Aidan (singer)
{{Short description|Maltese singer and songwriter}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Aidan
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Aidan Cassar
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|12|17|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Żejtun, Malta
| occupations = {{flatlist|
- Singer
- songwriter
}}
| instrument =
| years_active = 2018–present
| genre = Pop
| label =
| website = {{URL|https://aidanofficial.com/}}
}}
Aidan Cassar (born 17 December 1999{{Cite web |date=2018-03-22 |title=Aidan Cassar u Francesca Mifsud jingħataw l-premju 'Fjamma Żagħżugħa' |url=https://www.zejtunlocalcouncil.com/single-post/2018/03/22/aidan-cassar-u-francesca-mifsud-jingħataw-l-premju-fjamma-żagħżugħa |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Żejtun Local Council |language=en|first=Sean|last=Chircop}}), known mononymously as Aidan, is a Maltese singer-songwriter.
Career
In 2018, he competed in the Malta Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Dai Laga". Following reports that the song, originally described as an original composition, had used a publicly available production beat and could have potentially violated Eurovision rules, it was revamped and re-released.{{Cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2018/01/19/aidan-publishes-dai-laga-revamp-following-rule-breach-controversy-in-malta/210448/|title=Aidan publishes "Dai Laga" revamp following rule breach controversy in Malta|first=William Lee|last=Adams|date=19 January 2018|website=wiwibloggs|access-date=16 January 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240116222355/https://wiwibloggs.com/2018/01/19/aidan-publishes-dai-laga-revamp-following-rule-breach-controversy-in-malta/210448/|archive-date=16 January 2024|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=PBS looking into possible breach of Eurovision rules by MESC song entry | work=The Malta Independent | first=Julian | last=Bonnici |url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-01-10/local-news/PBS-looking-into-possible-breach-of-Eurovision-rules-by-MESC-song-entry-6736183440 |access-date=2024-07-08 | date=10 January 2018 }} The song placed fourth in the contest.{{Cite web |title=Malta: MESC 2018 |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/national/malta/mesc-2018 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Eurovisionworld |language=en}} Afterwards, he participated in the X Factor Malta.{{Cite web |last=Diacono |first=Tim |date=2021-12-15 |title=Exclusive: Aidan Submits Upbeat Song Entirely In Maltese For Eurovision |url=https://lovinmalta.com/lifestyle/eurovision/exclusive-aidan-submits-upbeat-song-entirely-in-maltese-for-eurovision/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Lovin Malta |language=en}}
In 2019, he represented Malta in the OGAE Song Contest with the song "The Feeling".{{Cite web |title=OGAE Song Contest 2019 - Malta |url=https://ogae.uk/ogae-song-contest-2019-malta/ |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=OGAE UK |language=en-US |archive-date=26 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626082417/https://ogae.uk/ogae-song-contest-2019-malta/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |last=Azzopardi |first=Jean Paul |date=2021-05-20 |title=WATCH: Malta's Summer Anthem? Aidan Explains Unlikely Success Of His Latest Hit Single Sung Entirely In Maltese |url=https://lovinmalta.com/news/watch-maltas-summer-anthem-aidan-explains-unlikely-success-of-his-latest-hit-single-sung-entirely-in-maltese/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Lovin Malta |language=en-GB}}
His single "Naħseb Fik" has been compared to "Tick Tock" by Clean Bandit and Mabel and was said to have a similar cord progression. He denied the beat and melody were plagiarised.{{Cite web |last=Cilia |first=Johnathan |date=2021-05-27 |title=Aidan Responds To Allegations That Hit Single 'Naħseb Fik' Was Lifted From A Clean Bandit Track |url=https://lovinmalta.com/news/aidan-responds-to-allegations-that-hit-single-nahseb-fik-was-lifted-from-a-clean-bandit-track/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Lovin Malta |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Musicians raise plagiarism concerns over Aidan Cassar's hit song |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/musicians-raise-plagiarism-concerns-over-aidan-cassars-hit-song.874984 |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb|first=Jessica|last=Arena}} The song was entered into the Mużika Mużika song festival in 2021, it was the first time he has written a song in Maltese and performed in Maltese.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-25 |title=Mużika Mużika, a prestigious launch pad for up and coming artists |url=https://www.festivals.mt/post/muzika-muzika-a-prestigious-launch-pad |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Festivals Malta 2022 |language=en}} The music video won music video of the year at Lovin Malta Social Media Awards in 2021.
He entered the Malta Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 with the song "Ritmu", placing second.{{Cite web |last=Galea |first=Owen |title=Imħabbra t-22 semifinalista tal-Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2022 |url=https://tvmnews.mt/news/imhabbra-t-22-semifinalista-tal-malta-eurovision-song-contest-2022/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=TVMnews.mt |date=29 December 2021 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Record TV audience – over half a million viewers watch Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://tvmnews.mt/en/news/nofs-miljun-raw-it-tliet-serati-tal-eurovision-song-contest/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=TVMnews.mt |date=20 February 2022 |language=en-GB}} The song went on to top the Maltese Radio airplay charts for three weeks, and Aidan was later invited to perform it at the London Eurovision Party.{{Cite web|url=https://maltadaily.mt/aidan-invited-to-perform-fan-favourite-ritmu-in-london/|title=Aidan invited to perform fan-favourite 'Ritmu' in London|date=6 April 2022|website=Malta Daily|access-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915194300/https://maltadaily.mt/aidan-invited-to-perform-fan-favourite-ritmu-in-london/|archive-date=15 September 2024|url-status=live}} He was also the Maltese jury spokesperson at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://maltadaily.mt/aidan-chosen-to-read-maltas-jury-votes-at-eurovision-grand-final/|title=Aidan chosen to read Malta’s jury votes at Eurovision Grand Final|date=14 May 2022|website=Malta Daily|access-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915195608/https://maltadaily.mt/aidan-chosen-to-read-maltas-jury-votes-at-eurovision-grand-final/|archive-date=15 September 2024|url-status=live}}
On 24 July 2022, he performed the songs "Naħseb Fik" and "Ritmu" during the Isle of MTV 2022 festival in Floriana.{{Cite web |title=Full line-up for this year's Isle of MTV announced |url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/arts/music/117597/full_lineup_for_this_years_isle_of_mtv_announced |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=MaltaToday.com.mt |language=en}}{{Citation |last=Cassar |first=Aidan |title=AIDAN - Naħseb Fik & Ritmu Medley (Isle of MTV 2022) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5rFFcGa0Nc |access-date=2023-01-14 |language=en}}
In 2023, he entered the Malta Eurovision Song Contest again with the song "Reġina". He was disqualified from the contest allegedly due to social media posts about his song which were not allowed by Public Broadcasting Services (PBS). He threatened PBS with legal action{{Cite web |title=Aidan Cassar backs out of Eurovision legal challenge |url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/arts/entertainment/121048/aidan_cassar_withdraws_from_eurovision_legal_challenge |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=MaltaToday.com.mt |language=en}} but went on to perform a medley of his songs in the interval.{{Cite web |title=Singer Aidan Cassar disqualified from Malta Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/singer-aidan-cassar-disqualified-malta-eurovision-song-contest.1009047 |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Aidan to return as guest singer in Eurovision final show |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/aidan-return-guest-singer-eurovision-final-show.1012983 |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of studio albums ! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Details |
| scope="row"| This Is Aidan
| |
|---|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of extended plays ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Details |
| scope="row" | Wild, Wild, Wild
| |
|---|
=Singles=
= Other charted songs =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of songs with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
| scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| MLT Dom. Air. |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Juliette" {{small|(a cappella version)}}
| 2024 | 9 | {{Non-album single}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Aidan (singer)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aidan}}
Category:Maltese singer-songwriters