Alban Skënderaj Explained
Alban Skënderaj |
Birth Date: | 20 April 1982 |
Birth Place: | Lushnjë, Albania |
Occupation: | Singer, songwriter, actor, producer, television personality |
Years Active: | 2004–present |
Notable Works: | Discography |
Awards: | Full list |
Father: | Qerim |
Mother: | Afërdita Skënderaj |
Children: | 2 |
Module: | |
Alban Skënderaj (in Albanian alˈban skənˈdɛɾaj/; born 20 April 1982) is an Albanian singer. Born in Lushnjë and raised in Vlorë, Skënderaj has established himself as a viable artist in Albania and the Albanian-speaking Balkans. Beyond his music career, the singer has been featured as a judge on the Albanian television series The X Factor Albania and The Voice of Albania.
Life and career
1982–2004: Early life and career beginnings
Alban Skënderaj was born on 20 April 1982 into an Albanian family in the city of Lushnjë, then part of the People's Socialist Republic, present Albania.[1] [2] [3] His father, Qerim Skënderaj, was born in the village of Ninësh, Mallakastër, and has served in the Albanian Armed Forces.[3] [4] His mother, Afërdita Skënderaj, hailed from Vlorë and died in June 2017.[3] [5] Skënderaj attended the Halim Xhelo secondary school in Vlorë.[2] At a young age, his family left Albania for political reasons as part of the 1997 Albanian civil unrest and relocated to Pistoia, Italy.[3] [6] [7] Skënderaj has three brothers, namely Arbër, Martin and Taulant.[3] [8] After relocating to Italy, his brothers encouraged Skënderaj to pursue a music career. He started to take music lessons and began to play guitar.[6] Italian composer Sandro Bartolozzi discovered Skënderaj and invited him to the Artestudio53 in Florence, Italy, whereupon he continued to sing with various bands.[6]
2005–2017: Top Fest and Kënga Magjike
After his return in Albania, Skënderaj eventually started to participate in various music contests. In April 2005, the singer won the 2nd edition of Top Fest with the song "Vetëm ty".[9] [10] A year after, he returned to the 3rd edition of Top Fest, collaborating with the Kosovo-Albanian group Kthjellu on "Diçka", and resulted as the winners of the contest.[11] In December 2006, he unsuccessfully debuted at Albanian: [[Festivali i Këngës]]|italics=no at its 45th edition with the song "Eklips".[12] [13] The singer released his second studio album, Melody in October 2008.[14] Finishing in second place in December 2010, Skënderaj returned to the contest's 49th edition collaborating with Albanian musician and spouse Miriam Cani on "Ende ka shpresë".[15] [16] In November 2012, the singer won the 14th edition of Albanian: [[Kënga Magjike]]|italics=no with the song "Refuzoj".[17] [18] From 2012 and 2015, he has been a juror for Televizioni Klan's X Factor Albania show.[19] [20] In November 2014, the singer presented a concert at the Pallati i Kongreseve in Tirana to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his music career.[21]
Skënderaj's first number-one single, "Une dhe ti", was released in February 2016.[22] [23] He released his first live studio album, Tingujt e ditarit tim, in April 2016.[24] "Kam nëvoje", his follow-up single featuring Kosovo-Albanian rapper Elinel, also went on to reach number one in Albania in May 2016.[25] In June 2016, he was honored as the male artist of the year at the Top Music Awards.[26] Three subsequent top 10 singles, "Duart lart", "Engjëll" and "Stoli i trëndafilave", were released in the course of that year.[27] [28] [29] As of 2017, Skënderaj served as a coach on the sixth season of Top Channel's The Voice of Albania.[30] [31] In June 2017, the singer held a concert to further promote his first live studio album, Tingujt e ditarit tim, at the gardens of the National Library of Kosovo in Pristina.[32] Another pair of top 10 singles in Albania, "Dikur", "1000 premtime", "Nuk je vetëm" and "Dhurata", followed throughout 2017.[33] [34] [35] [36] The track, "Dhurata" in collaboration with Miriam Cani, was dedicated to their daughter Ameli, which peaked atop the Albanian Top 100 chart.[37] [38] Released in 2016, "Une dhe ti" was named as the song of the year at the 2017 Kult Awards in December 2017.[39]
2018–present: Continued success
Skënderaj's chart appearance ensued into May 2018 with the single "Ping Pong" featuring Kosovo-Albanian rapper MC Kresha, which became a top three single in Albania.[40] Another charting collaboration titled "Deja vu" with Albanian singer Young Zerka followed in June 2018.[41] The follow-up "Lea" became a number-one single in September 2018 and "Nëntor, 26" experienced similar success on its release.[42] [43] Hapësira e një ëndrre, Skënderaj's second live studio album, was premiered in October 2018.[44] Three subsequent top 10 singles, "Plagë në gjysmëshpirt", "Drejt në zemër" and "Duamë", were released in 2019. Released to positive response, the music video of "Duamë" comprises footage from Skënderaj's marriage ceremony in the Maldives.
Personal life
After a music collaboration proposed by Cani's father, Skënderaj started a relationship with Albanian singer Miriam Cani in 2007.[45] On 28 November 2015, Cani gave birth to a daughter, Ameli Skënderaj.[46] [47] In June 2019, Skënderaj presented a concert as part of his Hapësira e një ëndrre event in Pristina, Kosovo, at which both Cani and Skënderaj performed "Dhurata" and started the performance by revealing she was pregnant.[48] Their son Duam was born on 14 January 2020.[49]
Discography
See main article: Alban Skënderaj discography.
- Fllad në shkretirë (2006)
- Melody (2008)
- Ende ka shpresë (2011)
- Tingujt e ditarit tim (2016)
- Hapësira e një ëndrre (2018)
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: TeksteShqip . Alban SkënderajBiografia . 22 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180228161640/https://www.teksteshqip.com/alban-skenderaj/biografia . 28 February 2018 . sq . live.
- Web site: . Alban Skënderaj #Bio . 2 December 2017 . 24 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210418234754/http://topawards.top-channel.tv/index.php/artist/alban-skenderaj/ . 18 April 2021 . sq . live.
- Web site: . Babai i Alban Skënderajt: 16 ditët më të vështira të jetës time . 27 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200131030815/http://www.panorama.com.al/babai-i-alban-skenderajt-16-ditet-me-te-veshtira-te-jetes-time/ . 31 January 2020 . sq . 5 February 2017 . live.
- Web site: Kosovarja . Njihuni me babain dhe vëllain e Alban Skenderaj . 15 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191215193804/https://www.kosovarja-ks.com/njihuni-me-babain-dhe-vellain-e-alban-skenderaj/ . 15 December 2019 . sq . 23 December 2018 . dead.
- Web site: . Ditë zie për Alban Skenderajn, humb njeriun më të shtrenjtë . 27 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171010230158/https://telegrafi.com/dite-zie-per-alban-skenderajn-humb-njeriun-te-shtrenjte/ . 10 October 2017 . sq . 25 June 2017 . live.
- Web site: Il Tirreno . La prima volta di Alban nella 'sua' Pistoia . 27 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211027155337/https://iltirreno.gelocal.it/pistoia/cronaca/2016/11/27/news/la-prima-volta-di-alban-nella-sua-pistoia-1.14478572?refresh_ce . 27 October 2021 . it . 27 November 2017 . live.
- Web site: Dritare . Alban Skënderaj koncert special në vendin ku është rritur, nuk është Shqipëria . 27 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211027155655/https://dritare.net/alban-skenderaj-koncert-special-ne-vendin-ku-eshte-rritur-nuk-eshte-shqiperia . 27 October 2021 . sq . 25 November 2016 . live.
- Web site: Gazeta Tema . 9 fakte që ndoshta nuk i dini rreth Alban Skënderaj! . 11 March 2020 . 3 January 2019 . sq .
- Web site: . Albani tregon si bëheshin 'selfie'-t në vitet '90, ja si dukej këngëtari kur ishte adoleshent . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222135628/http://www.panorama.com.al/panoramaplus/albani-tregon-si-beheshin-selfie-t-ne-vitet-90-ja-si-dukej-kengetari-kur-ishte-adoleshent-foto/ . 22 December 2021 . sq . 2019 . live.
- Web site: Velija . Kreizia . . Alban Skënderaj dhe Albana Osmani në një duet muzikor . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222135534/https://www.topalbaniaradio.com/v7/alban-skenderaj-dhe-albana-osmani-ne-nje-duet-muzikor/ . 22 December 2021 . sq . 3 October 2020 . live.
- Web site: . Dikur krijuan një prej baladave më të pëlqyera, sot ndjekin karrierat solo . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222140455/https://telegrafi.com/dikur-krijuan-nje-prej-baladave-te-pelqyera-sot-ndjekin-karrierat-solo-video/ . 22 December 2021 . sq . 3 July 2017 . live.
- Web site: Eurovisionworld . Albania: Festivali i Këngës #45 . 19 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201019160559/https://eurovisionworld.com/national/albania/festivali-i-kenges-45-2007 . 19 October 2020 . live.
- Web site: Klier . Marcus . ESCToday . Aida & Frederik Ndoci to Helsinki . 19 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200329163725/http://esctoday.com/7091/aida__frederik_ndoci__to_helsinki/ . 29 March 2020 . 24 December 2006 . live.
- Web site: . Skenderaj lanson albumin e shumëpritur . 25 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211225235832/https://telegrafi.com/skenderaj-lanson-albumin-e-shumepritur/ . 25 December 2021 . sq . 6 October 2008 . live.
- Web site: Sahiti . Gafurr . ESCToday . Albania: 38 semi-finalists announced . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200923034720/http://esctoday.com/16236/albania_38_semi-finalists_announced/ . 23 September 2020 . 15 November 2010 . live.
- Web site: European Broadcasting Union (EBU) . Aurela Gaçe wins Albanian ticket to Germany . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200804202118/https://eurovision.tv/story/aurela-gace-wins-albanian-ticket-to-germany . 4 August 2020 . 25 December 2010 . live.
- Web site: . Alban Skënderaj fitues i 'Kënga Magjike 2012' . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222150715/https://telegrafi.com/alban-skenderaj-fitues-i-kenga-magjike-2012/ . 22 December 2021 . sq . 10 November 2012 . live.
- Web site: . Fituesi i Këngës Magjike 2012 është Alban Skenderaj . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121114105931/http://www.botasot.info/mediale-vip/195992/fituesi-i-kenges-magjike-2012-eshte-alban-skenderaj/ . 14 November 2012 . sq . 11 November 2012 . live.
- Web site: Televizioni Klan (TV Klan) . X Factor Albania së shpejti . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111218201631/http://www.tvklan.al/on_air.php?id=61 . 18 December 2011 . sq . dead.
- Web site: Televizioni Klan (TV Klan) . Bleona, anëtare e jurisë së 'X Factor Albania 4' . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222133009/https://tvklan.al/bleona-anetare-e-jurise-se-x-factor-albania-4/ . 22 December 2021 . sq . 17 February 2015 . live.
- Web site: . Albani, dy koncerte për 10 vjetorin e karrierës . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223164258/https://telegrafi.com/albani-dy-koncerte-per-10-vjetorin-e-karrieres/ . 23 December 2021 . sq . 30 October 2014 . live.
- Web site: Velija . Kreizia . . Alban Skënderaj përsëri 'mbret' i Top Awards . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222174119/https://www.topalbaniaradio.com/v7/alban-skenderaj-perseri-mbret-i-top-awards/ . 22 December 2021 . sq . 28 February 2016 . live.
- Web site: . Alban Skenderaj thyen rekord në Top Awards . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222173813/http://topawards.top-channel.tv/index.php/alban-skenderaj-thyen-rekord-ne-top-awards/ . 22 December 2021 . sq . 12 March 2016 . live.
- Web site: . Tingujt e ditarit timLive Album by Alban Skënderaj on Apple Music . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223174527/https://music.apple.com/xk/album/tingujt-e-ditarit-tim-live/1108468142 . 23 December 2021 . 21 April 2016 . live.
- Web site: . The Top List15/05/2016 . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200202003643/http://topawards.top-channel.tv/index.php/15052016/ . 2 February 2020 . sq . 15 May 2016 . live.
- Web site: Kasaj . Justin . Infomedia Albania . Zbuloni fituesit e Top Music Awards 2016 . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180805045713/https://www.imalbania.com/zbuloni-fituesit-e-top-music-awards-2016/ . 5 August 2018 . sq . 24 June 2016 . live.
- Web site: . Alban Skenderaj publikon klipin e 'Duar lart' . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223152734/https://telegrafi.com/alban-skenderaj-publikon-klipin-e-duar-lart-video/ . 23 December 2021 . sq . 8 June 2016 . live.
- Web site: Televizioni Klan (TV Klan) . 'Engjëll', kënga e re e Alban Skënderaj dedikim për Miriam Canin . 11 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160711063800/https://tvklan.al/engjell-kenga-e-re-e-alban-skenderaj-dedikim-per-miriam-canin/ . 11 July 2016 . sq . 8 July 2016 . live.
- Web site: Dritare . Alban Skënderaj i këndon tradhtisë: 'Stoli i trëndafilave' . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223153350/https://dritare.net/alban-skenderaj-i-kendon-tradhtise-stoli-i-trendafilave . 23 December 2021 . sq . 28 October 2016 . live.
- Web site: . Alban Skënderaj, trajneri i ri i The Voice of Albania . 15 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170302032127/http://top-channel.tv/lajme/artikull.php?id=336247 . 2 March 2017 . sq . 24 September 2016 . dead.
- Web site: . Alban Skënderaj, pjesë e panelit të 'The Voice' . 22 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211222140049/https://telegrafi.com/alban-skenderaj-pjese-e-panelit-te-voice/ . 22 December 2021 . sq . 24 September 2016 . live.
- Web site: . Alban Skënderaj me koncert madhështor në Prishtinë . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223162359/https://telegrafi.com/alban-skenderaj-koncert-madheshtor-ne-prishtine-foto/ . 23 December 2021 . sq . 11 May 2017 . live.
- Web site: . Alban Skenderaj publikon 'Dikur' . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223154239/https://archive.koha.net/?id=28&l=156511 . 23 December 2021 . sq . 11 February 2017 . live.
- Web site: Syri . Video/ Publikohen '1000 Premtime'-t e Alban Skenderajt . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223154355/https://www.syri.net/jete-stil/50395/video-publikohen-1000-premtime-t-e-alban-skenderajt/ . 23 December 2021 . sq . 23 March 2017 . live.
- Web site: . Alban Skënderaj merr kreun e 'The Top List' . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200203151858/http://topawards.top-channel.tv/index.php/alban-skenderaj-merr-kreun-e-the-top-list/ . 3 February 2020 . sq . 11 September 2017 . live.
- Web site: Politiko . Alban Skënderaj dhe Miriam Cani vijnë me 'Dhuratë' . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200806190720/https://politiko.al/albani-dhe-miriam-vijne-me-dhurate/ . 6 August 2020 . sq . 26 November 2017 . live.
- Web site: . Emocionuese: Miriam Cani e Alban Skënderaj publikojnë këngën kushtuar vajzës . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223155636/https://prive.al/emocionuese-miriam-cani-e-alban-skenderaj-publikojne-kengen-kushtuar-vajzes-video/ . 23 December 2021 . sq . 28 November 2017 . live.
- Web site: . 'Je dhurata më e bukur në jetë', Alban Skënderaj dhe Miriam Cani publikojnë videon dhuratë për vajzën e tyre . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180420230918/http://www.intv.al/je-dhurata-me-e-bukur-ne-jete-alban-skenderaj-dhe-miriam-cani-publikojne-videon-dhurate-per-vajzen-e-tyre-foto-video-43283 . 20 April 2018 . sq . 28 November 2017 . live.
- Web site: Akademia Kult . Një Mbrëmje Gala si ajo e Çmimeve Kult 2017! Ja kush janë fituesit . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191031163641/http://akademiakult.com/cmimet-kult-2017/ . 31 October 2019 . sq . live.
- Web site: Top Channel . Alban Skënderaj në 'Top 3' me këngën e re! . 3 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180520192202/http://topawards.top-channel.tv/index.php/alban-skenderaj-ne-top-3-me-kengen-e-re/ . 20 May 2018 . sq . 16 May 2018.
- Web site: . Alban Skenderaj dhe Young Zerka sjellin 'Deja Vu' . 5 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220105233936/https://www.koha.net/showbiz/102226/alban-skenderaj-dhe-young-zerka-sjellin-deja-vu/ . 5 January 2022 . sq . 29 June 2018 . live.
- Web site: . Alban Skënderaj sjell këngën e tij më të preferuar, i këndon vajzës me emrin 'Lea' . 5 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220105234839/https://telegrafi.com/alban-skenderaj-sjell-kengen-e-tij-te-preferuar-kendon-vajzes-emrin-lea/ . 5 January 2022 . sq . 15 September 2018 . live.
- Web site: Velija . Kreizia . . Top Awards: Alban Skënderaj: 'Shumë i lumtur si çdo herë të jem pjesë e Top Awards' . 5 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220105235524/https://www.topalbaniaradio.com/v7/top-awards-alban-skenderaj-shume-i-lumtur-si-cdo-here-te-jem-pjese-e-top-awards/ . 5 January 2022 . sq . 3 December 2018 . live.
- Web site: . Hapësira e një ëndrreLive Album by Alban Skënderaj on Apple Music . 6 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223174802/https://music.apple.com/xk/album/hapesira-e-nje-endrre-live/1437904800 . 23 December 2021 . 1 October 2018 . live.
- Web site: Daily Xing . Kanë 10 vite bashkë, por e dini si ka nisur historia e dashurisë së Albanit dhe Miriamit? . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223170423/https://www.dailyxing.com/news/8642/kane-10-vite-bashke-por-e-dini-si-ka-nisur-historia-e-dashurise-se-albanit-dhe-miriamit . 23 December 2021 . sq . 25 October 2017 . live.
- Web site: . Alban Skenderaj bëhet baba për 28 Nëntor . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223171309/https://archive.koha.net/?id=28&l=86426 . 23 December 2021 . sq . 28 November 2015 . live.
- Web site: . Alban Skenderaj dhe Miriam Cani bëhen prindër për 28 nëntor . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223171518/https://telegrafi.com/alban-skenderaj-dhe-miriam-cani-behen-prinder-per-28-nentor/ . 23 December 2021 . sq . 28 November 2015 . live.
- Web site: . Albani dhe Miriami ndajnë lajmin e gëzuar me publikun në Prishtinëata do të bëhen sërish prindër . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211223172009/https://telegrafi.com/albani-dhe-miriami-ndajne-lajmin-e-gezuar-publikun-ne-prishtine-ata-te-behen-serish-prinder/ . 23 December 2021 . sq . 19 June 2019 . live.
- Web site: . Alban Skënderaj dhe Miriam Cani bëhen prindër për herë të dytë . 23 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200923131929/https://telegrafi.com/alban-skenderaj-dhe-miriam-cani-behen-prinder-per-te-dyte/ . 23 September 2020 . sq . 14 January 2020 . live.