Michał Szpak
{{short description|Polish singer (born 1990)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}{{Infobox musical artist
| image = Micha%C5%82%20Szpak,%20Polsat%20Superhit%20Festival%202023%2011.jpg
| caption = Szpak in 2023
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name =
| alias = Miszel, Miszanel, Majkel
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1990|11|26}}
| origin =
| instrument = Vocals
| genre = Rock, pop, operatic pop, soul, jazz, electronic
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
| years_active = 2009–present
| label = Universal Music Polska, Sony Music Entertainment Poland, Warner Music Poland
| associated_acts = Whiplash
| website = {{URL|http://michalszpak.pl/}}
}}
Michał Szpak (born 26 November 1990) is a Polish singer who found fame on the inaugural season of the Polish X Factor in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://xfactor.plejada.pl/|title=X Factor – Plejada.pl|website=xfactor.plejada.pl|access-date=29 June 2017}} On 12 May 2016, Szpak represented Poland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden with the song "Color of Your Life".{{cite web |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/multimedia/videos?id=202683 |title=Michał Szpak - Color of Your Life (Poland) 2016 Eurovision Song Contest | Video | Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2016-03-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315032404/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/multimedia/videos?id=202683 |archive-date=2016-03-15 }}
Early life
Michał was born in Jasło, a small town in southern Poland. His older sister Marlena is an Opera singer born from his father Andrzej Szpak's first marriage. His father then remarried, and Michał was born along with siblings Damian and Ewa. His parents split when Michał was 10. Because of this and a job offer, his mother moved to Italy. The Szpak children kept living in Poland with their father and visited their mother during holidays. His brother Damian became an early source of support for Michał due to his eccentricity. His early music influences included Queen, Muse, Zbigniew Preisner, David Bowie and Michael Jackson. As a high school student, together with his friend Kamil Czapla, Szpak was part of the hard rock band Whiplash.{{cite web|url=http://www.agencjaluxart.com/michal-szpak-whiplash/|title=Michał Szpak – Agencja Koncertowa LUXART|website=agencjaluxart.com|access-date=29 June 2017}} Over the years, he has admitted that unlike his older sister, he has never taken any formal music lessons. Szpak currently resides in Warsaw, where he is pursuing a psychology degree at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.{{cite web|url=http://www.lifestyle.newseria.pl/newsy/michal_szpak_krytyka_pod,p798763218|title=Michał Szpak: Krytyka pod moim adresem jest niekonstruktywna. Nikt nie jest w stanie zaprzeczyć temu, że potrafię śpiewać|website=www.lifestyle.newseria.pl|access-date=29 June 2017}}
Personal life
Szpak identifies as pansexual.{{cite web |title=Michał Szpak ujawnił, że jest panseksualny. "Seksualność to sfera, którą odkrywa się całe życie" — powiedział w jednym z wywiadów. Zobacz, kto jeszcze "zakochuje się w człowieku, a nie w jego płci"⬇️ |url=https://www.onet.pl/styl-zycia/plejada/michal-szpak-ujawnil-ze-jest-panseksualny-seksualnosc-to-sfera-ktora-odkrywa-sie-cale/qqh0zb6,d18cb688?_x_tr_hist=true |website=Onet.pl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822234911/https://www.onet.pl/styl-zycia/plejada/michal-szpak-ujawnil-ze-jest-panseksualny-seksualnosc-to-sfera-ktora-odkrywa-sie-cale/qqh0zb6,d18cb688?_x_tr_hist=true |archive-date=22 August 2024 |language=pl}}
Career
=2011–2014: Career beginnings and ''X Factor''=
On 6 March 2011, Szpak took part in Poland's first edition of The X Factor when he sang Czesław Niemen's classic "Dziwny jest ten świat" (Strange is the world). He eventually reached the final of the competition. On 5 June 2011, Szpak and 2008 British winner Alexandra Burke sang "Hallelujah" during the final.{{cite web |url=http://www.sam-pol.com/2011/06/alexandra-burke-michal-szpak-hallelujah.html |title=Sam-Pol: Alexandra Burke & Michal Szpak - Hallelujah - Live - X-Factor Poland Final |website=www.sam-pol.com |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613025836/http://www.sam-pol.com/2011/06/alexandra-burke-michal-szpak-hallelujah.html |archive-date=13 June 2011 |url-status=dead}} On 17 June 2011 he was part of the lineup for the Orange Warsaw Festival at Stadion Legii, which also included international artists such as Moby, Skunk Anansie, My Chemical Romance, Sistars, Plan B, The Streets and Jamiroquai.{{cite web|url=http://orangewarsawfestival.pl/artysci.html|title=Artyści – Orange Warsaw Festival|website=orangewarsawfestival.pl|access-date=29 June 2017}}
Between 4 September and 6 November 2011, Szpak participated in the 13th edition of Taniec z gwiazdami, the Polish version of Dancing with the Stars, where he was partnered with the Polish professional dancer Paulina Biernat. Together they reached 5th place in the competition. Szpak's debut EP, XI, was released by Universal Music Poland in December 2011.
On 7 December 2011, Szpak performed as a guest celebrity on the finale of the Top Model. Zostań modelką (Polish for Top Model. Become a Model) show, an ongoing Polish reality documentary based on Tyra Banks' America's Next Top Model.[http://www.tvn.pl/news/3244/view – TVN: ruszają castingi do programu top model] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630084457/http://www.tvn.pl/news/3244/view |date=2010-06-30 }}
In 2013, he was awarded first prize at the Russian song Festival in Zielona Gora for his performance of the famous Russian song titled "Dark Eyes" (Russian "Очи чёрные", Ochi chyornye).{{cite web|url=http://www.radiozet.pl/Rozrywka/O-tym-sie-mowi/Michal-Szpak-jedzie-na-Eurowizje.-Kim-jest-Michal-Szpak-00019714|title=Michał Szpak jedzie na Eurowizję. Kim jest Michał Szpak?|first=Redakcja Radia|last=ZET|website=Michał Szpak jedzie na Eurowizję. Kim jest Michał Szpak?|access-date=29 June 2017}}
=2015: ''Byle być sobą''=
File:Michał Szpak w Mińsku Mazowieckim.jpg, Poland (February 2016)]]
Byle być sobą (English: Only to be yourself) is the debut studio album by Szpak. It was released in Poland on 13 November 2015 through Sony Music Entertainment Poland. Titled as a reflection of his life and frame of mind at 24 years following the unexpected death of his mother, the album includes 12 songs performed in Polish as well as in English. The album, which was dedicated to the singer's mother has met with critical success in Poland.{{cite web|url=http://muzyka.onet.pl/newsy/premiera-albumu-michala-szpaka-byle-byc-soba/7h02n2|title=Premiera albumu Michała Szpaka "Byle być sobą"|date=13 November 2015|website=onet.pl|access-date=29 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302102911/http://muzyka.onet.pl/newsy/premiera-albumu-michala-szpaka-byle-byc-soba/7h02n2|archive-date=2 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} His flawless rendition of the song "Jesteś bohaterem" (English: "Real Hero") brought him first prize at the 2015 National Festival of Polish Song in Opole.{{cite web|url=http://www.empik.com/byle-byc-soba-szpak-michal,p1116483617,muzyka-p|title=Byle być sobą|website=www.empik.com|access-date=29 June 2017}}
=2016: Eurovision Song Contest=
File:ESC2016 - Poland Meet & Greet 07.jpg in Stockholm]]
Michał Szpak represented Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden with the song "Color of Your Life". He was selected by televote, beating world-famous Polish performer Margaret, who came second, and another accomplished singer, Edyta Górniak, who placed third; he collected 35.5% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovisionary.com/poland-sends-michal-szpak-eurovision-2016/|title=Poland sends Michał Szpak to Eurovision 2016|date=5 March 2016|website=eurovisionary.com|access-date=29 June 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=michal_szpak_with_color_of_your_life_for_poland|title=Michał Szpak with "Color Of Your Life" for Poland!|last=Omelyanchuk|first=Olena|date=5 March 2016|access-date=5 March 2016 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union|website=eurovision.tv}} This was the first time Poland had held a competition to choose its entry since its return in 2014. The Eurovision pre-selection show took place on 5 March 2016 at the TVP Headquarters in Warsaw and was hosted by Artur Orzech.
To promote his Eurovision Song Contest entry, Szpak took part in the Eurovision Concert Tour in London (17 April 2016), Tel Aviv (12 April 2016), Amsterdam (9 April 2016) and later Portugal.{{cite web |url=http://eurovisioninconcert.nl/news/item/309-welcome-poland |title=Welcome Poland! |access-date=2016-04-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410011825/http://eurovisioninconcert.nl/news/item/309-welcome-poland |archive-date=2016-04-10 }}{{cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2016/04/05/poland-michal-szpak-films-eurovision-postcard/|title=Poland: Michał Szpak Films Eurovision Postcard|first=Anthony Granger • 1 year|last=ago|date=5 April 2016|website=eurovoix.com|access-date=29 June 2017}}
On 12 May, Szpak performed in the first half of the second Eurovision semi-final. Following his live semi-final performance of "Color of Your Life", he made it through to the grand final. On 14 May, he performed 12th in the running order, between the Eurovision contestants from France and Australia.
{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=113running_order_for_grand_final_revealed|title=Running order for the 2016 Grand Final revealed|website=eurovision.tv|access-date=29 June 2017}} All in all, Szpak won 3rd place from the public televoting and ended up benefiting from the new voting system. Despite being in second to last place with the juries, he leapt from seven points to 229 when public votes were added, and finished eighth overall.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36295298|title=In pictures: Eurovision Song Contest 2016|work=BBC News|date=15 May 2016|access-date=29 June 2017}}
=2017–2022: Judge at ''The Voice of Poland'' and ''Dreamer''=
File:Michał Szpak, Sopot Top of the Top Festival 2022, dzień 2 05.jpg Festival 2022]]
After finishing in 8th place in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm, Michał Szpak has gone on to become a coach on The Voice of Poland replacing Natalia Kukulska. In 2017 he was the winning coach in his debut season with The Voice, promoting the winner, Marta Gałuszewska.
In 2018 he released his second studio album titled Dreamer. The songs from the album have achieved huge success on YouTube, each receiving well over a million views. In November 2018 he released his latest single, titled "Dreamer (Thanks to You My Friend)". The song is about being strong, moving on and chasing your dreams with the help of your friends and loved ones. His previous singles from the album, "King of the Season" and "Rainbow", have received 3.1m and 2.4m views on YouTube respectively.{{Cite web|url=https://www.escxtra.com/2018/11/18/michal-szpak-dreamer-thanks-to-you-my-friends/|title=Michał Szpak releases new single: 'Dreamer (Thanks to You My Friends)'|date=18 November 2018}}
=2023–present: ''Nadwiślański mrok'' - the third studio album=
File:Michał Szpak, Polsat Superhit Festival 2023 04.jpg
Nadwiślański mrok is the third studio album by Michał Szpak. It was released on 24 November 2023, by the Warner Music Poland music label. The album is in the style of pop-rock music and consists of the standard version (1 CD). The recordings were promoted with the singles: "Hiob (Preludium)", "Bondage", "Warszawianka (mrok)", "Gaja"and "Smutek".
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| XI
|
|
| scope="row"| Dreamer EP
|
|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Sales ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| POL Peak chart positions for singles in Poland:
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| AUT ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| FRA |
| scope="row"| "Po niebo"
| rowspan="2"| 2011 | — || — || — | | | rowspan="2"| XI |
| scope="row"| "Rewolucja"
| — || — || — | | |
| scope="row"| "Jesteś bohaterem/Real Hero"
| rowspan="3"| 2015 | — || — || — |
| | rowspan="6"| Byle być sobą |
| scope="row"| "Byle być sobą"
| — || — || — | | |
| scope="row"| "Such Is Life"
| — || — || — | | |
| scope="row"| "Color of Your Life"
| rowspan="2"| 2016 | 34 || 66 || 156 |
| |
| scope="row"| "Rosanna"
| — || — || — | | |
| scope="row"| "Tic Tac Clock"
| rowspan="2" | 2017 | — || — || — | | |
| scope="row"| "Don't Poison Your Heart"
| 35 || — || — | | | rowspan="4"| Dreamer |
| scope="row"| "King of the Season"
| rowspan="3" |2018 | — || — || — | | |
| scope="row"| "Rainbow"
| — || — || — | | |
| scope="row"| "Dreamer (Thanks To You My Friends)"
| — || — || — | | |
| scope="row"| "Polska to kobieta" {{small|(with Swiernalis)}} | 2020 | — || — || — | | | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Hiob"
| 2021 | — || — || — | | | Nadwiślański mrok |
| scope="row"| "Halo wodospad"
| rowspan="3"| 2022 | — || — || — | | | rowspan="2" {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "24na7"
| — || — || — | | |
| scope="row"| "Warszawianka (mrok)"
| — || — || — | | | rowspan="4"| Nadwiślański mrok |
| scope="row"| "We Need a Coco"
| rowspan="2"| 2023 | — || — || — | | |
| scope="row"| "Smutek (a może mniej)"
| — || — || — | | |
| scope="row"| "Bondage"
|2024 | — || — || — | | |
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%;"| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or were not released. |
=As featured artist=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col"| Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Zanim" {{small|(Barbara Wrońska featuring Michał Szpak)}} | 2020 | Music 4 Queers & Queens |
| scope="row"| "Żegnam cię mój świecie wesoły" {{small|(Polskie Znaki featuring Michał Szpak)}} | 2021 | Rzeczy ostatnie |
| scope="row"| "Opio" {{small|(Koza and Molehead featuring Michał Szpak and Adi Nowak)}} | 2024 | Kusz |
=Promotional singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col"| Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Gaja"
| 2023 | Nadwiślański mrok |
Tours
- XI Tour (2012)
- Color of Your Life Tour (2016–2017){{Cite web|url=https://scontent.fwaw3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13620252_1195877533798181_2565074049140895160_n.jpg?oh=452b46ba0f821fa8d1092f18852593ca&oe=57FC1FE5|title=Michal Szpak's summer tour|publisher=Michał Szpak|access-date=2016-07-06}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- Classica Tour (2018){{Cite web|url=http://wyspa.fm/news/138054/michal-szpak-i-classica-tour-w-najwiekszych-polskich-miastach|title=Michał Szpak i "Classica Tour" w największych polskich miastach!|publisher=wyspa.fm|access-date=2018-05-15|language=pl}}
- Love is Love Tour (2023)
Awards and nominations
- 2011: Polish Edition of The X Factor – second place
- 2011: Poland Style & Design Awards for Creative Performance & Achievement Emerging Talent{{cite web|url=http://www.psda.pl/ |title=Poland style+design awards |access-date=2011-11-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118035954/http://www.psda.pl/ |archive-date=2011-11-18 }}
- 2013: Golden Samovar – Russian Song Festival 2013 in Zielona Góra
- 2015: Super Premieres – 1st Prize at the 52. National Festival of Polish Song in Opole{{cite web|url=http://www.tvp.info/20456220/michal-szpak-wygrywa-opolski-koncert-superpremier-2015|title=Michał Szpak wygrywa opolski koncert SuperPremier 2015!|website=tvp.info|date=14 June 2015 |access-date=29 June 2017}}
- 2016: Winner of the Polish national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest
- 2016: Eighth place on the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm{{cite web |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/year/participant-profile/?song=33833 |title=Michał Szpak - Color of Your Life (Poland 2016) | Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=2016-07-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628123728/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/year/participant-profile/?song=33833 |archive-date=2016-06-28 }}
- 2016: Personality of The Year – grand gala "Plejady Gwiazd"{{cite web|url=http://plejada.pl/newsy/michal-szpak-osobowoscia-roku/07s8df|title=Michał Szpak "Osobowością roku"|date=19 May 2016|website=plejada.pl|access-date=29 June 2017}}
- 2016: Superartist and Grand Prix Opole 2016 Award at the 53. National Festival of Polish Song in Opole{{cite web|url=http://festiwalopole.tvp.pl/24375923/opole-2016|title=Opole 2016|website=festiwalopole.tvp.pl|access-date=29 June 2017}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://michalszpak.pl/}} {{in lang|pl}}
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{{succession box
| before=Monika Kuszyńska
with In the Name of Love
| title=Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest
| years=2016
| after=Kasia Moś
with Flashlight
}}
{{s-end}}
{{X Factor (Poland)}}
{{Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=autocollapse}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 2016|state=autocollapse}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Szpak, Michal}}
Category:English-language singers from Poland
Category:21st-century Polish male singers
Category:21st-century Polish singers
Category:SWPS University alumni