Band · Estonia
Vanilla Ninja
Estonian rock band
Formed in 2002
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Vanilla Ninja is an Estonian all-female rock band from Tallinn, formed in 2002. The group achieved commercial success in Estonia and across Europe, particularly following the release of their second studio album, Traces of Sadness (2004), which reached the top five of the album charts in Germany and Austria and was certified gold in both countries and platinum in Estonia. The album produced several of the group's best-known singles, including "Tough Enough", "Don't Go Too Fast", "Liar", and "When the Indians Cry".
The band's original lineup consisted of Maarja Kivi, Lenna Kuurmaa, Katrin Siska, and Piret Järvis. Their self-titled debut album, Vanilla Ninja (2003) reached number one and was certified platinum in Estonia. Kivi left the group in 2004 and was replaced by Triinu Kivilaan. Following Kivilaan's departure in 2005, the group continued as a trio and released Blue Tattoo (2005) and Love Is War (2006). Blue Tattoo became their highest-charting album in Switzerland and reached the top ten in Estonia, Germany, and Austria.
Vanilla Ninja represented Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 with the song "Cool Vibes", finishing eighth in the final. The group had previously competed in Eurolaul 2003 with "Club Kung-Fu", finishing ninth, and returned to the competition in Eurolaul 2007 with "Birds of Peace", which finished fourth. After a period of inactivity, Vanilla Ninja reunited in 2021 and released their fifth studio album, Encore.
In 2022, Kerli Kivilaan joined the band following the departures of Siska and Triinu Kivilaan. In 2026, the group won Eesti Laul 2026 with the song "Too Epic to Be True" and represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, where they finished eleventh in the first semi-final. The 2026 lineup consisted of Kuurmaa, Järvis, and Kerli Kivilaan.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Also in Français
Vanilla Ninja est un groupe féminin de rock estonien, originaire de Tallinn. Formé en 2002, il se fait connaître du public estonien lors de sa participation à l’Eurolaul 2003. Le succès est au rendez-vous lors de la sortie de l’album éponyme Vanilla Ninja en 2003. La popularité du groupe ne s’est jamais démentie depuis, au point qu’une marque de crème glacée et de kohuke sont publiées sous son nom. En 2004-2005, le groupe se fait connaître en Europe centrale avec Traces of Sadness et Blue Tattoo, ce qui lui vaut d’être sélectionné pour représenter la Suisse pour le Concours Eurovision de la chanson 2005.
Vanilla Ninja est surtout connu en Estonie, en Allemagne, en Autriche, en Suisse et en Pologne, mais son audience croît dans le reste de l’Europe, ainsi qu’en Amérique (États-Unis, Brésil) ou en Asie (Japon). Le groupe cesse ses activités en 2008.
Reformé en 2020, le girls band participe au Concours Eurovision de la chanson 2026, à Vienne en Autriche, avec la chanson Too Epic to be True, pour l'Estonie.
Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Discography
Albums
- 2003 Vanilla Ninja
- 2004 Traces of Sadness
- 2005 Blue Tattoo
- 2006 Love Is War
- 2021 Encore
Singles
- 2003 Ballroom Blitz
- 2003 Guitar And Old Blue Jeans / Vanad Teksad Ja Kitarr
- 2003 Club Kung Fu
- 2003 I Know
- 2003 Blue Tattoo
- 2003 Tough Enough
- 2004 Heartless
- 2004 Don’t Go Too Fast
- 2004 Liar
- 2004 When the Indians Cry
- 2005 Cool Vibes
- 2005 Megamix
Show all (22)
- 2006 Dangerzone
- 2006 Rockstarz
- 2021 Gotta Get It Right
- 2021 No Regrets
- 2021 The Reason Is You
- 2021 Incredible
- 2022 Encore '22
- 2024 Sting of a Scorpion
- 2025 Too Epic to Be True / Are You Ready to Go
- 2026 Too Epic to Be True (ESC version)