Star Academy France

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Star Academy is a French reality tv show produced by the Dutch company Endemol, based on the Spanish format called Operación Triunfo. It consists of a contest of young singers. It spawned an equally successful show in Quebec called Star Académie. It is broadcast on TF1. At the end of each season, selected contestants go on tour around France, Morroco, Switzerland, Belgium, Tunisia, and other French-speaking countries.

The reality show is hosted by Nikos Aliagas and has featured guest stars such as Phil Collins, Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, Céline Dion, Lara Fabian, Beyonce and Shania Twain. In 2005, Madonna performed "Hung Up" and "Get Together".

1 Star Academy contestants
2 External links
3 See also

[edit] Star Academy contestants

[edit] Season 1

Jenifer Bartoli (winner)- participated in the Star Academy Tour, released debut album "Jenifer" and follow-up "Le Passage". Also released live CD & DVD "Jenifer Fait Son Live".
Mario Barravecchia (finalist)- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Jean-Pascal Lacoste - participated in the Star Academy Tour
Jessica Marquez- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Olivia Ruiz - participated in the Star Academy Tour, released debut album "J'aime pas l'amour" in 2003 and follow-up album "La Femme Chocolat" in 2005. Homepage of Olivia Ruiz
Amandine Bisqueret
Carine Haddadou
Catherine
Cécile Boutry
Djalil Amine- participated in the Star Academy Tour
François Roure - participated in the Star Academy Tour
Grégory Gulli - participated in the Star Academy Tour
Khalifa M'Baye
Patrice Maktav - participated in the Star Academy Tour
Sidonie Koch
Stéphane Bosmans

Season 1 was won in 2001 by Jenifer Bartoli from Nice, who has become one of France's best-loved new female singers since then. Second studio album "Le Passage" has songwriting contributions from Calogero and Benoit Poher from Kyo.

[edit] Season 2

Nolwenn Leroy(winner)- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Emma Daumas (semi-finalist)- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Jérémy Châtelain- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Fabien Fasake - participated in the Star Academy Tour
Georges-Alain Jones - (sem-finalist) participated in the Star Academy Tour
Aurélie Konaté - participated in the Star Academy Tour
Isabelle Lem
Anne-Laure Sibon- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Alexandre Balduzzi - participated in the Star Academy Tour
Eva Chemouni
Florence
Houcine Camara (finalist)- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Nazim
Philippe Miro
Stéphanie Hansen
Rudy Carvalho

Season 2 of Star Academy is generally regarded as the best of all five seasons, primarily because it launched some successful solo careers - not just winner Nolwenn but also Emma, who reinvented herself as France's answer to Avril Lavigne; talented singer, songwriter and producer Jeremy Chatelain who married Alizee; singer-songwriter Georges-Alain Jones; Aurelie Konate who successfully appeared in the comedie-musicale Belles Belles Belles based on the music of Claude Francois. Series 2 had a winning combination of talents and personalities.

[edit] Season 3

Elodie Frégé (winner)- participated in the Star Academy Tour Released debut CD early in 2004.
Michal Kwiatkowski (finalist)- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Sofia Essaïdi (semi-finalist)- participated in the Star Academy Tour and released debut CD "Mon Cabaret" in 2005.
Lukas Delcourt- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Patxi Garat (semi-finalist) - participated in the Star Academy Tour
Morganne Matis- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Amina El Bennouni
Anne Thibault
Edouard Algayon- participated in the Star Academy Tour(as guitarist), formed the trio Premix with Pierre and Edouard, released CD "Chambre 1512" which included single "Oui ou Non". Premix split amicably in late 2005.
Icaro Da Silva
Marjorie Condoris
Michaël Sapience
Pierre Bouley- participated in the Star Academy Tour and member of Premix.
Romain Billard- participated in the Star Academy Tour and member of Premix
Stéphanie Dalmasso - appeared in French drama series "Sous le Soleil"
Valérie Deniz De Boccard

After the highly successful season 2, much was expected of season 3 and the favourites were named at the beginning: Sofia and Michal. As it turned out, both of them made their respective male/female semi finals, joined by Elodie and Patxi respectively. Elodie's talent and personality impressed the voting public sufficiently for her to beat Polish contestant Michal in the final and become the winner of Star Academy 3.

Many critics felt Sofia should have been crowned the winner, as she was seen as being the best contestant overall (and, to many critics and the teachers of the Academy, one of the best students in the show's history). There has been some criticism about her departure; many feel the French public rather racistly voted for (the very blond, very white, and very French) Elodie over her due to Sofia being originally Moroccan.

[edit] Season 4

Grégory Lemarchal (Winner)- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Lucie Bernardoni (Finalist)- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Hoda Nekra (Semi-finalist)- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Mathieu Johann (Semi-finalist)- participated in the Star Academy Tour
Sandy François
Francesca Antoniotti
Radia Bensarsa
Lennie Marshall
Tina Gardinier
Emilie Ducrot
Karima
Gauthier Roubichou
Sofiane Tadjine-Lambert
Enrique Toyos
Morgan Auger
Sebastien Degut
John Eyzen
Harlem Parmentier

Season 4 winner Gregory Lemarchal overcame a respiratory illness, to become the first male winner of Star Academy in France. He released his debut single "Ecris L'Histoire" and debut album "Je Deviens Moi" in France in 2005.

Again, as with Sofia, many critics and the show's teachers felt Hoda Nekra was the best student, being voted #1 by the teachers week after week, as she was the best student overall. Like Sofia, she is originally Moroccan, and many feel this cost Hoda the title even though she deserved it.

[edit] Season 5

Magalie Vaé (Winner)
Jérémy Amelin (Finalist)
Ely Breton (Semi-Finalist)
Emilie Minatchy (Semi-Finalist)
Maud Verdeyen
Pierre Frischeteau
Jean-Luc Guizonne
Grégoire Bourdin
Pascal Maunoury (Semi-Finalist)
Laure Ruhland
Alexia Palombo
Jill Vandermeulen
Chloé Boucaud
Moïse Quaresma
Arno Demessine
Mickael Tabury
Nassim & Neissa Parize (twins)

Season 5 was notable for the return of some familiar faces - season 1/2 directrice Alexia Laroche-Joubert returned in the same role, after which the role was filled in season 3 by Nathalie Andre, and in season 4 by Gerard Louvin. Also back was Raphaelle Ricci as prof of scenic expression.

Despite an expanded age limit on participants, there was only one noticeably older participant - rocker Pascal (37). His popularity grew over the series and he eventually reached the males semi-final where he faced, and lost to, Jeremy.

Among the female contestants the early favourite was Emilie, a violinist who originated from the island of Reunion. However, her popularity with the jury was seemingly not shared by the public. In the female semi final she and fellow student Ely were voted out in favour of Magalie, who had attracted much attention in France because, unlike previous Star Academy participants, she was overweight.

In the end Magalie triumphed on 16.12.2005 and became the fifth Star Academy winner in France. With Magalie as the winner Season 5 turned out to be a complete fiasco as she was not at all appreciated by the music-loving public. This raises the question of whether the judging should be 100% in the hands of the voting public. Of this season's mediocre batch the only ones to really stand out are Ely Breton and Emilie Minatchy.

[edit] Season 6

Cynthia (semi-finalist, versus Cyril)
Dominique (semi-finalist, versus Marina)
Elfy
Marina (semi-finalist, versus Dominique)
Brice
Cyril (finalist)
David
Jean-Charles
Ludovic
Nicolas
Bastien
Faustine
Judith
Gaël
Celine
Eloisha
Fafa
Laurent

Season 6

Season 6 began on 01.09.06 with the following contestants:

Celine Cynthia Dominique Elfy Eloisha Fafa Faustine Judith Marina

Bastien Brice Cyril David Gael Jean-Charles Laurent Ludovic Nicolas

All of last year's profs return this year including directrice Alexia Laroche-Joubert and dance teacher Kamel Ouali, the latter kept French fans guessing regarding his participation up to the last minute, as he remains involved in the popular musical Le Roi Soleil. Nikos Aliagas will continue to present the daily updates and weekly "Prime" on Fridays.

Much is expected of Star Academy 6 and the focus is expected to shift from traditional chanson to "nouvelle chanson francaise" made popular by singers like Benabar, Benjamin Biolay and former Star Ac 1 contestant Olivia Ruiz. The success of rival contest Nouvelle Star has caused a rethink and the "Prime" stage at Plaine Saint-Denis is said to be bigger and better for this new series.

This year's batch of students is something of a return to form, with many talented students, including Dominique, Cyril, Cynthia, Marina, Brice, Gael, and Ludovic.