Nelson Charles wins TF1’s The Voice Kids musical talent show
Fifteen-year-old Nelson Charles, a native of Saint-Pierre in Martinique, won the twelfth season of TF1’s musical talent show The Voice Kids on Saturday, October 3, as reported by martinique.franceantilles.fr. Mentored by coach Matt Pokora, the young singer triumphed in a finale by blending his traditional classical lyric training with contemporary pop culture. At the announcement of the result, he first hugged the other finalists before falling into the arms of his coach, Matt Pokora.
How Nelson Charles Balanced Opera and Pop to Claim the Trophy
The path to victory for the 15-year-old vocalist involved continuous stylistic pivots. During his initial blind auditions, Nelson performed Gaetano Donizetti’s “Una furtiva lagrima,” prompting three coaches to turn their chairs before he ultimately selected Matt Pokora. According to 20Minutes, Nelson aimed to prove that classical technique can anchor modern music, stating his goal to become a representative of the lyric style within pop culture. Throughout the competition, he stepped outside his comfort zone to cover tracks like “Le monde est stone” and collaborated on stage with rapper RnBoi. Matt Pokora described his young charge on air as an “extraterrestre” with an exceptional voice, praising the performer’s ability to tackle diverse genres. Il a un talent, une voix de ouf. Reflecting on his victory, Nelson noted, Je me suis dit que cette victoire n’était pas seulement pour moi, mais aussi pour toutes les personnes en Martinique, ma famille, et toute l’équipe de « The Voice Kids ».
When asked why the public favored him, he remarked, Je ne sais pas trop… Peut-être ma personnalité.
Discussing his musical fusion, he added, Le fait que je sois un jeune qui chante du lyrique, notamment sur Le monde est stone, qui est un texte profond, ce n’est pas commun.
Citing his coach, he noted, Quand on chante du lyrique, on peut tout chanter
, and confessed, Je ne pensais jamais chanter du RnBoi version lyrique, par exemple.
Describing his overarching strategy, he explained, Mon but dans « The Voice Kids », ça a été de tout chanter avec le lyrique, comme on a pu le voir à l’étape des Groupes.
Addressing his vocal evolution, he stated, Je suis en plein dedans, en effet. Looking toward his formal education, he observed,
Le conservatoire va m’apporter de la régularité et de l’expérience dans mon parcours musical.
Why the TF1 Finale Aired as an Assembled Recording Rather Than Live TV
The October 3 finale was not broadcast live. Midi Libre reported that production company ITV Studios France chose to pre-record the final episode at the Studios du Lendit to protect the well-being of the minor contestants. A spokesperson for the production explained that previous broadcasts routinely placed intense pressure on children who had to balance television schedules with their regular academic calendars. To determine the winner without a live viewer vote, a studio audience of approximately 700 people utilized electronic voting keypads on the day of the recording. The final showdown featured eight contestants across four coaching teams, including Jude and Joy under Patrick Fiori, Alec and Sophie with Santa, Nelson and Livia representing Matt Pokora, and Elisa alongside Lena from Soprano’s team. Local candidates Chamis, originating from Poussan, and AryA, from Sète, did not participate in the evening event, having been eliminated just before the finale on Saturday, September 26.
What Lies Ahead for the Young Martinican
He plans to enter a formal conservatory program to build professional discipline and musical experience as he fields discussions regarding a potential debut album.
