Albina Kelmendi
Albina Kelmendi | |
|---|---|
 Kelmendi in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 27 January 1998 Peja, AP Kosovo, FR Yugoslavia |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | Folé Publishing |
Albina Kelmendi (Albanian pronunciation: [alˈbina kɛlˈmɛndi]; born 27 January 1998)[1] is a Kosovo-Albanian singer and songwriter. She rose to fame after placing as the runner-up on the fourth series of The Voice of Albania in 2014.[2] Kelmendi and her family represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song "Duje".
Early life[edit]
Albina Kelmendi was born in Pejë, Kosovo (then part of FR Yugoslavia). She studied clarinet and piano at the Halit Kasapolli music school in her hometown, and started performing together with her family under the name Family Band.[1][3]
Career[edit]
2014–2021: The Voice of Albania and Top Fest[edit]
In 2014, she auditioned for the fourth series of The Voice of Albania.[3] After getting chair turns from all four coaches, she joined Team Elsa. She finished as the runner-up of the season.
| Round | Song | Original artist(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blind auditions | "Something's Got a Hold on Me" | Etta James | Four-chair turn, joined Team Elsa |
| Battle | "Run Baby Run" | Sheryl Crow | Won against Nilsa Hysi |
| Knock Out | "Suus" | Rona Nishliu | Won against Xhejni Memlikaj |
| Live shows | "Tomlin e nanës" | Jericho | |
| "Serenata e Shubertit" | Frederik Ndoci | ||
| "All for Love" | Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting | With Team Elsa | |
| Semi-final | "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" | James Brown | |
| Final | "Zgjohu" | Jericho | |
| "Unchain My Heart" | Ray Charles | ||
| "Tomlin e nanës" | Jericho | With Jericho |
The following year, she took part in the twelfth edition of Top Fest, where she presented the song "Nuk ka ma mire".[4]
2022–present: Nana loke, Festivali i Këngës, and Eurovision Song Contest[edit]
In June 2022, Albina Kelmendi released her debut album, Nana loke.[5] In December of the same year, she and five members of her family took part in the Festivali i Këngës 61 as Albina & Familja Kelmendi, where they presented the song "Duje".[6] While coming in second place on the final night, the result of which was decided by a jury, the public chose her as the Albanian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.[7]
At Eurovision in Liverpool, she performed in the second semi-final on 11 May 2023, and managed to successfully qualify to the final. She placed 22nd in the grand final.[8]
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Nana loke |
|
Singles[edit]
As lead artist[edit]
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Ëndrrën mos ma merr" | 2015 | Non-album singles |
| "Hera e parë" | 2016 | |
| "Denim" (with Sinan Vllasaliu) |
2018 | |
| "Shko" | 2020 | |
| "Një takim" (with Taulant Bajraliu) | ||
| "Ishim" | ||
| "Mos më lini vet" | ||
| "Ta fali zemra" | ||
| "Vjet e mija po kalojn" | ||
| "Hallakam" (with Labinot Tahiri) | ||
| "Ç'ka don tash prej meje" (with Ymer Bajrami) | ||
| "Mirazh" | 2021 | |
| "Kur ta ktheva Kosovë shpinën" | ||
| "Vullkan" | ||
| "Zot mos e bo" | ||
| "E kom prej teje" | ||
| "Pa mu" | ||
| "Çikë e bukur" | ||
| "Moj e mira te pojata" | ||
| "Jetoj me shpresë" | 2022 | |
| "Nanë moj kom gabu" | ||
| "Sytë e tu" | ||
| "Emri im" | 2023 | |
| "Duje"[a] | ||
| "Inat"[9] |
Notes[edit]
- ^ Credited as Albina & Familja Kelmendi.
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Albina Kelmendi në Radio KFOR zbuloi se në fund të muajit shkurt lanson projektin e ri muzikor". Radio KFOR Shqip. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "Albina Kelmendi – Biografia". www.teksteshqip.com. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Ja pse u përlot Albina Kelmendi në intervist". InfoKosova (in Albanian). 16 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "Intervistë me këngëtaren Albina Kelmendi: Nuk ka zhanër të mirë apo të keq, gjithçka varet nga interpretimi dhe ndjenja që e përçon përmes këngës". Kosova Sot. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "Në bashkëpunim me nënën, Albina Kelmendi publikon albumin "Nana loke"". Dielli.info (in Albanian). Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ Granger, Anthony (27 October 2022). "Albania: Festivali i Këngës 61 Participants Revealed". Eurovoix. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ Farren, Neil (22 December 2022). "Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi to Eurovision 2023". Eurovoix. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
- ^ "Eurovision 2023 Results: Voting & Points". Eurovisionworld. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ "New music this week (part 1): Songs from Reiley, Sam Ryder, Elena Tsagrinou and more". Wiwibloggs. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
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