{{Short description|Albanian singer (born 1966)}} {{Use DMY dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Parashqevi Simaku | image = Koncert Recital Xheku dhe Parashqevi Simaku.jpg | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|09|01|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Kavajë]], [[People's Socialist Republic of Albania]] | occupation = {{Flatlist| * singer }} | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed=yes | background = solo_singer | genre = {{flatlist| * [[Folk music|Folk]] * [[Light music|Light]] }} | instruments = vocals }} | years_active = 1982–present | known_for = | notable_works = | spouse = {{marriage|Robert Nolfe|1996|2007|reason=div}} | children = 1 | signature = Parashqevi Simaku (nënshkrim).svg | signature_size = 50px }}
'''Parashqevi Simaku''' (born 1 September 1966) is an Albanian singer who rose to prominence in the 1980s and became one of the most recognizable voices in Albanian popular music during the late [[Fall of communism in Albania|communist period]]. She is best known for her performances at [[Festivali i Këngës]], winning first prize in 1985 and 1988.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parashqevi Simaku: Si u bë e famshme këngëtarja nga Kavaja |url=https://observerkult.com/parashqevi-simaku-si-u-be-e-famshme-ne-te-gjithe-shqiperine-vajza-nga-kavaja |website=ObserverKult |access-date=13 August 2022}}</ref>
==Career== In 1985, at the 24th annual edition of the national song festival, she won first prize with "Në moshën e rinisë" ("In the Age of Youth"). She would repeat her success in 1988 with the song "E duam lumturinë" ("We Want Happiness"), composed by [[Pirro Çako]]. These performances brought her national recognition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Albasoul |url=http://muzika.albasoul.com/artist.php?id=75}}</ref>
===Students incident=== An incident, which included symbolic gestures such as burning papers and waving flashing lights from balconies, was documented by the state security apparatus [[Sigurimi]] in an internal report later declassified in May 2020. While authorities described the event as disorderly and naïve, it has since been interpreted by observers as reflecting the cultural influence of artists during the final years of the regime.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zbulohet dosja e ish-Sigurimit për Parashqevi Simakun |url=https://vip-magazine.al/letra-per-ramiz-aline-zbulohet-dosja-e-ish-sigurimit-per-parashqevi-simakun-episodi-tek-qyteti-i-studenteve-dhe-akuzat-ndaj-saj |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Vip Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Move to the United States=== In 2006, she signed a recording contract with [[Sony Music]] and [[Sony BMG|BMG]] for the release of her Albanian-language album "Echoes from Iliria" (Jehonë nga Iliria), which she co-produced with Nolfe. The album combined traditional Albanian musical elements with contemporary production techniques.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dwek |first=Joel |date=2020-10-27 |title=Echoes from Iliria |url=https://www.200worldalbums.com/post/albania-echoes-from-iliria-simaku |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=200worldalbums.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== In subsequent years, Simaku largely withdrew from public life. In December 2024, she was reported to be experiencing homelessness in [[New York City]] after being identified in a news segment by [[WABC-TV|WABC 7 News]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pineda |first1=Nina |title=Charity recipient video goes viral and reconnects singer to her Albanian community |url=https://abc7ny.com/post/charity-recipient-video-goes-viral-reconnects-singer-albanian-community/15698325 |access-date=23 December 2024 |agency=ABC7 NY}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Albums=== {{Track listing | headline = Echoes from Iliria (2006) | total_length = 46:23 | width = 400px | title1 = Pak më shumë | length1 = 06:01 | title2 = Se-Sa | length2 = 04:26 | title3 = Haxhirea | length3 = 04:25 | title4 = Anës lumenjve | length4 = 06:10 | title5 = Jug*Veri | length5 = 04:32 | title6 = Ura Shijakut | length6 = 04:34 | title7 = Djelli | length7 = 03:39 | title8 = Pranvera do të vi | length8 = 04:01 | title9 = Kur jam me ty | length9 = 05:05 | title10 = Dashuria | length10 = 04:50 }}
===Folk songs=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" ! Year ! Song |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Kënga e Qamiles" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Këndon kumrija" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Fustanin që ta solla mbrëmë" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Ky marak, maraku i shkretë" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Doli goca në penxhere" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Kur del goca në pazar" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Po më rreh zemra" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Çelin manushaqet" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Këndo qyqe se po vjen behari" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Këndon gjeli pika pika" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Si lule zambaku" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "2 Këngë Popullore të Shqipërisë së Mesme" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Potpuri Këngësh Popullore" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Këngë Arbëreshe" |}
===Light songs=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" ! Year ! Song |- | 1981 | "Ç'lumturi na dha kjo jetë" |- | rowspan="2"|1982 | "Kur të prisja ty" |- | "Gëzuar shokë" (feat. Lindita Theodhori) |- | rowspan="2"|1983 | "Gëzimi i shtepisë së re" |- | "Gëzuar Vitin e Ri" |- | 1984 | "Ngrohtësi" (feat. [[Tonin Tërshana]]) |- | 1985 | "Në moshën e rinisë" |- | rowspan="4"|1986 | "Një mëngjes" |- | "Kur lulëzon bliri" |- | "Flamujt e aksioneve" |- | "Çdo gjë bashkë të dy e ndajmë" |- | rowspan="3"|1987 | "Bashkëmoshatarëve" |- | "Në sytë e tu" |- | "Koha nuk na pret" |- | rowspan="3"|1988 | "Më the të dua" |- | "E duam lumturinë" |- | "Gusht e prush" |- | rowspan="2"|1989 | "Jetoj" |- | "Nuk jam vetëm" |- | rowspan="3"|1990 | "Sonetë për vete" |- | "Lejla" |- | "Dëgjoma këngën" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Mes nesh është dashuria" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Shoqja ime" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Sytë e një vogëlushi" |- | style="text-align:center;"|— | "Buzë detit jemi rritur" |- |}
===Festivali i Këngës=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" ! Year ! Song ! Result |- | 1981 | "Ç'lumturi na dha kjo jetë" | style="text-align:center;"|— |- | rowspan="2"|1982 | "Kur të prisja ty" | style="text-align:center;"|— |- | "Gëzuar shokë" (feat. Lindita Theodhori) | style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:center;"|''2nd'' |- | 1983 | "Gëzuar Vitin e Ri" | style="text-align:center;"|— |- | 1984 | "Ngrohtësi" (feat. [[Tonin Tërshana]]) | style="text-align:center;"|— |- | 1985 | "Në moshën e rinisë" | style="background:#cfc; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;"|''1st'' |- | 1986 | "Një mëngjes" | style="background:#f4cccc; text-align:center;"|''3rd'' |- | 1987 | "Koha nuk na pret" | style="text-align:center;"|— |- | 1988 | "E duam lumturinë" | style="background:#cfc; text-align:center; font-weight:bold;"|''1st'' |- | 1989 | "Jetoj" | style="background:#f4cccc; text-align:center;"|''3rd'' |- |}
===Koncerti i Pranverës=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" ! Year ! Song |- | rowspan="2"|1986 | "Kur lulëzon bliri" |- | "Flamujt e aksioneve" |- | rowspan="2"|1987 | "Bashkëmoshatarëve" |- | "Në sytë e tu" |- | 1988 | "Më the të dua" |- | 1989 | "Nuk jam vetëm" |- | 1990 | "Dëgjoma këngën" |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Albanian music}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simaku, Parashqevi}} [[Category:1966 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:20th-century Albanian women singers]] [[Category:Festivali i Këngës winners]]