Andrei Tiberiu Maria (; born 27 July 1983), better known by his stage name Smiley, is a Romanian singer, songwriter, record producer, actor and television presenter, from Pitești. He was part of the pop groups Simplu (2001–2011) and Radio Killer (2009–2015). As a solo artist, Smiley started in 2007 and has become one of Romania's biggest pop artists, archiving 14 number ones and more than 30 Top20 singles.
In 2013, he won "Best Romanian Act" during the MTV Europe Music Awards held in Amsterdam. He had been nominated as a solo act three times for the same award in 2008, 2009 and 2011 and twice in 2006 and 2007 as part of Simplu. He is part of the Romanian Euro-House project Radio Killer where he is known as Killer 1. As of November 2013, he is the new Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF Romania.
He is also a television personality, having hosted Românii au talent (2011–present) and being a coach in Vocea României (2011–present).
History
He started in music at a very young age. For three years he was part of the Romanian group Millenium 3 and was noted by Gyuri Pascu as a potential star. He also tried for the band Akcent in a bid to join the band.
Simplu After an invitation by CRBL, he joined the singing and dancing band Simplu (stylized as SIMPLU). The members were CRBL, Smiley, OmuNegru, Piticu, Francezu and Taz. Because of his reported cheerful attitude, he was nicknamed Smiley by the band, a name he adopted for his career, soon becoming the frontman of the band, at the same time developing a solo career.Cosmopolitan Romania: Smiley, un tip simplu
Simplu released five studio albums with Smiley: Oare știi (2002), Zece (2004), RMX Simplu (2006), Oficial îmi merge bine (2006) and "Dance or die trying" (2011) in addition to the compilation Simplu Best Of. In 2008, Smiley and Simplu won "Best show" during the dance program Istoria Dansului. In 2007–2008, he was also in the TV series One Step Ahead as Sebastian 'Seba' Novinski and subject of lead role in the 2008 film Un film simplu directed by Tom Gatsoulis.
Radio Killer Smiley has also formed the Romanian Euro-House project Radio Killer launched through an initiative of Smiley and his HaHaHa Production company. Radio Killer is made up of seven members: Killer 1: Smiley Killer 2: EleFunk (Serban-Ionut Cazan) Killer 3: CellBlock Killer 4: Karie Killer 5: Boogie Man (Don Baxter) Killer 6: Crocodealer (Alex Velea) The Real Killer: Paul Damixie
The group released the single "Be Free" in 2010 on Blanco Y Negro label, the international release "Lonely Heart" on various labels in Romania, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands and Sweden in 2011 and "Don't Let The Music End" on EMI in 2012. The band also enjoys popularity in Russia. In 2013, Radio Killer released a joint EP Clothes Off with Francesco Diaz & Young Rebels with various mixes of their hit "Clothes Off".
Others ventures
Acting In 2008, he had the lead role in the comedy Un film simplu by director Tom Gatsoulis.Un film simplu official website The comedy inspired by the group Simplu and Smiley's career, is about the difficult choices Smiley had to make: his bandmates and friends or international fame as he is confronted by an American talent scout who is offering him a lucrative deal provided he quits his band, Simplu. The band members realize what's going on and they don't like it.
Television Smiley has been a television personality co-hosting the TV show Românii au talent with Pavel Bartoș for eight consecutive seasons,MailOnline: Afla cum se inteleg in realitate Pavel Bartos si Smiley! starting with the inaugural season 1 in 2011.
He was also invited as a presiding judge in Vocea României, the Romanian version of the international music competition franchise The Voice. Ştefan Stan from Team Smiley won the first ever title in Romania for season 1 of the show. Ştefan Stan released his debut album Povestea mea with Smiley's production HaHaHa productions; releasing "You Give Me Love" written by his coach Smiley before signing a deal with Universal Music Romania.
Discography Studio albums + List of studio albums Title Album details Certifications În lipsa meaReleased: 14 March 2008
Label: Cat Music UPFR: Gold Plec pe MarteReleased: 30 March 2010 Format: CD, digital download Label: Cat Music AcasăFormat: CD, digital download Label: Cat MusicHaHaHa Production Released: 10 December 2017 Format: CD, digital download Label: Cat MusicHaHaHa Production
EPs + List of EPs Title Album details Mai Mult De-O ViațăReleased: 17 February 2022 Format: Digital download Label: Cat Music
Singles As lead artist + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumROMFor peak positions in Romania:
"În lipsa mea":
"Preocupat de gura ta":
"Designed to Love You":
"Am bani de dat":
"Plec pe Marte":
"Love Is For Free":
"Dream Girl":
"Dead Man Walking":
"Cai verzi pe pereti":
"Dincolo de cuvinte":
"Da-o tare":
"Acasă":
"Criminal":
"Nemuritor":
"Statul":
"I Wish":
"Oarecare":
"Îndrăgostiti desi n-am vrut":
"Insomnii":
"In statie la Lizeanu":
"De unde vii la ora asta?":
"Vals":
"Ce ma fac cu tine azi":
"Aprinde scanteia":
"Ne vedem noi":
"Song About Nothing":
"Ai grija de femeia ta":
"My Love":
"Jumatate":
"Ce mai faci, straine":
"Cine-i salveaza pe eroi":
"Va fi bine!":
"Pierdut Buletin":
"Sambata seara":
"Lasa inima sa zbiere":
"Noi doi si noaptea":
"Da-O Tarr":
"Rita":
"Scumpă Foc":
"Doar Vina Ta":
"Purtat De Vant":
"Aia E": BUL "În Lipsa Mea" 2007 3 — — În lipsa mea "Designed to Love You" 2008 29 — — "Preocupat Cu Gura Ta" 8 — — "Am Bani de Dat" 11 — — "Plec pe Marte" 2010 3 — — Plec pe Marte "Love Is for Free" 1 12 — "Dream Girl" 2011 1 33 — "Dead Man Walking" 2012 1 2 — Acasă "Cai Verzi pe Pereți" 1 — —rowspan=2 "Dincolo de Cuvinte" 2013 3 — — "Acasă" 1 — — Acasă "Criminal" 13 — — "Nemuritori" 2014 30 — — "I Wish" 13 — — "Oarecare" 2015 1 — — "Insomnii" 2016 6 — — Confesiune 5 — — "De Unde Vii la Ora Asta?" 2017 1 — — "Ce Mă Fac Cu Tine de Azi?" 1 — — "Vals" 1 — — "Aprinde Scânteia" 2018 4 — —rowspan=10 "Jumătate" 2019 4 — — "Song About Nothing" 35 — — "My Love" 9 — — "Ce Mai Faci, Străine?" 2020 1 — — "Va fi Bine" 59 — — "Ne Vedem Noi"" 1 — — "Lasa Inima să Zbiere" 2021 4 — — "Noi Doi si Noaptea" 6 — — "Rita" 1 — — "Purtat De Vânt" 2022 3 — 172 "Scumpă Foc" 1 — 79rowspan=2 "Aia E" 2023 1 — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
As featured artist + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumROM "Îmi Place La Tine Tot" 2005 10 Îmi place... Tot! "Secretul Mariei" 2006 — Listen Up! "Hooky Song" 2008 8 "Dangeros” — Dacă Dragostea Dispare "Da-o Tare" 2013 3 Lupu' DPM "Statul" 2014 53 rowspan=2 "Sexual” 2015 — "Pierdut Buletin" 7 DOC & Motzu în HD "În Stație la Lizeanu (Domnișoară Domnișoară)" 2016 10 Gypsy Rock: Change or Die "Lumea Noua" 2017 — "The Dreamers” 2019 — We Are the Light "Ai Grija de Femeia Ta" 70 rowspan=5 "Sâmbătă Seara" 2020 5 "Uită-mă" — "Doar Vina Ta" 2022 1 "Copacul" 2023 — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Promotional singles Title Year Album "10 Minutes" 2014rowspan=11 2020 "Adeline" "Până la Tine" 2021 "Fizz Up" "Până Când" "Nu Mai Exista Dup-aia" "Colecționarea" 2022 "Neintenționat" 2023 "Pata"
Other appearances Title Year Other artists Album "Cu Fuioru" 2014 Pavel Bartoș Best of Românii au Talent Sezonul 4 "Fii Tot Ce Poți" 2022 Șatra B.E.N.Z. Legații "Și Astăzi, Și Mâine" Horia Moculescu "Ramon" 2023 Pavel Bartoș Ramon
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2006 Dancing with the Stars Romania Contestant Season 2 2007–2008 Cu un Pas Înainte Sebastian "Seba" Novinski Main role 2011–present Românii au talent Presenter 2011–present Vocea României Judge / Coach 2019 101 Dalmatian Street Dylan (singing voice only) Romanian dub 2021 SuperStar România Judge
Film Year Title Role Notes 2011 Nașa Priest Andrei 2013 Oldschool Renegades Himself 2014 Selfie Pepenar "Pepe" 2016 Storks Toady (voice) Romanian dub 2018 Smallfoot Percy (voice) Romanian dub 2019 Oh, Ramona! Police 2022 Odată Pentru Totdeauna Alex Zota Legații Răzvan 2023 Ramon Tom
Awards and nominations
2006 and 2007: Nominated as part of Simplu (twice) 2008, 2009 and 2011: Nominated as a solo act (three times) 2013: Won "Best Romanian Act" (once)
References
External links
Official website Smiley Facebook HaHaHa production website HaHaHa production YouTube