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Parashqevi Simaku

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Parashqevi Simaku
Born (1966-09-01) 1 September 1966 (age 58)
Occupation
  • Singer
Years active1982–2006
Children1
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Signature

Parashqevi Simaku (born 1 September 1966, in Kavajë) is an Albanian[1] singer noted for her work in the 1980s. She has won numerous awards and worked with some of the best composers and musicians in Albania. Simaku participated in Festivali i Këngës in 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1990.

Simaku collaborated professionally with her former husband, Robert Nolfe, an American Jewish musician and producer who had ties to Sony Music. In 2006 she signed a contract with Sony and BMG for her Albanian-language CD entitled Echoes from Iliria (Albanian: Jehonë nga Iliria) which she co-produced with Nolfe.[2][3][4] The album blended traditional Albanian folk with contemporary influences.[5]

Following their divorce, Nolfe was reportedly granted custody of their son through court proceedings. In the years after, Simaku faced personal struggles and was eventually discovered living in homelessness in December 2024. A video from WABC 7 News captured her collecting aid packages in the streets of New York, where her name was misspelled as "Simaku Nohfe" instead of "Simaku Nolfe".[6] The clip circulated online, drawing attention from internet users who worked to confirm her identity and history while being shocked to find a well-known star of Albanian music in such conditions.

In the US, Simaku has also been known to prefer variations of her name, including "Via Simaku," "Paravia," or simply "Simaku," instead of her full given name, Parashqevi.

Discography

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Traditional folk songs

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  • "Kënga e Qamiles"
  • "Këndon kumrija"
  • "Fustanin që ta solla mbrëmë"
  • "Ky marak, maraku i shkretë"
  • "Doli goca në penxhere"
  • "Kur del goca në pazar"
  • "Po më rreh zemra"
  • "Çelin manushaqet"
  • "Këndo qyqe se po vjen behari"
  • "Këndon gjeli pika pika"
  • "Si lule zambaku"
  • "2 Këngë Popullore të Shqipërisë së Mesme"
  • "Potpuri Këngësh Popullore"
  • "Këngë Arbëreshe"

Pop songs

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  • "Gëzimi i shtepisë së re" (1983)
  • "Në moshën e rinisë" (1985), Festivali i Këngës winner
  • "Një mëngjes" (1986)
  • "Kur lulëzon bliri" (1986)
  • "Me sytë e tu" (1987)
  • "Çdo mëngjes"
  • "Çdo gjë bashkë ne e ndajmë"
  • "Buzë detit jemi rritur"
  • "Bashkëmoshatarët" (1987)
  • "Koha nuk na pret" (1987)
  • "E duam lumturinë" (1988), Festivali i Këngës winner
  • "Gusht e prush" (1988)
  • "Jetoj" (1989)
  • "Nuk jam vetëm" (1989)
  • "Sonetë për vete" (1990)
  • "Lejla" (1990)
  • "Dëgjoma këngën" (1991)
  • "Se dashuria"
  • "Kur të prisja ty"
  • "Tik Tik Tak"
  • "Mes nesh është dashuria"
  • "Më the të dua"
  • "Në sytë e tu"
  • "Qyteti im"
  • "Shoqet"
  • "Bashkë ne të dy"
  • "Sytë e një vogëlushi"
  • "Dashuria e vërtetë"
  • "Pyes veten"

Echoes from Iliria (2006)

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  • "Haxhireja"
  • "Ura e Shijakut"
  • "Pranvera do të vijë"
  • "Anës lumenjve"
  • "Dashuria"
  • "Se-sa"
  • "Jug-Veri"
  • "Kur jam me ty"
  • "Pak më shumë"
  • "Dielli"

Awards

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Festivali i Këngës

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1982 "Gëzuar shokë (ft. Lindita Theodhori)" Second Prize Won
1985 "Në moshën e rinisë" First Prize Won
1986 "Një mëngjes" Third Prize Won
1988 "E duam lumturinë" First Prize Won
1989 "Jetoj" Third Prize Won

References

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  1. ^ ""Cdo shekull Vëllezër"! – Dielli | The Sun". 16 December 2013. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  2. ^ Dwek, Joel (2020-10-27). "ALBANIA: Echoes from Iliria - Simaku". 200worldalbums.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  3. ^ "Albasoul".
  4. ^ "Fajtori".
  5. ^ "Fjala e Lirë | Shkoder.net..." www.shkoder.net. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  6. ^ "A video of an American television shakes the network - Is Parashqevi Simaku the woman filmed on the streets of New York?". Telegrafi. 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2024-12-15.