Poli Genova

Poli Plamenova Genova (Bulgarian: Поли Пламенова Генова, born 10 February 1987) is a Bulgarian singer, songwriter, actress, and television presenter. Genova began her career in 1995, at the age of eight, as a member of the Bulgarian children's ensemble Bon-Bon.

Poli Genova
Genova in 2016
Background information
Birth namePoli Plamenova Genova
Born (1987-02-10) 10 February 1987
Sofia, Bulgaria
GenresPop
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actress
  • television presenter
Years active1991–present
LabelsVirgin Records, Cat Music, BNT, Universal, Ultra, Sony
Associated actsSofi Tukker
Websitepoligenova.eu

Genova later went on to represent Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with the song "Na inat", which did not qualify for the final. She returned to Eurovision five years later in 2016, for the second time representing Bulgaria with the song "If Love Was a Crime". She brought Bulgaria to the final for the first time since 2007, placing fourth, which is Bulgaria's second highest placing ever, behind her successor Kristian Kostov's 2nd place the following year.

Outside of performing, Genova has also appeared as a coach or mentor on The Voice of Bulgaria and X Factor Bulgaria, voiced the Bulgarian version of Judy Hopps in the film Zootopia, and hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Sofia.

Life and career

Early life and work with Bon-Bon

Genova was born on 10 February 1987 in Sofia. After beginning her music career in 1991, Genova became the first member of the Bulgarian children's ensemble Bon-Bon in 1995. As a member of the group, Genova also hosted the eponymous children's show. With Bon-Bon, she performed with Bulgarian singers such as Georgi Hristov, Yordanka Hristova, and Neli Rangelova. She was awarded a special award by Bulgarian National Television at the Golden Orpheus Festival for her duet with Rangelova. In 1997, Bon-Bon took part in the Slavianski Bazaar festival in Vitebsk. She later left Bon-Bon in 2001.[1]

Genova graduated from the Lyubomir Pipkov National School of Music, where she studied clarinet, and later attended the Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts. Genova was part of the UNICEF charity project The Magnificent Six.

2009–2015: Eurovision 2011 and X Factor Bulgaria
Genova in 2011

Genova was one of the finalists of the Bulgarian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song "One Lifetime Is Not Enough". The song placed second, behind Krassimir Avramov and his song "Illusion".[2]

She later returned to the Bulgarian national selection in 2011 with the song "Na inat". She went on to win the competition, and earned the right to represent Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. The song went on to not qualify for the final, placing 12th in the second semi-final.[3] Following the Eurovision Song Contest, Genova became a mentor on season one of X Factor Bulgaria. She released the album 1, 2, 3 in 2013.

2016–present: Eurovision 2016, further success, and The Voice of Bulgaria

On 21 October 2015, it was announced that Genova would be hosting the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Sofia.[4]

Genova performing during the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.

Later, on 19 February 2016, the Bulgarian National Television internally selected her to once again represent Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "If Love Was a Crime".[5] Theodosii Spassov, a Bulgarian jazz musician who plays kaval contributed to the song, in addition to composers Sebastian Arman, Boris Milanov, and Joacim "Twin" Persson. The track received many positive reviews from Eurovision websites such as Wiwibloggs.[6][7][8][9][10] The song was performed live during the pre-Eurovision parties in Riga, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, and London.[11][12][13][14] Genova went on to become the first Bulgarian entrant to qualify for the final since Elitsa & Stoyan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, and she later went on to place fourth in the final, which was at the time Bulgaria's highest finish ever. The track charted on iTunes in 26 countries, five million times through Spotify.[15][16][5]

Following Eurovision, Genova performed a show in front of 12,000 people in Arena Armeec, one of the most renown indoor arenas in Bulgaria.[17] She also performed "If Love Was a Crime" at the BG Radio Music Awards 2016, where she was rewardеd with the special statuette for BG Ambassador of the Year.[18] On 5 June 2016, Genova performed a gig at Clapham Grand Theatre in London.[19][20] Genova was a special guest at the 2016 MAD Video Music Awards in Athens, where she performed with Greek singer Demy.[21][22] Genova and Destiny Chukunyere, the winner of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2015, were the interval acts at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Malta.[23] She became a coach on The Voice of Bulgaria in 2017, when the show premiered its fourth season and remained a part of the lineup in the fifth season. She is said to be planning a third Eurovision entry.[24]

Discography

Albums
Title Details
1, 2, 3
  • Released: 2013
  • Label: Bon-Bon Music
  • Format: Digital download, CD
Твоя (Tvoya)
  • Released: 2020
  • Label:
  • Format: Digital download, CD

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
BUL
[25]		 AUT
[26]		 FRA
[27]		 SCO
[28]		 SWE
[29]		 UK
[30]
"One Lifetime Is Not Enough" 2009 9————— Non-album single
"Na inat" 2011 3————— 1,2,3
"1, 2, 3" ——————
"Dve" (Две) 2012 ——————
"Soleni Dni" (Солени дни) 2013 6—————
"Za Nas" (За нас) ——————
"Shot" (Шот) ——————
"If Love Was A Crime" 2016 1721297347200 Non-album singles
"Sluhove" (Слухове) 18—————
"Oshte" (Още) 2017 24—————
"Mr President" (Г-н Президент) 2018 24—————
"Tvoya" (Твоя) —————— Tvoya (2020)
"Perfect Love" ——————
"Geroite" 2019 36—————
"How We End Up" 2020 1—————
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or were not released.

Collaborations
Title Year Album
"Заедно с теб"
(Poli Genova, Wondrous, Bogomil and Orlin Pavlov)		 2012 Non-album singles
"Сега или никога"
(Voice account of Boys featuring Poli Genova)		 2013
"Нека с теб"
(Ditcho and Poli Genova)		 2014
"Щом си с мен"
(Vicki Terziyska, Poli Genova, Vesi Boneva, Vasco Chergov and Ditcho)
"Ей така"
(Del Padre feat. Poli Genova)		 2016

Filmography

Music videos
Year Title
2009"One Lifetime Is Not Enough""
2011"На инат""
"1,2,3""
2012"Две""
"Заедно с теб""
2013"Солени дни""
"За нас""
"Шот""
"Сега или никога""
2014"Нека с теб""
"Щом си с мен""
2016"If Love Was A Crime""
"Del Padre feat. Poli Genova - Ей така""
"Sluhove"
2017 "Още" / "Can You Remember Me?" (English Version)
2018 "Г-н Президент"
"Твоя"
"Perfect Love"

Movies and theatre

Besides being recognized as a singer, Poli is a talented actress, performing in her own musical theater for children based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale The Ugly Duckling.[31] She also starred as The Idea in the puppet play Some can do it, Others cannot.[32] In addition to performing in the theatre, Poli has voiced animated characters in the Bulgarian dubs of films such as:

Television
YearTitleRole Notes
2011The SmurfsSmurfetteBulgarian dub
2013The Smurfs 2
2016Zootopia[33]Judy Hopps
Pixar in ConcertVarious

References
  1. Поли Генова. Бон–Бон. Archived from the original on 2017-11-29. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  2. "Poli Genova - Eurovision 2009 Bulgaria Final - One Lifetime Is Not Enough". YouTube. 2009-02-21. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  3. Busa, Alexandru (24 February 2011). "Poli Genova to represent Bulgaria in Düsseldorf". esctoday.com. ESCToday. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  4. Fisher, Luke (2015-10-21). "Meet your host... Poli Genova!". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 2015-10-28. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  5. Brey, Marco (19 February 2016). "Bulgaria: Poli Genova returns to Eurovision". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  6. "Eurovision Review 2016: Bulgaria - Poli Genova - "If Love Was a Crime" | wiwibloggs". YouTube. 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  7. "Poli Genova "If Love Was a Crime" - Bulgaria Eurovision 2016 (Reaction) | wiwibloggs". YouTube. 2016-03-21. Archived from the original on 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  8. "Bulgaria 2016: oikopanel reviews 'If Love Was A Crime'". oikotimes.com. 2016-04-07. Archived from the original on 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  9. "Xtra Review: Bulgaria – Poli Genova: "If Love Was a Crime" – escXtra". Escxtra.com. 2016-03-21. Archived from the original on 2016-05-08. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  10. "Poli Genova - If Love Was A Crime (Bulgaria) 2016 Eurovision Song Contest". YouTube. 2016-03-21. Archived from the original on 2016-05-16. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  11. "Poli Genova Bulgaria 2016 "If Love Was a Crime" LIVE at Eurovision in Concert | wiwibloggs". YouTube. 2016-04-09. Archived from the original on 2017-04-08. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  12. "Amir and Poli Genova "If Love Was A Crime" LIVE at London Eurovision Party 2016| wiwibloggs". YouTube. 2016-04-17. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  13. "ESCKAZ in Tel Aviv: Poli Genova (Bulgaria) - If Love Was A Crime (at Israel Calling)". YouTube. 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  14. "Poli Genova Bulgaria 2016 "If Love Was A Crime" LIVE @ London Eurovision Party | wiwibloggs". YouTube. 2016-04-17. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  15. "Eurovision Tracker". Esctracker.com. Archived from the original on 2016-05-18. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  16. Gallagher, Robyn (May 16, 2016). "Eurovision 2016 stars dominate iTunes charts". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 2016-05-19. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  17. http://www.gabrovodaily.info/ах-този-арт/концерт-за-паметника-на-шипка-снимки/
  18. https://www.instagram.com/p/BG2OdQ_gOfh/
  19. https://www.instagram.com/p/BF_8HRXAOUo/
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2016-06-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. https://www.instagram.com/p/BHFfpnFBKgk/
  22. https://www.facebook.com/MadVideoMusicAwards/photos/a.582673521773590.1073741828.565858150121794/1270871016287167/?type=3&theater
  23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-11-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ESC Bubble (2017-10-04), Poli Genova and her team are working on her Eurovision comeback!, retrieved 2018-05-30
  25. "Poli Genova - Music Charts". acharts.co. Archived from the original on 2016-08-06. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
  26. "Discographie Poli Genova". Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2016-06-04. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  27. "Discographie Poli Genova". French Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  28. "Chart Archive > 20 May 2016 - 26 May 2016". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  29. "Discography Poli Genova". Swedish Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  30. "CHART: CLUK Update 21.05.2016 (wk20)". Official Charts Company. Zobbel.de/. Archived from the original on 2016-08-03. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
  31. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-09. Retrieved 2020-01-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. Moskov, Tedi. "SOME CAN DO IT, OTHERS CANNOT | Puppet theatre". Sofiapuppet.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  33. "Zootropolis IT is the new film of Walt... - Poli Genova / Поли Генова". Facebook. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
Preceded by
Miroslav Kostadinov
with Angel si ti		 Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest
2011		 Succeeded by
Sofi Marinova
with Love Unlimited
Preceded by
Elitsa & Stoyan
with Samo shampioni		 Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest
2016		 Succeeded by
Kristian Kostov
with Beautiful Mess
Preceded by
Moira Delia		 Junior Eurovision Song Contest presenters
2015		 Succeeded by
Ben Camille and Valerie Vella
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