Paul Michel Manandise

For his cultural and patriotic activities Paul Manandise has been repeatedly awarded orders and medals: St. Sophia of Kyiv, Iron Cross, one of the highest honors – the Knight’s Cross.

For the fight against the russian terrorist state, he was awarded by the Grand Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church its highest award – the Cross of St. George the Victorer. 

Among other medals and awards are 

“Hope of the Nation”, “30 years of Independence of Ukraine”, “Vira Honor Ukraine”, “For Dignity and Patriotism”, “Hetman Mazepa”, “Ivan Bohun”, “Knight of Good Will”, “Archangel Michael”, “Bohdan Khmelnytskyi” “, “For the defense of the motherland”  “To the indomitable heroes of the Russian-Ukrainian war”, “Iron Cross”, “For service to art”, “Musical Olympus”.

“Cultural legend”

Paul Michel Manandise is a French-Ukrainian singer, born and raised in Belgium. His mother is from France, his father is from Sicily. He inherited his vocal gift from his Sicilian grandfather. He has been singing since early childhood.

Paul Manandise has many talents and interests, , although he himself considers singing as his main gift and therefore main priority.

He also writes songs and music; Paul is a writer, arranger, producer, philosopher, political scientist, analyst. Humanist.

He cares deeply about the fate of humanity and children. And human being as the core of all. 

Paul Michel Manandise never liked advertising, or marketing, that pushes people to buy or consume any products. He considers it wrong, because people must have their own choice, independent of being imposed by someone or something. Paul devoted his public activity to the fight against influence. And as an artist, he decided to work without advertising. And let the listeners decide for themselves what they like.

As a result, on the YouTube channel Paul Manandise’s song “Storks”, dedicated to the defenders of Ukraine, has more than 11 million views on various channels! Other songs also gained millions views. 

With any advertising on Facebook, Paul Manandiz has a total of over 100 million views.

The singer himself believes that he achieves success grace to music.

2016

Love for Ukraine. My Paradise album.

In 2016, Paul Manandise completed a patriotic album called “My Paradise”,  having put in the project, like in its name, the very deep understanding, in accordance to the global vision of the musician. That is, an album of Ukrainian patriotic music.

The songs of the album are in the style of pop and pop-rock, with the influence of world music. But the basis is Ukrainian melodies and even Ukrainian instruments, such as, for example, bandura.

The design of the album is made in two colors: red and black, as symbols of Ukrainian resistance. When drops of blood soak onto yellow-and-blue Ukrainian flag, it turns red-and-black. For Paul Manandise, these colors in the album design are a sign of solidarity with friends at the front.

The themes of the album are the main ones in Paul’s work. It is Love. War. Religion. Philosophy.

In 2016, Paul Manandise lost his friend Vasyl Slipak, an opera singer who died from a russian sniper’s bullet on the frontline!

Vasyl’s death prompted Paul to continue the cultural war: in memory of Vasyl, all those who died, for Ukraine. In 2016, Paul wrote in his official Facebook page: “I am an artist, not a soldier. But I know it’s also a cultural war. War for culture.

And I represent Ukraine as a Ukrainian artist”

In 2016, Paul Manandise started speaking Ukrainian. And already in an interview with RBC, he warns about the danger of propaganda and declares about the catastrophe that can happen because of this propaganda, if it is not countered. 

In 2016, Paul started series of tours throughout Ukraine, from the front line in the east to the Carpathian mountains in the west, including a tour with the people’s artist of Ukraine Nina Matvienko. All sold-out performances took place not only in big cities, but also in small venues and in remote villages: because Paul Manandise is convinced that culture should be everywhere.

While communicating with Ukrainians, Paul studies Ukrainian history, culture, and politics.

Already in 2017, Paul gained popularity among patriotic Facebook users, including President Yushchenko, by recording the Anthem of Ukraine with a bandura on the slopes of the Dnipro. Already then Paul’s love for Ukraine impressed many readers.

After one of Paul’s performances, President Yushchenko, personally congratulating the singer, said the following: “I love how you sang our national anthem. It was fantastic.

How you sang our carols”

In 2017, several of his original Ukrainian tracks were also released: “What is your heart silent about”, “I love you (but I can’t go on like this)”, “I will not forget you”.

With the BB group, he records the French pop classic “Et si tu n’existais pas”.

In 2017, the premiere of the musical play “Loving you” created by Paul in co-authorship with Anzhelika and Viktor Girych, the leading actress of the theater and its main director, took place in the Kyiv Academic Theater of the Young Spectator in Lypki, with constant sell-outs. The performance combined Ukrainian and French culture: Ukrainian poetry performed by A. Girych, and French classical chanson performed by Paul Manandise.

In the same year, in the role of Leopold Mozart, he joined the tours of the troupe of rock opera “Mozart” in the symphonic version.

In 2018, Paul found like-minded people in the Kyiv leadership of V. Chornovol’s party “People’s Movement” and became its honorary member, participating, among other things, in preserving the memory of the man, on whose initiative and under whose leadership Ukraine’s independence was proclaimed in 1991.

Due to his own convictions and calling to help and support the military, as well as with the release of the composition “Storks” in 2017, Paul’s connections with the defenders of Ukraine began to widen rapidly. And his volunteer activity began to turn into a political one, with a special emphasis on studying the influence of Moskovia on Ukrainian show business.

Accordingly, patriotism grew – from his initial love for new homeland, to the realization and acceptance of the essence of Ukrainian nationalism.

In 2019, Paul continues to tour Ukraine. For his efforts and successes in reviving  and development of Ukrainian musical culture, he received the honorary title of Merited Artist of Ukraine

In 2020, the quarantine caused by covid allowed the singer to focus on studio recordings. Always supporting the memory of Vasyl Slipak, Paul participated in the creation by the Music Battalion of a documentary film about the Hero of Ukraine, called “Aria Interrupted by a Bullet”.

Paul Manandise developed new concept of information through sensations. It’s a rather complicated concept that makes it possible to inform the world through thoughtful, subtle and delicate song and music choices. Audio recordings, which are combined with video sequences made in reality on the same day. He himself edits videos and records music, and thus informs the world.

In April 2021, Paul’s contacts from the frontline persistently reported to him about the concentration of moskovyty troops on the border with Ukraine, up to 140,000 troops. Knowing well the history of the world and France, Paul understood that Putin was ready to attack. Yet the world acted like nothing was happening.

Not seeing any action, Paul published a post on his FB page, having previously called familiar ministers and deputies. In that post Pqul was calling on the world to react and stop the aggression. Paul intentionally changed the number of troops to 150,000, to watch how the information will spread. 

Soon, the president of the European Union, Joseph Borrel, delivered a report about troops on the boarder at a meeting of the European Parliament.

Citing the same figure of 150,000 that was only in Paul’s information, he however refused to name the source.

And after a couple of hours, Borrel already gave a different number. But the main thing is that it was Paul’s actions, his knowledge, courage and concern that stopped the moscovite aggression in the spring of 2021!

Under pressure from world leaders, Putin was forced to withdraw his troops! 

With the beginning of full-scale russian aggression, Paul takes an active part in the defense of Ukraine, Europe and the world on all front lines: political, military, cultural, ideological. From the first days of the aggression, Paul gave a series of interviews/reportages to French and Belgian television to the sound of “liberators” rockets and sirens, explaining the truth about the reasons for the attack and calling for the sky to be closed. 

The chronicle of Paul’s activity can be traced from his pages on Facebook. In order to actively fight the enemy, Paul accepts the position of Head of the Department of international influence and culture of the Informational and Analytical Center of the National Security of Ukraine. Having wide cultural, political experience and knowledge, he becomes an expert on counter-propaganda issues, and later begins to cooperate with Europol, where in April of 2024 he receives the rank of colonel. 

Paul also continues to actively help the front and the military. During the full scale war, his song “Storks” became especially popular, it is listened to and sung by military and civilians, the number of its views on YouTube and Facebook reached millions and continues to grow.

Despite constant work as the military, as military volunteer, despite ideological and activities in reconnaissance, Paul not for one day ( or night) stops recording music and songs. In his private studio, personally planned and built, with his own musical editing of all materials.

Mission in the skies 

Ever since the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, as a next step after album “ My paradise” , Paul started work on the album and show “Mission in the Skies”( from the name of the Ukrainian folk song “The Moon in the Skies”, sung by Vasyl Slipak in the video shortly before he was killed). Paul dedicated this project to Vasyl Slipak, to the heroes of the Maidan, all those who fought and died for the Freedom of Ukraine, and to their families.

 “Mission in the skies” is a grandiose project of 50 (!) albums, 11 songs in each. It is the singer’s dream to fulfill his mission on earth. This is rage and the will to win! Win and lay the foundations of culture! This is the desire to shout every moment GLORY TO UKRAINE! GLORY TO THE HEROES!

50 albums included well-known and little-known songs, covers, and new arrangements. Performed in different styles, ranges, 5 languages and with different instrumental accompaniment. This is actually an  encyclopedia of world song.

Having gotten the opportunity to work independently on the recordings, Paul created them in a new sound in 3D.

Exploring, as a singer, on his own experience, the limits of the capabilities of the human body.

All 50 albums, 11 tracks in each, were recorded during the war, on the territory of Ukraine. With sirens, rockets and drones. PTSD , loss of friends.

The songs were recorded in one take – on breath. For Paul, the fundamental integrity and mood of each composition is a story in 3 minutes.

Paul has strong belief in the power of beauty and love that music carries.

This is the mission of the music, and this is what Paul Manandise sees as his Mission as a singer.