Background
Elhaida Dani was born on 17 February 1993 in Shkodër, north Albania.
Elhaida Dani was born on 17 February 1993 in Shkodër, north Albania.
She studied piano from the age of 6.
She rose to fame after winning Star Academy Albania in 2009, and Top Fest in 2012. She released her first single "Baciami e Basta" through Universal Music in Italy. However, on 23 February 2015 Dani announced that the song"s songwriters had withdrawn the song from the competition and she"d be performing a different song at Eurovision.
The next day it was revealed that the song would be called "I"m Alive".
1993–2012: Early career
She started appearing on national television in 2008, after participating in Kënga Magjike with her song "Fjala e fundit" (The last word). She then continued singing at various music competitions around the Balkans.
In 2011 she participated in Sunčane Skale, held in Montenegro with "Si asnjëherë" (Like never before). She also participated at the 50th edition of Festivali i Këngës with "Mijëra vjet" (Thousands of years).
After returning to Albania, the first song she sang was "Ya nabi salam alayka" of Maher Zain in the Medrese Haxhi Sheh Shamia of Shkodra.
There she wore a headscarf. 2012–2014: The Voice of Italy
She appeared on the "Blind auditions" with Jessie J"s "Mamma Knows Best" and received a huge feedback from the jury and the viewers. She chose to join Riccardo Cocciante"s team, and the world-renowned songwriter became her coach.
She advanced to the battles and knockouts and reached the finals in May 2013.
2014–present: Eurovision Song Contest 2015
In 2014, Dani revealed that she was going to participate at the 53rd edition of Festivali i Këngës, with the hope to represent Albania at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. Her song "Diell" (Sun) was among the 28 participating entries.
The competition was held from 26 to 28 December in Tirana. After Festivali i Këngës, Dani was forced to change her Eurovision song "Diell" to "I"m Alive", after the original song"s composers decided to withdraw it from the contest.
She then competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with this song.
She qualified from the first semi final in tenth place. At the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 Elhaida Dani placed 17th, with a total of 34 points, similarly to previous Albanian entrants Olta Boka in Eurovision Song Contest 2008 and Kejsi Tola in Eurovision Song Contest 2009.