Albina Kelmendi
Kosovar singer and songwriter (born 1998)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Albina Kelmendi (Albanian pronunciation: [alˈbina kɛlˈmɛndi]; born 27 January 1998)[1] is a Kosovar 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.[1][3]
Career
2014–2021: The Voice of Albania and Top Fest
In 2014, she auditioned for the fourth series of The Voice of Albania.[3] After getting chair turns from all four coaches, she joined Team Elsa. She finished as the runner-up of the season.
| Round | Song | Original artist(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blind auditions | "Something's Got a Hold on Me" | Etta James | Four-chair turn, joined Team Elsa |
| Battle | "Run Baby Run" | Sheryl Crow | Won against Nilsa Hysi |
| Knock Out | "Suus" | Rona Nishliu | Won against Xhejni Memlikaj |
| 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" | James Brown | |
| Final | "Zgjohu" | Jericho | |
| "Unchain My Heart" | Ray Charles | ||
| "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".[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 | Album details |
|---|---|
| Nana loke |
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Ëndrrën mos ma merr" | 2015 | Non-album singles |
| "Hera e parë" | 2016 | |
| "Denim" (with Sinan Vllasaliu) |
2018 | |
| "Shko" | 2020 | |
| "Një takim" (with Taulant Bajraliu) | ||
| "Ishim" | ||
| "Mos më lini vet" | ||
| "Ta fali zemra" | ||
| "Vjet e mija po kalojn" | ||
| "Hallakam" (with Labinot Tahiri) | ||
| "Ç'ka don tash prej meje" (with Ymer Bajrami) | ||
| "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"[a] | ||
| "Inat"[9] |
Notes
- Credited as Albina & Familja Kelmendi.
