Besa (singer)
Besa Kokëdhima (born 29 May 1986), also known mononymously as Besa, is an Albanian singer and songwriter.[1][2]
Besa | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Besa Kokëdhima |
| Born | 29 May 1986 Fier, Albania |
| Origin | Qeparo, Albania |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Independent |
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 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 2006, Besa was chosen to represent Albania at the MTV Exit Concert. In 2009, Besa took part in Romanian national selection in the Eurovision Song Contest, and reached the semi-finals of the national selection.[6] Besa competed in Ohrid Fest, where she won Best Performance. Besa has also participated in a number of televised music competitions, including the Albanian television competitions "Kënga Magjike", and Top Fest. In 2010, Besa competed in Top Fest, and won Best Female Singer with her single "Kalorësi i Natës."
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]
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 also published two holiday albums titled "Besa për Festat" and "Ti Je Festa Ime".[12][13] Besa për Festat consisted of 8 traditional English songs adopted in the Albanian language. 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.[16]
In December 2016 Besa announced she was joining the panel of The Voice of Albania as a judge and coach for the new season. Besa was voted as Albania's favorite judge later in the series by Top Channel polls.
Discography
Albums
- Besa (2006)
- Evolution (2011)
- Besa për festat (2013)
- Ti je festa ime (2014)
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB [17] | ||||||||||
| "Më beso" (with Produkt 28) |
2003 | N/A | 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) |
— | |||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||
References
- "Besa Kokëdhima Biografia" (in Albanian). TeksteShqip. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- "Besa Kokëdhima #Bio" (in Albanian). Top Channel. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- "Besa Kokëdhima Biografia" (in Albanian). Dua. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- "Albumi: Besa - Besa".
- BESA - Engjëjt vrasin njëlloj, 100 Vjet Muzikë (YouTube)
- "Pushton Skenën Muzikore Rumune". teksteshqip.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- "Besa: Gati kënga për Top Fest". teksteshqip.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- "Besa Kokëdhima dhe surriza e saj verore". teksteshqip.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- "Besa pushton skenën muzikore rumune". teksteshqip.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- "Besa: Rikthehet në Rumani për këngën e re". teksteshqip.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-01-18. Retrieved 2015-01-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-01-18. Retrieved 2015-01-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Besa vjen me "Ti je festa ime" - Gazeta Mapo". www.mapo.al. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-01-18. Retrieved 2015-01-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-01-18. Retrieved 2015-01-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "Besa, trajnere në "The Voice of Albania 6"!". top-channel.tv. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- Note: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania:
- For "123":"The Top List – 19/06/2016" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 19 June 2016. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- For "C'est la vie":"The Top List – 08/03/2020" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 8 March 2020. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
