Nicola

Nicola (real name Nicoleta Alexandru) is a Romanian pop singer and songwriter. She was born on November 5, 1968, in Bucharest, Romania. Nicola is best known for representing Romania at Eurovision 2003 with the dance hit “Don’t Break My Heart”. Over a career spanning decades, she has become a prominent figure in Romanian pop music, releasing numerous hits and collaborating with leading producers. 

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Nicola showed musical talent from a young age. As a teenager in the mid-1980s, she took her first steps into the Romanian music scene. In 1985, she won a prize at the prestigious Mamaia Music Festival while performing with a pop group called Forte. The following year, after Forte disbanded, she co-founded another group named Adaggio with fellow singer Cristina Fronea. They performed extensively, giving over 200 concerts alongside the rock band Holograf by 1988. By 1988, she began pursuing a solo career, initially performing under the name “Nicoleta Nicola” with the Sibiu-based rock project Riff.

Nicola was ambitious from the start. She even attempted to represent Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest as early as 1993, entering the national selection with a song titled “Balerina”. Although she did not win that year, this experience showed her determination to succeed on big stages. Throughout the early 1990s, Nicola continued to build her reputation through festivals, television appearances, and concerts. In 1995, she performed internationally, giving concerts in Cannes and Monaco in France, as well as in several Swiss cities, a rare achievement for a Romanian pop singer at the time.

Rise in Romanian Pop Music

A major turning point in Nicola’s career came when she began working with Mihai Alexandru, a composer and producer who would later become her husband. Their collaboration gave Nicola’s music a distinctive pop sound and professional polish. Nicola’s official solo recording career took off in the late 1990s. In 1999, she released her debut single “Cu tălpile goale” (“Barefoot”), which became a radio hit in Romania. The song received heavy airplay on multiple Romanian radio and TV stations, quickly boosting Nicola’s popularity. It was followed by an album of the same name. She kept up the momentum with a second album, Turquoise, in 2000. 

Nicola’s breakthrough continued in 2002. That year, she competed at the Mamaia Festival 2002 (a top Romanian pop music contest) with the song “Lângă mine” (“Beside Me”). The song won second place in the Creation section and also received the Press Award. “Lângă mine” turned into one of Nicola’s signature hits, and it was later named “Song of the Year” by major Romanian radio stations. Off the back of this success, Nicola signed a new record deal and quickly finished recording her third studio album, also titled Lângă mine, in late 2002. All the tracks on this album were composed by Mihai Alexandru, highlighting the fruitful collaboration between the two. One notable song on the album, “I Do,” was an entry in the pre-selection for Eurovision 2002. By the early 2000s, Nicola had firmly established herself in Romanian pop music, thanks to her string of radio hits and rising profile.

Eurovision Song Contest 2003

In 2003, Nicola achieved the most famous milestone of her career – she was selected to represent Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003. In the national selection competition (Selecția Națională 2003), she entered with an upbeat dance-pop song called “Don’t Break My Heart.” Nicola herself co-wrote the lyrics, and the music was composed by Mihai Alexandru. She won the Romanian national final by a large margin, securing her spot as the country’s Eurovision entrant.

At the Eurovision 2003 final in Riga, Latvia, Nicola delivered an energetic performance of “Don’t Break My Heart” for a pan-European audience. Nicola’s performance stood out and earned 73 points, which put Romania in 10th place out of 26 participating countries. This top ten finish was one of Romania’s best results in Eurovision up to that time, marking a proud moment for the Romanian pop music scene. It also gave Nicola international exposure. A remix version even received some radio airplay in the United States afterward (though it did not chart). .

Post-Eurovision Career and Collaborations

Following her Eurovision success, Nicola’s career reached new heights. In late 2003 she released a greatest-hits compilation album titled Best Of Nicola, building on the fame she gained that year. The album was a commercial success – it was certified Platinum in Romania for its strong sales. In the same year, Nicola received numerous accolades that cemented her status as a leading pop artist. She was honored as “Woman of the Year” by Avantaje magazine, and her hit “Lângă mine” won the Song of the Year award from Radio România Actualități. At the annual TV K Lumea awards, Nicola won Best Female Artist for 2003. This flurry of awards reflected her popularity and impact on Romanian pop culture at the time.

Nicola continued to release new music and garner awards in the mid-2000s. In January 2005, she put out a fresh studio album called De mă vei chema (“If You Call Me”). The album spawned two popular singles: the title track “De mă vei chema” and the catchy song “Honey”. Both tracks enjoyed heavy rotation on Romanian music channels. Nicola promoted the album with a new live band, which notably included her husband Mihai Alexandru on guitar. Her work in 2005 earned Nicola further recognition. She won the Best Female award that year. This period saw Nicola at the peak of her national fame, frequently appearing on TV and performing at large concerts.

Throughout these years, Nicola’s collaboration with Mihai Alexandru was at the heart of her music. Mihai produced or composed many of her biggest songs (including “Don’t Break My Heart”), and the pair’s professional partnership was widely noted. The two had married in the 1990s and stayed together for 15 years. However, by late 2005, Nicola announced her separation from Mihai Alexandru. Their divorce marked the end of an era, not only in their personal lives but also in Nicola’s artistic journey. After working so closely with one producer for so long, Nicola now faced the challenge of evolving her sound with new collaborators. She handled this transition proactively, seeking out fresh songwriting and production talent while maintaining the pop appeal that defined her earlier work.

Later Career and Recent Projects

Nicola remained a visible and active figure in Romanian music after the mid-2000s. In summer 2007, she made a comeback on the charts with the single “Doar noi doi” (“Only the Two of Us”). The song’s music video was filmed on location in Barcelona, Spain, giving it an international flair. That same year, Nicola attempted to return to the Eurovision stage. She entered Romania’s national selection for Eurovision 2008 with a powerful ballad called “Fairytale Story.” Her effort was noteworthy, though she ultimately placed 7th in the final round of the national contest. While it didn’t lead to a second Eurovision appearance, the song kept her in the public eye and demonstrated her persistence in pursuing large competitions.

In 2008, Nicola explored new creative partnerships. She worked with Thomas Nichols, a British songwriter known for collaborations with international stars like Céline Dion and All Saints. Together they released the single “Leave No Heart Behind,” a soulful pop track that expanded Nicola’s repertoire. This collaboration with a foreign composer hinted at Nicola’s growing interest in reaching beyond the Romanian market.

The following year, in August 2009, Nicola released a studio album titled Thank You. It featured the single “My Love,” which she co-produced with the band Kord. Impressively, “My Love” gained some airplay on radio stations in the United States.

2010s and 2020s

As the 2010s began, Nicola continued to adapt her musical style and engage with her fan base. In 2011, she put out a dance-pop single called “Meant 2 Be Mine,” produced by Steve Crow (a member of Kord). The song was well-received and even made its way onto playlists of several overseas radio stations, indicating a positive international response. Nicola also embraced the rise of social media; in 2012 she released a playful song titled “Good Morning (My) Facebook Friend,” dedicated to her online fans. The following year, 2013, she introduced a new love song “Te Iubesc” (“I Love You”), which resonated with many of her followers. 

In an interesting turn of events, 2014 saw Nicola reunite with Mihai Alexandru in the studio. After nearly a decade apart, the two decided to collaborate artistically again. By the mid-2010s, Nicola was also venturing into new genres. She has expressed a strong interest in electronic and trance music. In 2015, she teamed up with DJ Will Taylor of Appointed Recordings to release a trance-influenced track called “Addicted To Your Love.” The song was featured on a 2016 compilation album of Miami trance anthems, highlighting Nicola’s ability to cross into club music. Around this time she also lent her vocals to international electronic projects, such as tracks with producers Rolfiek and Ellez Ria.

Nicola’s passion for the Eurovision platform never fully went away. In 2019, she once again entered Selecția Națională, Romania’s Eurovision selection, with a powerful pop song titled “Weight of The World.” She successfully reached the semi-finals of the competition. 

Today, Nicola remains an active performer and recording artist. She has spent over three decades in the industry, touring extensively and appearing on numerous television and radio shows throughout her career.