Arilena Ara

Arilena Ara
Ara at the 58th edition of Festivali i Këngës in 2019
Born (1998-07-17) 17 July 1998 (age 26)
Shkodër, Albania
NationalityAlbanian
Occupation(s)Singer, television presenter
Years active2010 – present
Websitearilenaara.com

Arilena Ara (Albanian: [aɾiˈlɛna ˈaɾa]; born 17 July 1998) is an Albanian singer and television presenter. Ara rose to national recognition in Albania, upon her victory at X Factor Albania in 2013. After her participation in the 18th edition of the music contest Kënga Magjike, her song "Nëntori" found significant success in Romania and Eastern Europe, peaking at number-one in the Romanian Airplay chart. Following her forthcoming success at the 58th edition of the music contest Festivali i Këngës in 2019, she was designated as the Albanian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, before the contest's cancellation.

Life and career

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1998–2018: Early life and career beginnings

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Arilena Ara was born on 17 July 1998 into an Albanian family in the city of Shkodër, Albania.[1][2] Ara performed in various dancing and singing competitions as a child, including at the children's talent show Gjeniu i Vogël finishing in third place.[2][3] She won the second series of the talent show X Factor Albania on 31 March 2013.[2][4] Her first single, "Aeroplan", was released in February 2014.[5] Finishing in third place, Ara participated in the 18th edition of the music contest Kënga Magjike with the song "Nëntori" in November 2016.[6][7] The song subsequently experienced commercial success abroad, peaking at number one on the Romanian Radio and TV Airplay rankings as well as reaching number 3 in Bulgaria and number 38 in Hungary.[8][9][10][11] In early 2017, the song's remixes, including "Nëntori (Bess Remix)" and "Nëntori (Beverly Pills Remix)", further reached the top 20 in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).[3][12][13] In the course of 2017, Ara performed at the Europa Plus Festival in Moscow, Russia, and won the award for the song of the year at the Astana Dausy Music Awards in Astana, Kazakhstan.[3][14]

2019–present: Pop Art and continued success

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Arilena Ara after winning the 58th edition of Festivali i Këngës

As of 2019, Ara has been a juror for the third series of the singing show The Voice Kids Albania.[3][15] After winning the 58th edition of the music contest Festivali i Këngës with the song "Shaj" in late December 2019, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) designated Ara as the Albanian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.[16][17][18] In February 2020, following several months spent in Los Angeles, the singer announced that she had started working on her debut studio album.[19][20] In March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) cancelled the Eurovision Song Contest 2020.[21] After a short hiatus, she was featured on Albanian singer Alban Skënderaj's "A i sheh" in December 2020, which peaked at number 29 in Albania.[22][23]

Ara released her debut studio album, Pop Art The Album, on 6 November 2021.[24][25] Prior to its release, four singles, "Murderer", "Aligator", "Thirr Policinë" and "Ke me mungu", were released from the record. Containing R&B and hip hop music, "Murderer" featuring Albanian rapper Noizy was released as the record's lead single in July 2021.[26][27] Its second single, "Aligator", followed on 9 August 2021 and peaked at number five in Albania.[28][29][30] For the record's third single titled, "Thirr Policinë", the singer collaborated with Kosovo-Albanian musician Dafina Zeqiri and reached number six in Albania.[31][32] Ara scored her first number-one single with "Ke me mungu" in October 2021.[33] In April 2022, she debuted as a television presenter, hosting the investigative show Piranjat.[34] On the fifth season of the singing show X Factor Albania was a Judge.[35]

Artistry

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Ara names Michael Jackson as her major musical and artistic influence.[36]

Discography

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Albums

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  • Pop Art The Album (2021)[24]

Singles

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As lead artist

[edit]
List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak
chart positions 		Album
ALB
[37] 		CIS
[38] 		HUN
[39] 		ROM
[40]
"Aeroplan" 2014 — — — — Non-album single
"Business Class" — — —
"Vegim" 2015 — — —
"Toke Rroke" 2016 — — — —
"Nëntori" — —[a] 38 1
"I'm Sorry" 2017 — — — —
"Snow in December" 14 — — —
"Silver and Gold" — —[b] — —
"Zemër" — — — —
"I'll Give You My Heart" 2018 — — — —
"Doja"
(featuring Flori Mumajesi) 		2019 — — — —
"Shaj" — — — —
"Fall from the Sky" 2020 — — — —
"Murderer"
(featuring Noizy) 		2021 — — — — Pop Art The Album
"Aligator" 5 — — —
"Thirr Policinë"
(featuring Dafina Zeqiri) 		6 — — —
"Ke me mungu" 1 — — —
"Dashuria ime" 2022 — — — — Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
[edit]
List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak
chart positions 		Album
ALB
[23] 		BUL
[41]
"Nallane 3"
(Flori Mumajesi featuring Arilena and Dj Vicky) 		2017 — — Non-album single
"Last train to Paris"
(KDDK featuring Arilena) 		2018 32 1
"A i sheh"
(Alban Skënderaj featuring Arilena) 		2020 29 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other charted songs

[edit]
List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak
chart
positions 		Album
ALB
[42]
"E gjallë" 2021 2 Pop Art The Album
"Dance Me"
(featuring Gjon's Tears) 		10
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Nëntori" did not enter the Tophit chart but both official remixes, including "Nentori (Beverly Pills Remix)" and "Nentori (Bess Remix)", peaked at number 1 and 16, respectively, in the Commonwealth of Independent States.
  2. ^ "Silver and Gold" did not enter the Tophit chart but the official remix "Silver & Gold (Going Deeper Remix)" peaked at number 139 in Commonwealth of Independent States.

References

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  1. ^ "Arilena Ara – Biografia" (in Albanian). Tekste Shqip. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Arilena Ara #Bio" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 28 February 2018. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d "Arilena Ara, Gati për këtë Udhëtim të ri në 'The Voice Kids'" (in Albanian). Top Channel. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Arilena Ara shpallet fituese e X-Factor Albania". Bota Sot (in Albanian). 1 April 2014. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Arilena vjen si 'Aeroplan'" (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 27 February 2014. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  6. ^ "'Ma thuaj ti' fiton 'Këngën Magjike'" (in Albanian). Televizioni Klan (TV Klan). 11 December 2016. Archived from the original on 25 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  7. ^ Alimemaj, Jola (26 November 2016). "Arilena: E dua sfidën, me të do të arrijë suksesin e merituar". Shekulli (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Media Forest – Weekly Charts". Media Forest. 17 July 2017. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022. Note: Select 'Songs – Radio'. Romanian and international positions are rendered together by the number of plays before resulting an overall chart.
  9. ^ "Media Forest – Weekly Charts". Media Forest. 21 August 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2022. Note: Select 'Songs – TV'. Romanian and international positions are rendered together by the number of plays before resulting an overall chart.
  10. ^ "International Top 10: 21.07.2017 – 27.07.2017". Prophon. 21 July 2017. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Single Top 40 slágerlista" (in Hungarian). Association of Hungarian Record Companies (MAHASZ). 14 August 2018. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Nentori (Bess Remix) – Arilena Ara". Tophit. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022. Note: The 'Peak Position On Top Radio Hits' column is to be taken into consideration.
  13. ^ "Nentori (Beverly Pills Remix) – Arilena Ara". Tophit. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022. Note: The 'Peak Position On Top Radio Hits' column is to be taken into consideration.
  14. ^ "Как звезды готовятся к Europa Plus Live 2017" (in Russian). Europa Plus. 23 July 2017. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  15. ^ "Trajnerët janë gati për rrugëtimin e ri të 'The Voice Kids'" (in Albanian). Top Channel. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Arilena Ara me 'Shaj' fiton Fest 58" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 23 December 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  17. ^ "It's Arilena Ara for Albania! – Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 23 December 2019. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Festivali i 58-të i Këngës, Arilena Ara do të përfaqësojë Shqipërinë në Eurovizion" (in Albanian). Euronews Albania. 23 December 2019. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  19. ^ "Arilena Ara do ta këndojë në anglisht këngën e saj në 'Eurovision 2020'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 18 February 2020. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  20. ^ Ryan, Tom (23 February 2020). "'Shaj' will be in English at Eurovision". ESCXtra. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam is cancelled". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  22. ^ Vautrey, Jonathan (13 December 2020). "New music this week: 21 songs from Arilena Ara, Damir Kedžo, Isaiah Firebrace and more". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  23. ^ a b For peak positions in Albania:
  24. ^ a b "Pop Art The Album – Album by Arilena Ara on Apple Music". Apple Music. 6 November 2021. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Arilena Ara brenda pak ditësh sjell albumin e parë në karrierë". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 3 July 2021. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  26. ^ ""Murderer" – Single by Arilena Ara featuring Noizy on Apple Music". Apple Music. 6 July 2021. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  27. ^ "Arilena dhe Noizy publikojnë bashkëpunimin e ri 'Murderer'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 9 July 2021. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  28. ^ ""Aligator" – Single by Arilena Ara on Apple Music". Apple Music. 9 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  29. ^ "Arilena Ara me koreografi 'të zjarrtë' dhe lëvizje provokuese shfaqet në klipin 'Aligator'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 11 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  30. ^ "Arilena na kujton Besa Kokëdhimën tek 'Aligator' dhe albumin e saj të parë!" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 17 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  31. ^ ""Thirr Policinë" – Single by Arilena Ara featuring Dafina Zeqiri on Apple Music". Apple Music. 28 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  32. ^ "Arilena Ara dhe Dafina Zeqiri publikojnë klipin e 'Thirr Policinë'". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 28 August 2021. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  33. ^ "Çfarë jave, ndryshon çdo gjë në krye!" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 24 October 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  34. ^ "Nën moderimin e Arilena Arës dhe Florian Binajt, nis 'Piranjat' në ABC dhe T7: Emisioni ku gjithçka mund të ndodhë dhe askush nuk është më i sigurt" (in Albanian). ABC News. 18 April 2022. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  35. ^ "Dikur fituese, sot pjesë e jurisë! Zbulohet anëtarja e dytë e X Factor Albania".
  36. ^ "Arilena pozon pranë yllit të Michael Jacksonit: Frymëzimi im i përhershëm". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 25 February 2020. Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  37. ^ Note: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania:
  38. ^ "Arilena Ara – Listen All Songs". Tophit. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021. Note: The 'Peak Position On Top Radio Hits' column is to be taken into consideration.
  39. ^ For peak positions in Hungary:
  40. ^ For peak positions in Romania:
    • "Media Forest – Weekly Charts". Media Forest. 17 July 2017. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022. Note: Select 'Songs – Radio'. Romanian and international positions are rendered together by the number of plays before resulting an overall chart.
  41. ^ For peak positions in Bulgaria:
  42. ^ For peak positions in Albania:
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by X Factor Albania
Winner
2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest
2020 (cancelled) 		Succeeded by
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