Kevin Borg
Encyclopedia
Kevin James Borg is a Maltese
pop singer
who lives and works in Sweden
. Borg rose to musical fame as the winner of the fifth series
of the Swedish singing competition Idol
in 2008. He was the third male winner and the first in the show's history to be born outside of Sweden, having moved there exactly one year before he was declared winner.
". His collaboration with composer Jason Cassar has led him to participate twice in both the Maltese selection for Eurovision Song Contest
and the Malta International TV Song Festival in 2006 and 2007. He was a resident singer in the television programme Kalamita (2006–2007). Borg has also performed songs with noted Maltese singers Claudia Faniello
and Olivia Lewis
.
He was also a rather talented footballer, playing for Floriana FC. Borg's grandfather, Lolly De Battista, was the first Maltese footballer to win the prestigious Footballer of the Year Award.
In December 2007 Borg moved to Arvidsjaur
in the north of Sweden
to live with his Swedish girlfriend. During the fall 2008 he auditioned for the fifth season
of the Swedish singing contest Idol
. Although he made it through to the final 12 live finals, Borg was not originally among the competition's front-runners. However, his strong performances caused a rapid growth in his popularity with viewers week by week. After making it to the final 2 and performing at Stockholm's Globen Arena before a live audience of 16,000 people, Borg was declared the fifth Swedish Idol on December 12, 2008, defeating Alice Svensson
with 60% of the votes. Throughout the live finals, Borg had never fallen into the bottom three contestants.
TV4 received some criticism for including Borg, as he was already an established singer on Malta before his participation in Swedish Idol.
was released one week after he had won the contest. The song was a hit in Sweden
, where it debuted at no. 1 and stayed on top of the charts for two consecutive weeks.
The album was originally slated for release in February, but since Borg was at that time working on his music video for Street Lights the album was pushed back by a week.
Borg made a nation-wide tour in the spring and summer of 2009 in Sweden, with the tour starting off in Gislaved
, a smaller town in the southern county of Jönköping
, Småland
.
In October 2011 Borg released his new single "Unstoppable", in support of the Breast Cancer Foundation in Sweden.
Malta Song for Europe
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
pop singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
who lives and works in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Borg rose to musical fame as the winner of the fifth series
Idol 2008
The fifth season of Swedish Idol premiered on September 3, 2008 and continued until its grand finale on 12 December, when 22-year-old Kevin Borg was crowned winner. It was the first season to feature new judges Laila Bagge, Anders Bagge and Andreas Carlsson, a move that made it the first Idol...
of the Swedish singing competition Idol
Idol (Sweden)
Idol is a Swedish reality-competition talent show airing on TV4. It debuted in August 2004, and it has since become one of the most popular shows on Swedish television...
in 2008. He was the third male winner and the first in the show's history to be born outside of Sweden, having moved there exactly one year before he was declared winner.
Early life
Borg was born and raised in Floriana, Malta. He discovered his love for singing as a child when he performed the lead role in the school musical "Oliver TwistOliver Twist
Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, published by Richard Bentley in 1838. The story is about an orphan Oliver Twist, who endures a miserable existence in a workhouse and then is placed with an undertaker. He escapes and travels to...
". His collaboration with composer Jason Cassar has led him to participate twice in both the Maltese selection for Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
and the Malta International TV Song Festival in 2006 and 2007. He was a resident singer in the television programme Kalamita (2006–2007). Borg has also performed songs with noted Maltese singers Claudia Faniello
Claudia Faniello
- Biography :Claudia was born and raised in Malta, along with her siblings Fabrizio and Miriana. At the age of 12, Claudia began to participate in a variety of television shows and participating also in many festivals and placing in top positions. In 2001, at the Phoenicia Hotel in Malta, she won...
and Olivia Lewis
Olivia Lewis
For the comic book character, see Menagerie.Olivia Lewis, born 18 October 1978, is a singer from Qormi, Malta. She has competed 11 consecutive times in the Malta Song For Europe festival, which selects the country's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest...
.
He was also a rather talented footballer, playing for Floriana FC. Borg's grandfather, Lolly De Battista, was the first Maltese footballer to win the prestigious Footballer of the Year Award.
Idol 2008
Arvidsjaur
Arvidsjaur is a locality and the seat of Arvidsjaur Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 4,644 inhabitants in 2005.Arvidsjaur is a large centre for the European car industry. During the winter months major car-manufacturers perform arctic trials in the Arvidsjaur Municipality area...
in the north of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
to live with his Swedish girlfriend. During the fall 2008 he auditioned for the fifth season
Idol 2008
The fifth season of Swedish Idol premiered on September 3, 2008 and continued until its grand finale on 12 December, when 22-year-old Kevin Borg was crowned winner. It was the first season to feature new judges Laila Bagge, Anders Bagge and Andreas Carlsson, a move that made it the first Idol...
of the Swedish singing contest Idol
Idol (Sweden)
Idol is a Swedish reality-competition talent show airing on TV4. It debuted in August 2004, and it has since become one of the most popular shows on Swedish television...
. Although he made it through to the final 12 live finals, Borg was not originally among the competition's front-runners. However, his strong performances caused a rapid growth in his popularity with viewers week by week. After making it to the final 2 and performing at Stockholm's Globen Arena before a live audience of 16,000 people, Borg was declared the fifth Swedish Idol on December 12, 2008, defeating Alice Svensson
Alice Svensson
Alice Cecilia Linh Svensson is a Swedish singer and Idol 2008 1-runner up. Svensson was adopted from Vietnam and moved to Sweden with her family when she was 10 months old she has since resided in Hedesunda.- Beginnings :...
with 60% of the votes. Throughout the live finals, Borg had never fallen into the bottom three contestants.
TV4 received some criticism for including Borg, as he was already an established singer on Malta before his participation in Swedish Idol.
Idol Performances
- Top 11 Idol 5 years celebration: "Natalie" by Ola SvenssonOla SvenssonOla Nils Håkan Svensson , professionally known simply as Ola, is a Swedish pop singer born in Lund in the southern region of Skåne, Sweden. He first appeared on Idol in 2005. He has sold over 135 000 records in Sweden and his songs have been played on the radio just under 200,000 times in Sweden...
- Top 10 '90s: "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To YouAll I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You"All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You" is a song recorded by American rock band Heart. It was composed by veteran songwriter and producer Robert Lange and released as the first single from the band's tenth studio album Brigade, as well as their first hit single of the 1990s...
" by HeartHeart (band)Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music... - Top 9 ABBA: "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! ", originally titled "Been and Gone and Done It", is one of Swedish pop group ABBA's biggest disco hits. It was recorded and released in 1979 with "The King Has Lost His Crown" as the B-side. It appears on ABBA's Greatest Hits Vol...
- Top 8 Schlager: "Lyssna till ditt hjärta" by FriendsFriends (group)Friends were a Swedish dansband or pop group formed in 1999 and made up of Stefan Brunzell, Tony Haglund, Kristian Hermanson, Nina Inhammar, Kim Kärnfalk and Peter Strandberg. They were put together from auditions on the reality television show Friends på turne , made by Bert Karlsson for TV4...
- Top 7 Rock: Livin' on a PrayerLivin' on a Prayer"Livin' on a Prayer" is Bon Jovi's second single from their Slippery When Wet album. Written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora with Desmond Child, the single, released in late 1986, was well-received at both rock and pop radio and its music video was given heavy rotation at MTV, giving the band...
" by Bon JoviBon JoviBon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald... - Top 6 Soul & Duets: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm YoursSigned, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" is a soul single by American musician Stevie Wonder, recorded for Motown's Tamla label. Released in June 1970, the song spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number three on the U.S. Pop chart...
" by Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist... - Top 6 Soul & Duets: "(I've Had) The Time of My Life(I've Had) The Time of My Life" The Time of My Life" is a song composed by Franke Previte, John DeNicola, and Donald Markowitz. It was recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, after having been selected to be the finale song for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, by choreographer Kenny Ortega and his assistant Miranda Garrison...
" by Bill MedleyBill MedleyWilliam Thomas Medley is an American singer and songwriter, best known as one half of The Righteous Brothers....
& Jennifer WarnesJennifer WarnesJennifer Jean Warnes is an American singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. She is known for her interpretations of compositions written by herself and many others, as well as an extensive playlist as a vocalist on movie soundtracks.Between 1979 and 1987 Warnes surpassed Frank Sinatra as... - Top 5 Love: "If Tomorrow Never ComesIf Tomorrow Never Comes"If Tomorrow Never Comes" served as the first single from Irish singer/songwriter Ronan Keating's second studio album, Destination. The song was produced by Steve Mac. The song peaked at #1 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as making the Top 10 in Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Germany,...
" by Ronan KeatingRonan KeatingRonan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and... - Top 5 Love: "In the ShadowsIn the Shadows (song)-Revamped version:Siiri Nordin from the Finnish band Killer collaborates on the revamped version of "In the Shadows".-Peak positions:-End of year charts:-Certifications:-External links:* *...
" by The RasmusThe RasmusThe Rasmus are a Finnish rock band that formed in 1995 in Helsinki while the band members were still in upper comprehensive school. The original band members were Lauri Ylönen , Eero Heinonen , Pauli Rantasalmi and Janne Heiskanen... - Top 4 Gospel: "Higher and Higher(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" Higher and Higher" is a hit R&B song originally performed by Jackie Wilson in 1967. The song was notably recorded by Rita Coolidge in 1977.-Overview:...
" by Jackie WilsonJackie WilsonJack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history... - Top 4 Gospel: "The Way You Make Me FeelThe Way You Make Me Feel"The Way You Make Me Feel" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. Released by Epic Records in November 1987, it was the third single from Jackson's seventh studio album Bad. Written and composed by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones , the song is credited as being a pop and R&B...
" by Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records... - Top 3 Judge's Choice: "Livin' la Vida LocaLivin' la Vida Loca"Livin' la Vida Loca" is a song by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. It was released on March 23, 1999 from Martin's self-titled debut English album. The song was composed by Desmond Child and Draco Rosa and topped the charts during 1999...
" by Ricky MartinRicky MartinEnrique "Ricky" Martín Morales , better known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican and Spanish pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991.During his career he has sold more than 60 million album copies worldwide... - Top 3 Judge's Choice: "Hot In Here" by NellyNellyCornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...
- Top 2 Grand Finale: "You're the VoiceYou're the VoiceAs a lead promotion for their first live album Rock the House Live! in 1991, US rock band Heart released their live version of "You're the Voice" as a single. It was captured during the US leg of their Brigade world tour in November 1990...
" by John FarnhamJohn FarnhamJohn Peter Farnham, AO, formerly billed as Johnny Farnham , is an English-born Australian pop singer. He was a teen pop idol from 1964 to 1979, and has since forged a career as an adult contemporary singer. His career has mostly been as a solo artist although he briefly replaced Glenn Shorrock as... - Top 2 Grand Finale: "Livin' on a PrayerLivin' on a Prayer"Livin' on a Prayer" is Bon Jovi's second single from their Slippery When Wet album. Written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora with Desmond Child, the single, released in late 1986, was well-received at both rock and pop radio and its music video was given heavy rotation at MTV, giving the band...
" by Bon JoviBon JoviBon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald... - Top 2 Grand Finale: "With Every Bit of MeWith Every Bit of Me"With Every Bit of Me" is a Swedish English language single by Maltese-Swedish singer Kevin Borg, winner of the Swedish version of Idol in its fifth season in 2008. The single debuted at number one on the Swedish Single Charts on 18 December 2009 and remained there for four weeks, making it both...
" by Kevin Borg - Declared 5th Swedish Idol
2008: Debut single
After having won the Swedish Idol 2008 Borg signed a recording contract with Sony BMG. Borg's coronation song With Every Bit of MeWith Every Bit of Me
"With Every Bit of Me" is a Swedish English language single by Maltese-Swedish singer Kevin Borg, winner of the Swedish version of Idol in its fifth season in 2008. The single debuted at number one on the Swedish Single Charts on 18 December 2009 and remained there for four weeks, making it both...
was released one week after he had won the contest. The song was a hit in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, where it debuted at no. 1 and stayed on top of the charts for two consecutive weeks.
2009: First album: The Beginning
On March 4, 2009, Borg officially released his album The Beginning in Sweden. The album reached no. 3 in the charts in Sweden and was certified gold. Borg also released his second single off of the album, entitled Street Lights. The single reached no. 10 in Sweden.The album was originally slated for release in February, but since Borg was at that time working on his music video for Street Lights the album was pushed back by a week.
Borg made a nation-wide tour in the spring and summer of 2009 in Sweden, with the tour starting off in Gislaved
Gislaved
Gislaved may refer to:*Gislaved Municipality in Sweden*Gislaved, Sweden, the seat of Gislaved Municipality*Gislaved , a former Swedish tyre manufacturer*Gislaveds IS, a Swedish football club...
, a smaller town in the southern county of Jönköping
Jönköping
-Notable people:*Lillian Asplund, RMS Titanic survivor*John Bauer, illustrator, painter*Amy Diamond, singer*Agnetha Fältskog, ABBA*Carl Henrik Fredriksson, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Eurozine*Anders Gustafsson, kayaker, Olympian...
, Småland
Småland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
.
In October 2011 Borg released his new single "Unstoppable", in support of the Breast Cancer Foundation in Sweden.
Discography
The following is a complete discography of every album and single released by Maltese pop singer Kevin Borg.Studio Albums
| Year | Information | Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
Sales and Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Beginning
|
Swedish sales: 37,000
IFPI IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... : Gold |
|
Singles
| Year | Song | Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
Certification | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "With Every Bit of Me With Every Bit of Me "With Every Bit of Me" is a Swedish English language single by Maltese-Swedish singer Kevin Borg, winner of the Swedish version of Idol in its fifth season in 2008. The single debuted at number one on the Swedish Single Charts on 18 December 2009 and remained there for four weeks, making it both... " |
1 | Platinum (IFPI) | The Beginning |
| 2009 | "Street Lights" | 10 | — | |
| "The Last Words" (Digital only) | — | — | ||
| 2011 | "Unstoppable" | — | ||
Other Charted Songs
| Year | Song | Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Lyssna till ditt hjärta" | 40 |
| "Living on a Prayer" | 9 | |
| "If Tomorrow Never Comes" | 25 | |
| "In The Shadows" | 37 | |
| "Higher and Higher" | 29 | |
| "The Way You Make Me Feel" | 44 | |
| "Hot in Here" | 26 | |
| "Living La Vida Loca" | 33 | |
| "You're the Voice" | 52 | |
Musical Participation In Malta
Malta International TV Song Festival- 2006: Riflessi - 4th place
- 2007: Jasal il-Jum
Malta Song for Europe
Malta Song for Europe
Malta Song for Europe was the song festival which decides who will be Malta's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, organised by Maltese broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services ....
- 2006Malta Song for Europe 2006The Malta Song for Europe 2006 was won by Fabrizio Faniello with I Do. The event took place at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta...
: You're My Dream - 8th place - 2007Malta Song For Europe 2007Malta Song for Europe 2007 was a television show in which Malta selected its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007, held in Helsinki, Finland. The final was held on 3 February 2007, with the semi final on 1 February. 6 songs from the 16 in the semi final proceeded to the final. 2 of the 16...
: Whenever - 4th place