Charlene & Natasha
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The sisterly-duo Charlene & Natasha hail from Marsaskala, a small village in the southern part of Malta. They have been on the music scene for quite some time and have established themselves as a very popular acts both locally as well as internationally.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] 1998-2002
Charlene & Natasha made it to the Malta Song For Europe stage separately in 1998 but joined forces for the 1999 edition and remained together as a duo ever since. In the year 2002 Charlene & Natasha ranked 3rd in the "People's Ode Song Contest" held in the Auditorium of the University of Malta. They performed the song "Gegheltni Ntir" ('You Made me Fly') lyrics by the older of the two Natasha to the music composed by the younger, Charlene.
In September of 2002, they took part in the "Malta Independence Song Contest" with two entries. Both "Nirien" (Fires) and "Sejjahtli, Sejjahtlek" (Calls) were composed by Charlene to lyrics by Deo Grech.
The team behind the latest successes joined forces again and created "Xita fid-Dezert" (music: Charlene Grima; lyrics: Deo Grech) which made it to the top-5 of the Malta International Song Contest 2002. It also represented Malta in the 1st edition of the Online Song Contest and the Ogae Song Contest 2003.
[edit] 2003
The following year Charlene & Natasha made it to the Malta Song for Europe 2003 with two entries, "Rain of Fire" (Deo Grech/Charlene Grima) and "Superstitious" (Gerard James Borg/Philip Vella). They eventually ranked 5th with "Superstitious" and represented Malta in Prague Talent Song Contest 2003 with "Hearts on Fire" (Gerard J. Borg/Philip Vella). "Rain of Fire" remained as one of their most loved entries by the Malta Song for Europe fans and is constantly requested to be played on local radio shows focusing on local artists.
In 2003 they entered other two contests: Festival Super ONE and Independence Song Contest 2003. Charlene & Natasha performed "Xrara Nar" (A Blaze of Fire) - (Deo Grech/Charlene Grima) and "Tridx nitkellmu car" (I'm so glad you're mine) - (Alfred C. Sant/Charlene Grima) at Festival Super ONE, which was held between October-November 2003 on a local TV Station, Super ONE TV, running under the auspices of F.I.D.O.F.
The Grima sisters performed another two entries at the Independence Song Contest 2003. The two entries were "Celebrazzjoni" (Celebration) - (Deo Grech/Charlene Grima) and "Zommni Hdejk" (Destiny) - (Deo Grech/Natasha Grima/Charlene Grima).
[edit] 2004
2004 also started off on quite a positive note for the Grima sisters and their co-songwriter Grech. They made it to the finals of MALTA SONG FOR EUROPE 2004, held in mid-February 2004, with their self-penned "A SIMPLE WISH". The same song reached the finals of SUNFLOWER FESTIVAL 2004 (top-5 placing) held in Serbia and AMBERSTAR 2004 (winners) held in Latvia later.
2004 also saw Charlene & Natasha's successful "Xita Fid-Dezert" included in an international-music CD-compilation by EROS Greece. This wasn't their only link with Greece. During Summer 2004, their latest self-penned "XRARA NAR" (A Blaze of Fire) made it to the top-25 playlist of the Greek radio station, Radio Choice 102,8 in Polykastro - Kilkis / Greece.
Charlene & Natasha are also performing on a weekly basis on "Kollox Sibt" every Saturday afternoon on NET TV - a TV Show produced by BME and hosted by Karl & Romina Bonaci together with Ryan Borg.
[edit] 2005
In 2005 Charlene & Natasha joined forces with Swedish songwriters Jonas "Salle" Sahlin and Johan Bejerholm who together with Deo Grech wrote for them "LOVE IS THE REASON" which made it to the finals of MALTA SONG FOR EUROPE 2005, held on 19 February 2005. This led to the co-operation of the Grima sisters with Sweden-based Lionheart Int. Records.
[edit] 2006
In 2006, Natasha and Charlene made it to the finals of the Go Mobile Malta Song for Europe 2006. The girls experimented with a change of style from their typical 'upbeaty-pop' sound and went for a fusion of Celtic with Gothic rock sound with 'Echoes of Gaia", a completely different style and completely new concept for the Malta Song for Europe festival! Written by Natasha Grima and Deo Grech, with music composed by Charlene Grima. The girls won the back-up jury vote who unanimously voted them at first place, scoring 60 points out of a maximum possible vote of 60 points!
On June 2006, one of the sisters, Charlene Grima, married Stefan Grech. The sisters will still pursue with their singing career as a duo. Charlene & Natasha made it to "Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza 2006" to be held in September'06.
End of June 2006 marked another success for one of the sisters - Natasha. She ended first runner up in SHOWTIME's DANCE CHALLENGE (A TV show where local personalities had to learn dance routines.)
End of November 2006, Natasha & Charlene received another award for the song "Echoes of Gaia" as the song was included in the international exhibition "191" which is touring all over 191 United Nations member states, including Malta. Paintings made by children from all over the world on the theme "Children's view of the world" are included in this exhibition.
The exhibition shows how hundreds of children, in the universal language of drawings, express a thirst for peace, security and recognition through testimonies obtained in the field and outside traditional circuits.
Natasha & Charlene's "Echoes of Gaia" is played for all the visitors of this exhibition. Visitors are asked to show their views of the world keeping in mind the lyrics of the song to guide them. The exhibition "191" is organised by GenevaWorld in Switzerland and tours the 191 member states of the United Nations..
[edit] 2007
Natasha & Charlene, have made it to the national final held in Bulgaria for Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with "Open your eyes".
Coincidently Natasha & Charlene will compete in the Bulgarian Semi-final on the 3rd February - when Malta will hold its National Final for Eurovision 2007.
The story continues...
[edit] Discography
- Look into my Eyes 1998 Malta Song for Europe
- Hena tar-Rebbiegh (Spring’s Joy) 1998 International Festival of the Maltese Song
- Issa Naf (Now I know) 1998 L-Ghanja tal-Poplu
- Miss Scicluna 1999 L-Ghanja tal-Poplu
- Gieghltni Ntir (You made me fly) 2002 L-Ghanja tal-Poplu
- Sejjahtli, Sejjahtlek (Calls) 2002 Festival Kanzunetta Indipendenza
- Nirien (Fires) 2002 Festival Kanzunetta Indipendenza
- Xita fid- Dezert (Desert Rain) 2002 International Festival of the Maltese Song
- Rain of Fire 2003 Malta Song for Europe
- Superstitious 2003 Malta Song for Europe
- Xrara Nar (Blaze of Fire) 2003 Festival Super ONE
- Tridx Nitkellmu Car (I'm so glad you're mine) 2003 Festival Super ONE
- Celebrazzjoni (Celebration) 2003 Independence Song Contest
- Zommni Hdejk (Destiny) 2003 Independence Song Contest
- A Simple Wish 2004 Malta Song for Europe
- L-Arka tal-Liberta' 2004 WINNERS Independence Song Contest
- Love is the Reason 2005 Malta Song for Europe
- Echoes of Gaia 2006 Malta Song for Europe
- Emmen fil-Gejjieni(Believe in the future) 2006 Independence Song Contest
- Open your eyes 2007 Bulgarian National Final for Eurovision 2007
