A few months after representing Switzerland at Eurovision 2021, Gjon’s Tears has returned to his roots. On Saturday he appeared in the blind auditions of The Voice All-Stars in France. Gjon is returning to the show that helped bring him to public attention for its special anniversary season, which showcases the best-known former contestants.
In 2019, the French public discovered Gjon’s Tears — then 20 years old — and were captivated by his moving interpretation of the song “Christine” by Christine and The Queens. The young singer reached the semi-final of the competition with his coach Mika. After coming third at Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam, Gjon’s Tears decided to enter The Voice once more — a welcome opportunity to hit the stage following two years of concert cancellations.
The Voice All-Stars celebrates the 10th anniversary of the show. Thirteen of the most popular voices of the program have gathered in order to win the trophy for the most beautiful voice among the most beautiful voices. Another familiar name among them is Emmy Liyana, who you’ll remember from Destination Eurovision 2018, where she competed with the song “OK ou KO”.
Gjon’s Tears turns chairs on The Voice All-Stars
For his blind audition Gjon performed Yseult’s song “Corps”. As in 2019, the young man found himself alone on stage, accompanied only by his piano. In this intimate setting the singer delivered a moving interpretation, which led five coaches to turn their chairs.
“The Voice allowed me to know what I was worth in the music business…to return to the stage of The Voice brings back many memories. In season 8, I showed off on stage. This time I want to settle down and I want the coaches and viewers to be moved,” he said.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
From the first notes of the piano, his former coach Mika made clear he recognized the voice of his former protégé.
The singer Zazie was the first to turn her chair, followed closely by three of her colleagues. Taking advantage of a few extra seconds of blind listening, Patrick Fiori, the representative of France at Eurovision 1993, completed the picture.
Gjon had the rare honour of finishing his performance while looking at the entire judging panel.
Mika presented Gjon to the other coaches, introducing him to Florent Pagny, one of the coaches who wasn’t aware of him. Introductions done, Zazie revealed that she had followed the very first audition of Gjon from behind her television set and felt a deep connection to him. As for Mika, he expressed his pride:
“I was reading an English news site while drinking my coffee in the morning and all of a sudden I saw your face. And I saw that you were participating in Eurovision. I followed your journey, I listened to your song. I felt a lot of pride.”
Coach Florent Pagny congratulated the young singer for his ability to embody his songs emotionally — not just with the mastery and vocal accuracy that characterizes professional singers.
“You made me travel. Your voice is a spaceship,” Patrick Fiori said.
After thanking the coaches for their words, Gjon surprised many by choosing to join the team of Zazie, thus abandoning Mika, who had been his coach during his first participation.
“I honestly believe that my choice is already made — I want to try this adventure with Zazie,” he said.
A participation under certain conditions
The show is being broadcast in the fall of 2021, but it was filmed back in November 2020, long before Eurovision. Gjon did not have a music label at the time. He agreed to participate in the All-Stars version, but only if producers would help him find a record company.
Speaking to the French magazine Gala, Gjon explained the situation.
“When the production contacted me at the end of the summer, I had a long discussion with Bruno Berberes. It was at a time in my career when I really wanted to find a record company. I told him, ‘I’m willing to do the anniversary season of The Voice if you find me a label.””
Gjon subsequently met the founder of the production company Jo&Co, who eventually signed him. Satisfied, Gjon’s Tears accepted the chance to participate in The Voice All-Stars.
Will you follow Gjon’s Tears’ journey in The Voice All-Stars? Do you think he can win? Let us know in the comment box down below!
I know that this is three weeks after the fact, but Gjon (Team Zazie) and Emmy Liyana (Team Patrick Fiori) were paired up in the cross-battles this past Saturday. Emmy sang “Milord” by Edith Piaf, while Gjon went with “Smalltown Boy” by Bronski Beat. Gjon won with 67.3% of the public vote in their duel and advanced to the semis
I think either Switzerland or France would have won this year if there were only 1 of these two French songs were participating in the final, The results were split. giving them an overall 2 and 3 place. Quite remarkable yet wonderful 4 out of the top 5 songs were not in English. As for Gjon’s voice, beautiful should I say, he has a great career ahead of him,
I don’t understand… If this was recorded in November 2020, why they were speaking about eurovision with him?? Mika saying that he was very proud and was hearing the song etc
It’s about the song “Répondez-moi” from Gjon’s Tears for Eurovision in 2020.
def one of the most overated artists to ever show up at eurovsion lool. People just like his aesthetic and story
I think he’s not and you just don’t like him, so maybe say that instead.
you think he’s not. YOU do. exactly lol. and it is my orignal comment so yeah he is overrated. plain and simple. All he did was make a french version of arcade (literally used the same composer) and use his whole ethnic background to create some sob story lol
Switzerland should be more than thankful for the result they did not deserve. BUt that is what switzerland does: next year they will send a french rock song. They never do anything except follow a previous trend (even copied fuego)
btw you’ve literally responded to most of the comments on this post it seems. Do you not have a life? lmao people dont change their opinion just because some random person replies to every single comment smh
Because I read Wiwibloggs and sometimes go back to articles. So most of the people are wrong with liking him and you are the clever one. Everyone has a story and aesthetics, so what’s wrong with expressing it and liking it?
Good luck Gjon! He’ll definitely have the support needed by the voters, he could win this!
How come he had no record company when he was already releasing music videos in Albanian and chosen for ESC 2020 and later also competing in Eurovision 2021???
I think he signed after 2020.
A third familiar name participated also on Saturday night: Amalya Delepierre from The Divaz (Destination Eurovision 2019 finalist).
Corps is an absolute piece of art. I can’t express how I feel connected to this song since the end of 2019 now. And Yseult is an amazing singer/songwriter. She should be involved once again in Eurovision in some way after her appearance in Destination Eurovision 2019 for Chimène Badi.
ofc he’d pick Zazie! true Gjon fans know why!
clearly for ESC reasons, i want him or Emmy to win (OK ou KO might be my favorite NF song ever)!
Enlighten me
He’s a huge fanboy of Zazie.
Mika was already proud of him being picked for Eurovision. That was November. Brother, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
if I may, I think Mika was referring to the aborted participation of Gjon’s Tears in 2020 and the song ” Répondez-moi ” 🙂
I know! I was just saying, if he was already proud of him for that, imagine how much prouder he was when Gjon wound up finishing third and winning the jury vote!
Didn’t Mika say he hates Eurovision though?