Besa
Birth nameBesa Kokëdhima
Born (1986-05-29) 29 May 1986 (age 37)
Fier, Albania
OriginQeparo, Albania
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active2003–present
LabelsIndependent

Besa Kokëdhima (Albanian pronunciation: [ˈbɛsa kɔk(ə)ˈðima]; born 29 May 1986), also known mononymously as Besa, is an Albanian singer. In 2013, she won the 15th edition of Kënga Magjike. She is set to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with the song "Titan".

Life and career

Kokëdhima was born on 29 May 1986 into an Albanian family in the city of Fier, then part of the People's Socialist Republic, present Albania.[1][2][3] At the age of 15, she emigrated to the United Kingdom to pursue higher education.[3] In 2003, Besa released her debut song "Më Beso", which was written by producer Florian Mumajesi, and featured the then newly formed Albanian group Produkt 28. The song was awarded "Mikorofoni I Artë" in 2003. Besa released her debut album which was titled "Besa", in 2006.[4] The album was written in collaboration with well-known Albanian music industry personalities, including as Dorian Gjoni, Flori Mumajesi, Genti Lako, Andy DJ, and Stine.

Besa has participated in a number of music contests including "Notafest" where she was awarded first prize for the R&B single "Lëshoje Hapin."[5] In 2009, Besa participated in the Selecţia Naţională in Romania for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the English-language song "Nothin' Gonna Change", and reached the semi-finals.[6] In 2010, Besa competed in Top Fest, and won Best Female Singer with her single "Kalorësi i Natës." Since 2010, Besa has released a number of singles and, including the single "Fishekzjarre", in 2012, the single "Burning" in 2013, and "Zemrën Dot Nuk ta Lexoj" in 2014. These singles were commercially successful and well received.[7][8][9][10][11]

Besa has published two albums titled Besa për Festat and Ti Je Festa Ime.[12][13] The tracks were accompanied by music videos featuring Besa and the National Orchestra. The album also featured a Christmas Version of the song "Tatuazh ne Zemer." The album Ti Je Festa Ime received positive reviews, and one article called the album "one of the most well-received projects of the year".[14][15] She also won Kënga Magjike in 2013. Besa was a judge on the Albanian television show The Voice of Albania since 2017,[16] and was voted[citation needed] as Albania's favorite judge later in the series by Top Channel polls. Besa made her debut in France with her French ballad "En Equilibre" in June 2022.[17][18][19] The debut single got positive feedback.[20][21][22] "En Equilibre" is the first of her upcoming debut album in the French Music Industry.[23][20][22] In 2023, she was selected to compete in the Festivali i Këngës 62 with the song "Zemrën n'dorë",[24] where she won the public vote and was selected to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.[25] At the contest, the song will be performed in an English version, titled "Titan".[26]

Discography

Albums

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak
chart
positions 		Album
ALB
[27]
"Më beso"
(with Produkt 28) 		2003 — Besa
"Zonja dhe Zotërinj" 2005
"Lëshoje hapin" 2006
"Tani të dua" Non-album singles
"Unik" 2007
"Pa yllin tënd"
"Engjëjt vrasin njëlloj" 2008
"Ajër"
"Nothin' Gonna Change" 2009
"Kalorës i natës" 2010
"Nuk jam ajo"
(featuring Jehona Sopi)
"E bukura dhe bisha"
"Botën do ndryshoja" 2011
"Always On My Mind" 2012
"Fishekzjarre"
"Folie" 2013
"Tatuazh në zemër"
"Zemrën dot nuk ta lexoj"
(featuring 2po2) 		2014
"Mbretëreshë"
"Zejemër"
(featuring Majk)
"Arabia (Faj)"
(featuring Gmd Babydave)
"Amelia"
(featuring Mattyas) 		2015
"14"
"All In"
"Kameleon"
(featuring Ansi) 		2016 —
"123"
(featuring Flori Mumajesi) 		8
"Hangover" —
"Kokëfortë" 2017 —
"Mos m'le me ra"
(featuring Elinel) 		—
"Amor" 2018 —
"La La La" 2019 —
"Histori" —
"C'est la vie"
(featuring BledBeats) 		2020 1
"Don"
(featuring Illeoon) 		—
"Margjelo"
(with Garrido) 		2021 —
"En equilibre" 2022 —
"Si kalama"
(with Lyrical Son) 		—
"Zemrën n'dorë" 2023 —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

  1. ^ "Besa Kokëdhima Biografia" (in Albanian). TeksteShqip. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Besa Kokëdhima #Bio" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 15 February 2018. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Besa Kokëdhima Biografia" (in Albanian). Dua. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Albumi: Besa – Besa".
  5. ^ BESA – Engjëjt vrasin njëlloj, 100 Vjet Muzikë (YouTube)
  6. ^ "Pushton Skenën Muzikore Rumune". teksteshqip.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Besa: Gati kënga për Top Fest". teksteshqip.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Besa Kokëdhima dhe surriza e saj verore". teksteshqip.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Besa pushton skenën muzikore rumune". teksteshqip.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Besa: Rikthehet në Rumani për këngën e re". teksteshqip.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  11. ^ "2po2 duet me Besa Kokëdhimën". Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  12. ^ "Besa, 8 këngë për festat e fundvitit (VIDEO) - Shekulli Online". Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  13. ^ "Besa vjen me "Ti je festa ime" – Gazeta Mapo". www.mapo.al. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  14. ^ "TV KLAN – Besa: Ti je festa ime". Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  15. ^ ""Ti je festa ime", kënga dhe albumi i ri festiv nga Besa - Shekulli Online". Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  16. ^ "Besa, trajnere në "The Voice of Albania 6"!". top-channel.tv. 13 October 2016. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  17. ^ Sorties, Selection. "Besa • En Equilibre". Sélection Sorties (in French). Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  18. ^ Schiffmacher, Sébastien (25 June 2022). "BESA : l'artiste albanaise sort le clip officiel "En équilibre"". Ma Musique Communautaire (in French). Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  19. ^ FDS (23 June 2022). "CLIP DU JOUR : "En équilibre" avec Besa". Fringues de séries (in French). Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Besa : la star albanaise arrive en France avec le clip "En Equilibre" ! - ActuMédias.fr | Webzine 100% culturel & musique événement sportif !". actumedias.fr. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  21. ^ ""En Equilibre" le titre de la star albanaise BESA". Mes rendez-vous (in French). 13 June 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Besa, la star albanaise débarque en France avec "En Equilibre" - Kodd Magazine". kodd-magazine.com (in French). 6 July 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  23. ^ KHENG, Vincent (10 June 2022). ""En équilibre", le nouveau single de Besa". Just Music (in French). Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  24. ^ Juhász, Ervin (17 October 2023). "Meet all the participants of the 62nd Festivali i Këngës!". ESCBubble. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  25. ^ "Albania: Besa wins ticket to Eurovision 2024". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  26. ^ Granger, Anthony (5 March 2024). "Albania: Besa Announces 'Titan' Release on March 11". Eurovoix. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  27. ^ Note: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania:
Awards and achievements Preceded byAlban Skenderajwith "Rrefuzoj" Kënga MagjikeWinner 2013 Succeeded byAurela Gaçe and Young Zerkawith "Pa kontroll" Preceded byAlbina and Familja Kelmendiwith "Duje" Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Succeeded byTBA
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