Elhaida Dani

Elhaida Dani (Albanian pronunciation: [ɛlhaida dani]; born 17 February 1993) is an Albanian singer-songwriter and actress.[2]

Elhaida Dani
Elhaida Dani at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015
Background information
Birth nameElhaida Dani
Born (1993-02-17) 17 February 1993
Shkodër, Albania
GenresPop-rock[1]
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actress
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active2008–present
Labels
Associated actsRiccardo Cocciante

Born and raised in Shkodër, she performed in diverse singing competitions and started to play piano as a child. She rose to significant recognition in the Albanian-speaking world after her victories at Star Academy Albania, Top Fest and Festivali i Këngës.[3][4] In Italy, she is also prominent for being the winner of the first series of The Voice of Italy.[5][6]

Dani represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "I'm Alive", after she won the 53rd edition of Festivali i Këngës.[7] She participated in Kënga Magjike for the first time in 2017 with the song "E Ngrirë" whereas she finished second.[8] She rose again great popularity in Italy as well as in France upon her international acting debut in the world renowned musical of Notre-Dame de Paris.[9][10]

Life

Elhaida Dani was born on 17 February 1993 in Shkodër, north Albania to a Muslim family. 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).

Career

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.[11][12] 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.[13][14] 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.[15][16]

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.[17][18]

Eurovision Song Contest

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.[19] Her song "Diell" (Sun) was among the 28 participating entries.[20] The competition was held from 26 to 28 December in Tirana. She was the favourite to win the show.[21][22] On 28 December 2014, Elhaida won the contest with a total of 82 points.[23][24]

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.[25][26] She then competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with this song. She qualified from the first semi final in tenth place.

Elhaida Dani with Daniel Lavoie and Angelo Del Vecchio in the musical Notre-Dame de Paris in 2016.

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.

Notre Dame de Paris

In 2016, she has been called by Riccardo Cocciante and Luc Plamondon to play the role of Esmeralda in the world renown musical (Winner of several world Guinness) Notre Dame de Paris.

And since 2016 she is touring worldwide (France, Lebanon, Russia, Taiwan, Canada).

In December she competed in Kënga Magjike, one of Albania's largest musical events. She reached the final and ended up in second place with 988 points, 11 points behind Anxhela Peristeri, the winner. She also won the Critics' Award.

Discography

Extended plays
Title Album details Peak chart positions
ITA
[27]
Elhaida Dani 28

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
ALB ICE ITA
[28]
"Fjala e fundit" 2008 ——— Non-album single
"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
"I'm Alive" 2015 146—
"Në jetë" ———
"Më mbaj" 2017 ———
"E Ngrirë" ———
"Amazing" ———
"Sugar Wings" ———
Featured in

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Star Academy Albania Herself Winner, season 4
2011, 2014 Portokalli Musical guest, season 16 & 21
2012 Top Fest Winner, season 9
2013 Apartamenti 2XL Special guest, season 2
2013 The Voice of Italy Winner, season 1
2014, 2015 X Factor Albania Musical guest, season 3 & 4
2014 Festivali i Këngës Winner, season 53
2015 Eurovision Song Contest Contestant
2015 Chance Judge

Awards and nominations

Festivali i Këngës

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2014 "Diell" First Prize Won

Top Fest

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 "S'je më" First Prize Won
Best New Artist Won

The Voice

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 Herself First Prize Won

Star Academy Albania

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 Herself First Prize Won

Sunčane Skale

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011 "Si asnjëherë" First Prize for New Stars Won

Bullgaria International Festival

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 Herself First Prize Won

Romania International Pop Festival

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 "Suus" First Prize Won

References
  1. "Elhaida Dani–Credits". allmusic.com. All Media Network.
  2. "Elhaida Dani–Biografia". teksteshqip.com (in Albanian).
  3. Nuhiu, Rinor. "Albania: Elhaida Dani to represent Albania in Vienna". escXtra.com. escXtra. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  4. Besim, Ramadan (28 December 2014). "Albania: Elhaida Dani wins Festivali i Këngës 53 with 'Diell'". wiwibloggs.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  5. "The Voice: Elhaida Dani wins the final of the talent show (PHOTO, VIDEO)". huffingtonpost.it (in Italian). The Huffington Post Italy. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  6. "Elhaida Dani, vincitrice di The Voice of Italy". Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  7. "Elhaida Dani". eurovision.tv. eurovision.tv. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  8. "Anxhela Peristeri fiton "Kënga Magjike 2017"". telegrafi.com (in Albanian). 9 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  9. "LES ALTERNANTS–Elhaida Dani". notredamedeparislespectacle.com (in French). Notre-Dame de Paris. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019.
  10. "Elhaida Dani, Esmeralda shqiptare e "Notre-Dame de Paris"?". telegrafi.com (in Albanian). 20 September 2019. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  11. "Suncane Skale 2011: Pobjednica ja Elhaida Dani iz Albanije". Radio GBG. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  12. "Video: Suncane Skale, Elhaida Dani - Si asnjehere". Archived from the original on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  13. "Elhaida Dani fiton edicionin e nëntë të Top Fest". panorama.com.al. Panorama. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  14. "Elhaida Dani fituese e "Top Fest 9" (VIDEO)". Albeu. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  15. Elhaida Dani - (Live) Cover of: Maher Zain - Ya Nabi Salam Alayka on YouTube
  16. Silvi Halili (3 May 2014). "Elhaida Dani, në koncertin e saj të parë në Shqipëri". Shëkulli online (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  17. "Elhaida Dani, fituese në "The Voice of Italy"". Albinfo Switzerland. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  18. "Elhaida Dani shpallet fituese e 'The Voice of Italy'". Bota Sot. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  19. Besim, Ramadan (30 October 2014). "Albania: 28 Festivali i Këngës 53 contestants revealed". wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  20. Wells, Simon. "Albania: Familiar faces face fresh foes at Festivali i Këngës". escXtra.com. escXtra. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  21. Besim, Ramadan (28 October 2014). "Editorial: Why Elhaida Dani should sing for Albania at Eurovision". wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  22. "Elhaida Dani fituesja e publikut në festivalin e RTSH". Infomedia Albania. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  23. Granger, Anthony (28 December 2014). "Albania: Elhaida Dani Is Off To Vienna". Eurovoix.com. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  24. Ramadan Besim. "Albania: Elhaida Dani wins Festivali i Këngës 53 with "Diell"". Eurovision 2015 Predictions, Polls, Odds, Rankings - wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  25. Granger, Anthony (24 February 2015). "Albania: Elhaida To Sing "I'm Alive"". eurovoix. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  26. Niyazi, Dan. "Albania: Diell withdrawn – A new song will be chosen for Vienna". escXtra. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  27. "Discographie: Elhaida Dani (Albums)". italiancharts.com. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  28. "Discographie: Elhaida Dani (Singles)". italiancharts.com. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  29. "Wiwibloggs: Tamar Kaprelian releases ESC collaboration "The Otherside"". Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  30. "iTunes: "The Otherside"". Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
First		 The Voice of Italy winner
2013		 Succeeded by
Cristina Scuccia
Preceded by
Hersi Matmuja
with "One Night's Anger"		 Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
2015		 Succeeded by
Eneda Tarifa
with "Fairytale Love"
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