Albanians are looking forward to see their young singer Kejsi Tola compete in Eurovision Song Contest, which kicks off tonight with the first semifinal group
Kejsi Tola, the 17 years old representative of Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, has been very busy promoting her song Carry me in your dreams around Europe. The Albanian national public TV has organized for the young star interviews and performances in several European countries, the last one being the Netherlands.
“Netherlands was a great experience for Kejsi”, Edmond Xhulali, the composer of Carry me in your dreams, told esctoday.com “because she performed her song in front of a large and supportive audience”.
While Kejsi is still working everyday on her performance and vocals with her composer and dancers she also has promoted the song in several countries. Three weeks ago Kejsi was invited by the Greek TV ANT1, in their morning program. Last week the Albanian public TV delegation visited Montenegro and Kejsi was invited to sing her song and answer questions for the viewers of the National Public TV Cerna Gora.
Also last week she visited Skopje, the capital of FYR Macedonia. Other than promoting her song for the national TV there, the Albanian public broadcaster organized a concert for her Macedonian fans.
On 3rd of May, Kejsi met with all her fans and media in Albania, before the delegation traveled to Moscow. The meeting with fans, called Eurovision Party was organized by the National public broadcaster in Albania, TVSH. It corresponded with Kejsi Tola’s 17th birthday. It took place in one of the major clubs in Tirana at “Charles Club” and was attended by the authors of the song “Carry me in your dreams”, major composers and singers in Albania that have participated throughout years in FIK (Festivali i Kenges), media and fans of Eurovision.
“This is a great day for Kejsi and all of us in Albania – said the General Director of TVSH, Petrit Beci – Finally after two months of preparations we are ready for the best show in Moscow. We are confident that we will be strong competitors this year and that Kejsi performance will be highly appreciated by the European public.”
The star of the party of course was Kejsi Tola and her team of dancers. Her arrival to the Club was accompanied by the standing ovations of all the participants of the event. Kejsi was dressed in a smooth orange dress and coat that made her look even younger. After meeting with the General Director of TVSH, the authors of the song and her dancing group, she went straight to her school friends. Few interviews and pictures were taken before she went on stage to thank all for their support.
“I’m so happy that I’m representing Albania in Eurovision 2009 – she said – I’m aiming to give my best performance for the European public. I want to thank especially my choreographer, Julian Bulku, for the amazing job he has done with all of us during the last two months. Tomorrow morning at 4am we are heading to Moscow and I want to be back with the best ranking Albania has ever had in Eurovision.”
Then Kujtim Prodani, another competitor in last year’s FIK, started to sing “Happy Birthday to you” (Shume urime per ty) while a large birthday cake with 17 candles was presented to Kejsi Tola together with many flowers and bouquets from her fans. Then the song “Carry me in your dreams” was sang by Kejsi together with all the participants of the party under an amazing atmosphere of lights, ovations and dancing. The party closed near mid-night while the Albanian delegation left for Moscow early in morning.
Eurovision history of Albania
This will be the 6th time Albania competes in one of the most traditional music contests in Europe. Anjeza Shahini was the first to represent the tiny Balkan country in Istanbul with “The Image of You”. The song, which ranked 7th, is the highest ever finish for Albanian songs and it is still considered to also be the best ever song representing Albania in Eurovision. The other songs, following in order of appearance were
Ledina Celo – Tomorrow I go
Luiz Ejlli – Fire and coldness
Aida & Frederik Ndoci – Hear my plea
Olta Boka – Zemren e lame peng
Who is Kejsi
She was born on the 5th of February in 1992 and will now represent Albania in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.
Kejsi is studying in the artistic lyceum of Jordan Misja in Tirana.
Her career started when she was 11-years-old in the Young Voices of Albanian Festival Song contest winning the first prize, and two time winner of the young voices of the Shkodra Festival Contest.
In the first Contest of Young Geniuses she was one of the ten finalists. In 2008 she won the Best New Artist prize in the Friday Fever Song Contest of Albanian modern music, and in 2008 winner of the Albanian Radio Television Song Contest with the song Carry Me In Your Dream which will represent Albania at Europe’s favorite TV-show.
“I love singing and this is very important for me. Music gives me an inner strength, which I sometimes don’t show up in my daily life, but that comes out when on stage.” These are the words of Kejsi waiting to sing her dream in the Olimpiyski Indoor Arena in Moscow.
The performance
The choreography consists of a fast dance-led number. The stage projections will be multicolored patterns with emphasis on red. Kejsi will have two female backing singers doing a hand dance routine and three young male dancers. One of them will stay much of the time close to her while the other two acrobatics will remain in the background. Kejsi seems to have acquired a lot of stage presence and charisma since she took part in the Albanian national final before Christmas. There is also help from a wind machine and at the key change Kejsi is lifted on the shoulder of her dancer. A strong and well-rehearsed female vocal supported by male dancers.
The song
My love for you grows with each passing day
I’m by your side
When you’re away.
And when I miss you and long for your care
I close my eyes and you’re there.
All that I ask is one moment in time
No strings attached
No drawing lines
You feel my thoughts even when you’re not here.
I close my eyes
Close my eyes and I feel
You’re there.
[Chorus: 2x]
Take my love
Take my heart
Carry me with you in your dreams.
No no never let go
Wonder of love
Magical glow.
All that I ask is one moment in time
No strings attached
No drawing lines
You feel my thoughts even when you’re not here.
I close my eyes
Close my eyes and I feel
You’re there.
[Chorus:]
Search for me
In your dreams.
Search for me
It’s where I’ll be.
[Chorus: 2x]
