Anxhela Peristeri

Anxhela Peristeri (Albanian pronunciation: [andʒɛla pɛɾistɛɾi]; born 24 March 1986), also known mononymously as Anxhela, is an Albanian singer, songwriter and model. She has been crowned the winner of the 19th edition of Kënga Magjike in 2017. Her success followed after winning the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës, in which she earned the right to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.

Anxhela Peristeri
Also known as	Anxhela
Born	24 March 1986 Korçë, Albania
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter model
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Onima

Life and career

Anxhela Peristeri was born on 24 March 1986 into an Albanian family of the Eastern Orthodox faith in the city of Korçë, then part of the People's Republic of Albania, present Albania.[1][2][3] After graduating from high school in Tirana, Peristeri and her family moved to Greece.[4][5] Describing her life in Greece, she had stated that she experienced racism and discrimination because of her Albanian origin.[6][7] In December 2001, she unsuccessfully participated in the 40th edition of Festivali i Këngës with the song "Vetëm ty të kam".[2] Also in the same year, she entered the Miss Albania national pageant in Tirana.[8][9] In December 2016, she debuted at Kënga Magjike with the song "Genjështar", where she finished in the second place.[10] Then in December 2017, she won the 19th edition of Kënga Magjike with the song "E Çmëndur".[11]

After a year of absence, in December 2019, she competed in the 21st edition with the song "Dikush i imi" and eventually finished in the third place.[12] In October 2020, the broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), announced Peristeri as one of the contestants selected to compete in the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës with the song "Karma".[13] After the grand final of the competition, Peristeri emerged as the winner and was simultaneously announced as Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.[14][15]

Discography

Albums

• Anxhela për ju (2004)

As lead artist

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		ALB [16]
"Vetëm ty të kam"	2001	N/A	Non-album singles
"1001 djem"	2004		Anxhela për ju
"Ishe mbret"
"Hej ti"	2005		Non-album singles
"Sonte dridhuni" (featuring Big Man)
"Femër mediatike"	2014
"Ai po ikën"
"Bye Bye" (featuring Marcus Marchado)	2015	—
"Ska si ne" (with Aurel, Blerina and Erik Lloshi)		—
"Si po jetoj"		—
"Llokum" (featuring Gold AG and Labi)	2016	—
"Genjështar"		—
"Qesh" (with Aurel Thëllimi)	2017	—
"I joti"		—
"E Çmëndur"		—
"Insanely in Love" (featuring Kastriot Tusha)	2018	—
"Shpirti ma di"		73
"Pa mua"		74
"Muza ime" (with Mateus Frroku)	2019	—
"Maraz"		—
"Shpirt i bukur"		82
"Dikush i imi"		—
"Ata" (with Sinan Vllasaliu)	2020	100
"Dashni"		—
"Lujta"		—
"Karma"	2021	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

1. "Anxhela Peristeri #Bio" (in Albanian). Top Music Awards. Archived from the original on 25 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
2. "Anxhela Peristeri–Biografia". TeksteShqip. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
3. "Çfarë bën Anxhela Peristeri para se të dalë në skenë" (in Albanian). ABC News. 24 November 2018. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2021. 'Meqenëse unë jam e fesë ortodokse bëj gjithmonë kryqin'
4. "Anxhela Peristeri, an excellent voice of Albanian music" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
5. Adams, William Lee (23 December 2020). "Festivali i Këngës 59 winner: Anxhela Peristeri will sing "Karma" for Albania at Eurovision 2021". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
6. "Anxhela Peristeri rrëfehet për racizmin që e ka përndjekur në greqi: "Më privoi nga shumë gjëra!"" (in Albanian). TPZ. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
7. "Anxhela Peristeri rrëfen rracizmin: Më hapi mendjen, i bëra të flasin për punën time" (in Albanian). Revista Who. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
8. Velija, Kreizia (21 January 2017). "Dikur konkurrente në "Miss Albania", sot pjesë e televizioneve më prestigjoze shqiptare" (in Albanian). Top Albania Radio. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
9. "Anxhela Peristeri, Albana Osmani, Anjeza Maja dikur konkurrente nё Miss Albania, ja si dukeshin" (in Albanian). Class Lifestyle. 21 January 2017. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
10. ""Ma thuaj ti" fiton "Këngën Magjike"" (in Albanian). Televizioni Klan. 11 December 2016. Archived from the original on 25 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
11. ""E çmendur", kënga më e mirë për 2017-ën" (in Albanian). Televizioni Klan. 10 December 2017. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
12. "Eneda Tarifa, fituesja e Kënga Magjike" (in Albanian). Televizioni Klan. 7 December 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
13. Smith, David (28 October 2020). "Albania: 26 artists confirmed for Festivali i Këngës 59…including Orgesa Zaimi, Inis Neziri and Era Rusi". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
14. "Anxhela Peristeri to represent Albania at Eurovision 2021!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 23 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
15. "Anxhela Peristeri fiton çmimin e parë në festivalin e 59-të të këngës" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 24 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
16. Note: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania:
    • For "Shpirt ma di":"The Top List—23/09/2018" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 23 September 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
    • For "Pa mua":"The Top List—04/11/2018" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 4 November 2018. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
    • For "Shpirt i bukur":"The Top List—15/09/2019" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 15 September 2019. Archived from the original on 25 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
    • For "Ata":"The Top List—26/01/2020" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 26 January 2020. Archived from the original on 25 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.