Aurela Gaçe

Aurela Gaçe (; born 16 October 1974) is an Albanian singer-songwriter, actress and television personality. Her music career made her to be called as the diva of South Albania.

Awards A three-time Festivali i Këngës winner, a three-time Kënga Magjike winner and a two-time Balkan Music Award winner for Balkan's Song of the Year and Best Singer from Albania. She was a judge on the third season of The Voice of Albania.

In 2010, she won the 49th edition of Festivali i Këngës with the song "Kënga ime" and represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 held in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Life and career

Aurela Gaçe was born on 16 October 1974 into an Albanian family in the village of Llakatund, Vlorë, then part of the People's Socialist Republic, present Albania.

In 2010 Gaçe won the 49th edition of "Festivali i Këngës" with "Kënga Ime", written by Shpëtim Saraçi. Her most successful song Origjinale (feat. Dr. Flori & Marsel) has more than 20 million views on YouTube.

After experiencing success during the late 1990s and early 2000s, Gaçe quit singing and moved to the United States where she spent 8 years. She returned to the music industry in 2010 releasing "Origjinale", a song composed by Flori Mumajesi, that became a success in Albania. In late 2010, Gaçe was invited by Shpëtim Saraçi to participate in the Festivali i Këngës. Initially she denied the request, as she stated "It is time for new artists to be promoted with original music performed by an orchestra". However, she later decided to participate.

Eurovision Song Contest

Gaçe participated in the Festivali i Këngës, 10 years after her last participation. She won for the third time, and was chosen to represent her Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, which was held in Düsseldorf, Germany. Gaçe flew to Los Angeles, California to record the final version of her song, cooperating with Capitol Records. Later, it was announced that the song title would be "Feel the Passion", as the song was translated to English. The final version was released on 12 March 2011.

Gaçe appeared on the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, performing third. She finished 14th in total with 47 points, thus failing to qualify to the final of the competition.

Discography

Albums 1998: Oh Nënë 1998: The Best 2001: Tundu Bejke 2001: Superxhiro 2008: Mu Thanë Sytë 2012: Paraprakisht

Singles 1993: "Pegaso" 1994: "Nuk mjafton" 1995: "Nata" 1996: "Me jetën dashuruar" 1997: "Pranvera e vonuar" 1997: "Fati ynë, shpresë dhe marrëzi" 1998: "E pafajshme jam" 1999: "S'jam tribu" 2000: "Cimica" 2001: "Jetoj" 2007: "Hape veten" 2008: "Bosh" 2009: "Mu thanë sytë" 2009: "Jehonë" (feat. West Side Family) 2010: "Origjinale" (feat. Dr. Flori & Marsel) 2010: "Kënga ime" 2011: "Feel the Passion" 2011: "CA$H" (feat. Mc Kresha) 2012: "Tranzit" 2012: "Boom Boom Boom" 2012: "Ja ke nge" 2013: "Shpirt i shpirtit tim" 2013: "Dua" 2014: "Merrem sonte" 2014: "Pa kontroll" (feat. Young Zerka) 2015: "Akoma jo" 2016: "Nënë e imja nënë" 2017: "S'mundem" 2017: "S'nuk" (feat. Fifi) 2020: "Lento"