Albina Kelmendi
{{short description|Kosovo-Albanian singer and songwriter (born 1998)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Albina Kelmendi
| image = Albina Kelmendi, 2019.png
| caption = Kelmendi in 2019
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1998|1|27}}
| birth_place = Peja, AP Kosovo, FR Yugoslavia
(present-day Kosovo)
| genre = Pop
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|clarinet|piano}}
| years_active = 2013–present
| label = Folé Publishing
| website =
}}
Albina Kelmendi ({{IPA|sq|alˈbina kɛlˈmɛndi}}; born 27 January 1998){{Cite web |title=Albina Kelmendi në Radio KFOR zbuloi se në fund të muajit shkurt lanson projektin e ri muzikor |url=https://radiokfor.com/1/albina-kelmendi-ne-radio-kfor-zbuloi-se-ne-fund-te-muajit-shkurt-lanson-projektin-e-ri-muzikor/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Radio KFOR Shqip |date=8 February 2019 |language=en-US |archive-date=23 December 2022 |archive-url=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/ |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web |title=Albina Kelmendi – Biografia |url=https://www.teksteshqip.com/albina-kelmendi-the-voice/biografia |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=www.teksteshqip.com |archive-date=23 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223095932/https://www.teksteshqip.com/albina-kelmendi-the-voice/biografia |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web |date=16 December 2022 |title=Ja pse u përlot Albina Kelmendi në intervist |url=https://infokosova.net/ja-pse-u-perlot-albina-kelmendi-ne-intervist/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=InfoKosova |language=sq |archive-date=23 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223095935/https://infokosova.net/ja-pse-u-perlot-albina-kelmendi-ne-intervist/ |url-status=dead }}
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.
| class="wikitable"
|+The Voice of Albania performances !Round !Song !Original artist(s) !Notes |
| Blind auditions
|"Something's Got a Hold on Me" |Four-chair turn, joined Team Elsa |
| Battle
|"Run Baby Run" |Won against Nilsa Hysi |
| Knock Out
|"Suus" |Won against Xhejni Memlikaj |
| rowspan="3" |Live shows
|"Tomlin e nanës" |Jericho | |
| "Serenata e Shubertit"
|Frederik Ndoci | |
| "All for Love"
|Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting |With Team Elsa |
| Semi-final
|"It's a Man's Man's Man's World" | |
| rowspan="3" |Final
|"Zgjohu" |Jericho | |
| "Unchain My Heart"
| |
| "Tomlin e nanës"
|Jericho |With Jericho |
The following year, she took part in the twelfth edition of Top Fest, where she presented the song "Nuk ka ma mire".{{Cite web |date=11 May 2020 |title=Intervistë me këngëtaren Albina Kelmendi: Nuk ka zhanër të mirë apo të keq, gjithçka varet nga interpretimi dhe ndjenja që e përçon përmes këngës |url=https://www.kosova-sot.info/kulture/464454// |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Kosova Sot |language=en |archive-date=23 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223095935/https://www.kosova-sot.info/kulture/464454// |url-status=live }}
= 2022–present: ''Nana loke'', Festivali i Këngës, and Eurovision Song Contest =
In June 2022, Albina Kelmendi released her debut album, Nana loke.{{Cite web |title=Në bashkëpunim me nënën, Albina Kelmendi publikon albumin "Nana loke" |url=https://www.dielli.info/ne-bashkepunim-me-nenen-albina-kelmendi-publikon-albumin-nana-loke/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Dielli.info |language=sq |archive-date=23 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223095932/https://www.dielli.info/ne-bashkepunim-me-nenen-albina-kelmendi-publikon-albumin-nana-loke/ |url-status=live }} 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".{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=27 October 2022 |title=Albania: Festivali i Këngës 61 Participants Revealed |url=https://eurovoix.com/2022/10/27/festivali-i-kenges-61-participants/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB |archive-date=4 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204173215/https://eurovoix.com/2022/10/27/festivali-i-kenges-61-participants/ |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Farren |first=Neil |date=22 December 2022 |title=Albania: Albina & Familja Kelmendi to Eurovision 2023 |url=https://eurovoix.com/2022/12/22/albania-albina-to-eurovision-2023/ |access-date=2022-12-23 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB |archive-date=31 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231001517/https://eurovoix.com/2022/12/22/albania-albina-to-eurovision-2023/ |url-status=live }}
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.{{Cite web |title=Eurovision 2023 Results: Voting & Points |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2023 |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Eurovisionworld |language=en-gb |archive-date=23 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523074229/https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/2023 |url-status=live }}
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of studio albums with album details ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Album details |
| scope="row" |Nana loke
|
|
|---|
= Singles =
== As lead artist ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of singles as lead artist, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" style="width:16em;" |Title ! scope="col" style="width:1em;" |Year !Album |
| scope="row" |"Ëndrrën mos ma merr"
|2015 | rowspan="28" {{n/a|Non-album singles}} |
|---|
| scope="row" |"Hera e parë"
|2016 |
| scope="row" |"Denim" {{small|(with Sinan Vllasaliu)}} |2018 |
| scope="row" |"Shko"
| rowspan="8" |2020 |
| scope="row" |"Një takim" {{small|(with Taulant Bajraliu)}} |
| scope="row" |"Ishim" |
| scope="row" |"Mos më lini vet" |
| scope="row" |"Ta fali zemra" |
| scope="row" |"Vjet e mija po kalojn" |
| scope="row" |"Hallakam" {{small|(with Labinot Tahiri)}} |
| scope="row" |"Ç'ka don tash prej meje" {{small|(with Ymer Bajrami)}} |
| scope="row" |"Mirazh"
| rowspan="8" |2021 |
| scope="row" |"Kur ta ktheva Kosovë shpinën" |
| scope="row" |"Vullkan" |
| scope="row" |"Zot mos e bo" |
| scope="row" |"E kom prej teje" |
| scope="row" |"Pa mu" |
| scope="row" |"Çikë e bukur" |
| scope="row" |"Moj e mira te pojata" |
| scope="row" |"Jetoj me shpresë"
| rowspan="3" |2022 |
| scope="row" |"Nanë moj kom gabu" |
| scope="row" |"Sytë e tu" |
| scope="row" |"Emri im"
| rowspan="3" |2023 |
| scope="row" |"Duje"{{efn|Credited as Albina & Familja Kelmendi.}} |
| scope="row" |"Inat"{{cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2023/05/28/new-music-from-reiley-sam-ryder-elena-tsagrinou-and-more/277519/|title=New music this week (part 1): Songs from Reiley, Sam Ryder, Elena Tsagrinou and more|website=Wiwibloggs|date=28 May 2023|access-date=31 May 2023|archive-date=11 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711134636/https://wiwibloggs.com/2023/05/28/new-music-from-reiley-sam-ryder-elena-tsagrinou-and-more/277519/|url-status=live}} |
Notes
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References
{{Portal|Biographies|Music}}
{{Reflist}}
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{{succession box
| title = Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
| years = 2023
| before = Ronela Hajati
with "Sekret"
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{{Albanian music|state=collapsed}}
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{{Eurovision Song Contest 2023|state=autocollapse}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelmendi, Albina}}