixture of singers and bands from Albania with those from neighboring countries, a large portion coming from Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and other areas. Kënga Magjike has also been the stage for many comebacks of famous Albanian singers that reside in other countries, as well as artists which have contributed to the Albanian music industry in the past. Songs from this contest have resulted in numerous memorable hits for Albanians throughout the world. Compared to its main competitors, Kënga Magjike features more bubble-gum and commercialized music, contrasting with the predominantly alternative and rock genres featured in Top Awards on Top Channel, while not being as exclusively prohibitive as Festivali i Këngës, which typically admits only professional vocalists.

Presenter Ardit Gjebrea announced that the competition would be postponed in 2020 and would return in 2021.[3] The competition was also not held in 2023.[4]

Winners

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As the second longest-running music competition in Albania, twenty songs have won the Kënga Magjike which has been broadcast every year since its debut in 1999. The festival's winner has been determined using numerous voting techniques throughout its history while centre to these have been the awarding of points to the participants by juries, televoters or the participants themselves.

Year Song Artist(s) Composition Ref
1999 "Vetëm një fjalë" Elsa Lila
  • Alfred Kaçinari
  • Jorgo Papingji
2000 "Një mijë ëndrra" Irma Libohova and Eranda Libohova
  • Irma Libohova
  • Kristi
2001 "Për një çast më ndali zemra" Rovena Dilo and Pirro Çako
  • Pirro Çako
  • Timo Flloko
2002 "E pathëna fjalë" Mira Konçi
2003 "Ku je ti" Ema Bytyçi Adrian Hila
2004 "Prapë tek ti do të vij" Irma Libohova
  • Floran Kondi
  • Irma Libohova
2005 "Nuk dua tjetër" Genta Ismajli Adrian Hila
2006 "Kur dashuria vdes" Armend Rexhepagiqi
2007 "Hape veten" Aurela Gaçe
[5]
2008 "Njëri nga ata" Jonida Maliqi
2009 "Rruga e zemrës" Eliza Hoxha and Rosela Gjylbegu
2010 "Sa e shite zemrën" Juliana Pasha and Luiz Ejlli Pirro Çako
2011 "Më lër të fle" Redon Makashi Redon Makashi
2012 "Rrefuzoj" Alban Skenderaj Alban Skenderaj[6]
2013 "Tatuazh në zemër" Besa
[7]
2014 "Pa kontroll" Aurela Gaçe and Young Zerka Adrian Hila [8]
2015 "Akoma jo" Aurela Gaçe Adrian Hila[9] [10]
2016 "Ma thuaj ti" Rozana Radi
  • Elgit Doda
  • Rozana Radi
[11]
[12]
2017 "E çmendur" Anxhela Peristeri
  • Kledi Bahiti
  • Olti Curri
[13]
[14]
2018 "Plas" Flori Mumajesi Flori Mumajesi[15] [16]
2019 "Ma zgjat dorën" Eneda Tarifa Flori Mumajesi [17]
2020 Contest postponed
2021 "Thikat e mia" Alban Ramosaj
  • Alban Ramosaj
[18]
2022 "I paftuar" Marsela Çibukaj Alban Ramosaj [19]
2023 Contest postponed
2024 Current season

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kënga Magjike". tvklan.al (in Albanian). TV Klan. Archived from the original on 2021-09-03. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  2. ^ "Producer–Kënga Magjike". arditgjebrea.info. Archived from the original on 2020-10-18. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  3. ^ ""KËNGA MAGJIKE" NUK DO TË ZHVILLOHET NË VITIN 2020, ARDIT GJEBREA ZBULON ÇFARË QËNDRON PAS KËTIJ VENDIMI". insajderi.com. January 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "The "Magic Song" festival will not be held this year". Politiko. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  5. ^ Aurela Gace - Hape Veten | Official Music Video. 10 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 15 November 2019 – via YouTube. Note: Open description for credits.
  6. ^ Alban Skenderaj - Refuzoj ( Kenga Magjike 2012 - Nata e pare Gjysem Finale ) | Official Music Video. 30 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 15 November 2019 – via YouTube. Note: Open description for credits.
  7. ^ Besa - Tatuazh Ne Zemer Kenga Magjike 2013 ( Netet Finale - Pallati Koncerteve ) | Official Music Video. 30 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 15 November 2019 – via YouTube. Note: Open description for credits.
  8. ^ "Aurela Gaçe dhe Young Zerka fitojnë "Kënga Magjike"". tvklan.al (in Albanian). TV Klan. 14 December 2014.
  9. ^ Aurela Gace - Kenga Magjike 2015 - Akoma Jo | Official Music Video. 23 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 15 November 2019 – via YouTube. Note: Open description for credits.
  10. ^ "Aurela Gaçe fiton festivalin "Kënga Magjike"". tvklan.al (in Albanian). TV Klan. 6 December 2015.
  11. ^ Rozana Radi - Ma Thuaj Ti ( Kenga Magjike 2016 ) | Official Music Video. 23 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 15 November 2019 – via YouTube. Note: Open description for credits.
  12. ^ ""Ma thuaj ti" fiton "Këngën Magjike"". tvklan.al (in Albanian). TV Klan. 11 December 2016.
  13. ^ Anxhela Peristeri - E cmendur (Kenga Magjike 2017) | Official Music Video. 23 October 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 15 November 2019 – via YouTube. Note: Open description for credits.
  14. ^ ""E çmendur", kënga më e mirë për 2017-ën". tvklan.al (in Albanian). TV Klan. 10 December 2017.
  15. ^ Flori Mumajesi - Plas (Kenga Magjike 2018) | Official Music Video. 2 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 15 November 2019 – via YouTube. Note: Open description for credits.
  16. ^ "Flori Mumajesi fitues i Kënga Magjike 2018!" (in Albanian). Kënga Magjike. Archived from the original on 2019-11-10. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  17. ^ "Eneda Tarifa, fituesja e Kënga Magjike" (in Albanian). TV Klan. 7 December 2019.
  18. ^ "Alban Ramosaj fiton Kënga Magjike!" (in Albanian). Televizioni Klan (TV Klan). 30 May 2021. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Marsela Çibukaj fiton "Kënga Magjike 2022"" (in Albanian). Kënga Magjike. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
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