Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Encyclopedia
Albania and Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH)
were present at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow
, marking their sixth performance at the contest. They used the Festivali i Këngës
competition to select the Albanian entrant and this year's contest was fronted by a new artistic director, Albanian composer and singer Pirro Çako
. The winner of Festivali i Këngës 47
was Kejsi Tola
, with the song "Më merr në ëndërr", which was performed at Eurovision in English
as "Carry Me in Your Dreams
".
, Julian Deda and Gentian Zenelaj.
Kejsi Tola
was the winner of Festivali i Këngës 47, winning with 126 points. The runners-up were Juliana Pasha and Luiz Ejlli
with 119 points, with West Side Family coming third with 118 points. Tola's song was "Më merr në ëndërr" (Take me in your dreams), composed by Edmond Zhulali and Agim Doçi, the composer's of Albania's first Eurovision entry, "The Image of You
" by Anjeza Shahini
, which came 7th at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004
, Albania's best placing to date.
choreographer Julian Bulku, known for planning the 2008
Greek entry, performed by Kalomoira, as well as collaborating with 2005
winner Elena Paparizou
.
In April Tola was invited by Greek
broadcaster ANT1
to perform on their morning program, as well as performing in Montenegro
, on RTCG
. She also travelled to Macedonia
, performing on national TV as well as in a concert organised by RTSH for her fans in Skopje
. Finally she travelled to the Eurovision Promo Concert in Amsterdam
, the Netherlands
, where she performed alongside over 20 other Eurovision contestants.
and preceding Ukraine
. It qualified to the final where it finished 17th.
"Më merr në ëndërr" was performed in English at Eurovision, under the title of "Carry Me in Your Dreams". The new, 3 minute version of the song, and its promotional video clip, was released on 15 March.
Radio Televizioni Shqiptar
Radio Televizioni Shqiptar is the public broadcaster of Albania, founded in 1938 in Tirana....
were present at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, marking their sixth performance at the contest. They used the Festivali i Këngës
Festivali I Këngës Në RTSH
Festivali i Këngës is an Albanian song contest, organised by the Albanian national broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar . Since its beginnings in 1966 all performers have been required to perform live, with a jury or televote selecting the winner...
competition to select the Albanian entrant and this year's contest was fronted by a new artistic director, Albanian composer and singer Pirro Çako
Pirro Çako
Pirro Çako is an Albanian singer and composer. In 1988 he won the Albanian national festival as a composer with the song E duam lumturinë . The song was interpreted by Parashqevi Simaku. He has so far issued two albums: Herët a vonë in June 2004 and including 15 songs, and more recently, a second...
. The winner of Festivali i Këngës 47
Festivali I Këngës 47
Festivali i Këngës 47 took place at the Palace of Congres in Tirana, Albania. There were two semifinals and a final with 20 entrants competing. The winner was determined by a jury of 7 judges. The RTSH orchestra was present, but the option of playback was available to the performers...
was Kejsi Tola
Kejsi Tola
Kejsi Tola is an Albanian singer and the winner of Albanian Idol 2007. In 2008 she was the winning contestant in the Festivali i Këngës competition to find the representative for Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia. Kejsi has a cousin called Öner studying music theory and...
, with the song "Më merr në ëndërr", which was performed at Eurovision in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as "Carry Me in Your Dreams
Carry Me in Your Dreams
"Carry Me in Your Dreams" was the Albanian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, held in Moscow, Russia. The song was composed by Edmond Zhulali and Agim Doçi, composers of Albania's first entry to Eurovision, "The Image of You" by Anjeza Shahini, and is performed by Albanian singer Kejsi Tola...
".
Festivali i Këngës 47
RTSH set the provisional dates for the final of the 47th Festivali i Këngës at 21 December 2008, again being the first country to select their entry for Eurovision. Two semi-finals were held before the final on 19 and 20 December 2008. The contest was hosted by Elsa LilaElsa Lila
Elsa Lila is an Albanian singer.-Early life:Elsa Lila was born in Tirana, Albania. Her father was a singer of the former Albanian state choir, while her mother was a violinist, so both parents raised her on theatre, and music, giving her a great love for the arts...
, Julian Deda and Gentian Zenelaj.
Semi-finals
The two semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës 47 were held on 19 and 20 December 2008. Due to criticism of last year's contest, changes have been made to the format of Festivali i Këngës. Firstly, 20 artists performed their selected songs in the first semi-final on 19 December 2008. The songs were then repeated on the 20 December, this time with other famous Albanian artists. All 20 songs were in the final on 21 December, performed by their original artists. The winner was again selected by the votes of seven jury members, as in last year. The song titles and running order for both the semi-finals and final were released on 18th December 2008.Presentation Evening 1
All of the songs were presented on 19 December 2008 by their original artists in advance to the final of the contest on 21 December 2008.| Draw | Artist | Song | Composer - Lyricist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dorina Garuci | "Dite një jetë" | Dorian Nini, Pandi Laço |
| 2 | Endri & Stefi Prifti | "Ti bere faj" | Josif Minga, Skender Rusi |
| 3 | Evis Mula | "Unë jam dashuria" | Luan Zhegu, Agim Doçi |
| 4 | Juliana Pasha & Luiz Ejlli Luiz Ejlli Luiz Ejlli is an Albanian singer.-Biography:Luiz Ejlli was born in Shkodra and between 1991 and 2002 he attended the "Prenk Jakova" secondary school in Shkodra. In 1995, he won the Best Voice Prize in "Child National Fesitival" in Shkodra. In 1998, he participated as a soloist in the "Gold... |
"Nje jetë" | Shpetim Saraçi, Turian Hyskaj |
| 5 | West Side Family | "Jehonë" | Dr. Flori, Klodian Qafoku |
| 6 | Shpat Kasapi | "Aromë mediterane" | Gent Myftarai, Pandi Laço |
| 7 | Kejsi Tola Kejsi Tola Kejsi Tola is an Albanian singer and the winner of Albanian Idol 2007. In 2008 she was the winning contestant in the Festivali i Këngës competition to find the representative for Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia. Kejsi has a cousin called Öner studying music theory and... |
"Më merr në ëndërr" | Edmond Zhulali, Agim Doçi |
| 8 | Marjeta Billo | "Era e tokës" | Adrian Hila, Pandi Laço |
| 9 | Rovena Dilo & Eugent Bushpepa | "S'jam balade" | Armend Rexhepagiqi, Aida Baraku |
| 10 | Agim Poshka | "Fajtor për ngrohjen globale" | Agim Poshka, Olsen Maze |
| 11 | Julian Lekoçaj | "Nuk je ti" | Julian Lekoçaj |
| 12 | Burn | "Jam i pari i jettes sime" | Stivart Cela & Renis Gjoka, Big Basta |
| 13 | Erga Halilaj | "Dikush mungon" | Kristi Popa, Florion Zyko |
| 14 | Emi Bogdo | "Kur buzet henen e kafshojn" | Emi Bogdo, Klodian Qafoku |
| 15 | Kujtim Prodani | "Nostalgji" | Kujtim Prodani, Agim Doci |
| 16 | Adelina Thaci | "Oret e fundit" | Alfred Kacinari |
| 17 | Era Rusi | "Shpirt i humbur" | Arsen Nasi & Bledar Skenderi, Irma Libohova |
| 18 | Vedat Ademi | "Po me prite ti" | Kledi Bahiti, Alban Male |
| 19 | Besa Kokedhima | "Ajer" | Alban Male, Olti Curri |
| 20 | Soni Malaj | "Zona zero" | Florian Mumajesi |
Presentation Evening 2
The second presentation eveing of Festivali i Këngës 47 was held on 20 December, 2008. The same 20 songs that were presented on 19 December 2008, this time as duets with other famous Albanian artists.| Draw | Artist | Song | Composer - Lyricist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marjeta Billo & Olta Boka Olta Boka Olta Boka is an Albanian singer who was chosen to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with her song "Zemrën e lamë peng". She won the Albanian national final, called Festivali i Këngës, and competed in the second semifinal, on May 22 and won a place in the final on May 24 where... |
"Era e tokës" | Adrian Hila, Pandi Laço |
| 2 | Besa Kokedhima & Jacky Dachum | "Ajer" | Alban Male, Olti Curri |
| 3 | Shpat Kasapi & Adelina Tahiri | "Aromë mediterane" | Gent Myftarai, Pandi Laço |
| 4 | Emi Bogdo & Xhoi | "Kur buzet henen e kafshojn" | Emi Bogdo, Klodian Qafoku |
| 5 | Evis Mula & Erti Hizmo | "Unë jam dashuria" | Luan Zhegu, Agim Doçi |
| 6 | Era Rusi & Irma Libohova | "Shpirt i humbur" | Arsen Nasi & Bledar Skenderi, Irma Libohova |
| 7 | Rovena Dilo, Eugent Bushpepa & Jonida Maliqi | "S'jam balade" | Armend Rexhepagiqi, Aida Baraku |
| 8 | Endri, Stefi & Maria Prifti | "Ti bere faj" | Josif Minga, Skender Rusi |
| 9 | Juliana Pasha, Luiz Ejlli Luiz Ejlli Luiz Ejlli is an Albanian singer.-Biography:Luiz Ejlli was born in Shkodra and between 1991 and 2002 he attended the "Prenk Jakova" secondary school in Shkodra. In 1995, he won the Best Voice Prize in "Child National Fesitival" in Shkodra. In 1998, he participated as a soloist in the "Gold... & Produkt 28 |
"Nje jetë" | Shpetim Saraçi, Turian Hyskaj |
| 10 | Erga Halilaj & Kristi Popa | "Dikush mungon" | Kristi Popa, Florion Zyko |
| 11 | Kejsi Tola Kejsi Tola Kejsi Tola is an Albanian singer and the winner of Albanian Idol 2007. In 2008 she was the winning contestant in the Festivali i Këngës competition to find the representative for Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia. Kejsi has a cousin called Öner studying music theory and... & Flaka Krelani |
"Më merr në ëndërr" | Edmond Zhulali, Agim Doçi |
| 12 | Kujtim Prodani & Jo Artid Fejzo | "Nostalgji" | Kujtim Prodani, Agim Doci |
| 13 | Dorina Garuci, Arber Arapi & Marsida Saraci | "Dite një jetë" | Dorian Nini, Pandi Laço |
| 14 | Burn & Aleksander Gjoka | "Jam i pari i jettes sime" | Stivart Cela & Renis Gjoka, Big Basta |
| 15 | Agim Poshka & Eranda Libohova | "Fajtor për ngrohjen globale" | Agim Poshka, Olsen Maze |
| 16 | West Side Family & Aurela Gaçe | "Jehonë" | Dr. Flori, Klodian Qafoku |
| 17 | Adelina Thaci & Teuta Kurti | "Oret e fundit" | Alfred Kacinari |
| 18 | Vedat Ademi & Samanta Karavello | "Po me prite ti" | Kledi Bahiti, Alban Male |
| 19 | Julian Lekoçaj & Kamela Islamaj | "Nuk je ti" | Julian Lekoçaj |
| 20 | Soni Malaj & Getoar Selimi | "Zona zero" | Florian Mumajesi |
Final
The final of Festivali i Këngës 47 was held on 21 December, 2008 The winner was decided here, through the votes of seven jury members. Each jury member gave 1 to 20 points to each song, with 20 points for their favourite song and 1 point for their least favourite song.Kejsi Tola
Kejsi Tola
Kejsi Tola is an Albanian singer and the winner of Albanian Idol 2007. In 2008 she was the winning contestant in the Festivali i Këngës competition to find the representative for Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia. Kejsi has a cousin called Öner studying music theory and...
was the winner of Festivali i Këngës 47, winning with 126 points. The runners-up were Juliana Pasha and Luiz Ejlli
Luiz Ejlli
Luiz Ejlli is an Albanian singer.-Biography:Luiz Ejlli was born in Shkodra and between 1991 and 2002 he attended the "Prenk Jakova" secondary school in Shkodra. In 1995, he won the Best Voice Prize in "Child National Fesitival" in Shkodra. In 1998, he participated as a soloist in the "Gold...
with 119 points, with West Side Family coming third with 118 points. Tola's song was "Më merr në ëndërr" (Take me in your dreams), composed by Edmond Zhulali and Agim Doçi, the composer's of Albania's first Eurovision entry, "The Image of You
The Image Of You
"The Image of You" was the debut entry for Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest, being performed in English by Anjeza Shahini in the semi-final of the 2004 Contest....
" by Anjeza Shahini
Anjeza Shahini
Anjeza Shahini is an Albanian singer. She represented Albania at the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "The Image of You" in the country's debut year in the ESC.-Eurovision 2004:...
, which came 7th at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004
Eurovision Song Contest 2004
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004, was the 49th Contest and it was held in the Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. This was the first occasion in which the contest was held in Turkey after they had won the competition in 2003 with Sertab Erener singing "Everyway That I Can"...
, Albania's best placing to date.
| Draw | Artist | Song | Composer - Lyricist | Points | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Side Family | "Jehonë" | Dr. Flori, Klodian Qafoku | 118 | 3 |
| 2 | Soni Malaj | "Zona zero" | Florian Mumajesi | 44 | 16 |
| 3 | Juliana Pasha & Luiz Ejlli Luiz Ejlli Luiz Ejlli is an Albanian singer.-Biography:Luiz Ejlli was born in Shkodra and between 1991 and 2002 he attended the "Prenk Jakova" secondary school in Shkodra. In 1995, he won the Best Voice Prize in "Child National Fesitival" in Shkodra. In 1998, he participated as a soloist in the "Gold... |
"Nje jetë" | Shpetim Saraçi, Turian Hyskaj | 119 | 2 |
| 4 | Kujtim Prodani | "Nostalgji" | Kujtim Prodani, Agim Doci | 24 | 18 |
| 5 | Emi Bogdo | "Kur buzet henen e kafshojn" | Emi Bogdo, Klodian Qafoku | 43 | 17 |
| 6 | Erga Halilaj | "Dikush mungon" | Kristi Popa, Florion Zyko | 63 | 11 |
| 7 | Marjeta Billo | "Era e tokës" | Adrian Hila, Pandi Laço | 106 | 5 |
| 8 | Adelina Thaci | "Oret e fundit" | Alfred Kacinari | 91 | 8 |
| 9 | Rovena Dilo & Eugent Bushpepa | "S'jam balade" | Armend Rexhepagiqi, Aida Baraku | 60 | 12 |
| 10 | Dorina Garuci | "Dite një jetë" | Dorian Nini, Pandi Laço | 92 | 7 |
| 11 | Endri & Stefi Prifti | "Ti bere faj" | Josif Minga, Skender Rusi | 91 | 8 |
| 12 | Kejsi Tola Kejsi Tola Kejsi Tola is an Albanian singer and the winner of Albanian Idol 2007. In 2008 she was the winning contestant in the Festivali i Këngës competition to find the representative for Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia. Kejsi has a cousin called Öner studying music theory and... |
"Më merr në ëndërr" | Edmond Zhulali, Agim Doçi | 126 | 1 |
| 13 | Era Rusi | "Shpirt i humbur" | Arsen Nasi & Bledar Skenderi, Irma Libohova | 50 | 15 |
| 14 | Julian Lekoçaj | "Nuk je ti" | Julian Lekoçaj | 17 | 20 |
| 15 | Shpat Kasapi | "Aromë mediterane" | Gent Myftarai, Pandi Laço | 22 | 19 |
| 16 | Evis Mula | "Unë jam dashuria" | Luan Zhegu, Agim Doçi | 91 | 8 |
| 17 | Burn | "Jam i pari i jettes sime" | Stivart Cela & Renis Gjoka, Big Basta | 96 | 6 |
| 18 | Vedat Ademi | "Po me prite ti" | Kledi Bahiti, Alban Male | 51 | 14 |
| 19 | Agim Poshka | "Fajtor për ngrohjen globale" | Agim Poshka, Olsen Maze | 56 | 13 |
| 20 | Besa Kokedhima | "Ajer" | Alban Male, Olti Curri | 109 | 4 |
Before Eurovision
Before her performance at Eurovision Kejsi Tola completed a promotional tour of a number of European countries, between daily work on her performance and vocals, with choreography planned by GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
choreographer Julian Bulku, known for planning the 2008
Eurovision Song Contest 2008
The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was the 53rd edition of the Contest. It was hosted in Belgrade, Serbia after Marija Šerifović won the 2007 Contest in Helsinki, Finland. This year was the first contest to have two semi-finals which were held on 20 and 22 May, and the final held on 24 May 2008...
Greek entry, performed by Kalomoira, as well as collaborating with 2005
Eurovision Song Contest 2005
The Eurovision Song Contest 2005 was the 50th Eurovision Song Contest, which was held at the Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine. The winner was Greece's My Number One, written by Christos Dantis and Natalia Germanou and performed by Swedish-born Greek singer Elena Paparizou, who scored 230 points,...
winner Elena Paparizou
Elena Paparizou
Eleni "Elena" Paparizou , usually referred to abroad as Helena Paparizou, is a Greek-Swedish singer and occasional songwriter, who was born and raised in Sweden by Greek parents. She began her career there in 1999 as a member of the duo Antique, while she also worked briefly as a model for a...
.
In April Tola was invited by Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
broadcaster ANT1
ANT1
Antenna, better known as ANT1, is a television network airing in Greece and Cyprus. The alternate spelling is play on words in Greek; ena is the Greek number 1, thus ANT1 is pronounced the same as Antenna . It launched on 31 December 1989, the same year as rival Mega Channel, and is owned by...
to perform on their morning program, as well as performing in Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, on RTCG
RTCG
Radio Television of Montenegro is the public broadcasting organization of Montenegro...
. She also travelled to Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, performing on national TV as well as in a concert organised by RTSH for her fans in Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
. Finally she travelled to the Eurovision Promo Concert in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, where she performed alongside over 20 other Eurovision contestants.
At Eurovision
Since Albania was not one of the "Big Four" nor the host of the 2009 contest, it had to compete in one of the two semi-finals.The song competed in the second semi-final on 14 May, where it will perform sixteenth in the running order, following MoldovaMoldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
and preceding Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. It qualified to the final where it finished 17th.
"Më merr në ëndërr" was performed in English at Eurovision, under the title of "Carry Me in Your Dreams". The new, 3 minute version of the song, and its promotional video clip, was released on 15 March.