Anjeza Shahini

Anjeza Shahini
Background information
Born (1987-05-04) 4 May 1987
Origin Tirana, Albania
Genres Pop, Soul, Electronic Pop
Occupation(s) Singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2003–present
Website Myspace Page

Anjeza Shahini (born 4 May 1987) is an Albanian singer. She represented Albania at the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "The Image of You" in the country's debut year in the ESC.

Eurovision 2004

Anjeza Shahini was born in Tirana and is of Aromanian and Roma origin. In 2003, the then 16-year-old, Anjeza Shahini, won the first edition of Friday Night Fever, the Albanian version of Pop Idol.[1] In December of the same year, along with 29 other singers, she competed at the three-day RTSH song festival (Festivali I Këngës 42) at the Tirana Palace of Congress with the song "Imazhi yt", a synthesized pop tune. After two preliminary rounds, Shahini reached the final on 20 December, at the end of which, hosts Adi Krasta and Ledina Çelo presented her as the winner of the combined jury and televote. That meant she would represent Albania in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul, Turkey, in Albania's debut year in the competition.

Anjeza Shahini in the Eurovision 2004 final

For the ESC finals, a three-minute English version of the song entitled "The Image of You" was created. (The original song was four and a half minutes in length). Anjeza sang in the semi-final of ESC on 12 May 2004, using as backing vocalists, singers who had lost out at the Albanian selection procedure, and finished fourth out of twenty-two. This top-ten finish secured for Anjeza a place in the final where on 15 May she competed with contestants from twenty-four other countries and finished seventh with a total of 106 points.

After Eurovision

In 2004, Anjeza recorded a song ("Në mes nesh") with the Kosovo band Marigona. In 2005 she signed a contract with an artist management agency based in Vienna. During her two years in Vienna she continued private studies in music and released several singles with well known Austrian composer Harald Hanisch, including the song "Pse Ndal" (Why Stop) which was used at the Albanian National Song Festival (Festivali i Këngës), the Albanian selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest. Anjeza Shahini made it through the two semi-finals to the last twenty at the National Final and was one of the favourites to win. However, at the final, which aired on 18 December 2005, the winner was announced as the song "Zjarr e ftohtë", sung by Luiz Ejlli.

On 3 June 2006, Anjeza Shahini was a special guest performer at the Euro Video Grand Prix contest,[2] which was held in Albania. She opened the contest with the song "Welcome to Europe", which was also produced as a single by same studio production in Vienna.

After completing her studies in Austria in 2007, Anjeza returned to Albania and signed a contract with the Albanian record label "Eurostar".[3] She performed at Këngët e Shekullit 2, a successful series on TV Klan consisting of remakes of the best Albanian songs from the past century. She took part in Kënga Magjike 2007 with the song "Nxënësja më e mirë" ("The best student"), where the other singers' votes landed her in 4th place, but she did receive the critics' award.[4]

In August 2008, Anjeza Shahini released her first album, Erdhi momenti, containing only new songs, all in Albanian. Some of the songs were composed by Adrian Hila, but she also collaborated with other well known composers such as Pirro Cako and Genti Myftaraj and some of the lyrics were written by Anjeza's sister, Bela.[5] The songs "Erdhi Momenti" and "Lot Pendimi" were promoted with a music video produced by "Max Production".

Shahini took part in the Albanian national Festival 2009 with the ballad "Ne Pasqyre" (In the mirror) for Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. The song was well received by the public but the jury placed her second.

In 2010 Anjeza Shahini finished her contract with "Eurostar" and became an independent artist. In the same year she completed her studies in "International Relations" at the "European University of Tirana"

In 2011 Shahini participated for the first time in the modern Albanian Festival "Top Fest 8" performing a duet with Kosovo band "Dren Abazi & ZZOrchestra". Their song "Ti dhe une" was awarded for "Best Interpratation". A music video was released after the festival in partnership with "PinkMoon" production. This song was very successful in Albania and Kosovo.

In 2012 Anjeza released the ballad "Te desha shume", composed by Endrit Shani and produced by "Sebastian Video Production".

Anjeza Shahini took part in the "Albanian Eurovision Song Contest Selection" for 2013 with the song "LOVE", when she again finished in second place. In the same year she collaborated with German artist "Martin Kilger" for the song "Kastanien Lied" where she appeared as a guest singer.

During the year 2014 she released three singles in collaboration with the songwriter Mario Deda. Together they produced "Ujë në shkretëtirë" a triphop ballad.[6] The video was released in partnership with "ID Production". The video for the song "Magnet" (electronic pop-dance) was used for a company publicity promotion. The collaboration with Deda continued with "Energji" (Energy), an electronic pop-drum & bass, which was performed by Anjeza Shahini in the Festival "Kenga Magjike" and received the award "Tendence" (Best Trend Song).

In September 2015 Anjeza Shahini married Paul Connolly and they live in London, England.

Discography

References

  1. ↑ Leduey, Guillaume. "About Anjeza Shahini". Anjeza Shahini's Myspace page. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  2. ↑ "Euro Video Grand Prix". imdb.com. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  3. ↑ Romkes, Rene (24 September 2007). "Albanian singer ready to start musical career. Anjeza Shahini wants to try again". esctoday.com. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  4. ↑ Pinderi, Kristi. "ANJEZA SHAHINI: Nxënësja më e mirë". Revista Mapo (in Albanian). Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  5. ↑ Klier, Marcus (15 August 2008). "Albania: Anjeza Shahini releases debut album". esctoday.com. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  6. ↑ Besim, Ramadan (15 March 2014). "Anjeza Shahini releases Ujë në shkretëtirë". wiwibloggs.com. wiwibloggs.com.
  7. ↑ Besim, Ramadan (15 March 2014). "Anjeza Shahini releases Ujë në shkretëtirë". wiwibloggs.com. wiwibloggs.com.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
none
(Debut entry)		 Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
2004 		Succeeded by
Ledina Çelo
with Tomorrow I Go
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