Italy’s raucous glam rock takes Eurovision by storm

eurovision
(Photo: AFP)
Italy’s entry, glam rock band Maneskin, won the Eurovision song contest, as the world’s most popular live music event was held in the Netherlands after being canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. اضافة اعلان

The Italian’s raucous “Zitti E Buoni” beat out professional jury favorites Switzerland and France, sweeping the public vote which counts for half the points.

Victoria de Angelis of Maneskin told a press conference the win was an important boost for Italy, one of the European countries worst hit by COVID-19.

“This is a message of hope after this hard year we’ve been through,” she said.
Maneskin’s rock song is unlike the kitschy pop Eurovision is known for, but their singer said their popularity showed the contest also looks at musical quality.

“That prize shows that this is not (a) cheesy event. This is a musical event,” Damiano David told journalists.

Italy was the favorite with bookmakers and fans before the contest. Eurovision blogger William Lee Adams said its “punch in your face” song seemed the perfect anthem for European fans who have been stuck in lockdown.

“After this past year where we’ve been trapped at home I think a lot of people want that feeling of being at a party and that’s what they’re giving,” he said.

A limited audience of 3,500 attended the concert venue in Rotterdam to watch the performances after undergoing stringent testing for COVID-19.

Most Eurovision fans outside the Netherlands watched from home, and many reached out to friends and online communities to celebrate the event.

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