Albina Kelmendi Explained

Albina Kelmendi
Birth Date:1998 1, df=y
Birth Place:Peja, AP Kosovo, FR Yugoslavia
(present-day Kosovo)
Genre:Pop
Years Active:2013–present
Label:Folé Publishing

Albina Kelmendi (in Albanian pronounced as /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

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.[3]

Career

2014–2021: The Voice of Albania and Top Fest

In 2014, she auditioned for the fourth series of The Voice of Albania. After getting chair turns from all four coaches, she joined Team Elsa. She finished as the runner-up of the season.

The Voice of Albania performances!Round!Song!Original artist(s)!Notes
Blind auditions"Something's Got a Hold on Me"Etta JamesFour-chair turn, joined Team Elsa
Battle"Run Baby Run"Sheryl CrowWon against Nilsa Hysi
Knock Out"Suus"Rona NishliuWon against Xhejni Memlikaj
Live shows"Tomlin e nanës"Jericho
"Serenata e Shubertit"Frederik Ndoci
"All for Love"Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, StingWith 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"JerichoWith 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

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

Studio albums

Title! scope="col"
Album details
Nana loke
  • Released: 25 June 2022
  • Label: Fole Publishing

Singles

As lead artist

Title! scope="col" style="width:1em;"
YearAlbum
"Ëndrrën mos ma merr"2015rowspan="28"
"Hera e parë"2016
"Denim"
2018
"Shko"2020
"Një takim"
"Ishim"
"Mos më lini vet"
"Ta fali zemra"
"Vjet e mija po kalojn"
"Hallakam"
"Ç'ka don tash prej meje"
"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"
"Inat"[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Albina Kelmendi në Radio KFOR zbuloi se në fund të muajit shkurt lanson projektin e ri muzikor . 2022-12-23 . Radio KFOR Shqip . 8 February 2019 . en-US . 23 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221223095700/https://radiokfor.com/1/albina-kelmendi-ne-radio-kfor-zbuloi-se-ne-fund-te-muajit-shkurt-lanson-projektin-e-ri-muzikor/ . live .
  2. Web site: Albina Kelmendi – Biografia . 2022-12-23 . www.teksteshqip.com . 23 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221223095932/https://www.teksteshqip.com/albina-kelmendi-the-voice/biografia . live .
  3. Web site: 16 December 2022 . Ja pse u përlot Albina Kelmendi në intervist . 2022-12-23 . InfoKosova . sq . 23 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221223095935/https://infokosova.net/ja-pse-u-perlot-albina-kelmendi-ne-intervist/ . dead .
  4. Web site: 11 May 2020 . Intervistë me këngëtaren Albina Kelmendi: Nuk ka zhanër të mirë apo të keq, gjithçka varet nga interpretimi dhe ndjenja që e përçon përmes këngës . 2022-12-23 . Kosova Sot . en . 23 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221223095935/https://www.kosova-sot.info/kulture/464454// . live .
  5. Web site: Në bashkëpunim me nënën, Albina Kelmendi publikon albumin "Nana loke" . 2022-12-23 . Dielli.info . sq . 23 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221223095932/https://www.dielli.info/ne-bashkepunim-me-nenen-albina-kelmendi-publikon-albumin-nana-loke/ . live .
  6. Web site: Granger . Anthony . 27 October 2022 . Albania: Festivali i Këngës 61 Participants Revealed . 2022-12-23 . Eurovoix . en-GB . 4 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204173215/https://eurovoix.com/2022/10/27/festivali-i-kenges-61-participants/ . live .
  7. Web site: Farren . Neil . 22 December 2022 . Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi to Eurovision 2023 . 2022-12-23 . Eurovoix . en-GB . 31 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231001517/https://eurovoix.com/2022/12/22/albania-albina-to-eurovision-2023/ . live .
  8. Web site: Eurovision 2023 Results: Voting & Points . 2023-05-14 . Eurovisionworld . en-gb . 23 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230523074229/https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2023 . live .
  9. Web site: New music this week (part 1): Songs from Reiley, Sam Ryder, Elena Tsagrinou and more. Wiwibloggs. 28 May 2023. 31 May 2023. 11 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240711134636/https://wiwibloggs.com/2023/05/28/new-music-from-reiley-sam-ryder-elena-tsagrinou-and-more/277519/. live.