Leonora Jakupi

Leonora Jakupi (Albanian pronunciation: [lɛɔˈnɔɾa jaˈkupi]; born 3 March 1979^{[citation needed]}) is a Kosovo-Albanian singer and songwriter.

Leonora Jakupi
Leonora Jakupi, 2019
Background information
Birth name	Leonora Jakupi
Born	(1979-03-03) 3 March 1979 (age 46) Skenderaj, SFR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo)
Origin	Skenderaj, Kosovo
Genres	Balkan pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Years active	1997–present

Biography

Early career

Leonora Jakupi is originally from Kosovo. She lost her father during the Kosovo War (1998–1999) – he was killed due to his involvement in the Kosovo Liberation Army. Her repertoire includes old-style Albanian folk and modern popular music.^[1]

The song that rose her to prominence was "A vritet pafajsia?" (Can innocence be killed?), released in 1998 while she was a war refugee in Albania. She dedicated the song to her father and other Albanians that were killed during the Kosovo War.

Present

Although Jakupi began her music career with ethno and folk-influenced songs, she has recently been working with modern pop. In 2009 she released "Ky është fundi" (This is the end), which became a hit on the radio and the Internet. She is popular in the Albanian-speaking territories of Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro, and in countries such as Germany, Switzerland and, recently, Bulgaria.^[2]

Jakupi has been featured in gossip magazines and tabloids regarding her personal life. There have been rumors over whether or not she is single, but she has often declined to speak about this.^[3]

Hits

• 1997 – "O Bo Bo"
• 1997 – "Nuk Më Duhet Gjermania" (I Don't Need Germany)
• 1997 – "Buzekuqja" (Red-lipped Girl)
• 1998 – "A Vritet Pafajsia?" (Could innocence be killed?)
• 1999 – "Në Zemër Të Më Ndjesh" (Feel Me in Your Heart)
• 2001 – "Sahara"
• 2003 – "Ti Nuk Ekziston" (You Do Not Exist)
• 2005 – "Ende Të Dua" (I Still Love You)
• 2005 – "As Mos Provo" (Don't Even Try)
• 2006 – "Zemra Të Kërkon" (My Heart Asks for You)
• 2009 – "Ky Është Fundi" (This is the End)
• 2010 – "Puthja Jote" (Your Kiss)
• 2010 – "I Harruar" (Forgotten)
• 2011 – "Iluzion" (Illusion)
• 2011 – "Këngë E Pa Kënduar" (An Unsung Song)
• 2013 – "S'e Ndaloj" (I Don't Stop It)
• 2014 – "Vajza E Kojshisë" (The Daughter of a Neighbour)
• 2014 – "Ma Ngat" (Closer)