Anjeza Shahini
Encyclopedia
Anjeza Shahini is an Albania
n 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.
. 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.
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.
for an international career and announced her intention to once again participate in the National Song Festival (Festivali i Këngës), the Albanian selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest, which in 2006 was to be held in Athens
, Greece
.
With the song "Pse Ndal", Anjeza Shahini made it through the two semi-finals to the last twenty at the National Final and was one of the favorites 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, which was held in Albania. She opened the contest with the song "Welcome to Europe," which was also released as a single.
After taking a break from the music industry to continue her studies in pop music in Austria
, in 2007 Anjeza returned to the Albanian stage with two important projects. She was one of the protagonist singers in Këngët e Shekullit 2, a successful series on TV Klan consisting of remakes of the best Albanian songs from the past century. She was also a participant in Kënga Magjike 2007
with the song "Nxënësja më e mirë" ("The best student") which landed her in 4th place selected by the vote of the other singers in contest,but the critic gave her their prime (Cmimi i Kritikes).
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 and some of the lyrics were written by Anjeza's sister, Bela.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n singer. She represented Albania at the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2004
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004, was the 49th Contest and it was held in the Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. This was the first occasion in which the contest was held in Turkey after they had won the competition in 2003 with Sertab Erener singing "Everyway That I Can"...
with the song "The Image of You
The Image Of You
"The Image of You" was the debut entry for Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest, being performed in English by Anjeza Shahini in the semi-final of the 2004 Contest....
" in the country's debut year in the ESC.
Eurovision 2004
In 2003 then 16-year old Anjeza Shahini won the first edition of Friday Night Fever, the Albanian version of Pop IdolPop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
. In December of the same year, along with 29 other singers, she competed at the three-day RTSH song festival (Festivali i Këngës 42
Festivali I Këngës 42
Festivali i Këngës 42 took place in the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania. There were two semifinals and a final . This contest was used to select the first Eurovision Song Contest entry for Albania. 30 songs competed but only 18 made it to the final...
) at the Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
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
Ledina Çelo
Ledina Çelo is an Albanian singer and model.In December 2003 she hosted the Albanian national Final for the Eurovision Song Contest. One year later she participated herself and won with Nesër Shkoj, on the Eurovision she decided to sing in English with Tomorrow I Go...
presented her as the winner of the combined jury and televote. That meant she would represent Albania in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2004
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004, was the 49th Contest and it was held in the Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. This was the first occasion in which the contest was held in Turkey after they had won the competition in 2003 with Sertab Erener singing "Everyway That I Can"...
in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
in Albania's debut year in the competition.
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 based in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
for an international career and announced her intention to once again participate in the National Song Festival (Festivali i Këngës), the Albanian selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest, which in 2006 was to be held in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
With the song "Pse Ndal", Anjeza Shahini made it through the two semi-finals to the last twenty at the National Final and was one of the favorites to win. However, at the final, which aired on 18 December 2005, the winner was announced as the song "Zjarr e ftohtë
Zjarr E Ftohtë
"Zjarr e ftohtë" was the Albanian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, performed in Albanian by Luiz Ejlli. This was the first time that the Albanian entry in the contest was sung in Albanian....
", sung by Luiz Ejlli
Luiz Ejlli
Luiz Ejlli is an Albanian singer.-Biography:Luiz Ejlli was born in Shkodra and between 1991 and 2002 he attended the "Prenk Jakova" secondary school in Shkodra. In 1995, he won the Best Voice Prize in "Child National Fesitival" in Shkodra. In 1998, he participated as a soloist in the "Gold...
.
On 3 June 2006, Anjeza Shahini was a special guest performer at the Euro Video Grand Prix contest, which was held in Albania. She opened the contest with the song "Welcome to Europe," which was also released as a single.
After taking a break from the music industry to continue her studies in pop music in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, in 2007 Anjeza returned to the Albanian stage with two important projects. She was one of the protagonist singers in Këngët e Shekullit 2, a successful series on TV Klan consisting of remakes of the best Albanian songs from the past century. She was also a participant in Kënga Magjike 2007
Kënga Magjike 09
Kënga Magjike 09 took place in the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Albania. There were two semifinals and a final . 54 songs were heard in advance by the public at home, which narrowed them down to 40 songs by televoting. These songs competed in the semi-finals but only 18 made it to the final...
with the song "Nxënësja më e mirë" ("The best student") which landed her in 4th place selected by the vote of the other singers in contest,but the critic gave her their prime (Cmimi i Kritikes).
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 and some of the lyrics were written by Anjeza's sister, Bela.
Discography
- 2006 "Welcome" - single
- 2008 Erdhi momenti