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Elhaida Dani

Elhaida Dani is a real star not only in her home country Albania but also in Italy: Since winning The Voice of Italy in 2013, she has had many successful releases and tours. Reaching the first place in Festivali i Këngës in December 2014 gained her the right to represent Albania in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest.

Elhaida Dani was born in 1993 in Shkodra, Albania. She started to sing when she was four years old. She studied piano at school. In 2009 she took part and won the talent show Star Academy. After this show she released her first song Si Asnjëherë and later two more songs Fjala E Fundit and Vetmia

Elhaida has taken part in several music competitions in Albania and abroad, winning prestigious awards, among others the best New Artist of the Festival Suncane Skale in Montenegro and the Grand Prix in the festival Nova Musica in Bulgaria.

In June 2012, Elhaida won the Top Fest show in Albania, and the song she presented, S’je Me, became a hit. In 2013 she became The Voice of Italy and the following year 2013 she released When Love Calls Your Name by Cocciante and Baciami e Basta by Francesco Silvestre and Modà.

During 2013-14 she has been touring Italy performing on the same stage together with Patti Smith, Elisa, Fiorella Mannoia, Dolores O’Riordan, Fausto Leali, Giovanni Allevi, Caro Emerald and many others. 

Things you should know about Elhaida Dani

What are the three most interesting aspects about your entry?

  1. The withdrawal of the author of the song that won the national selection, a really unusual circumstance, and the following was a race against time.
  2. The international perspective that we followed in the realisation of the new song: we had an international audience always in mind and I hope the song will meet its expectations.
  3. The great expectations of my attendance in Albania but even more in the Albanian communities outside the country (in Italy above all).

What are the three most impressive facts about you?

  1. Professionally: the winning of the Voice of Italy in 2013 and the personal and professional relationship with Cocciante, an icon in music. I have learned so much under his guidance.
  2. I have never studied singing. I received my voice as a gift. So I would like to use it not as a tool but only as the mean to express what I feel and what I am.
  3. The bond that links my family and me: I owe everything to my parents. They discovered my talent, they wanted me to attended the music schools, they made sacrifices to allow me following my passion.

Why is the Eurovision Song Contest important for you?

It’s the opportunity to perform in front of millions of people from all over Europe, and it’s the most prestigious contest I have ever take part in. I love competitions, they always give me rushes of adrenaline and usually adrenaline it’s an asset for me, it makes me perform even better. I hope it will happen in Vienna.

Music video

Lyrics of I'm Alive

I was too afraid right from the start
To even let you, welcome you in my heart
You cut it deep and left it bleeding hard
Will i ever heal these painful scars?

I just can't help it
I'm out of breath, I'm try and find the words to say
Time pass' by
Now its broad daylight

I know you'll come
With the speed of light
You're my everything , all that I need.
You shut down my dreams
But I’m not gonna cry
You live within me, that’s why I’m alive
I am alive
Cuz you are my life,
You are my sun,
I am alive, cuz you are my life.

Your name is printed crystal clear on glass..
From all the sighs, coming out' my breath
I'm blinded by,
This love can't stop screaming out your name so loud
Where are you at?
Baby won't you come back?

I know you'll come
With the speed of light
You're my everything , all that I need.
You shut down my dreams
But I’m not gonna cry
You live within me, that’s why I’m alive
I am alive
Cuz you are my life,
You are my sun,
I am alive, cuz you are my life.