Jonida Maliqi
Jonida Maliqi (Albanian pronunciation: [jɔˈnida maˈlici]; born 26 March 1983) is an Albanian singer and media personality.
Jonida Maliqi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 March 1983 Tirana, Albania |
| Education | University of Arts, Tirana, Albania |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Musical career | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
Throughout her career, Maliqi has won six awards at Kënga Magjike and first place in 2008. She is also a double winner of accolades at the Top Fest in 2006 and 2010 respectively. Maliqi played Bithia in the Albanian version of The Ten Commandments: The Musical and starred as Juliet in the Albanian theatre production of Roméo et Juliette. In 2012, she was appointed as the captain of her team at the Albanian version of the Dutch TV series I Love My Country[1] whereas in 2014 she co-hosted the fourth season of Dancing with the Stars. In 2016, Maliqi appeared as a judge on the fifth season of The Voice of Albania[2] and in 2018 she became the sixteenth representative of Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, finishing 9th in the second semi-final with 96 points and ended in the 17th place in grand final.[3]
Life and career
Jonida Maliqi was born on 26 March 1983 into an Albanian family hailing from Bukina in the city of Khakiv.[4][5] Maliqi attended the elementary and music school Dëshmorët e Lirisë in Tirana and thus took guitar and violin lessons at an early age.[4][6][7] Following this, the singer enrolled at the Jordan Misja Lyceum, later studying canto at the Academy of Arts in Tirana.[6][8] Maliqi started her early forays into the music industry at age 13 in 1995 as she participated at the 34th edition of Festivali i Këngës.[4]
After her solo debut in 1999, Maliqi participates at "Festivali i Këngës" for another three consecutive years with songs "Çast", "Ik" and "Do Humbas Me Ty" which placed third at the 41st edition. In 2001, Maliqi pursued studies at the Academy of Arts under the mentorship of the Albanian professor Nina Mula, the mother of Albanian soprano Inva Mula. Meanwhile, her participation at various music festivals continued. In 2003, Maliqi won "The Best Performer" category at Kënga Magjike for "Vetëm Një Natë", whereas in 2004, she won the "Ethno Music Award" for "Nuk Kam Faj Që Robëroj". In 2005, Maliqi announced a work on her debut album Nuk Të Pres and won the "Best Interpretation Award" at Kënga Magjike for "Papagalli i Dashurisë".
After her graduation in 2006, Maliqi starred in the Albanian version of The Ten Commandments: The Musical as Bithia, and in the same year she released her debut album Nuk Të Pres upon her birthday.[9] That year, her collaboration with Albanian pop singer Tuna spawned the hit "Forca e Femrës" which won the "Best Female Award" at Top Fest. The performance attracted much comment due to their antics on stage that were interpreted by many as a likely titillated lesbian act. Meanwhile, some tabloids instated Tuna as "protégée in Jonida's same-sex erotica and polymorphous sexuality".[10] However, both artists denied the allegations about their lesbian relationship. In 2008, Maliqi returned with a new single "Njëri Nga Ata" which entered "Kënga Magjike" and won the competition alongside the "Best Song" and the "10th Anniversary Award". In 2010, she collaborated with Albanian rapper Big Basta and their song "Sot t'i Japim Fund" won the "Best Pop & R&B Song" at the Top Fest.
In 2011, Maliqi returned to "Kënga Magjike" with "Thesar pa Emër" which won "Çesk Zadeja Award" whereas in 2012 she became the captain of her team at the Albanian version of the Dutch TV-series "I Love My Country". In 2013, she won "Jon Music Award" for "Ti" and then was announced as a host of the first season of The Voice Kids but withdrew.[11] On the same year, Maliqi starred at the musical "Romeo and Juliet" as Juliet opposite Albanian Skënderaj. In 2014, she co-hosted the fourth season of "Dancing with the Stars" whereas in 2015 she released a new song called "Jam Bërë Si Ti".
In 2016, Maliqi appeared as a judge on the fifth season of "The Voice of Albania" between 9 January 2016 and 16 April 2016. On 10 May 2018, Maliqi released the song "N’Errësirë".[12][13]
On 20 December 2018, Maliqi participated and won the 57th edition of the Festivali i Këngës thus becoming Albania's sixteenth representative at Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Ktheju tokës".[14][15] The song finished seventeenth in the final.
In 2021, Maliqi co-hosted Festivali i Këngës 60.[16]
Other ventures
Jonida launched her own haute couture boutique in 2009 and another shoe salon in 2017.
Philanthropy
Maliqi's diverse charitable activities include campaigns for encouraging awareness about the breast cancer; promoting the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome, as well as consistent benefit performances at charity concerts.[17] One of her notable publicised case took place during the live broadcast of "Top Show Magazine" at Top Channel in which she surprised a girl born with Down syndrome and presented her with a new iPad.[18] Maliqi's other charitable endeavours cover a wide range of causes.
Private life
Maliqi was previously married to Albanian businessman Gent Prizreni. In March 2017, the couple announced their divorce. Jonida and Gent have a son.[19]
Discography
Albums
- Nuk të pres (2005)
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB [20] | ||||||||||
| "Planeti i fëmijëve" (with Aleksandër Rrapi) | 1995 | — | Non-album singles | |||||||
| "Flas me ëngjëllin tim" (with Kastriot Tusha) | 1997 | |||||||||
| "Do jetoj pa ty" | 1999 | |||||||||
| "Përse të adhuroj" | ||||||||||
| "Do jetoja pa ty" | ||||||||||
| "Çast" | 2000 | |||||||||
| "Ik" | 2001 | |||||||||
| "Ti s'më meriton" | 2002 | |||||||||
| "Larg teje" | ||||||||||
| "Do humbas më ty" | ||||||||||
| "Vetëm një natë" | 2003 | |||||||||
| "Ne të dashuruar" | 2004 | |||||||||
| "Nuk kam faj që roberoj" | ||||||||||
| "Frikëm se më pëlqen" | ||||||||||
| "Fli tani" | 2005 | |||||||||
| "Papagalli i dashurisë" | ||||||||||
| "Forca e femrës" (with Tuna) | 2006 | |||||||||
| "Pa identitet" | ||||||||||
| "Parfum nate" | 2007 | |||||||||
| "S'ka fajtor në dashuri" | ||||||||||
| "Mother (Kthehëm të dielën)" (with Gjergj Leka) | 2008 | |||||||||
| "Njëri nga ata" | ||||||||||
| "Sot t'i japim fund" (featuring Big Basta) | 2010 | |||||||||
| "Një orë më shumë" | 2011 | |||||||||
| "Fantastik" | ||||||||||
| "Thesar pa emër" | ||||||||||
| "Sonte" (featuring Dj Blunt and Real 1) | 2013 | |||||||||
| "Ti" | ||||||||||
| "Jam bërë si ti" | 2015 | |||||||||
| "N'errësirë" | 2018 | 85 | ||||||||
| "Ktheju tokës" | 2019 | — | ||||||||
| "Need You" (with Obie Kellz) | 2022 | |||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||
References
- ^ "Dua Vendin Tim – Cast & Crew". IMDb. 23 December 2018.
- ^ "Jonida Maliqi trajnere në "The Voice of Albania"". Telegraph - Telegrafi.com (in Albanian). 11 September 2015.
- ^ "Albania picks Jonida Maliqi and presents the first song of 2019". Eurovision Song Contest. 23 December 2018.
- ^ a b c "Jonida Maliqi–Biografia" (in Albanian). TeksteShqip. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ . Gjirokastra Online (in Albanian). 30 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ a b Hoxha, E. (14 October 2016). (in Albanian). Iconstyle. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ Pinzon, Diego (2 May 2019). . Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ . European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Jonida Maliqi's Discography". discogs.
- ^ "Jonida Sapphic Sensation: Jonida & Tuna VS Madonna & Britney!". Universal Gay.
- ^ "Jonida Maliqi to host The Voice Kids?". Standard.al (in Albanian). 2 March 2013.
- ^ "Jonida Maliqi Në Errësirë". MCN Radio (in Albanian).
- ^ "Jonida Maliqi – Në Errësirë". VEVO.
- ^ "Jonida Maliqi – Ktheju Tokes (Albania Official Music Video Eurovision 2019)". The official website of the Eurovision Song Contest.
- ^ "Ticket to Tel Aviv: Meet Jonida Maliqi from Albania". Eurovision Song Contest. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
- ^ "Albania 2022: The second night of Festivali i Këngës #60". Eurovisionworld. 29 December 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "Famous Albanian Women Come Together for a Great Cause". Class – ClassLifestyle.com. 31 October 2018.
- ^ "Jonida Maliqi Surprizon Vajzën Me Sindromën Down". Tirana Post (in Albanian). 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Jonida Speaks for the First Time About Divorce". Anabel Magazine. 12 July 2018.
- ^ Note: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania:
- For "N'errësirë":"The Top List – 13 May 2018" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 13 May 2018. from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2021.