Andreea Bănică (Romanian pronunciation:[anˈdree̯abəˈnikə]; born 21 June 1978)[1] is a Romanian singer and songwriter. She was part of the girl groups Exotic (1998–2000) and Blondy (2001–2005).[2][3] In 2005, Bănică started a solo career and became one of Romania's most successful pop artists, with 2 number ones and 15 Top20 singles, as well as hit songs like "Love in Brasil", "Samba", "Hooky Song", "Sexy", "Shining Heart" and "Rain in July".[4]
She first came to public attention at the 1998 Mamaia Festival. Along with Claudia Pătrăşcanu and Julia Chelaru, she started the group Exotic. In the two years they were together, the group released three singles ("Watch me", "Sexy" and "A Kiss"), and recorded two albums: Sexxy and Passionate.
Bănică started her solo career after leaving Exotic. In 2001, together with Rus, she formed the group Blondy. The group released three albums (So Close, Part of You, Sweet and Bitter) and a replay. Altogether, Blondy released six videos, and won the award for best dance band offered by Radio Romania in 2003.[citation needed] Rus left the band in 2005, launching a solo career. Bănică continued with Blondy. Dansez, Dansez, an album composed by Laurentiu Duta, achieved gold status for sales[citation needed]. Two singles were released, "Lovers" and "Sweet and Bitter".
Bănică single "Fiesta" gave her a number one hit on the Romanian charts.[citation needed] She received an MTV award for "Best Solo Artist."[citation needed] After that, she performed under her own name.[citation needed]
Her second solo album was entitled Rendez-vous, from which "Fiesta" was released as a single. The second single from this album was "Rendez-vous".
In 2008 she released a new video for the song "Trust", directed by Dragos Buliga. In the spring of that year she released "Hooky Song" featuring Smiley, with a video directed by Iulian Moga.[citation needed]
She released a video for the song "Le Ri Ra" in March 2009 despite being pregnant.[citation needed] In August 2009, a new single, "Samba", was released in collaboration with Dony.[citation needed] This single won her the RMA Best Video award in 2010.[citation needed] In early 2011, a Best Of collection was released.[citation needed] At the RRA Awards, her 2011 song "Love in Brazil" was named best Latin dance song.[citation needed]
In 2019 the singer was chosen by Walt Disney Pictures to provide the Romanian voice of Juarez in the live-action G-Force[6] and in the movie Mummies. [7]
^Despite the Blondy group disbanding in 2005, Bănică kept signing as "Blondy", as a solo artist, until 2007.
^In 2005 the pop group Blondy disbanded after the departure of Cristina Rus, but Bănică kept signing as "Blondy", as a solo artist, until 2007. She released the solo album 'Dansez, Dansez' as Blondy.
For "Vreau Sa Mai Stai Doar o Zi": "Week 34 - 2002". Uniunea Producătorilor de Fonograme din România (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 2005-05-14. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
For "Le Ri Ra": "Editia 28 May 2009". Uniunea Producătorilor de Fonograme din România (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 2009-05-28. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
For "Samba": "18-08-2010". Uniunea Producătorilor de Fonograme din România (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 2010-08-18. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
For "Love in Brasil": "Week 43 - 2010". Uniunea Producătorilor de Fonograme din România (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
For "Shining Heart": "Airplay 100 – 10 iunie 2012". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 10 June 2012. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
For "În Lipsa Ta": "Airplay 100 – 8 decembrie 2013". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
For "Rupem Boxele": "Airplay 100 – 26 May 2014". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 15 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-05-26. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
For "Același Iubit": "Airplay 100 – 3 Nov 2014" (in Romanian). 15 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-11-09. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
For "Diggy Down": "Airplay 100 – 1 martie 2015". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 1 March 2015. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
For "Doi" and "Ale": "Airplay 100 – 11 octombrie 2015". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 11 October 2015. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
For "Supererou" and "Una Palabra": "Airplay 100 – 1 mai 2016". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 1 May 2016. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
For "Flori de Busuioc": "Airplay 100 – 22 mai 2016". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 22 May 2016. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
For "Rain in July": "Airplay 100 – 16 octombrie 2016". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 16 October 2016. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
For "Linda": "Airplay 100 – 9 aprilie 2017". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 9 April 2017. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
For "Departamentul de relatii": "Airplay 100 – 27 august 2017". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 27 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
For "Ce Vrei de la Mine": "Airplay 100 – 29 aprilie 2018". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 29 April 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
For "Egoista": "Airplay 100 – 24 februarie 2019". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 24 February 2019. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
