Thor Salden

Infobox musical artist
Name = Thor!
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Thor Salden
Alias = Thor!
Born = birth date and age|1997|11|28
Died =
Origin =Belgium
Instrument =
Genre = Pop
Occupation = Singer
Years_active = 2006 – present
Label = Polydor, EMI [http://www.boysoloist.com/artist.asp?VID=2540 Boy Choir & Soloist Directory entry] for Thor (accessed November 14, 2006).]
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Thor Salden (born November 28, 1997, [http://www.een.be/extra/subsites/eurosongforkids/e_kids_boekarest_02_dinsdag/index.shtml Thor's birthday blog message] on the Belgian Junior Eurovision website (published November 28, 2006; accessed December 2, 2006) nl icon] stage name: Thor!) from Schoten was the winning contestant in the Belgian pre-selections of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2006 and he represented Belgium in the international final on December 2, 2006 in Bucharest, Romania where he reached 7th place in a field of 15. At the time of the preselections he was the youngest contestant at eight years old. [http://web.lexis-nexis.com/professional/document?_m=0dabcccdb3b0070780e933101b6ee22f&_docnum=4&wchp=dGLbVlb-zSkSt&_md5=5e3aeac1e1ffdc7df49da16f67b74092 "k ga niet verwaand worden"] , Het Nieuwsblad, October 3, 2006 nl icon] He won both the first semi-final on September 17, 2006 and the final on October 1, 2006. In the opening show he performed together with Attic and Clouseau. [http://www.een.be/extra/subsites/eurosongforkids/e_kids_prog_startshow/index.shtml Show details] on the Belgian Junior Eurovision website. (accessed November 14, 2006) nl icon]

His winning song "Een Tocht Door Het Donker" ("A Journey Through The Dark"), produced by Peter Gillis [http://www.een.be/extra/subsites/eurosongforkids/e_kids_kid_thor_producer/index.shtml Peter Gillis profile] on the Belgian Junior Eurovision website. (accessed November 14, 2006) nl icon] about a walk in the woods with his grandfather, was released as a single on October 13, 2006 and entered several national music charts. Initially the song reached #1 in the Flemish Top 10, #2 in Belgium's national download music chart, #8 in the Radio 2 Top 30 and #12 in the Ultratop 50. [http://www.een.be/extra/subsites/eurosongforkids/e_kids_kid_thor_nieuws/index.shtml Thor's news page] on the Belgian Junior Eurovision website. (accessed November 14, 2006) nl icon] After 16 weeks on number in the Ultratop 50, Thor received a golden record on January 30, 2007 as a result of the number of single sales and legal downloads of the song, making him the youngest Belgian artist to receive this award. [http://www.belgovision.com/index_f.php?id=2236 "Gouden Thor! breekt Ultratop records"] at Belgovision.com (published January 31, 2007; accessed February 20, 2007) nl icon]

One of Thor's dreams is to sing a duet with X!NK who won the Belgian preselections in 2003.

Events in Schoten

On October 25, 2006 Thor and 3 other young people were invited to Schoten city hall where they got to sign the golden book and received an official deed for their accomplishments. The occasion was celebrated with a song to the tune of Thor's winning Junior Eurovision entry. [http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?articleID=gcj13nhkc "Ti ti ti ti Schoten is fier!"] , Het Nieuwsblad (accessed December 3, 2006) nl icon] Schoten city council also announced their plans surrounding the international Junior Eurovision final. [http://radio2.be/detailpagina.cfm?id=9784&programma=eurosongforkids "Thor plechtig ontvangen op gemeentehuis Schoten"] (accessed November 14, 2006) nl icon]

On December 2, 2006 the announced plans were put into action. For the occasion, residents of his home town could watch the international final of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest on big video screens in the market square and in the 'Forum' hall thanks to support from the VRT. Local inns worked together to provide things like soup, lemonade and glühwein for the occasion while the city council provided fire baskets and oversight. Children could make a "journey through the dark" from Thor's school to the market square. [http://www.schoten.be/nieuws/november06/thor.htm Call for support] (accessed December 2, 2006) nl icon]

After the contest

On December 22, 2006 Thor auctioned off the T-shirt with the Superman logo he wore during the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for the Studio Brussel charity "Music for life". [http://www.radiovisie.eu/be/nieuws.rvsp?art=00064813 Music for Life: nog meer hulp] (published December 21, 2006, accessed February 20, 2007) nl icon]

ee also

*Nicolas Caeyers (fellow contestant)

References

External links

* [http://www.schoten.be/nieuws/oktober06/thor_gemhuis.htm "Rode loper, reuzenscherm en loflied voor Eurosong-winnaar Thor Salden"] , a report about how Thor and the other children were received at Schoten city hall. nl icon

Persondata
NAME=Salden, Thor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Thor!
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Belgian child singer
DATE OF BIRTH=November 29, 1997
PLACE OF BIRTH=Schoten, Belgium
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=