Donald Najtellari (Albanian: [dɔ'nald 'najtɛɫaɾi]; born 1 May), known professionally as Young Zerka, is an Albanian singer and songwriter. Born in Korçë and raised in London, Najtellari grew up in a Jamaican household and began singing and writing music as a teenager. He later relocated to Albania and eventually rose to significant prominence in the Albanian-speaking Balkans. His musical career is marked by fusing elements of reggae and pop as well as his distinctive vocal and writing style.
Young Zerka | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Donald Najtellari |
| Born | 1 May Korçë, Albania |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2007–present |
Life and career
editNajtellari was born on 1 May into an Albanian family in the city of Korçë, Albania.[1][2] At an early age, Najtellari emigrated to England settling in the city of London.[2][3][4] He was raised in a Jamaican household, which according to him, had a particular influence on his artistic formation.[2][5] In both 2008 and 2009, Najtellari appeared on the music competition Top Fest with the songs "Sfera" and "Shpirt i plakur", respectively.[6] In 2014, he was featured on Kosovo-Albanian singer Dhurata Dora's "Roll" and "A Bombi", as well as on Albanian singer Alban Skënderaj's "24 orë".[1] In December 2014, he collaborated with Albanian singer Aurela Gaçe on the single "Pa kontroll", with whom they eventually won the 16th edition of the annual music competition Kënga Magjike.[7] His success continued in May 2015 with the release of the follow-up single "Boom Boom", which reached number 11 in Albania.[8]
Following the 2022 release of his original song, "Nafije", produced by popular artist and producer Alandy, on January 12, 2023, a remix was introduced to the public.[9] The collaboration between Young Zerka, DJ Geek, Dafina Zeqiri, and MC Kresha peaked charts in Albania at #2 on Top Music Awards.[10] Young Zerka, along with Alandy, appeared on Albania's top performing television show hosted by Luana Vjollca, Zemër Luana, for a debut television performance of the original "Nafije".[11][12]
Artistry
editNajtellari's musical style has generally been regarded as reggae and pop.[1][5] His musical inspiration varies from reagge musicians such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh to pop artists as for instance Michael Jackson.[2][5]
Discography
editExtended play
edit- High Five (2020)
Singles
editAs lead artist
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB [13] | ||||||||||
| "Boom Boom"[14] | 2015 | 11 | Non-album singles | |||||||
| "Like Rihanna"[15] | 2016 | 13 | ||||||||
| "Love" | 2 | |||||||||
| "Syni i jemi"[16] (with Ronela Hajati) |
— | |||||||||
| "Harem"[17] | 32 | |||||||||
| "A ma fal" | 2017 | — | ||||||||
| "Anna"[18] | 2018 | — | ||||||||
| "Nuk ma nin" | 53 | |||||||||
| "Lule bore" (with Jumpa) |
2019 | 2 | ||||||||
| "Ting Ting" | 11 | |||||||||
| "Yalla" | 8 | |||||||||
| "Nesër" (with Anila Mimani) |
5 | |||||||||
| "Money" (with Eri Dee) |
42 | |||||||||
| "Y.O.U." (with Niza) |
— | |||||||||
| "Whine for me" (with Niza) |
— | |||||||||
| "Let me thru" (with Niza) |
48 | |||||||||
| "Pa gajle"[19] (with Fifi) |
2020 | 34 | ||||||||
| "Pishman"[20] (featuring Argjentina Ramosaj) |
27 | |||||||||
| "Konflikt"[21] | 23 | |||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||
As featured artist
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALB [22] | ||||||||||
| "Pa Lule" (Kastro Zizo featuring Young Zerka) |
2013 | — | Non-album singles | |||||||
| "Roll" (Dhurata Dora featuring Young Zerka) |
2014 | |||||||||
| "Hotel" (Enzo featuring Andrei Vornicu and Young Zerka) | ||||||||||
| "24 orë" (Alban Skënderaj featuring Young Zerka) | ||||||||||
| "A Bombi" (Dhurata Dora featuring Young Zerka) | ||||||||||
| "Pa kontroll" (Aurela Gaçe featuring Young Zerka) | ||||||||||
| "Papalove" (Kastro Zizo featuring Young Zerka) | ||||||||||
| "Habibi" (Dj Flow featuring Young Zerka) |
2016 | — | ||||||||
| "Uhh Baby" (Dj Viper featuring Young Zerka) |
— | |||||||||
| "Nona" (Ledri Vula featuring Young Zerka) |
2017 | 14 | ||||||||
| "Belly Dancer" (Dj Moh Green featuring Faydee and Young Zerka) |
2018 | — | ||||||||
| "Deja Vu" (Alban Skënderaj featuring Young Zerka) |
5 | |||||||||
| "Smile" (Keepman featuring Young Zerka) |
80 | |||||||||
| "Kce sonte" (Dj Dagz and Dj Pm featuring Young Zerka) |
2019 | 32 | ||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||
References
edit- ^ a b c "Young Zerka Biografia" (in Albanian). TeksteShqip. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Young Zerka #Bio" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "Këngëtarët shqiptarë që jetuan si emigrant" (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 4 May 2016. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ Hoxha, E. (20 February 2020). "Këngëtari shqiptar e pranon troç: 'Punoja si kamarier, doja të bëhesha futbollist!'" (in Albanian). Iconstyle. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ a b c "Fenomeni Young Zerka" (in Albanian). Anabel Magazine. 14 December 2014. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "Young Zerka i ftuari i parë i netëve live" (in Albanian). Top Channel. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Aurela Gaçe dhe Young Zerka fitojnë Këngën Magjike" (in Albanian). Televizioni Klan (TV Klan). 14 December 2014. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Publikohet klipi 'Boom boom' i Young Zerka" (in Albanian). Privé. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ Dj Geek ft. Young Zerka, Dafina Zeqiri, Mc Kresha - Nafije (Remix), retrieved 27 January 2023
- ^ "21/01/2023". Top Awards | Top Channel. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ Young Zerka - Luana, Nafije, Dallavere, Sorry ft Alandy Performancë tek "ZEMËR LUANA" - TV KLAN, 23 January 2023, retrieved 27 January 2023
- ^ "Rikthimi i bujshëm i Luana Vjollcës: 1 milionë klikime për Zemër Luana! ‣ Neutral". 10 November 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ Note: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania:
- For "Boom Boom":"The Top List–13/12/2015" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 13 December 2015. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Like Rihanna":"The Top List–21/02/2016" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 21 February 2016. Archived from the original on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Love":"The Top List–03/07/2016" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 3 July 2016. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Harem":"The Top List–01/01/2017" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 1 January 2017. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Nuk ma nin":"The Top List–09/09/2018" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 9 September 2018. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Lule Bore":"The Top List–24/03/2019" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 24 March 2019. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Ting Ting":"The Top List–28/04/2019" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 28 April 2019. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Yalla":"The Top List–19/05/2019" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 19 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Nesër":"The Top List–09/06/2019" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 9 June 2019. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Money":"The Top List–03/11/2019" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 3 November 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Let me thru":"The Top List–05/01/2020" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 5 January 2020. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Pa Gajle":"The Top List–09/08/2020" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 9 August 2020. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Pishman":"The Top List–02/08/2020" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 2 August 2020. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Konflikt":"The Top List–21/11/2020" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 21 November 2020. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "Boom Boom – Single by Young Zerka on Apple Music". Apple Music. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Like Rihanna – Single by Young Zerka on Apple Music". Apple Music. 20 June 2016. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Syni i jemi – Single by Young Zerka with Ronela Hajati on Apple Music". Apple Music. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Harem – Single by Young Zerka on Apple Music". Apple Music. 22 December 2016. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Anna – Single by Young Zerka on Apple Music". Apple Music. 26 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Pa gajle – Single by Young Zerka with Fifi on Apple Music". Apple Music. 10 July 2020. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Pishman – Single by Young Zerka featuring Argjentina Ramosaj on Apple Music". Apple Music. 21 July 2020. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Konflikt – Single by Young Zerka on Apple Music". Apple Music. 3 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ Note: "The Top List" are the charts conducted by Top Channel since December 2015. For peak positions in Albania:
- For "Nona":"The Top List–11/02/2018" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 11 February 2018. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Deja Vu":"The Top List–12/08/2018" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 12 August 2018. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Smile":"The Top List–16/12/2018" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 16 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- For "Smile":"The Top List–29/12/2019" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 29 December 2019. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.