Festivali i Këngës 2009

Albania participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia, with the song „Carry Me in Your Dreams“ performed by Kejsi Tola. Its selected entry was chosen through the national selection competition Festivali i Këngës organised by Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) in December 2008. To this point, the nation had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest five times since its first entry in 2004. Albania was drawn to compete in the second semi-final of the contest, which took place on 14 May 2009. Performing as number 16, the nation was announced among the top 10 entries of the second semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the grand final. In the final on 16 May 2009, it performed as number 19 and placed 17th out of the 25 participating countries, scoring 48 points.

RTSH organised the 47th edition of Festivali i Këngës to determine Albania’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The competition consisted of two semi-finals on 19 and 20 December, respectively, and the grand final on 21 December 2008. The three live shows were hosted by Albanian singer Elsa Lila, composer Julian Deda and actor Gentian Zenelaj.

Competing entries

Artist(s)	Song	Songwriter(s)
Adelina Thaçi	„Oret e fundit“	Alfred Kaçinari
Agim Poshka	„Fajtor për ngrohjen globale“	Agim Poshka Olsen Maze
Besa Kokëdhima	„Ajer“	Alban Male Olti Curri
Burn	„Jam i pari i jettes sime“	Stivart Cela Renis Gjoka Big Basta
Dorina Garuci	„Dite një jetë“	Dorian Nini Pandi Laço
Emi Bogdo	„Kur buzet henen e kafshojn“	Emi Bogdo Klodian Qafoku
Endri and Stefi Prifti	„Ti bere faj“	Josif Minga Skender Rusi
Era Rusi	„Shpirt i humbur“	Arsen Nasi Bledar Skenderi Irma Libohova
Erga Halilaj	„Dikush mungon“	Kristi Popa Florion Zyko
Evis Mula	„Unë jam dashuria“	Luan Zhegu Agim Doçi
Julian Lekoçaj	„Nuk je ti“	Julian Lekoçaj
Juliana Pasha and Luiz Ejlli	„Nje jetë“	Shpetim Saraçi Turian Hyskaj
Kejsi Tola	„Më merr në ëndërr“	Edmond Zhulali Agim Doçi
Kujtim Prodani	„Nostalgji“	Kujtim Prodani Agim Doçi
Marjeta Billo	„Era e tokës“	Adrian Hila Pandi Laço
Rovena Dilo and Eugent Bushpepa	„S’jam balade“	Armend Rexhepagiqi
Shpat Kasapi	„Aromë mediterane“	Gent Myftarai Pandi Laço
Soni Malaj	„Zona zero“	Flori Mumajesi
Vedat Ademi	„Po me prite ti“	Kledi Bahiti Alban Male
West Side Family	„Jehonë“	Dr. Flori

Shows

Semi-finals

The semi-finals of Festivali i Këngës took place on 19 December and 20 December 2008, and were broadcast live at 20.45 (CET) on the respective dates. The first semi-final featured all 20 artists performing their entries, while in the second one each artist performed a duet with an other Albanian artist.

Semi-final 1–19 December 2008

Draw	Artist(s)	Song
1	Dorina Garuci	„Dite një jetë“
2	Endri and Stefi Prifti	„Ti bere faj“
3	Evis Mula	„Unë jam dashuria“
4	Juliana Pasha and Luiz Ejlli	„Nje jetë“
5	West Side Family	„Jehonë“
6	Shpat Kasapi	„Aromë mediterane“
7	Kejsi Tola	„Më merr në ëndërr“
8	Marjeta Billo	„Era e tokës“
9	Rovena Dilo and Eugent Bushpepa	„S’jam balade“
10	Agim Poshka	„Fajtor për ngrohjen globale“
11	Julian Lekoçaj	„Nuk je ti“
12	Burn	„Jam i pari i jettes sime“
13	Erga Halilaj	„Dikush mungon“
14	Emi Bogdo	„Kur buzet henen e kafshojn“
15	Kujtim Prodani	„Nostalgji“
16	Adelina Thaçi	„Oret e fundit“
17	Era Rusi	„Shpirt i humbur“
18	Vedat Ademi	„Po me prite ti“
19	Besa Kokëdhima	„Ajer“
20	Soni Malaj	„Zona zero“

Semi-final 2–20 December 2008

Draw	Artist(s)	Song
1	Marjeta Billo and Olta Boka	„Era e tokës“
2	Besa Kokëdhima and Jacky Dachum	„Ajer“
3	Shpat Kasapi and Adelina Tahiri	„Aromë mediterane“
4	Emi Bogdo and Xhoi	„Kur buzet henen e kafshojn“
5	Evis Mula and Erti Hizmo	„Unë jam dashuria“
6	Era Rusi and Irma Libohova	„Shpirt i humbur“
7	Rovena Dilo, Eugent Bushpepa and Jonida Maliqi	„S’jam balade“
8	Endri, Stefi and Maria Prifti	„Ti bere faj“
9	Juliana Pasha, Luiz Ejlli and Produkt 28	„Nje jetë“
10	Erga Halilaj and Kristi Popa	„Dikush mungon“
11	Kejsi Tola and Flaka Krelani	„Më merr në ëndërr“
12	Kujtim Prodani and Jo Artid Fejzo	„Nostalgji“
13	Dorina Garuci, Arber Arapi and Marsida Saraci	„Dite një jetë“
14	Burn and Aleksander Gjoka	„Jam i pari i jettes sime“
15	Agim Poshka and Eranda Libohova	„Fajtor për ngrohjen globale“
16	West Side Family and Aurela Gaçe	„Jehonë“
17	Adelina Thaçi and Teuta Kurti	„Oret e fundit“
18	Vedat Ademi and Samanta Karavello	„Po me prite ti“
19	Julian Lekoçaj and Kamela Islamaj	„Nuk je ti“
20	Soni Malaj and Getoar Selimi	„Zona zero“

Final

The grand final of Festivali i Këngës took place on 21 December 2008 and was broadcast live at 20.45 (CET). The winner was determined by the combination of the votes from a seven-member jury, consisting of E. Koço, G. Bojaxhi, F. Boshnjaku, G. Demaliaj, N. Çashku, M. Laze and L. Leopoldi. Kejsi Tola emerged as the winner with „Më merr në ëndërr“ and was simultaneously announced as Albania’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009.

Final–21 December 2008

Draw	Artist(s)	Song	Points	Result
1	West Side Family	„Jehonë“	118	3
2	Soni Malaj	„Zona zero“	44	16
3	Juliana Pasha and Luiz Ejlli	„Nje jetë“	119	2
4	Kujtim Prodani	„Nostalgji“	24	18
5	Emi Bogdo	„Kur buzet henen e kafshojn“	43	17
6	Erga Halilaj	„Dikush mungon“	63	11
7	Marjeta Billo	„Era e tokës“	106	5
8	Adelina Thaçi	„Oret e fundit“	91	8
9	Rovena Dilo and Eugent Bushpepa	„S’jam balade“	60	12
10	Dorina Garuci	„Dite një jetë“	92	7
11	Endri and Stefi Prifti	„Ti bere faj“	91	8
12	Kejsi Tola	„Më merr në ëndërr“	126	1
13	Era Rusi	„Shpirt i humbur“	50	15
14	Julian Lekoçaj	„Nuk je ti“	17	20
15	Shpat Kasapi	„Aromë mediterane“	22	19
16	Evis Mula	„Unë jam dashuria“	91	8
17	Burn	„Jam i pari i jettes sime“	96	6
18	Vedat Ademi	„Po me prite ti“	51	14
19	Agim Poshka	„Fajtor për ngrohjen globale“	56	13
20	Besa Kokëdhima	„Ajer“	109	4

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Festivali i Këngës 2009 – Albania