Kendji Girac facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kendji Girac |
|
|---|---|
Kendji in 2022
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kendji Jason Maillié |
| Born | 3 July 1996 Périgueux, Aquitaine, France |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels | Mercury |
Kendji Jason Maillié (born 3 July 1996), known simply as Kendji, is a popular French singer. He became famous after winning the third season of the music TV show The Voice: la plus belle voix. He was part of Team Mika. Since then, he has released five studio albums and many hit songs.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Music
Kendji grew up in Saint-Astier, France. He is the youngest in a Catalan Gitano family. The Gitano people are a group with a rich culture, known for their music and traditions. His grandfather taught him how to play the guitar and sing from a young age.
When he was 16, Kendji left school. He started working in his family's business, which involved taking care of trees. He often speaks Catalan with his parents.
Kendji first became known by sharing his music online. A video of him singing a special version of "Bella" by Maître Gims went viral. This means it became very popular and was watched by millions of people. He also uploaded a popular cover of "Si j'étais président" by Gérard Lenorman.
His Journey on The Voice
In 2014, Kendji auditioned for The Voice: la plus belle voix. He sang "Bella" by Maître Gims. Only one judge, Mika, turned his chair, choosing Kendji for his team. The other judges, Florent Pagny, Jenifer, and Garou, did not.
As the show continued, Kendji performed many different songs. He sang "Tous les mêmes" by Stromae and "Hotel California" by The Eagles. He also performed "Ma philosophie" by Amel Bent and "Mad World" by Tears for Fears. In the semi-finals, he sang "Belle" by Garou and Daniel Lavoie. He made it to the finals as Mika's chosen singer.
Music Career and Success
After winning The Voice, Kendji released his first official song, "Color Gitano". It was sung in both French and Spanish. His first album, also called Kendji, came out in September 2014.
In December 2014, he won two NRJ Music Awards. These are big music awards in France. He won for "Francophone Breakthrough of the Year" and "Color Gitano" was named "Francophone Song of the Year."
His first album, Kendji, sold over 600,000 copies by January 2015. By October 2015, it had sold over 1 million copies! This earned it a "Diamond" certification, meaning it sold a huge amount. It was the second best-selling album in France in 2014. Kendji is now the most successful winner of The Voice shows around the world.
His next song, "Andalouse", was even more popular. Other well-known songs include "Conmigo".
Kendji released his second album, Ensemble, in October 2015. Songs from this album include "Me Quemo", "Les yeux de la mama", and "No Me Mires Más" (with Soprano).
His third album, Amigo, came out in August 2018. It quickly became number one on the French music charts.
In August 2020, Kendji joined the judges' panel for The Voice Kids France. He was the first former contestant of the French Voice show to become a judge. He judged alongside Jenifer, Patrick Fiori, and Soprano.
Charity Work
In 2017, Kendji joined a famous charity group called Enfoirés. This group is made up of many popular artists. They hold yearly concerts to raise money for Restos du Coeur. This is a respected charity in France that provides meals to people in need.
Awards
| Year | Award | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | NRJ Music Awards/Francophone Song of the Year | "Color Gitano" |
| 2014 | NRJ Music Awards/Francophone Breakthrough of the Year | |
| 2015 | NRJ Music Awards/Nominated for Best French Male Artist of the Year | Album Kendji |
Filmography
- 2017: Chacun sa vie et son intime conviction
See also
In Spanish: Kendji Girac para niños
