Soni Malaj

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Soni Malaj
Born
Sonja Malaj

(1981-10-23) 23 October 1981 (age 42)
Tropojë, Tropoja Albania
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, dancer
Years active1997–present
Musical career
Genres

Sonja "Soni" Malaj (born 23 October 1981), also known mononymously as Soni, is an Albanian singer, songwriter and dancer.

Life and career[edit]

Soni Malaj was born on 23 October 1981 into an Albanian family in the city of Tropojë, then part of the People's Republic of Albania, present Albania.[1][3] Her real name is Sonja Malaj. She spent her childhood until the age of 9 in Tropoja. The family then moved to Tirana where Soni would continue her career as a singer.

She has participated in competitions like "Top Fest"[4] (2006), and she placed second in Kënga Magjike with Flori Mumajesi, with the song "Fluturimi 3470". After Serbian singer Marija Šerifović won Eurovision Song Contest 2007, there was speculation that her winning song Molitva was actually plagiarism of Soni Malaj's song Ndarja.[5] Soni Malaj also won Top Fest 11.[6]

She was a jury and coach at the 2nd and 3rd edition of the Talent Show "X Factor".[7]

In 2018, Malaj unsuccessfully attempted to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, after finishing fifth at the 57th edition of Festivali i Këngës with the song "Më e fortë".[8][9] In March 2021, Televizioni Klan (TV Klan) announced her as one of the contestants selected to compete at the 22nd edition of Kënga Magjike.[10]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

  • Nuk qaj për ty (2002)
  • Mbretëresha e natës (2003)
  • E vogëla (2005)
  • Mesdhe (2006)
  • Unik (2010)

Singles[edit]

As lead artist[edit]

Title Year Peak
chart
positions
Album
ALB
[11]
"Larg natës" 2004 E vogëla
"Eja në Ballkan"
"Eja, eja" 2005
"Zjarr" Non-album singles
"Një me dy" 2006
"Ndarja"
"Do të vij"
"Të dua ty" 2007
"Fluturimi 3470"
(with Flori Mumajesi)
"Shpirti im binjak" 2008
"Me faj pa faj"
"Zona zero"
"Zemër e pa kurdisur" 2009
"Shukarije"
(with Sinan Hoxha)
2012
"Jeto"
(featuring Aldo)
2013
"Me të jeton" 2014
"Tulipani i bardhë"
(featuring Saad Ramadan)
"Me rrena" 2015 17
"Me mua"
(featuring Skivi)
2016 20
"Ti, jeta"
(featuring Gena)
"Për vete më mbaj"
"Përgjithmonë" 2017 35
"Pa ty"
(featuring Tim)
"Loca" 30
"Zeshkanja" 60
"En la intimidad"
(featuring Jowell)
2018 79
"Më e fortë"
"Ta fala"
(featuring Agon Amiga and Daim Lala)
2019
"Te quiero"
"Shije tradhëtie"
"Versioni im" 2021
"Pak si..." 3
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Soni Malaj – Biografia". TeksteShqip. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Soni Malaj – Credits". All Media Network. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Soni Malaj #Bio" (in Albanian). Top Music Awards. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Je Marija Šerifović osvojila Evrosong s plagiatom?" (in Slovenian). Dnevnik.si. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  5. ^ Portal Jutarnji.hr (14 May 2007). ""Molitva" plagijat albanskog hita?". Jutarnji.hr. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  6. ^ Soni Malaj wins Top Fest 11
  7. ^ "X Factor (Albanian TV series)", Wikipedia, 2021-09-08, retrieved 2021-11-09
  8. ^ Adams, William Lee (17 October 2018). "Albania: Festivali i Këngës 57 reveals 22 acts and song titles ahead of December 22 final". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  9. ^ Christou, Costa (22 December 2018). "Albania: Jonida Maliqi wins Festivali i Këngës 57!". ESCXtra. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Kush janë artistët BIG që do të jenë në festivalin 'Kënga Magjike 2021'?" (in Albanian). Televizioni Klan (TV Klan). 7 March 2021. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  11. ^ Note: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania:

External links[edit]

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Samanta Karavella
with "Loti i fundit"
Top Fest
2014
Succeeded by
Ermal Fejzullahu,
Lumi B and Ledri Vula
with "Shko"