Elhaida Dani

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Elhaida Dani
File:20150515 ESC 2015 Elhaida Dani 7934.jpg
Background information
Birth name Elhaida Dani
Born (1993-02-17) 17 February 1993 (age 31)
Shkodër, Albania
Genres Pop, R&B, soul
Occupation(s) singer
Years active 2008–present
Labels Universal Music Italy (2012)
Independent (2012–present)

Elhaida Dani (born 17 February 1993) is an Albanian singer. She rose to fame after winning Star Academy Albania in 2009, and Top Fest in 2012. Later that year, she auditioned for The Voice of Italy, and won the show with over 70% of the public vote.[1][2] She released her first single "Baciami e Basta" through Universal Music in Italy.

In December 2014 she won the 53rd edition of Festivali i Këngës with the song "Diell" ("Sun"),[3][4] and was going to represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna, Austria with this song. However, on 23 February 2015 Dani announced that the song's songwriters had withdrawn the song from the competition and she'd be performing a different song at Eurovision.[5] The next day it was revealed that the song would be called "I'm Alive".[6]

Life and career

1993–2012: Early career

Elhaida Dani was born on 17 February 1993 in Shkodër, north Albania. She studied piano from the age of 6. She started appearing on national television in 2008, after participating in Kënga Magjike with her song "Fjala e fundit" (The last word).

In 2009, she auditioned for the Albanian version of Star Academy and won the show. She then continued singing at various music competitions around the Balkans. In 2011 she participated in Sunčane Skale, held in Montenegro with "Si asnjëherë" (Like never before). and won the youth category of the show.[7][8] Later that year, she won two competitions in Bulgaria and Romania. She also participated at the 50th edition of Festivali i Këngës with "Mijëra vjet" (Thousands of years).

In early 2012, she worked with Threedots Music Albania, a popular music label and wrote "S'je më" (You're not the same anymore), and won Albania's biggest music show, Top Fest.[9][10] After returning to Albania, the first song she sang was "Ya nabi salam alayka" of Maher Zain in the Medrese Haxhi Sheh Shamia of Shkodra. There she wore a headscarf.[11][12]

2012–2014: The Voice of Italy

After seeking an international career and winning many music competitions in the Balkan region (she won all the contest she took part in), Elhaida decided to temporarily move to Rome, Italy to audition for the Italian version of The Voice. She appeared on the "Blind auditions" with Jessie J's "Mamma Knows Best" and received a huge feedback from the jury and the viewers.

She chose to join Riccardo Cocciante's team, and the world-renowned songwriter became her coach. She advanced to the battles and knockouts and reached the finals in May 2013.

She sang Lara Fabian's version of "Adagio" and "When Love Calls Your Name", the unreleased song that Riccardo Cocciante wrote for her with Roxanne Seeman, and won the show with over 70% of the public vote.[13][14]

2014–present: Eurovision Song Contest 2015

In 2014, Dani revealed that she was going to participate at the 53rd edition of Festivali i Këngës, with the hope to represent Albania at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest.[15] Her song "Diell" (Sun) was among the 28 participating entries.[16] The competition was held from 26 to 28 December in Tirana. She was the favourite to win the show.[17][18] On 28 December 2014, Elhaida won the contest with a total of 82 points.[19][20]

After Festivali i Këngës, Dani was forced to change her Eurovision song "Diell" to "I'm Alive", after the original song's composers decided to withdraw it from the contest. She then competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with this song. She qualified from the first semi final in tenth place.

At the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 Elhaida Dani placed 17th, with a total of 34 points, similarly to previous Albanian entrants Olta Boka in Eurovision Song Contest 2008 and Kejsi Tola in Eurovision Song Contest 2009.

Discography

EPs

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
ITA
[21]
Elhaida Dani
  • Released: 2 July 2013
  • Label: Sony BMG
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 28[22]

Singles

List of singles, with chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Single Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album or EP
ITA
[21]
"Fjala e Fundit" 2008 – Non-album single(s)
"Si asnjëherë" 2010 –
"Mijëra vjet" 2011 –
"S'je më" 2012 –
"When Love Calls Your Name" 2013 – Elhaida Dani
"Baciami e basta" –
"In the Sky for a While" –
"Diell" 2014 – Non-album single(s)
"I'm Alive" 2015 – I'm Alive
"Në Jetë" –
Featured in

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Star Academy Albania Herself Season 5 (Winner)
2012 Top Fest Herself Season 9 (Winner)
2013 Apartamenti 2XL Herself, Special Guest Season 2
2013 The Voice of Italy Herself Season 1 (Winner)
2014 X Factor Albania Herself, Musical Guest Season 3-4
2014 Festivali i Këngës Herself Season 53 (Winner)
2015 Chance Herself Jury
2015 Eurovision Song Contest 2015 Herself Contestant

References

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  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Elhaida Dani - (Live) Cover of: Maher Zain - Ya Nabi Salam Alayka on YouTube
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Wiwibloggs: Tamar Kaprelian releases ESC collaboration "The Otherside"
  24. ↑ iTunes: "The Otherside"
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
First
 The Voice of Italy winner
2013		 Succeeded by
Cristina Scuccia
Preceded by Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
2015		 Succeeded by
Eneda Tarifa
with "Fairytale Love"
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