Kristian Valen

Kristian Valen

Kristian Valen (born 13 October 1974) is a comedian, actor, singer and songwriter originally from Stavanger, Norway. Known for comedic impressions, Valen has also pursued a serious music career; his pop music album Listen When Alone was released internationally in Europe and Asia. Valen was asked by Katherine Jackson to perform his megahit “Still Here” at the Jackson Family Foundation’s Forever Michael: A Celebration of an Icon, the one year Michael Jackson memorial show held in 2010 at Beverly Hilton Hotel the home of the Golden Globes in Los Angeles.

Biography

Early life

Son of Inge Valen, who played as a footballer for the team Viking FK, Valen was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps to become a famous sportsman. However, Valen left the world of football when he was 16 and wound up hosting a popular radio show in his native city of Stavanger, Norway. His quick wit and popular on-air impersonations led Valen to the world of comedy.

Comedy

Valen has created several extremely successful live shows, including Fartøy Valen (SS Valen), Et Musikalsk Kaos (Musical Chaos), and Raskere enn sitt eget beste (Faster than His Own Good). The shows have to date net Valen an estimated US$40 million in ticket sales.[1] His three hit TV series Valen TV, Valen & De and Valen`s Frokost TV aired on national Norwegian broadcaster TV Norge, and topped the ratings.[2] TV Norge. He has been voted “Entertainer of the Year” by viewers of Norway’s TV2 [3] and the “Årets TV-ansikt” (“This Year's TV-face”) by the readers of magazine Se & Hør (See & Hear). And in October he became The most selling artist in Scandinavia, and that was before turning 40 years old.

All three TV series also became hit DVD releases. Valen stated he would have been happy if his first DVD Valen TV sold 5,000 copies; the DVD went on to sell well over 120,000 copies[4] and to win the award for Best DVD overall in 2003.[5] DVD releases of Fartøy Valen, Valen & De ,Frokost TV and the highest rated saturday night comedy show "Valens Rikskringkasting" that also sold impressively and Valen’s most recent DVD production (of the hit show) Raskere enn sitt eget beste sold 25,000 copies in one day.[6] To date, Valen’s DVD sales have reportedly topped 500,000 (he has released 6 DVDs). In 2013 he wrote,directed and produced his own stage show ("" From Hillevaag to Hollywood) containing impersonations of both international singers/artist and celebs + some Scandinavian. The show was a smashing hit since day one and was sold out 2 years ahead of time and 2015 is already sold out as well. This makes him The most selling artist in Scandinavia of all time with over 700.000 tickets alone, and still counting. [7]

Autumn 2014 he made s slight change by making his tv show "The Valen Channel" more of a entertainment show rather just slapstick comedy with only impersonations and characters. (Featuring amongst no other than stars such as Sharon Stone, William Shatner, Steven Bauer, Esai Morales and some duets with US artist. Those artist was the singer/producer and multivalent Jean Beavour, and a duet with The worlds best rock female guitar player Lita ford with the song "If I close nye eyes forever" that she wrote with the prince of darkness Ozzy Osbourne.) It became a big success and has now given Valen more offers for both Vegas,Hollywood and tv in The USA. The Lita "Ozzy" live duet raised both controversially and praises all over the world with Ozzy fans getting angry with Lita Ford for doing this, and for Kristians parody. But after they saw the show they saw it was all with love, and some in the audience and producers claims this version is the best and better.

Music

Valen founded his own company Deepwater Records and recorded his debut solo album Listen When Alone in 2004. Produced by Arvid Solvang, the album went gold in five days, and went on to go platinum.[8][9] The first single from the album, “Still Here” reached No. 1 on the country’s biggest station NRK’s P1 and the video for the single – which featured a spectacular car crash on the streets of Los Angeles – was voted No. 1 by viewers of Norwegian national broadcaster NRK’s popular Swish program, and No. 3 by readers of national newspaper Dagbladet. The song was used as the theme music for the German TV series Leben für die Liebe. Another single from the album “If I Was” featured the controversial use of NATO troops.[10] Valen’s most recent single “Blessed by a Woman” was released on 15 March 2011, also by Deepwater Records. Valen has signed a worldwide music publishing contract with Air Chrysalis Scandinavia.

Recent and Current Events

Valen was asked by Katherine Jackson (Michael’s mother) to appear at Forever Michael: A Celebration of an Icon. The show was held to commemorate the one year anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death. Held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills (home of the Golden Globe awards), the show also featured performances by Jackson family members Genevieve Jackson and Tito Jackson, as well as Motown legends The Chi Lites. Valen performed his song “Still Here” and also did a montage of his musical impressions for the event. [11]

Valen recently had a cognac brand named after him by the renown French company Cognac Gautier. Selection Valen Cognac V.S.O.P. is currently sold in Norway, but will also be sold throughout Scandinavia and also in selected U.S. markets.[12]

Valen released his 6´th tv show "The Valen Channel" which was the first program he wrote,produced and starred along no other than artists like Sharon Stone, William Shatner, Steven Bauer,Esai Morales, Jean Beavour and Lita Ford. The show was the first entertainment show" rather than only comedy that his 5 earlier tv showsl He wanted to make a tv show that had more of the same vibe as his live shows where the whole experience was more important than to be having the funniest show. The show aired in autumn 2014 and the critics where full of praises and it became a rating hit. (About 700.000+ saw the show every week, in a country with only 4,5 millions going up against The 9´oclock News.)

Today, Valen remains optimistic about continuing his career. His new year's resolution 2015 is to stop exaggerating.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.vsmanagement.no/booking/kristian-valen
  2. ↑ http://www.tvnorge.no/mer-valen-pa-tvnorge-1.4457
  3. ↑ http://www.tv2underholdning.no/gkn/kjendis/valen-er-aarets-underholder-166635.html
  4. ↑ http://www.bestcompany.no/vi-leverer/musikalske-artister/kristian-valen
  5. ↑ http://www.farojournalen.no/artikkel.asp?ID=3311
  6. ↑ http://www.farojournalen.no/artikkel.asp?ID=6647
  7. ↑ http://rogalandsavis.no/index.php?page=vis_nyhet&NyhetID=96804&sok=1
  8. ↑ http://www.side2.no/musikk/article333814.ece
  9. ↑ http://www.ifpi.no/sok/lst_trofeer_sok.asp?type%3C/th%3E%3Ctd%3Eartist
  10. ↑ http://www.side2.no/musikk/article575372.ece
  11. ↑ http://www.vg.no/rampelys/musikk/michael-jackson/kristian-valen-paa-scenen-foran-jacksons-mor/a/10002390/
  12. ↑ http://www.sunnhordland.no/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110318/NYHENDE/703189983
he can read and drive the car;D
Awards
Preceded by
Robert Stoltenberg		 Se og Hør's TV Personality of the Year
2003 		Succeeded by
Katrine Moholt
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