Albania

=__Kejsi Tola __=

**Artist Biography**
Kejsi Tola is the artist representing Albania at the 2009 Eurovision song contest. At just 16 years old, she is the youngest contestant competing this year. Despite her age, Tola has won several prizes, including the Young Voices of Albanian Festival Song contest when she was eleven years old. Since then she has also won the young voices of the Shkodra Festival contest twice, and she was the winner of the fourth season of the Albanian version of Pop Idol in 2007.

Kesji was one of the ten finalists in the first series of //Young Geniuses//, and in 2008 she competed and won the "Best New Artist" price on a song contest for modern Albanian music called //Friday Fever//. On December 22nd, 2008, Tola competed in the finals of the Festivali i Këngës and won, effectively earning her a spot at the 2009 Eurovision song contest. At the Festivali i Kënges, Tola [|performed] the original version of "Carry Me In Your Dreams" (her Eurovision Song Contest entry), in her native language, titled "Më merr në ëndërr."

Currently, Tola is studying in the artistic lyceum of "Jordan Misja" in Tirana, Albania, according to her [|Eurovision artist page]. Kejsi Tola will represent Albania at Eurovision with the song "Carry Me In Your Dreams," the same song she won with at the 2008 Albanian Radio Television Song Contest.

As for the future, Tola has [|expressed interest] in recording an album (and in fact has been promised one by Top Channel). She adds, however, that she is not in a rush and would rather take her time recording her first album, noting she is aware of her youth and that she "will have plenty of time for albums in the future."

**Song Information**
Albania's 2009 Eurovision entry is titled "Carry Me In Your Dreams." The song is performed by Kejsi Tola and was composed by Edmond Zhulali with lyrics written by Agim Doçi. Although the song was originally performed in Albanian under the title "Më merr në ëndërr," an English version of the song with lyrics translated by June Myftaraj Taylor will be performed for Eurovision. Kejsi [|stated] of the new English version that "the performance has been polished, with a more powerful beat than the previous version."

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"Carry Me In Your Dreams" is a folk-pop song consisting of a blend of traditional Albanian music and contemporary pop. Although the music is heavily synthesized, real instruments are also incorporated into the song. In [|live performances] Tola is backed by a full orchestra, including a number of traditional Albanian instruments, as well as a choir.

The song is driven primarily by the tight rhythm of the synthesized percussion. For the most part the rhythm remains steady throughout the song, with a couple of exceptions where the percussion changes rhythm for the more down tempo sections of the song. The main melody of the song comes from Tola's vocals, which are the main focus of the song. The string section also accentuates the song with Eastern-European sounding melodies. Midway through the song there is a solo by an instrument that sounds something like a bagpipe, which is likely a traditional Albanian instrument. Various synth leads also add color to the song, but they are largely overpowered by the other elements. Like much pop music the song's structure is simple and repetitious, and the [|lyrics] are very basic and typical of a love song.

Hikaru Freeman's [|review] of the preview video for "Carry Me In Your Dreams" states:
"Original video, with computer portions that seem to be snatched from Tron. The Albanians still remember that a preview is also a chance to market the country, and the winter wonderland Albania that Kejsi walks through is very beautiful. Kejsi's accent however, is a still a touch strong when she sings and you wonder if nerves got to her when she recorded it. Now the song itself is an interesting creature. Some may read the lyrics and see a simple "I miss you, do you miss me?" love song. I read them and I think mental disorder, because these lyrics subtlely suggest that Kejsi might be forever locked in the obsessive part of love, combined with a fair amount of a desire to manipulate and convince someone of their total dependence on her. Unfortunately with Albania coming on right before the car crash that is this year's Ukrainian entry, Kejsi's chances to explore that path on the 16th of May may be low."

**Narrative of Entry**
The Albanian representative for Eurovison 2009 was decided on December 19th, 2008 on the third and final day of a festival called Festivali i Kënges. During the festival 20 entrants presented their songs in an original form. The following night those songs were performed in duet form with other non-competing popular singers of Albania. Finally, on the last night of the festival, the songs were performed in their original form once again. In the end a jury of musical experts narrowed down their decision to three artists. Out of those three artists Kejsi Tola had the highest marks, thus securing her as the winner and representative for Albania in the 2009 Eurovision contest.

According to an [|interview] with Tola, she experienced some criticism regarding the performance of "Më merr në ëndërr" at the Festivali i Kënges. Some found fault with her "not moving much on stage." Tola responded to the criticism, noting "It's true, but that was mostly because of my emotions and the responsibility of performing in such a large spectacle. It was the final night after all." She also admits that her shyness may have played a role in these interpretations of her performance. Despite the criticism, Tola remains optimistic about the Eurovision finals.

Her song, Më merr në ëndërr (You Take Me with You in a Dream) was written by Edmond Zhulali and Agim Doçi, who had also wrote the song for the first Albanian entry in 2004. Kejsi Tola's song is an up-tempo song with strong national influences. Her song was originally preformed in Albanian, however in Moscow she will be preforming in english. Kejsi Tola is the youngest performer at Eurovison this year.

On May 14th, 2009 Tola performed "Carry Me In Your Dreams" during the second semifinal round of Eurovision, where she qualified for the finals.

**Albania's Eurovision History**
Albania began its tenure of competition in Eurovision in 2004 after being denied entry a year prior in favor of another first time entering country. Albania’s first entry into the contest was its most successful, finishing 7th overall with the song “Imazhi yt", which translated into English means “Image of you”, by Anjeza Shahini. Since Albania’s debut at the Eurovision contest it has appeared 5 more times. The following year Albania placed 16th with the song “Tomorrow I Go” by Ledina Celo. In 2006 and 2007 Albania was eliminated in the semifinals, but last year they finished 16th again with “Zemrën E Lamë Peng” by Olta Boka. For the 2009 Eurovision contest Albania chose Kejsi Tola, performing “Carry Me In Your Dreams”.

Albania chooses their representative each year by holding their own national version of the Eurovision contest called Festivali Kënges. The winner of this contest is the appointed the opportunity to represent their country at Eurovision.