Gaitana (singer)
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| Gaita-Lurdes Essami | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gaita-Lurdes Essami |
| Also known as | Gaitana |
| Born | September 29, 1979 Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Origin | Ukraine |
| Genres | Pop, dance-pop, R&B |
| Website | gaitana.com |
Gaita-Lurdes Essami (Ukrainian: Ґайта-Лурдес Ессамі), better known under stage name Gaitana (Ukrainian: Ґайтана), born on 29 September 1979 in Kiev), is a Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent.[1] Her music combines elements of jazz, funk, soul, and folk music. Gaitana represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Contents
Early life
Gaitana was born in Kiev, during the Ukrainian SSR, a member state of the Soviet Union (in present-day Ukraine), but subsequently moved to the Republic of the Congo where her father, Klaver Essami, was born. She lived there for five years. Afterwards, Gaitana moved back to Ukraine with her mother, but her father stayed in Brazzaville where he owns a transportation business.
Career
She sings in Ukrainian, English, Russian, but she also knows French and Lingala. Gaitana has a degree in economics from a lyceum of Economics. When she was younger Gaitana finished study at a music school where she played the saxophone. She composes all her own music and songs. She is the candidate for master of sport in table tennis. She has represented Ukraine at different competitions.[2] Gaitana performed at Ukrainians For Obama 2009 inauguration ball in Kiev in 2009.
Eurovision 2012
Gaitana was chosen to represent Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan with her song Be My Guest.[1] Gaitana became the first singer of Afro-Ukrainian origin to represent Ukraine in the contest. She qualified into the grand final finishing 8th in the second semi-final and ultimately finished in 15th place with 65 points.
Discography
Albums
- 2003 - О тебе (Gaitana and Unity) - About You
- 2005 - Слідом за тобою - Following You
- 2007 - Капли дождя - Raindrops
- 2008 - Kукaбaррa - Kukabarra
- 2008 - Тайные желания - Secret Desires
- 2010 - Только сегодня - Only Today
- 2012 - Viva, Europe!
Singles
- 2006 - "Двa вiкнa" - Two Windows
- 2007 - "Шaленій" - Go Crazy
- 2009 - "Нeщoдaвнo" (Gaitana and Stas Konkin) - Lately
- 2012 - "Be My Guest"
- 2013 - "Aliens"
- 2014 - "Galaxy"
Awards
- Showbiz award
- Best European Star (special award)
- Ukrainian Music Awards[3]
- Best female singer 2008
- Best album 2008
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Racist comments about Gaitana stir controversy, anger, Kyiv Post (24 February 2012)
- ↑ Ukraine’s Eurovision Selection Marred by Right-Wing Racism, Time.com (9 February 2012)
- ↑ Gaitana official biography
External links
- Official site (English)
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| Achievements | ||
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| Preceded by | Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 |
Succeeded by Zlata Ognevich with "Gravity" |
 Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest |
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(Note: Entries scored out are when Ukraine did not compete)
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- Articles with hCards
- Pages using Template:Infobox musical artist with unknown parameters
- Articles containing Ukrainian-language text
- 1979 births
- Living people
- People from Kiev
- Ukrainian female singers
- Ukrainian-language singers
- English-language singers of Ukraine
- Russian-language singers
- Ukrainian people of Republic of the Congo descent
- Funk musicians
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2012
- Ukrainian Eurovision Song Contest entrants
