Michele Perniola
An Italian vocalist who carried the flag for San Marino on Europe's biggest song stages, first as a teen prodigy and then as a young adult.
Born 1998 (age 28)·Italian singer·Birthday: September 6·Generation Z
Biography
Michele Perniola stepped into the international spotlight while most of his peers were still in school, representing the microstate of San Marino at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2013. His upbeat entry 'O-o-O Sole Intorno a Me' showcased a youthful charm that belied his technical skill. Just two years later, he returned to the Eurovision stage, this time the adult contest, partnering with Anita Simoncini for the duet 'Chain of Lights.' This rapid ascent established him as a familiar face in the continent's vibrant pop contest circuit. Operating also under the moniker 3x3n, Perniola has cultivated a career that extends beyond the one-night glare of television competitions, working within the Italian music scene and building a dedicated fanbase drawn to his polished pop sensibilities.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Michele was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Michele Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Michele's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Represented San Marino at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with his song 'O-o-O Sole Intorno a Me.'
- Co-represented San Marino at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015, performing the duet 'Chain of Lights' with Anita Simoncini.
Did You Know?
He is also known by the stage name 3x3n.
He was only 15 years old when he first performed at Junior Eurovision.
His 2015 Eurovision partner, Anita Simoncini, had also previously competed in Junior Eurovision for San Marino.
“Music is my language, and I want to speak it to the whole world.”
