Andreea Bănică

For the journalist formerly known as Andreea Marin Bănică, see Andreea Marin.

Andreea Bănică (Romanian pronunciation: [anˈdree̯a bəˈnikə]; 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]

Andreea Bănică
Andreea Bănică in 2017
Born	Andreea Bănică (1978-06-21) 21 June 1978 (age 46) Constanța, Romania
Education	Ovidius University
Occupations	Singer songwriter
Years active	1998–present
Spouse	Lucian Mitrea ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	1
Musical career
Genres	Popcorn Pop dance EDM
Labels	Cat Music Sony Music
Formerly of	Exotic Blondy
Website	andreeabanica.com

She also won various awards, including the Romanian Music Awards, Romanian Top Hits, MTV European Music Awards and the Balkan Music Awards. Bănică speaks Romanian, English, Spanish and Brazilian-Portuguese.^[5]

Career

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]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums

Title	Album details	Certifications
Dansez, Dansez[8][a]	Released: 12 September 2005 Format: CD, digital download Label: Cat Music
Rendez-Vous[9]	Released: 23 May 2007 Format: CD, digital download Label: Cat Music	UPFR: Gold[10]

Compilation

List of studio albums

Title	Album details
Best of Andreea Banica[11]	Released: 22 February 2011 Format: CD, digital download Label: Cat Music

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions						Album
		ROM [4]	BLR [12]	BUL [13]	CIS [14]	GRE [15]	MOL [16]
"Dansez" (featuring Laurențiu Duță)	2005	14	—	—	—	—	—	Dansez, Dansez
"Indragostiti"		32	—	—	—	—	—
"Fiesta"	2006	2	—	—	—	—	—	Rendez-vous
"Rendez-vous"	2007	14	—	—	—	—	—
"Incredere"	2008	38	—	—	—	—	—
"Hooky Song"[17] (featuring Smiley)		8	—	—	—	—	—	Best of Andreea Bănică
"Le Ri Ra"[18]	2009	8	—	—	—	—	—
"Samba"[19] (featuring Dony)		2	4	4	64	—	—
"Love in Brasil"[20]	2010	1	4	5	—	70	—
"Sexy"[21]	2011	3	—	23	232	—	—	Non-album singles
"Electrified"[22]		9	—	35	—	—	—
"Shining Heart"[23] (with Laurențiu Duță)	2012	1	—	—	198	17	5
"Could U"[24]		8	—	10	—	—	—
"În Lipsa Ta"[25] (featuring What's UP)	2013	9	—	—	—	—	—
"Rupem Boxele"[26] (featuring Shift)	2014	11	—	—	—	—	—
"Același Iubit"[27]		18	—	—	—	—	—
"Doi"[28] (featuring Kaira)	2015	28	—	—	—	—	—
"Supererou"[29]		44	—	—	—	—	—
"Flori de Busuioc"[30] (featuring Adrian Sina)	2016	84	—	—	—	—	—
"Rain in July"[31] (featuring Jorge)		9	—	—	—	—	—
"Linda"[32] (featuring Veo)	2017	19	—	—	—	—	—
"Departamentul de Relatii"[33] (featuring UDDI)		25	—	—	—	—	—
"Ce Vrei de la Mine"[34] (featuring Balkan)		91	—	—	—	—	—
"Egoísta"[35] (featuring Nonis G)	2018	—	—	—	—	—	—
"De Nebuna"[36]	2019	—	—	—	175	—	—
"Dragoste Incercata"[37] (with Dorian Popa)	2021	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

As featured artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Album
		ROM [4]	US Dance [38]
"Vreau Sa Mai Stai Doar o Zi" (Direcția 5 featuring Andreea Bănică)	2002	17	—	Duete
"Red Lips" (Aggro Santos featuring Andreea Bănică)	2015	—	13	Non-album singles
"Ale"[39] (Narcotic Sound & Christian D featuring Andreea Bănică)		7	—
"Una Palabra"[40] (Sunrise Inc. featuring Andreea Bănică)		5	—
"Sun Comes Up"[41] (Livin E and Anjelo featuring Andreea Bănică)	2017	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Promotional singles

List of singles

Title	Year	Album
"Black Sea Queen"	2008	Rendez-vous
"Bumerang"[42] (featuring Kio)	2013	Non-album singles
"Hoț de Inimi"[43]	2015
"Fie Ca Vrei, Fie Ca Nu"[44] (featuring Oana Radu)	2016
"Numai Iubire (Christmas Love)"[45]	2022

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role
2017	Bravo, Ai Stil!	Presenter

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2019	G-Force!	Juarez (voice)	Romanian dub 2009 film
2023	Mummies	Nefer (voice)	Romanian dub

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
2006	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Romanian Act	Andreea Bănică as Blondy (as solo artist)[b]	Nominated
	Romanian Music Awards	Best Female Song	"Indragostiti"		[46]
2007	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Romanian Act	Andreea Bănică	Won	[47]
	Top Hits Awards	The Best Hit: Girls	"Rendez-vous"	Nominated
	Romanian Music Awards	Best Song			[48]
		Best Female Song
		Best Pop Song
		Best Video
		Best Album	Rendez-vous
2008	Romanian Music Awards	Best Female Song	"Hooky Song"	Won	[49]
		Best Pop Song		Nominated
		Best Video
2009	RRA Awards	Best Pop/Dance Song			[50]
		Best Dance/Pop Act	Andreea Bănică
	Romanian Music Awards	Best Female Song	"Le Ri Ra"	Won	[51][52]
		Best Video
		Best Pop Song		Nominated
2010	RRA Awards	Best Pop/Dance Song	"Samba"		[53]
		Best Dance/Pop Act	Andreea Bănică
	Romanian Music Awards	Best Video	"Samba"	Won	[54]
		Best Song		Nominated
		Best Female Song
		Best Pop Song
		Best Website	andreeabanica.com
2011	RRA Awards	Best Latin Crossover	"Love in Brasil"	Won	[55]
		Best Pop/Dance Song		Nominated
	Romanian Music Awards	Best Video	"Sexy"	Won	[56]
		Best Show	Andreea Bănică
		Best Song	"Love in Brasil"	Nominated
		Best Female Song
		Best Website	andreeabanica.com
	Balkan Music Awards	Best Video	"Love in Brasil"	Won	[57]
		Best Song from Romania		Nominated
2012	Romanian Music Awards	Best Song	"Shining Heart" (with Laurențiu Duță)	Won	[58]
		Best Dance Song		Nominated
		Best Video
		Best Female Song	"Electrified"
		Best Live Performance	Andreea Bănică
		Best Website	andreeabanica.com
	Media Music Awards	Best Dance Song	"Shining Heart" (with Laurențiu Duță)	Won	[59]
2013	RRA Awards	Best Pop/Dance Song		Nominated	[60]
		Best Dance/Pop Act	Andreea Bănică
	Romanian Music Awards	Best Pop Song	"In Lipsa Ta"	Won	[61][62]
		Best Video
		Best Female Song		Nominated
2014	RRA Awards	Best Female Singer	Andreea Bănică		[63]
		Best Pop Song	"În Lipsa Ta"
	Romanian Music Awards	Best Female Song	"Rupem Boxele"		[64]
		Best Social Media	Andreea Bănică
	Media Music Awards	Fans Like Award			[65]
2015					[66]

See also

• List of music released by Romanian artists that has charted in major music markets

Notes

1. Despite the Blondy group disbanding in 2005, Bănică kept signing as "Blondy", as a solo artist, until 2007.
2. 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.