On December 22nd, Albania selected its entry for the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest at its traditional Festivali i Këngës, which celebrated its 62nd edition in Tirana, the capital of the country.
Viewers had the opportunity to choose Besa Kokëdhima as Albania’s representative in Malmö, Sweden, next May.
Besa Kokëdhima embodies all the elements of a Balkan pop diva. After several attempts to take the stage at the European festival, Besa has secured the ticket that will take her to the Malmö Arena, where she will perform “TiTAN” a revamped version of her song “Zemrëm N’dorë.”
With the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 on the horizon, it’s time to get to know each of the contenders vying for the coveted crystal microphone.
How did she make it to Eurovision? What experience does she have in the world of music? What does the proposal she will compete with in Malmö 2024 mean? Today, the focus is on the Albanian artist Besa Kokëdhima. Let’s delve into her career to learn more about Albania’s representative in the 68th edition of the European contest.
Let’s remember that Besa Kokëdhima’s proposal in Malmö 2024 will mark the celebration of Albania’s 20th anniversary at the Eurovision Song Contest since its debut in Istanbul 2004.
Who is Besa Kokëdhima?
Besa Kokëdhima is an Albanian singer born in 1986 in Fier. She is the daughter of mathematician and entrepreneur parents. At the age of eight, she moved with her family to Tirana, and at 15, she relocated to the United Kingdom to pursue her high school education. She began her musical career at a young age, winning young talent contests in the UK. Despite starting as a pianist, her teacher encouraged her to sing, marking the beginning of her career as a vocal performer.
At the age of 19, she returned to Albania to continue her university education, studying Business Administration and Management. However, she abandoned this profession to focus on music. She has released several singles and albums, with hits like “Më Beso” and “Amelia,” the latter accumulating over 3.2 million streams on Spotify.
She has participated in numerous music competitions and festivals, both nationally and internationally, notably including her participation in the Festivali i Këngës. She represented Albania in the MTV Exit competition and took part in the Romanian pre-selection for Eurovision in 2009. Additionally, she has been a coach on the Albanian version of The Voice.
Among all her appearances in music competitions, her presence at the legendary Festival i Këngës stands out, having participated twice prior to 2023. At Festivali i Këngës 62, her song “Zemrën N’dorë” was selected to represent Albania in Eurovision 2024, but it was later revamped and translated as “TiTAN.”
“TiTAN” the Albanian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024
Besa Kokëdhima will perform “TiTAN” in Malmö 2024, the English version of “Zemrëm N’dorë,” a powerful ballad that gradually transforms into a pop song where the singer demonstrates her great vocal mastery and extraordinary stage presence.
“TiTAN” addresses heartbreak and the doubts that arise when feelings are not mutual. It speaks of the “pieces of a heart” that are in one’s hands due to a broken love that seems irreparable. Kledi Bahiti and Besa Kokëdhima herself are responsible for the musical composition. Meanwhile, Rozana Radi and Petrit Sefaj have penned the lyrics for the Albanian entry.
Renowned Macedonian composer and producer Darko Dimitrov, along with Kledi Bahiti and Armand Broshka, are credited with the song’s production. Additionally, Gia Koka, Alias Lj, and Serban Cazan have contributed to the renewal process.
In Besa Kokëdhima’s own words, with the introduction of English, “the song has grown, the renewal is greater, and I am proud of it,” aiming to reach everyone so that it can be understood. It has been a comprehensive renewal, including the title change from “Zemrën N’dorë” to “TiTAN.”
Lyrics of «TiTAN»
We stand eye to eye.
U try and set a fire.
Just to watch me burn.
It’s like you don’t know.
That I will survive.
Learned how to stay alive.
Come and throw your flames.
Cause it’s all in vain.
Even if i fall, I’m gon’ get up.
I’ll be standing tall, proud, with my head up.
Go head and give your best shot.
I won’t go down.
I’ll never break.
Like a titan I’ll be brave.
Tonight.
I’ll rise.
I won’t give up.
Fight ’till the end.
Every tears gonna ricochet.
I rise.
Rise.
I’m a TiTAN in disguise.
I bet u thought that i would crumble, but i wont.
U thought i wouldn’t make it out here On my own.
U thought u’d see me broken, I’m going strong.
Still going strong.
Got an armor round my heart, its unbreakable.
Got my feet on the ground, I’m unshakable.
And If u think i won’t survive, than you’re so wrong.
You’re so wrong.
I won’t go down.
I’ll never break.
Like a titan I’ll be brave.
Tonight.
I’ll rise.
I won’t give up.
Fight ’till the end.
Every tears gonna ricochet.
I rise.
Rise.
I’m a TiTAN in disguise.
I won’t go down.
I’ll never break.
Like a titan I’ll be brave.
Tonight.
I’ll rise.
I won’t give up.
Fight ’till the end.
Every tears gonna ricochet.
I rise.
Rise.
I’m a TiTAN in disguise.
Albania’s participation in Eurovision
Albania has been participating in the Eurovision Song Contest since 2004. In that edition held in Istanbul (Turkey), the Balkan country made its long-awaited debut with Anjeza Shahini and her acclaimed “The Image Of You”. In its first participation, Albania achieved a commendable seventh place.
Since its debut, Albania has competed in the Eurovision Song Contest continuously. Including its participation in Malmö 2024, it reaches 21 entries in the contest. Throughout these years, it has qualified a total of 11 times. However, only two of its entries have placed within the Top 10.
In Baku 2012, Albania achieved its best historical ranking thanks to the masterful performance of Rona Nishliu with “Suus”. It reached fifth place with 146 points. However, with the change in the voting system of the contest, the Albanian entry with the highest number of points is Eugent Bushpepa’s “Mall” in Lisbon 2018, where it received 184 points. Additionally, its eleventh place has been its best result in recent years. In the last edition of 2023, Albina & Familja Kelmendi with “Duje” were the most voted by Albanian viewers and became Albania’s representatives in Liverpool (United Kingdom). Following Ronela Hajati’s stumble in Turin 2022, Albania returned to the grand final of the competition. The entry received 76 points, translating to a twenty-second place.