Salvador Sobral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Salvador Sobral ComM
Sobral in 2024
Background information
Birth name	Salvador Vilar Braamcamp Sobral
Born	(1989-12-28) 28 December 1989 (age 35) Lisbon, Portugal
Genres	Alternative soul jazz
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals piano
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Valentim de Carvalho
Associated acts	Noko Woi Luísa Sobral Alexander Search

Salvador Vilar Braamcamp Sobral is a talented singer from Portugal. He became famous when he won the Eurovision Song Contest 2017. He won with the song "Amar pelos dois", which means "Love for Both of Us". His sister, Luísa Sobral, wrote and composed this beautiful song.

Salvador's win was very special for Portugal. It was the country's first victory in the contest since they started in 1964. This ended the longest time a country had waited to win Eurovision, which was 53 years! Salvador and his song also set a record. They earned the highest score ever in Eurovision history, with 758 points. He won both the jury vote (from music experts) and the public vote (from viewers).

Early Life and Education

Salvador Sobral was born in Lisbon, Portugal, on December 28, 1989. He grew up there for most of his life. His family has a history of nobility.

When he was ten years old, Salvador appeared on a TV show called Bravo Bravíssimo. Later, at age 20, he was one of the top ten finalists on Ídolos. This show is the Portuguese version of the famous Idols singing competition. On the show, he sang songs by artists like Stevie Wonder and Leonard Cohen.

Salvador first studied psychology at a university in Lisbon. But he decided to follow his passion for music instead. He then moved to Mallorca, Spain, as an Erasmus student. While there, he often sang in local bars.

Music Career Highlights

Starting with Ídolos

In 2009, Salvador competed in the third season of Ídolos. He finished in seventh place. His sister, Luísa Sobral, is also a singer. She had previously placed third in the first season of Ídolos.

Studying Music in Barcelona

After leaving his psychology studies, Salvador went to a music school in Barcelona, Spain. He finished his music studies there in 2014. In 2015, he performed at two music festivals in Portugal: Vodafone Mexefest and EDP Cool Jazz. During this time, he also traveled and performed in different cities in Spain.

Eurovision Win and Albums

Salvador Sobral performing with pianist Júlio Resende in Óbidos.

On August 2, 2016, Salvador released his first song, "Excuse Me." This was the first song from his first album, also called Excuse Me. The album reached number 10 on the Portuguese music charts.

In 2017, Salvador was chosen to compete in Festival da Canção 2017. This is the show where Portugal picks its Eurovision song. He won with "Amar pelos dois" and went on to represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017.

Salvador faced some health challenges before his Eurovision performance. His sister, Luísa, helped him by singing during the first rehearsals. Despite this, he won the final with a record-breaking 758 points.

In July 2017, he performed at the Super Bock Super Rock festival in Lisbon. He sang with the rock group Alexander Search. This band creates music inspired by the famous Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa.

In May 2018, Salvador performed his winning song "Amar pelos dois" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 final in Lisbon. He sang alongside the Brazilian musician Caetano Veloso.

On March 29, 2019, Salvador released his second album, Paris, Lisboa. He sings in four different languages on this album. His third album, BPM, came out on May 28, 2021. This album was even nominated for an award at the 22nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards.

Personal Life and Health

Salvador Sobral enjoys music from artists like Chet Baker and Brazilian singers such as Caetano Veloso. He is very good with languages and speaks six: Portuguese, Spanish, English, Catalan, French, and some Italian. He even started learning Swedish because he likes Swedish films.

Salvador married Belgian actress Jenna Thiam in Lisbon on December 29, 2018. They have one daughter.

Health Journey

On September 5, 2017, Salvador announced he would take a break from music due to health issues. He had a final concert on September 8. He explained that he needed time to focus on his health. On December 8, 2017, Salvador had a successful heart transplant. He left the hospital in January 2018. Doctors advised him to take it easy and avoid large crowds.

In October 2020, Salvador was diagnosed with COVID-19. He recovered well after staying isolated for 20 days.

Activism and Giving Back

Salvador Sobral wearing an "S.O.S. Refugees" shirt.

Salvador Sobral uses his platform to speak about important issues. At the Eurovision press conference, he wore an "S.O.S. Refugees" shirt. He said that since he had a European audience, he wanted to share a message of kindness. He explained that people coming to Europe are often refugees escaping danger, not just immigrants. He believes we should help create safe ways for them to reach new countries.

The EBU, which organizes Eurovision, asked him not to wear the shirt again. They said it was a "political message," which is against their rules. Salvador, however, felt it was a message about helping people, not politics.

Salvador also showed his generosity after wildfires in Portugal. On June 19, 2017, he announced that he would donate all the money from his CD sales at a concert in Ourém. This money went to help the people of Pedrógão Grande, a town badly damaged by fires.

More recently, Salvador and over 70 other former Eurovision contestants signed a letter. They asked for Israel to be excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Music Albums

Here are Salvador Sobral's main music albums:

Studio albums

• Excuse Me (2016)
• Paris, Lisboa (2019)
• BPM (2021)
• Timbre (2023)

Live albums

• Excuse Me (Ao Vivo) (2017)

EPs (shorter albums)

• SAL (2022)

Awards and Honors

• Commander of the Order of Merit (April 23, 2018). This is a special award given by the Portuguese president for his achievements. His sister, Luísa, also received this honor.

See also

In Spanish: Salvador Sobral para niños