Rania Zeriri
Encyclopedia
Rania Zeriri is a Dutch singer.
n father who left the family when she was still very young. After finishing school with a General Certificate of Secondary Education
(Mittlere Reife
) she moved at the age of 17 to Salamanca
to study Spanish. Later she acquired a hotel animation diploma and than worked mainly on Ibiza
and Fuerteventura
where she also started to perform as singer in hotels. After she reached the Top 10 of the fifth season of the German television contest Deutschland sucht den Superstar
(DSDS) she resigned from her job and moved to Gronau-Epe
in Germany
to live with her mother.
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Zeriri was born with holes in her vocal cords. Her dark voice is the result of an operation which was necessary in order to close the inborn holes using laser treatment
. This caused her difficulties to sing high notes and in the falsetto
register.
" version Deutschland sucht den Superstar
(DSDS) broadcasted by RTL. She finished in fifth place.
After the DSDS show Zeriri performed throughout Germany and performed before the final of the European Football Championship
at the fan area at the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, in front of several hundred thousand visitors. Zeriris debut solo maxi single
Crying Undercover
was released on 14 November 2008 by the record label Kontor Records
. The title song was written for the singer by Achim Jannsen, a writer who produced several cover-songs for Jan Wayne
, together with the musician Claas P. Jambor, a member of the Zeichen der Zeit
project. The CD contains also the song Cursed And Blessed written by Zeriri in 2006 and the video of the title song.
. On April 24, 2008 Bild appeared with an article suggesting that contestants of the show might have used drugs
in the dressing room area singling out Zeriri as potential culprit. However, the accusation was never proven and Zeriri made new headlines when she publicly voiced her opinion that a requested drug test should not only include the contestants but also the jury, openly stated her increasing discomfort in participating in the show and directly criticised the juror Dieter Bohlen
.
Personal life
Rania Zeriri grew up in the Netherlands as daughter of a Dutch mother and an AlgeriaAlgeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n father who left the family when she was still very young. After finishing school with a General Certificate of Secondary Education
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
(Mittlere Reife
Mittlere Reife
The Mittlere Reife is a school leaving certificate in Germany that is roughly comparable with the American high school diploma. It is regularly awarded after ten years of schooling....
) she moved at the age of 17 to Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
to study Spanish. Later she acquired a hotel animation diploma and than worked mainly on Ibiza
Ibiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
and Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura , a Spanish island, is one of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. It is situated at 28°20' north, 14°00' west. At 1,660 km² it is the second largest of the Canary Islands, after Tenerife...
where she also started to perform as singer in hotels. After she reached the Top 10 of the fifth season of the German television contest Deutschland sucht den Superstar
Deutschland sucht den Superstar (season 5)
The fifth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar live shows began March 8, 2008. It is currently hosted by Marco Schreyl and jury panel, Dieter Bohlen, Anja Lukaseder, and Andreas "Bär" Läsker also star...
(DSDS) she resigned from her job and moved to Gronau-Epe
Epe, North Rhine-Westphalia
Epe is a village in the district of Borken in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located near the border with the Netherlands, approx. 10 km east of Enschede. It is part of the town Gronau.-Town Twinning:...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to live with her mother.
Laser surgery
Laser surgery is surgery using a laser to cut tissue instead of a scalpel. Examples include the use of a laser scalpel in otherwise conventional surgery, and soft tissue laser surgery, in which the laser beam vaporizes soft tissue with high water content...
. This caused her difficulties to sing high notes and in the falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
register.
Music career
Rania Zeriri gained national recognition as contestant and 'Top 5' finalist in the 2008 German "IdolIdol series
The British talent search television series Pop Idol has spawned spin-offs in 42 territories, in what is now referred to as the "Idols" format, as described by FremantleMedia...
" version Deutschland sucht den Superstar
Deutschland sucht den Superstar
Deutschland sucht den Superstar is a German reality talent show, also commonly known by its initials DSDS. Part of the Idol franchise, it was created by English media mogul Simon Fuller as a spin-off from the British show Pop Idol, of which two series were broadcast between the years of 2001 and...
(DSDS) broadcasted by RTL. She finished in fifth place.
After the DSDS show Zeriri performed throughout Germany and performed before the final of the European Football Championship
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
at the fan area at the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, in front of several hundred thousand visitors. Zeriris debut solo maxi single
Maxi single
A maxi single or maxi-single is a music single release with more than the usual two tracks of an a-side song and a b-side song.-The first maxi singles:...
Crying Undercover
Crying Undercover
Crying Undercover is the debut solo single by Rania Zeriri. The maxi single contains three versions and the video of the title song as well as the song Cursed and Blessed written by Zeriri in 2006.-Track listing:#Crying Undercover 3:06...
was released on 14 November 2008 by the record label Kontor Records
Kontor Records
Kontor Records is a record label based in Hamburg. It is one of the most successful electronic music labels in Germany. Well-known musicians signed to this label include ATB, Tiësto and Scooter. The head-manager is Jens Thele....
. The title song was written for the singer by Achim Jannsen, a writer who produced several cover-songs for Jan Wayne
Jan Wayne
Jan Wayne is a German electronic dance music DJ and producer, noted for his remixes.-Singles:*2001 - "Total Eclipse of the Heart" - UK #28 *2002 - "Because the Night" - UK #14*2002 - "Only You"*2002 - "More Than a Feeling"...
, together with the musician Claas P. Jambor, a member of the Zeichen der Zeit
Zeichen der Zeit
Zeichen der Zeit is a music project by various German pop musicians. Their common goal is to express their Christian belief and to make an issue out of it in the secular media. An album of the same title appeared in 2004, and the song "Du bist nicht allein" became a substantial hit...
project. The CD contains also the song Cursed And Blessed written by Zeriri in 2006 and the video of the title song.
DSDS controversies
Although Rania Zeriri started the last phase of the competition as one of the favourites she received later controversial press coverage, especially from the German newspaper BildBild-Zeitung
The Bild is a German tabloid published by Axel Springer AG. The paper is published from Monday to Saturday, while on Sundays, Bild am Sonntag is published instead, which has a different style and its own editors...
. On April 24, 2008 Bild appeared with an article suggesting that contestants of the show might have used drugs
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
in the dressing room area singling out Zeriri as potential culprit. However, the accusation was never proven and Zeriri made new headlines when she publicly voiced her opinion that a requested drug test should not only include the contestants but also the jury, openly stated her increasing discomfort in participating in the show and directly criticised the juror Dieter Bohlen
Dieter Bohlen
Dieter Günter Bohlen is a German songwriter, singer, musician, producer, entertainer, TV personality, and writer. Bohlen is best known for being part of popular pop-duo Modern Talking during 1984–1987 and 1998–2003.-Biography:Bohlen took his Abitur in Oldenburg...
.
Sampler
- 2008 Fly Alone (joined release of all finale participants of Deutschland sucht den Superstar)