Kënga Magjike (English: Magical Song) is one of the main musical events in Albania.
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.
Kënga Magjike was created by singer, composer, host and organizer Ardit Gjebrea and began airing in 1999. It usually airs on the November of each year, with a few exceptions. 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 official website: http://www.kengamagjike.com. A jury is also used when determining which song makes it to the next stage.
While the contest is criticised for the use of playback in the delivery of each song in the competition, it has been praised for the diversity of music it has brought to the public. The biggest achievement of Kënga Magjike is the great mixture of singers and bands from Albania with those in neighboring countries, a large portion coming from Kosovo as well as other areas. Kënga Magjike has also been the stage for many comebacks of famous Albanian singers who reside in other countries, as well as artists which have contributed to the music industry in the past. Songs from this contest have resulted in many hits for Albanians throughout the world.
Compared to its main competitors, Kënga Magjike is considered to feature a more bubble-gum type of music than Top Fest, a reality-style song contest on Top Channel heavy on alternative and rock music, while not being dominated by power-ballads and strong-themed songs like the ones appearing in Festivali I Këngës.
The main host of Kënga Magjike has always been Ardit Gjebrea. Sometimes he has hosted the show alone, while in other occasions there has been a female co-host, such as Natalia Estrada (2001 & 2002) and Brigitte Nielsen (2003). There has always been a jury which determines most of the prizes that are awarded to the singers. In the beginning, the jury was used to determine the classification of the songs, however this system was changed to allow the singers to vote for each other and determine the winners themselves.
Contents |
| Year | Hosts | Venue | Director | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Ardit Gjebrea | Palace of Congresses | Pali Kuke | ||
| 2000 | Ardit Gjebrea | Palace of Congresses | Pali Kuke | ||
| 2001 | Ardit Gjebrea & Natalia Estrada | Palace of Congresses | Pali Kuke | ||
| 2002 | Ardit Gjebrea & Natalia Estrada | Palace of Congresses | Vera Grabocka | ||
| 2003 | Ardit Gjebrea & Brigitte Nielsen | Palace of Congresses | Vera Grabocka | ||
| 2004 | Ardit Gjebrea | 1 Tetori Auditorium | Vera Grabocka | ||
| 2005 | Ardit Gjebrea & Denada Dajlani | Palace of Congresses | Agron Vulaj & Astrit Idrizi | ||
| 2006 | Ardit Gjebrea | Palace of Congresses | Agron Vulaj & Astrit Idrizi | ||
| 2007 | Ardit Gjebrea | Palace of Congresses | Agron Vulaj & Astrit Idrizi | ||
| 2008 | Ardit Gjebrea, Artemisa Ozaj & Anis Brahimi | Palace of Congresses | Agron Vulaj & Astrit Idrizi | ||
| 2009 | Ardit Gjebrea | Palace of Congresses | Agron Vulaj & Astrit Idrizi | ||
| 2010 | Ardit Gjebrea | Palace of Congresses | Agron Vulaj & Astrit Idrizi | ||
| 2011 | Ardit Gjebrea & Songül Öden | Palace of Congresses | Agron Vulaj & Astrit Idrizi | ||
| Year | Edit | Artist | Song | Composer | Writer |
| 1999 | Kënga Magjike 01 | Elsa Lila | "Vetëm një fjalë" | Alfred Kaçinari | Jorgo Papingji |
| 2000 | Kënga Magjike 02 | Irma Libohova & Eranda Libohova | "Një mijë ëndrra" | Kristi | Irma Libohova |
| 2001 | Kënga Magjike 03 | Rovena Dilo & Pirro Çako | "Për një çast më ndali zemra" | Pirro Çako | Timo Flloko |
| 2002 | Kënga Magjike 04 | Mira Konçi | "E pathëna fjalë" | Shpëtim Saraçi | Pandi Laço |
| 2003 | Kënga Magjike 05 | Ema Bytyçi | "Ku je ti" | Adrian Hila | Adrian Hila |
| 2004 | Kënga Magjike 06 | Irma Libohova | "Prapë tek ti do të vij" | Irma Libohova | Floran Kondi |
| 2005 | Kënga Magjike 07 | Gentiana Ismajli | "Nuk dua tjetër" | Adrian Hila | Adrian Hila |
| 2006 | Kënga Magjike 08 | Armend Rexhepagiqi | "Kur dashuria vdes" | Armend Rexhepagiqi | Aida Baraku |
| 2007 | Kënga Magjike 09 | Aurela Gaçe | "Hape veten" | Florjan Mumajesi | Timo Flloko |
| 2008 | Kënga Magjike 10 | Jonida Maliqi | "Njëri nga ata" | Kaliopi | Aida Baraku |
| 2009 | Kënga Magjike 11 | Eliza Hoxha & Rosela Gjylbegu | "Rruga e zemrës" | Darko Dimitrov | Eliza Hoxha |
| 2010 | Kënga Magjike 12 | Juliana Pasha & Luiz Ejlli | "Sa e shite zemren?" | Pirro Çako | Pirro Çako |
| 2011 | Kënga Magjike 13 | Redon Makashi | "Më lër të Fle" | Redon Makashi | Redon Makashi |
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