Wé McDonald (born January 13, 1999), known professionally as Wé Ani, is an American singer and songwriter. She finished in third place in the 11th season on NBC's talent singing competition The Voice on Team Alicia Keys. Her first single, "Dance The Night Away", debuted on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart at #50 on July 7, 2018, and reached its peak at #33 on July 28, 2018. It spent a total of seven weeks on the chart. "Dance The Night Away," written by Ani, Robert Eibach and David Longoria, featured remixes by producer Robert Eibach, ChudaBeats, HuDanz, DJ Chris Z and hi5. Her second single "Confession" peaked on the Billboard Club Songs chart on September 28, 2019. She finished in fifth place in the 21st season on ABC's talent singing competition American Idol. She is currently working on her debut album in Los Angeles, California.
Early life Wé Ani was born on January 23, 1999, in Harlem and was raised between there and New Jersey. She now uses Wé Ani as her name, saying that "Ani" is Swahili for "diligence".
Career
2016: The Voice Ani appeared on season 11 of NBC's The Voice, in the fall of 2016. She got a four chair turn during the auditions, and chose to be part of Alicia Keys's team on the show.
– Studio version of performance reached the top 10 on iTunes
StageSongOriginal ArtistDateOrderResultBlind Audition"Feeling Good"Nina SimoneSeptember 20, 20162.4All four chairs turned Joined Team AlicaBattle Rounds (Top 48)"Maybe" (vs. Lauren Diaz)The ChantelsOctober 10, 20167.6Saved by CoachKnockout Rounds (Top 32)"No More Drama" (vs. Courtnie Ramirez)Mary J. BligeOctober 26, 201611.5Live Playoffs (Top 24)"Home"Stephanie MillsNovember 7, 201615.3Saved by Public VoteLive Top 12"Take Me to Church"HozierNovember 14, 201616.7Live Top 11"Love on the Brain"RihannaNovember 21, 201618.11Live Top 10"God Bless the Child"Billie HolidayNovember 28, 201620.7Live Semi-finals (Top 8)"Scars to Your Beautiful"Alessia CaraDecember 5, 201622.6Live Finals (Top 4)"Don't Rain on My Parade"Barbra StreisandDecember 12, 201526.123rd place"Ave Maria" (with Alicia Keys)Traditional26.6"Wishes"Wé McDonald (original)26.3 +Non Competition Performances:OrderCollaboratorsSongOriginal Artist19.2Alicia Keys and Christian Cuevas"People Get Ready"The Impressions21.1Dolly Parton, Jennifer Nettles, Austin Allsup, Ali Caldwell, Christian Cuevas, Brendan Fletcher, Josh Gallagher, Aaron Gibson, Billy Gilman, Courtney Harrell, and Sundance Head"Circle of Love"Dolly Parton25.1Stevie Wonder, Ariana Grande, Austin Allsup, Ali Caldwell, Christian Cuevas, Brendan Fletcher, Josh Gallagher, Aaron Gibson, Billy Gilman, Courtney Harrell, Sundance Head, Sa'Rayah, Darby Walker"Faith"Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande25.3John Legend"Love Me Now"John Legend25.9Aaron Gibson, Brendan Fletcher, and Darby Walker"Love Lockdown"Kanye West
2023: American Idol Ani appeared on season 21 of ABC's American Idol, in the spring of 2023. She placed fifth overall in the competition.
Episode Theme Song Choice Original Artist Order Number Result Audition Auditioner's Choice "Anyone" Demi Lovato N/A Advanced Hollywood Round, Part 1 Contestant's Choice "Good For" Herself N/A Advanced Hollywood Round, Part 2 Group Performance "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)" (with PJAE) Blu Cantrell N/A Advanced Showstopper round/Top 55 Contestant's Choice "Ain't No Way" Aretha Franklin N/A Advanced Top 26 Contestant's Choice "Midnight Sky" Miley Cyrus N/A SafeTop 20 Contestant's Choice "Skyfall" Adele 20Safe "This is Me" The Greatest Showman 1 Top 12 Contestant's Choice "Something's Got a Hold on Me" Etta James 8 Safe Top 10 Judges' Choice(Luke Bryan) "I Have Nothing" Whitney Houston 3 SafeTop 7Alanis Morissette & Ed Sheeran song "Uninvited" Alanis Morissette 10Safe "Perfect" (with Warren Peay) Ed Sheeran 5Top 5Disney "Into the Unknown" Frozen 1Eliminated "The Climb" Hannah Montana: The Movie 6
+ Non-competition performances: Episode Collaborator(s) Song Original Artist Top 5 Top 5 with Sara Bareilles "When You Wish Upon a Star" Pinocchio Finale Top 12 with Pitbull & Lil Jon "Give Me Everything" Pitbull Top 12 with Lionel Richie "Sail On" Commodores Jazmine Sullivan "Bust Your Windows" Jazmine Sullivan
Discography Singles "Dance The Night Away" (2018) "Confession" (2019)
Disgusted Song House · 2023
Feeling Good The Complete Season 11 Collection (The Voice Performance) · 2016
The Standard The Standard · 2024 Good For? Frantic · 2023 To the Moon Frantic · 2023 Flowers Frantic · 2023
175 Lbs 175 Lbs · 2023 White Chocolate White Chocolate · 2021
Give Good Burger Back Good Burger 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) · 2023 Take Me to Church The Complete Season 11 Collection (The Voice Performance) · 2016
No More Drama The Complete Season 11 Collection (The Voice Performance) · 2016
Villain Outta Me Frantic · 2023
Maybe The Complete Season 11 Collection (The Voice Performance) · 2016
Won't Take Me Alive Won't Take Me Alive · 2023 Love Overtime Love Overtime · 2019 Broken Wings Broken Wings · 2019 Feel Good Good Burger 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) · 2023
If I Didn't Love You If I Didn't Love You · 2019
Don’t Rain On My Parade The Complete Season 11 Collection (The Voice Performance) · 2016
MR. MONTGOMERY MR. MONTGOMERY · 2022 Love on the Brain The Complete Season 11 Collection (The Voice Performance) · 2016
Wishes The Complete Season 11 Collection (The Voice Performance) · 2016
To Sir With Love To Sir With Love · 2020
Scars to Your Beautiful The Complete Season 11 Collection (The Voice Performance) · 2016
Ave Maria The Complete Season 11 Collection (The Voice Performance) · 2016
God Bless The Child The Complete Season 11 Collection (The Voice Performance) · 2016 'Zat You, Santa Claus? Trois Dame Christmas · 2019
Home The Complete Season 11 Collection (The Voice Performance) · 2016 When Christmas Comes to Town Trois Dame Christmas · 2019 This Christmas Trois Dame Christmas · 2019
Hardwood Hardwood · 2024
Head Up High Head Up High · 2018
Reception Dance The Night Away debuted on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart at #50 on July 7, 2018, and reached its peak at #33 on July 28, 2018. As of September 1, 2018, it was #28 on the Starfleet Music Dance Songs chart. Ani's second single "Confession" was released in the summer of 2019 and debuted at #40 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and peaked at #14 on September 28 where it stayed for two weeks. This is her highest Billboard charting song to date. This information is about a completely different singer named Ani, not We Ani.
References