Jérémie Makiese

Jérémie Makiese
Born (2000-06-15) 15 June 2000 (age 24)
Antwerp, Belgium
OriginUccle, Belgium
Occupations
  • Singer
  • footballer
Years active2021–present

Jérémie Makiese (French pronunciation: [ʒeʁemi makjese, -eze];[1][2] born 15 June 2000[3]) is a Belgian singer and footballer, who rose to fame after winning The Voice Belgique 2021. He represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with the song "Miss You".[4]

Early life

Makiese was born in Antwerp to Congolese parents. At 6 years old he and his family (including his three brothers and sister) moved to Sint-Agatha-Berchem, then to Dilbeek a few years later, spending his childhood between the two municipalities, where he learned to speak both Dutch and French. They finally settled in Uccle.[5][6][7]

Makiese took up singing from both of his parents (his mother also playing the tam-tam), starting in a church choir at a young age and later moving on to singing lessons at school, where he took part in, and won, a contest.[5][6]

Musical career

2021: The Voice Belgique

Makiese auditioned for season nine of The Voice Belgique performing Labrinth's "Jealous", with all four coaches turning for him. He chose to join Beverly Jo Scott's team. In April 2021, he won the show.[8]

The Voice Belgique Performances
Song Original Artist(s) Notes
Blind Audition "Jealous" Labrinth Four-chair turn, joins Team BJ Scott
Duel "You Say" Lauren Daigle Won against Astrid Cuylits
Live Shows "You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You" James Arthur
"Ça fait mal" Christophe Maé
"Feels Like Rain" Buddy Guy With B.J. Scott, Elsa Puls, and Mateo Rodriguez
"Say Something" A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera
Semifinal "Ma philosophie" Amel Bent With Amel Bent and Sonita Ojong
"Leave the Door Open" Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)
Final "Stop This Flame" Celeste With the other finalists
"Earth Song" Michael Jackson
"Nous" Julien Doré With Julien Doré and Sonita Ojong
"Revival" Gregory Porter Duet with B.J. Scott
"Jealous" Labrinth

2022: Eurovision Song Contest

On 15 September 2021, broadcaster Radio-télévision belge de la Communauté française (RTBF) announced that they had internally selected Makiese to represent Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy.[9]

Artistry

Influences

Makiese cited Michael Jackson, Otis Redding, Gregory Porter, James Brown, Bill Withers and Aretha Franklin among his inspirations, as well as Damso and Stromae.[7][10]

Personal life and other activities

Makiese has reportedly always had an interest in football: at the age of 13, he started to play as a goalkeeper for BX Brussels. In September 2021, he signed a one-year contract with Excelsior Virton, after playing with Jeunesse Molenbeek, Royal Wallonia Walhain, and briefly with La Louvière Centre in summer 2021.[5][6][7][11][12]

Following his success at The Voice Belgique, Makiese took a break from his higher studies in geology to focus on his singing and sports careers.[5][6]

Discography

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
BEL
(Fl)
[13] 		BEL
(Wa)
[14] 		LTU
[15] 		NLD
Tip
[16] 		SWE
Heat.
[17]
"Miss You" 2022 1 3 17 11 12 Non-album singles
"Oasis" 2023 — 38 — — —
"Saint-Honoré" 2024 — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

  1. ^ Mael (2 February 2021). Jeremie Makiese - Le Face Cam. DCLIK! (video) (in French). Event occurs at 0:25. Retrieved 16 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ "Jeremie Makiese représentant de la Belgique à l'Eurovision 2022 : "J'ai pensé qu'on me faisait une blague"". Le 8/9 (video) (in French). VivaCité (RTBF). 15 September 2021. Event occurs at 2:35. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  3. ^ Makiese, Jérémie [@jeremiemakiese.off] (20 June 2021). "Bon dimanche✨🕊 C'était mon anniversaire cette semaine merci pour tout vos souhaits . Love ❤️" (in French). Retrieved 14 September 2021 – via Instagram.
  4. ^ "Eurovision 2022 Belgium: Jérémie Makiese - "Miss You"". Eurovisionworld. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Belgium reveals the first artist for Eurovision 2022 🇧🇪". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 15 September 2021. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Gallagher, Robyn (15 September 2021). "Confirmed! The Voice Belgique champion Jérémie Makiese will represent Belgium at Eurovision 2022". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Christophe, Sam (18 April 2021). "Jérémie Makiese, gagnant de The Voice: "Je suis peut-être rétro, mais pas que ça!"". Sudinfo.be (in French). Sudpresse. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  8. ^ Saint-Amand, François (14 April 2021). "Jérémie Makiese, gagnant de The Voice Belgique : "Je suis venu avec une question, BJ a donné la réponse"". RTBF (in French). Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Jérémie Makiese (The Voice) défendra les couleurs de la Belgique à l'Eurovision". RTBF Culture (in French). RTBF. 15 September 2021. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  10. ^ Vrancken, Cliff (15 September 2021). "Winnaar van "The voice Belgique" Jérémie Makiese naar het Eurovisiesongfestival". VRT NWS (in Dutch). VRT. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Blessure du portier Molenbeekois Jeremie Makiese". Académie Jeunesse Molenbeek (in French). 8 December 2019. Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  12. ^ Lefebvre, Bertrand (7 July 2021). "N1: Jérémie Makiese, vainqueur de The Voice, à l'essai à La Louvière Centre". La Nouvelle Gazette [fr] (in French). Sudpresse. Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  13. ^ "Discografie Jérémie Makiese" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Discographie Jérémie Makiese" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  15. ^ "2022 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 20 May 2022. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Dutch Single Tip 21/05/2022". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 20". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Charlotte Foret
 The Voice Belgique winner
2020-21 		Succeeded by
Alec Golard
Preceded by Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest
2022 		Succeeded by