Valentina (French singer)
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Short description|French singer (born 2009)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Valentina
| image = Valentina - Tronel.jpg
| caption = Valentina in 2020
| birth_name = Valentina Tronel
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2009|04|06|df=y}}
| birth_place = Rennes, France
| genre = {{hlist|Chanson|French pop}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer}}
| instrument = Vocals
| years_active = 2017–present
| label = {{hlist|M6 Interactions|Sony Music France}}
}}
Valentina Tronel (born 6 April 2009),{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSQFb-ONvLY&t=39s|title=KIDS UNITED BOX #VALENTINA|website=YouTube|publisher=Kids United|date=18 September 2019|access-date=29 November 2020}} known mononymously as Valentina, is a French singer. She rose to prominence after she won Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020, becoming the first French entrant to win the contest. Previously, in 2016, she took part in the French version of The Voice Kids. Between 2018 and 2021, she was part of the child pop group Kids United Nouvelle Génération.
Early life
Valentina was born in Rennes,{{cite web|title=Valentina, la petite fille qui rêve d'être chanteuse|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/bretagne/thorigne-fouillard-35235/valentina-la-petite-fille-qui-reve-d-etre-chanteuse-5386729|website=Ouest-France|date=16 November 2016|access-date=29 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/bretagne/rennes-35000/cesson-sevigne-une-foule-de-fans-pour-valentina-des-kids-united-5945582|title=Cesson-Sévigné. Une foule de fans pour Valentina, des Kids United|publisher=Ouest-France|date=1 September 2018|access-date=26 January 2021}} the capital of Brittany, northwestern France,{{cite book|title=Культура народов Причерноморья|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KikkAQAAIAAJ&q=%22города+Рен+(столицы+Бретани+-+северо-западной+провинции+Франции)%22|year=2002|publisher=Межвузовский центр "Крым"|language=ru}} and lives in Thorigné-Fouillard.{{cite web|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/bretagne/thorigne-fouillard-35235/a-11-ans-valentina-est-deja-citoyenne-d-honneur-de-thorigne-fouillard-7097238|title=Eurovision Junior. La gagnante Valentina faite citoyenne d'honneur de sa commune en Bretagne|website=Ouest-France|date=22 December 2020|access-date=18 January 2021}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.linternaute.com/musique/biographie/2527906-valentina-victoire-de-la-france-a-l-eurovision-junior-qui-est-la-jeune-chanteuse/|title=Valentina : une victoire spéciale pour la France à l'Eurovision Junior|first1=Lucie|last1=Valais|website=L'Internaute|date=30 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://tvmag.lefigaro.fr/programme-tv/eurovision-junior-2020-une-ancienne-candidate-de-the-voice-kids-representera-la-france_c68e1470-0a07-11eb-8a27-9d0d36010af7/|title=Eurovision Junior 2020 : découvrez la chanson de Valentina pour la France|website=Le Figaro|date=16 October 2020|access-date=20 January 2021}} She has an older brother.{{cite web|url=https://news.ebene-magazine.com/ebenemagazine-fr-rennes-la-bretonne-valentina-leurovision-junior-je-suis-fire-de-reprsenter-mon-pays-vido/|title=EbeneMagazine – FR – Rennes – La Bretonne Valentina à l'Eurovision Junior: "Je suis fière de représenter mon pays" [Vidéo]|website=Ebene Magazine|date=28 November 2020|access-date=1 December 2020}} Her mother is an Italian-language teacher{{cite web|url=http://wearekidsunited.com/|title=Kids United – Site Officiel {{!}} We Are Kids United|website=wearekidsunited.com|access-date=29 November 2020}} and her father is a real estate agent.{{cite web |url=https://www.letelegramme.fr/ille-et-vilaine/rennes/la-bretonne-valentina-a-l-eurovision-je-suis-fiere-de-representer-mon-pays-28-11-2020-12663682.php |title=La Bretonne Valentina à l'Eurovision Junior : " Je suis fière de représenter mon pays " [Vidéo]| website=Le Télégramme| date=28 November 2020 |access-date=1 December 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230100413/https://www.letelegramme.fr/ille-et-vilaine/rennes/la-bretonne-valentina-a-l-eurovision-je-suis-fiere-de-representer-mon-pays-28-11-2020-12663682.php |archive-date=30 December 2020}}
From her early childhood, Valentina was "surrounded by music";{{cite web|url=https://www.1jour1actu.com/culture/kids-united-nouvelle-generation-tout-pour-la-musique|title=Kids United Nouvelle Génération : tout pour la musique ! (Kids United Nouvelle Generation : 1jour1actu a rencontré Gloria et Valentina !)|website=1jour1actu|date=23 January 2019|access-date=1 December 2020}} she said; "I grew up in a family where everyone sang: my mother [sang] in bars, my father [did] Michael Jackson impressions. [...] Music has always been part of my life." She said she was probably two and a half when she sang her first song. Her mother sang her to sleep with Italian songs and the first songs Valentina sang were Italian.
Career
In 2016, Valentina took part in the fourth season of The Voice Kids France (2017) but she was rejected at the blind auditions stage. Valentina was the show's youngest contestant that season,{{cite web|url=https://www.lci.fr/tele/video-the-voice-kids-du-haut-de-ses-7-ans-valentina-a-litteralement-mis-les-coachs-jenifer-m-pokora-patrick-fiori-a-ses-pieds-2063274.html|title=VIDÉO – "The Voice Kids" : du haut de ses 7 ans, Valentina a littéralement mis les coachs à ses pieds|publisher=LCI|date=3 September 2017|access-date=25 January 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/culture/2125659-20170903-video-the-voice-kids-petite-valentina-7-ans-mis-jury-genoux|title=VIDEO. "The Voice Kids": La petite Valentina, 7 ans, a mis le jury à genoux|website=20minutes.fr|date=3 September 2017|access-date=25 January 2021}} she was seven when she applied for the show and when her blind audition was recorded, and eight on 2 September of the following year when the show was broadcast.
In 2018, Valentina joined the child musical group Kids United Nouvelle Génération, which is a "new generation" of the group Kids United.{{cite web|url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/centre-val-de-loire/loiret/orleans/eurovision-junior-clip-gagnante-francaise-valentina-tourne-orleans-1885456.html|title=Eurovision Junior : avec Valentina, la France gagne le concours de chanson. Son clip tourné à Orléans|publisher=France 3 Régions|date=29 November 2020|access-date=29 November 2020}} According to {{lang|fr|Le Figaro}}, her offer of a place there was due to her appearance on The Voice Kids, but according to Valentina, she and her mother sent a video of Valentina singing Kids United songs in response to an Internet advertisement for a music project; they later discovered the advertisement was for Kids United {{lang|fr|Nouvelle Génération|italic=no}} and that Valentina had been selected for the second round.
As its youngest member,{{cite web|url=https://www.dhnet.be/lifestyle/people/valentina-la-benjamine-5b7e89d75532aa26ebffc26a|title=Valentina la benjamine|website=DH Les Sports+|date=23 August 2018|access-date=30 November 2020}} Valentina became a mascot for the group.{{cite web |date=29 November 2020 |title=EBU – France wins 18th Junior Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.ebu.ch/news/2020/11/france-wins-18th-junior-eurovision-song-contest |access-date=30 November 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} As of 2020, she has recorded two albums with the group; {{lang|fr|Au bout de nos rêves}} was released in August 2018 and {{lang|fr|L'Hymne de la vie}} in November 2019. The group disbanded in 2021.
She has also been the voice actress of Liberty in the French adaptations of Paw Patrol: The Movie in 2021 and Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie in 2023.
= Junior Eurovision Song Contest =
On 9 October 2020, France Télévisions announced it had selected Valentina to represent France with a song titled "{{lang|fr|i=unset|J'imagine}}" at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, which was held in Warsaw, Poland, on 29 November.{{cite web|url=https://www.lci.fr/medias/programme-tv-eurovision-junior-2020-valentina-11-ans-representera-la-france-en-novembre-the-voice-kids-kids-united-2166806.html|title=Valentina, 11 ans, représentera la France à l'Eurovision Junior en novembre|publisher=LCI|date=9 October 2020|access-date=24 January 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ozap.com/actu/eurovision-junior-2020-valentina-kids-united-representera-la-france/597676|title=Eurovision Junior 2020 : Valentina (Kids United) représentera la France|website=Puremedias|date=9 October 2020|access-date=24 January 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/arts-stars/culture/2880911-20201009-eurovision-junior-2020-valentina-kids-united-representera-france|title=Eurovision Junior 2020 : Valentina des Kids United représentera la France|website=20 minutes|date=9 October 2020|access-date=24 January 2021}} On 16 October, the song was released as a single{{cite web |title=J'imagine – Single par Valentina sur Apple Music |url=https://music.apple.com/fr/album/jimagine/1535053410 |access-date=29 November 2020}} and a music video was unveiled on the same day.{{cite web|url=https://www.france.tv/jeux-et-divertissements/emissions-musicales/concours-eurovision-de-la-chanson-junior/2043011-valentina-j-imagine.html|title=Valentina – J'imagine – Extrait Concours Eurovision de la Chanson Junior en streaming|website=france.tv|date=16 October 2020|access-date=24 January 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telestar.fr/actu-tv/eurovision/eurovision-junior-2020-valentina-devoile-le-clip-de-sa-chanson-j-imagine-546830|title=Eurovision junior 2020 : Valentina dévoile le clip de sa chanson J'imagine|website=Télé Star|date=6 December 2020|access-date=24 January 2021}} As of October 20th 2024, the video has received 31 million views.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UDirQG7VRI|title=Valentina - J'imagine (Clip Officiel)|date=16 October 2020 |via=www.youtube.com}} Valentina won the contest with a score of 200 points, 48 more than second-placed Kazakhstan. This was France's first victory at the contest.{{cite web|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/arts-stars/culture/2919715-20201129-eurovision-junior-2020-valentina-triomphe-offre-france-premiere-victoire-concours|title=Eurovision Junior 2020: Valentina triomphe et offre à la France sa première victoire au concours|author=Fabien Randanne|website=20 minutes|date=29 November 2020|access-date=6 December 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/culture/musique/eurovision/la-france-remporte-l-eurovision-junior-pour-la-premiere-fois-avec-la-chanson-j-imagine-de-valentina_4200425.html|title=La France remporte l'Eurovision junior pour la première fois avec la chanson "J'imagine" de Valentina|website=francetvinfo.fr|date=29 November 2020|access-date=6 December 2020}}
In December 2022, she was selected as the spokesperson to announce the French jury results in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022 that would be held in Yerevan, Armenia.{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2022-12-11 |title=Junior Eurovision 2022: Who are the Spokespersons |url=https://eurovoix.com/2022/12/11/junior-eurovision-spokespersons/ |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}
Musical style and influences
Valentina's idol is Ariana Grande, who she said "has a wonderful voice". Her favorite of Grande's songs is "Love Me Harder". Valentina is also fond of the music of Celine Dion, Dadju, Maître Gims, Nolwenn Leroy, Louane, Patrick Fiori. Apart from singing, Valentina also raps in French. She also sings in Italian, in particular songs by her mother's favorite singer Laura Pausini. At her blind audition for The Voice Kids in 2016, Valentina performed Laura Pausini's "{{lang|it|i=unset|Tra te e il mare}}".{{cite web|url=https://tvmag.lefigaro.fr/programme-tv/de-the-voice-kids-a-l-eurovision-junior-qui-est-valentina-tronel_de27c7c2-3273-11eb-a035-192900994418/|title=De "The Voice Kids" à l'Eurovision Junior, qui est Valentina Tronel ?|website=Le Figaro|date=30 November 2020|access-date=30 November 2020}}
{{cite web|url=https://tv-programme.com/the-voice_emission/replay/valentina-quot-tra-te-e-il-mare-quot-laura-pausini_5d88a4315cb67|title=Replay The Voice du 02/09/2017 : Valentina – "Tra te e il mare" – Laura Pausini|website=TV-programme.com|date=2 September 2017|access-date=1 December 2020}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvUgPXfCrt4|title=Tra te e il mare – Laura Pausini {{!}} Valentina {{!}} The Voice Kids France 2017 {{!}} Blind Audition – YouTube|website=YouTube |date=4 September 2017 |access-date=30 November 2020}}
Discography
= Albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title !scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details !scope="col" colspan="1"| Charts |
| scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| FR {{cite web|url=https://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Valentina+%5BFR%5D|title=Discographie Valentina [FR]|website=lescharts.com|access-date=21 March 2025}} |
|---|
| scope="row" align="left"| Plus loin qu'un rêve
|
|rowspan="2"| 24 |
| scope="row" align="left"| Plus loin qu'un rêve (Édition de Noël) |
|
| scope="row" align="left"| La magie de Noël
|
| 45 |
| scope="row" align="left"| L'amour c'est pour les autres
|
| 102 |
= Singles =
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Album |
| align="center" rowspan="1"| 2020
| "{{lang|fr|i=unset|J'imagine}}" | rowspan="4"| Plus loin qu'un rêve |
| align="center" rowspan="1"|2021
| "{{lang|fr|i=unset|Y'a pas que les grands qui rêvent}}" |
| rowspan="3" align="center" |2022
|"Où es-tu là" |
| "Problème" |
| "All I Want for Christmas Is You"
|Plus loin qu'un rêve (Édition de Noël) |
| rowspan="3" align="center" |2023
| "En vrai" | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
| "Last Christmas" ft. Viki Gabor & Petar Aničić
|rowspan="2"|La magie de Noël |
| "La magie de Noël" |
| rowspan="3" align="center" |2024
|"Pas d'après" |rowspan="4"| L'amour c'est pour les autres |
| "Dis-le moi" |
| "L'amour c'est pour les autres" |
| 2025
|"T’es pas là" |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category inline}}
- [https://junioreurovision.tv/participant/valentina-2020 Valentina profile] on the Junior Eurovision official website
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box
| before = Viki Gabor
with "Superhero"
| title = Winner of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
| years = 2020
| after = Maléna
with "Qami Qami"
}}
{{succession box
| title = France in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
| years = {{Escyr|2020|Junior}}
| before = Carla
with "Bim bam toi"
}}
{{s-end}}
{{List of Junior Eurovision Song Contest winners}}
{{Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020}}
{{France in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{authority control}}
Category:21st-century French women singers
Category:Junior Eurovision Song Contest entrants
Category:Junior Eurovision Song Contest winners
Category:French women pop singers
Category:Italian-language singers of France