Charlene & Natasha

Charlene and Natasha Grima perform as singer-songwriter duo Charlene & Natasha from Marsaskala, Malta.

Biography

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 "Ġegħeltni Ntir" ("You Made me Fly"). The song's lyrics were written by the oldest of the two, Natasha, and the music was composed by Charlene.

In September 2002, they took part in the Malta Independence Song Contest with two entries. Both "Nirien" ("Fires") and "Sejjaħtli, Sejjaħtlek" ("Calls") were composed by Charlene to lyrics by Deo Grech.

Charlene and Deo Grech similarly composed "Xita fid-Deżert," which placed in the top five at the Malta International Song Contest, 2002. It also represented Malta in the first edition of the Online Song Contest and the Ogae Song Contest, 2003.

2003

The following year, Charlene & Natasha performed at the Malta Song for Europe 2003 with two entries, "Rain of Fire" (Deo Grech/Charlene Grima) and "Superstitious" (Gerard James Borg/Philip Vella). They ranked fifth with "Superstitious," and represented Malta in the Prague Talent Song Contest 2003 with "Hearts on Fire" (Gerard James Borg/Philip Vella). "Rain of Fire" was one of their most loved entries by the Malta Song for Europe fans, and is frequently requested on local radio shows focusing on local artists.

In 2003 they entered other two contests: Festival Super ONE and the Independence Song Contest 2003. Charlene & Natasha performed "Xrara Nar" ("A Blaze of Fire" by Deo Grech/Charlene Grima) and "Tridx nitkellmu car" ("I'm so glad you're mine" by Alfred C. Sant/Charlene Grima) at Festival Super ONE, which was held between October and November, 2003. The festival aired on a local TV Station, Super ONE TV, running under the auspices of F.I.D.O.F.

The Grima sisters performed two additional numbers at the Independence Song Contest 2003. The two entries were "Celebrazzjoni" ("Celebration" by Deo Grech/Charlene Grima) and "Zommni Hdejk" ("Destiny" by Deo Grech/Natasha Grima/Charlene Grima).

2004

In 2004 Charlene & Natasha competed in the finals of Malta Song for Europe, 2004, held in mid-February, with an original song called "A Simple Wish." The same song reached the top five at the Sunflower Festival 2004, held in Serbia, and first place at AMBERSTAR 2004, held in Latvia.

The same year also saw Charlene & Natasha's successful "Xita Fid-Dezert" included in an international music CD compilation by EROS Greece. During the summer of 2004, their latest original, "XRARA NAR" ("A Blaze of Fire"), made it to the top-25 play list of the Greek radio station, Radio Choice 102.8 in Polykastro-Kilkis, Greece.

Charlene & Natasha began performing 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.

2005

In 2005, Charlene & Natasha partnered 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 cooperation of the Grima sisters with Sweden-based Lionheart Int. Records.

2006

In 2006, Charlene & Natasha 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 'up-beat pop' sound, and went for a fusion of Celtic with Gothic rock sound with "Echoes of Gaia." 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, 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," held in September 2006.

The end of June 2006 marked another success for one of the sisters, Natasha. She placed first runner up in Showtime's Dance Challenge.

By the end of November 2006, Charlene & Natasha received another award for the song "Echoes of Gaia." The song was included in the international exhibition "191", which toured the 191 United Nations member states, including Malta.

2007

Charlene & Natasha made it to the national final for Eurovision Song Contest 2007, held in Bulgaria, with "Open Your Eyes," written by Jonas Gladnikoff, Galya Marinova, Niall Mooney and Brendan MCCarthy.

Charlene & Natasha competed in the Bulgarian semi-finals on the February 3, when Malta will hold its National Final for Eurovision 2007.

On June 7, 2007, Charlene & Natasha, kicked-off 'GaiaFest 2007' with their popular track, "Echoes of Gaia" from Maltasong for Europe 2006.

2008

Charlene & Natasha returned to NET TV's Saturday afternoon show, "SAS-SITTA" produced by Lucas Entertainment.

Performances

*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, 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 made by nikiktabrincat

Live Peroformances

* [http://194.158.37.70/Festival2002song6 XITA FID-DEZERT - Live performance - Malta International Song Contest 2002]
* [http://194.158.37.70/Festival2003song11 RAIN OF FIRE - Live performance – Malta Song for Europe 2003]
* [http://194.158.37.70/Festival2003song19 SUPERSTITIOUS - Live performance – Malta Song for Europe 2003]
* [http://194.158.37.70/natashacharlenevideo2004 A SIMPLE WISH - Live performance from Malta Song for Europe 2004]
* [http://194.158.37.70/charandnat LOVE IS THE REASON - Live performance from Malta Song for Europe 2005]
* [http://194.158.37.70/ms06/05.wmv ECHOES OF GAIA - Live performance from Malta Song for Europe 2006]

External links

* [http://www.charleneandnatasha.com Charlene & Natasha's official website]