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Italy’s pyjama party: Get comfy with Simone Grande

28 October 2024 at 16:30 CET
Simone Grand is representing Italy in Madrid Photo: Armani Davide; Baragli Cristiana; Brignoli Nicola; Cordelli Federico
Italy isn’t snoozing on Junior Eurovision 2024. Simone Grande is in his most comfortable clothes and is heading to Madrid with ‘Pigiama Party.’

Simone has been dancing since he was 4 years old with his big sister Noemi. And it wasn’t long before he found a love for singing. After a video of him performing at his parents’ wedding ceremony got spotted by producers at The Voice Kids, he was asked to audition for the show in 2023.

Simone Grand is representing Italy in Madrid Armani Davide; Baragli Cristiana; Brignoli Nicola; Cordelli Federico

For his audition, he sang L’Essenziale, the song which Italian Eurovision legend Marco Mengoni performed at Eurovision 2013.

Simone wasn’t only successful in the audition — he also won the show!

After his first success on a TV talent show, Simone released a single, which was another nod to Eurovision. He covered Brividi, the song that Mahmood and BLANCO represented Italy with at Eurovision 2022.

There’s a great songwriting team behind Pigiama Party, with music by Luxembourgish singer-songwriter and guitarist Alex Uhlmann, multi-platinum producer and composer Luca Mattioni, and singer-songwriter Paolo Meneguzzo. 

Paolo should be able to share a few tips with Simone too, as he represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 with the song Era Stupendo.

Simone Grand is representing Italy in Madrid Armani Davide; Baragli Cristiana; Brignoli Nicola; Cordelli Federico

When he’s not singing and dancing, Simone loves playing football. He’s been kicking a ball around since he was 8 years old. As he lives in Rozzano, a small town close to Milan, he’s a big supporter of the Inter Milan team. 

When he’s not playing the game himself, he likes to watch football videos on YouTube. And the best birthday present he ever received was an Inter Milan ball. His sporting hero is Argentine footballer Diego Maradona, considered as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

And what is Simone doing when he’s not singing, dancing, cooking or playing football? He said: “When I don’t sing, when I don’t play football, I go hiking.”

Simone’s all-time favourite track is the moving ballad, Adagio by Lara Fabian. He’s got two very good reasons. To begin with, it was the first song he ever learnt. Secondly, it was the song with which he won The Voice Kids.

Big sister Noemi gave Simone an introduction to dancing, and it was his mum who introduced him to the music of his favourite popstar, Michael Jackson. He describes how his mum is a really big fan of the Smooth Criminal singer, so he was the first artist Simone started listening to.

Simone also loves to cook, especially crêpes. If you’re offering out any home-cooked Italian food backstage Simone, we’re first in line for the spaghetti.

Simone hasn’t been to Madrid before, but he has been to another Spanish city — Barcelona. He had a brilliant time and no doubt he’ll have just as much fun on his Junior Eurovision trip. With all those pyjama parties going onlet’s hope he remembers his travel pillow.

You can learn more about Simone Grande from Italy right here.

Simone Grand is representing Italy in Madrid Armani Davide; Baragli Cristiana; Brignoli Nicola; Cordelli Federico

You can now stream the official #JESC2024 album and watch all 17 songs over on the official #JESC YouTube channel

Make sure to keep up to date with all the latest news and BTS action by following #JESC2024 on InstagramTikTok and Facebook, before Junior Eurovision returns LIVE from the Caja Mágica in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday 16 November.

You can watch the show live on the #JESC YouTube channel and don't forget to vote for your favourites over at JESC.TV when voting opens!