– It is allowed to have faith, say the married couple Turid and Per Watle.
A message they used to share with their three children and which has been passed down to the four grandchildren. The oldest of them is Alessandra Mele, the 20-year-old who took part in this year’s Melodi Grand Prix and won with the song Queen of Kings.
– In appearance she resembles her Italian father, in essence she is very similar to our Marie, says grandmother Turid.
We meet the grandparents at home in their apartment in Heistad outside Porsgrunn.
Turid mentions that both the daughter and the grandson are artistic by nature.
– Marie paints and Alessandra draws – in addition to singing and composing music.
Sing together
It was Marie who discovered her daughter’s wonderful singing voice. The two used to sing everything from Abba to Frank Sinatra while cooking together.
– Alessandra loved it, says Turid.
The singing star grew up in the village of Cisano sul Neva, which is located in the region of Liguria in the north of Italy.
– Marie has been conscious of speaking Norwegian with her, and every free holiday they came to us. At the time we had a house in Stathelle in Bamble, grandfather Per says.
– Alessandra has always had an attraction to Norway, he says.
In the summer of 2020, she moved in with her grandparents to focus fully on music.
– You can believe it was great for us, says the married couple and smiles.
– Albeit for a short time – before her career took her
further.
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Photo: Private
Tearful moment
The grandparents were not in Trondheim during the final of Melodi Grand Prix, but watched from the TV room
at a care home where Turid was on respite.
12 years ago, Turid contracted the chronic disease Parkinson’s. The pain has increased as it becomes increasingly difficult to move.
– I am lucky to have a kind man who takes good care of me, says Turid, who praises his Per.
– Seeing Alessandra win was undoubtedly a tear-soaked, big moment, they state.
– We know how important singing and music are to her. In the background we saw on TV that our Marie threw herself around her daughter’s neck.
“I’ve been given such a great honor, I’m going to make you proud,” Alessandra shouted to the crowd.
– The grandparents are sure that she will keep what she has promised.
The betting companies also believe that the Norwegian-Italian girl can win.
– Ever since Alessandra was tiny, she has been bubbling over with music and joy, says Per.
– She is a winning type, says Turid.
NRK
Sparkling smile
Alessandra will open the show in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool – May 9. The final itself takes place four days later, on Saturday 13 May.
For those who follow The Voice on TV 2, Alessandra is a familiar face. With a powerful voice and sparkling smile, she captured the viewers and also mentor Espen Lind, who said, among other things: “You are an entertainer with a presence that few others have, with wind in your hair and everything”.
She didn’t reach the top that time, but the outgoing girl kept her confidence. After all, she grew up with the belief that it’s okay to believe.
While we are visiting the grandparents, or mommo and besse – as Alessandra calls them, we have a chat with Alessandra on the phone.
– I promise to do my very best, she says about Eurovision.
Swedish girlfriend
Last autumn, Alessandra started at the “Lillehammer Institute
of Music Production and Industries”, a private music college.
Swedish student Ludwig Gassner (21) was also there. This is how they met and in September they became lovers.
– He is a very nice and good boy, says the grandfather.
– Alessandra does what she loves most – making music, says the grandmother. In the last year, she has written many songs. Also with Ludwig.
Ahead of the start of school, Alessandra was invited to an MGP songwriting camp where she, together with three others, created the winning song. It is about her, namely daring to be herself.
– Alessandra is strong and brave, good-natured and kind, open-minded and inclusive. This is how Per describes his eldest grandchild.
– A very decent girl, he adds with a twinkle in his eye. Alessandra is our ray of sunshine.
– Several members of the family travel to Liverpool to cheer, while the two of us will watch in front of the TV screen.
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Proud grandparents
Alessandra is more than the family’s favorite artist. Until now, the young singer has only released Queen of Kings, which at the time of writing has around 32 million plays on Spotify.
– It is clear that we are proud, say Turid and Per.
At the same time, they emphasize that this also applies to the other grandchildren – and their parents.
– We have a very nice group, who are close to each other and follow each other up.
In the apartment there are many framed family photos. One of them shows a radiantly cheerful Alessandra with a wreath of flowers on her head.
– I braided it for her, says Turid with a smile reminiscent of the girl in the picture.
– It was taken in 2013 at Allsang på Grensen at Fredriksten fortress in Halden. Alessandra dreamed of standing
on stage.
Per interjects that Alessandra won a local singing competition in Italy as a 12-year-old.
The grandfather fetches three photo albums that have been lying ready in the open kitchen.
– This is our daughter Marie, he points to pictures of a beautiful, blonde woman.
Turid and Per lived in Gjøvik when Marie was born.
Per was a chemical engineer and it was his job that took them there, and later both to France and Stathelle. Turid was a biochemist and along the way Turid worked in hospital laboratories.
Daughter Marie has also studied biology and chemistry.
– Now she teaches at a high school in Italy. Even if Alessandra has moved to Norway, and the parents are divorced, Marie will probably stay in Cisano, Per thinks.
Marie has made herself Italian.
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The summer flirt
Per tells the story of how Alessandra’s parents found each other:
– Turid and I have always liked traveling with the family. One summer in Arma di Taggio in Liguria, our then 16-year-old daughter spotted a handsome Italian, wearing pink swimming trunks, kicking a football on the beach. An innocent summer flirtation led to them becoming pen pals.
The years passed and their lives moved in different directions. He got married and had children.
– In 2000, they came into contact again. By then he was divorced, and Marie attended a painting course near where he lived. Two years later, Alessandra was born.
The grandparents often visited and even learned Italian.
– Since it is no longer as easy for us to travel, it is
extra nice to have Alessandra living in Norway, says Turid.
– Despite a busy schedule, the good girl often makes time for us.
When the granddaughter is visiting, she sometimes conjures up some Italian dishes.
– Just like her mother, Alessandra is very good at cooking, boasts Per.
Music loving family
Alessandra is not the only musician in the Watle family.
– While our son Øyvind (44) became a police officer, Per Einar (51) is a jazz musician, a cream guitarist, explains Per.
Light-legged, Per jumps up and slips a CD into place in the stereo system. The living room is filled with the theme song of the TV series Neste sommer. Yes, behind it is the Per Einar Watle Trio.
– I made his first guitars from chipboard, and tied fishing lines as strings, says Per.
He has a good laugh.
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– Now Per Einar has made an acoustic version of Queen of Kings with Alessandra.
Something she confirms on the phone. The uncle plays the guitar and she sings.
– It’s really fun to be able to make something with my uncle, and it turned out so well, she says enthusiastically. I am lucky to have such a wonderful family!
Turid believes that his son and grandson have inherited their musical talent from Per. Per modestly denies it, but he himself sings bass in Langesund Mandssangforening.
Close family ties
– Alessandra is a mommo girl. She has also always had a very close relationship with her mother, says Per.
Turid does not object to that, but adds: – Both are also very close to you, Per.
Alessandra herself says: – Both Mommo and Besse are important in my life. They own my heart, it beats for them. Both are very sweet, supportive and nice. I am deeply grateful to have them. The fact that they always believe in me strengthens me.
Per takes another look at the pictures he has found.
– What do these pictures have in common? Yes, that she smiles with all her heart. I have never heard our girl say a bad word about anyone else. Alessandra is one hundred percent herself, full of zest for life!
