When he smiles many newborns come to life. Francesco Gabbani, Italy’s representative at Eurovision 2017, is the one to beat in Kyiv and our William learned exactly why by chatting with the “Occidentali’s Karma” singer at London Eurovision Party on Sunday. Can we just say that we’re officially in love with this charming moustached Italian?

His English may not be academic — Francesco humbly says sorry — but his authenticity breaks all borders and we’re happy to forgive him.

Gabbani told us all about his momentum, and revealed that he didn’t know there was something magical in his entry — “I discovered it by singing”. He said that his ultimate dream participating in Sanremo was actually going to Eurovision.

When it comes to the crucial question, if he thinks his song has the special quality to win, he answers: “I hope, I really don’t know… maybe yes, because at first impression my song can make you dance and have fun, and after that, if you also want to understand the meaning… I’m happy!”

And what about the ape on stage (he didn’t make it to Café de Paris, though)? “It was my idea” — Francesco admits — “I wanted to show the concept of Desmond Morris’ book“. The ethologist who inspired “Occidentali’s Karma” is already a fan of the Italian artist, who will meet the scientist soon!

People in the club were all waiting for Gabbani to take the stage and for obvious reasons organizers put him second last before the “landlady” of the event Miss Lucie Jones.

Despite a couple of technical issues, he absolutely nailed the performances of both “Occidentali’s Karma” and “Amen” — with which he won the Newcomers’ section of Sanremo in 2016.

Francesco now needs to get used to the three-minute version of his entry but judging the reaction of the audience, who waved their hands singing along the song, he is definitely the one to watch on May 13.

*BUY THE OCCIDENTALI’S KARMA T-SHIRT

*BUY THE FRANCESCO GABBANI GORILLA SHIRT

*BUY THE FRANCESCO GABBANI GORILLA PHONE COVER

48 Comments
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lino
lino
6 years ago

@ Candy
-The younger generations are more fluent in foreign languages, sure, but that’s because school education has changed a lot due to globalisation.

When? 40 years ago? Some countries don’t want the children to know foreign languages because those children are designed to be stupid, and their government has the purpose to make them tools to promote their language, like the colonies are still there.

Visenya
Visenya
6 years ago

@ Karim
And in the end the host says “Do you wanna sing anything else Francesco but anything left for us”. And you can clearly see the satisfaction and excitement inside host’s eyes.

Visenya
Visenya
6 years ago

@ Karim
I’m ready to bet you know nothing about Toto Cotugno.
Anyway Francesco had two songs, after those the host asked him to sing “Volare”, and Francesco answers “But I don’t know it” (and of course he is joking, everybody knows it).
So please stop saying stupid or pathetic things.

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

I absolutely LOVED this interview!!
Ok, his english may not be great, but he’s trying. Also, I don’t mind. He’s keeping it real! It’s authentic! I love his English with an Italian accent!
He also seems such a nice person!

Needless to say, he’s so handsome! Meditterenean realness!!
Luck you William! Some of us got jealous at the end of the video!

Anyway, best of luck to Italy!! Winner!!

P.S.: I really like you gave some of the artists one of these t-shirts you made! Souvenir from wiwibloggs!

Candy
Candy
6 years ago

Francesco’s English is more that good enough. The younger generations are more fluent in foreign languages, sure, but that’s because school education has changed a lot due to globalisation. It’s so sad to see people complaining about the – apparently – insufficient English skills of the Eurovision artists. Most of them are doing such a great job – and we have enough translators for those who struggle a bit. As far as I know, Joci Pápai (Hungary) doesn’t speak English at all – but this isn’t much of a problem as long as he brings a translator with him. I’m… Read more »

FG
FG
6 years ago

He’s adorable when he speaks English ! If Italy gets robbed AGAIN , I will RIOT !

nordlandspils
nordlandspils
6 years ago

@Vova

So charisma for you is being able to speak many languages? God! From which planet are you from?

If you are annoyed by our perceived charisma of Francesco, then it’s your problem. Not ours.

Buskyta
Buskyta
6 years ago

@Vova That´s exactly what a Charismatic person does. He don´t try to impress anybody. Here´s some professional explanation about that.
https://careerprotocol.com/charisma-dancing-monkey/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialWarfare

Vova
Vova
6 years ago

@ nordlandspils : Francesco’s charisma is just overflowing.

Really ? Is he able to speak anything but italian???
Does charisma means annoying ?????
Bulgarian underage boy speaks more languages than this Francesco guy.

Vova
Vova
6 years ago

Has anyone of you watched RAI recently?
This is amazing, one big cross fell over an American tourist (that died), and Italians said that is just an incident. I admit that I had more expectations from modern Italy, but is no use. Italians are the same as ever.

M_K
M_K
6 years ago

He’s a very nice guy and I really like his song. I wouldn’t mind Italy winning the whole thing.

If Italy wins, RAI will finally get a chance to show that they can actually stage an amazing show (after that chaotic event back in 1991).

nordlandspils
nordlandspils
6 years ago

Francesco’s charisma is just overflowing. The song is so engaging and has a recall. He really has a strong shot to win this year.

Marc
Marc
6 years ago

Toto Cotugno is one of the best Eurovision winners ever xD.
Probably the most anthemic winner song. Simple amazing.

Francesco’s charisma is everything. No way he’s not winning in May. This is like Rybak or Loreen.

karim
karim
6 years ago

Sorry but he is Toto Cutugno 100% with good and bad.
Didn’t you see him? He can’t follow any schedule.

Milla
Milla
6 years ago

I’ve always considered him a bit of a joker to fully understand the hype. Sorry.

Vova
Vova
6 years ago

@ Gippa

My avatar is my passport picture. It’s me, of course.

Vova
Vova
6 years ago

Please excuse me, but this is what I feel. Are UK and Germany already in the final with those ”songs” ???????
This is outrageous !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I prefer diaspora voting, instead of those big 5 ”big bottoms” that go straight to the final with their so called songs.
Do you people know how a song should sound like???????
Again I apologize, but this is awful.

Vova
Vova
6 years ago

Go to the semi finals Germany, maybe that will wake you up!!!!

Vova
Vova
6 years ago

Germany has such a big population, how on earth was possible to give Levina a song so stupid, no melody, no sing along, no nothing.
I was trying so much to like it, but is not possible. Why Germany??? Why do you want to commit suicide????

Eve
Eve
6 years ago

@ Gippa – Me too, strange coincidence 😀

Gippa
Gippa
6 years ago

Stupid unrelated thought:
Does anyone of you think that the MONSTER AVATARS that have been randomly assigned to our IP’s are really on point? I can absolutely see myself in my avatar, and when I look at all of you and read your comments I feel like there’s a sort of connection. No offence wanted, hahaha
Who has the same perception? Anyone? :))))))

Gippa
Gippa
6 years ago

@Boy: I’ve just say that he slayed, I wasn’t talking about the song in the comment below, but about the performance. He is a natural born charismatic performer, there are people who will deny this “objective” evidence (I don’t know if you are one of them), I was just talking about that kind of haters. One could say “I still despise the song or him but I recognise that he is entertaining” (that doesn’t mean that you’re gonna vote for him or that he will have the same effect in Kyev for sure, in that arena it will be a… Read more »

adriana
adriana
6 years ago

Hes got charisma ,the song is good but not wow for me….Wish him the best of luck.

karim
karim
6 years ago

As far as I know, Gabbani had 2 songs : ”Amen” and ”Occidentali’s Karma”.
”Volare” was not in the schedule.
But I was not there, so the final word must come from somebody who was there.

Joe
Joe
6 years ago

@ karim
“Do you have anything left…”
If he didn’t said that, then I must misheard it.

karim
karim
6 years ago

Sorry, but the host said ”Don’t sing anything else Francesco”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBLOBzzfEec

Joe
Joe
6 years ago

@ karim

The host asked him if he had something ELSE to sing. Most acts sing at least two songs.

Mark
Mark
6 years ago

William is a lucky boy. Last year he had Amir serenade him, this year he’s getting kisses from Francesco… Jealous.

Boy
Boy
6 years ago

Gippa: You are a haters to. Let people deside by them self what they think aboute Italiens Song. You cant not tell everybody to Love his Song. We al New that you Love that Song. The End

karim
karim
6 years ago

I just saw the videos and I’m shocked.
Everyone was good except two :
-FYROMacedonia = was that playback????
-Italy = he was so…the host had to come on the stage to tell him to just sing his song, OMG worst than Toto Cutugno.

Geo
Geo
6 years ago

Lindita (Albania) missed the party? I didn’t see her in any pic or video…. She was on the list… Any idea, anyone?…

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

The Eurovision Party was one of the best nights of my life. I will forever be grateful to the organisers. Thanks slso to Wiwibloggs for being there and doing so much hard work. It was a very long show, but y’all made it through! 🙂

Francesco blew the roof off in London. He has bags of charisma, and his performance is genius. If he doesn’t win Eurovision, it will be a surprise.

Davve
Davve
6 years ago

His song is not contemporary. And it is an average song…….. If it wins it will be forgotten about the minute the broadcast ends.

karim
karim
6 years ago

The youngest artist Kristian from Bulgaria was amazing. He was so natural with english, bulgarian, russian, those millennials especially from east, really have all they need. What do they eat to be like that? I’ve heard that Bulgaria is famous for cucumbers, but he lives in Russia.

Michell
Michell
6 years ago

Such a showman! Love his energy and his charisma, he is the winner obviously!!

Monifa
Monifa
6 years ago

From all the interviews held by William with some other artists (Romania, Bulgaria, etc) why only this interview posted? Just curious… Are those interviews going to be published, too?

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Francesco GODbani is this year’s Jamala – too talented for the peasants to understand. Poor OFH, they’ll be pressed.

Rhingo
Rhingo
6 years ago

I wasn’t a fan of the guy but seeing his live performence changed my opinion. The song is still questionable for me but he has so much charisma!
On stage he is like a fish in water. There were no pretences, he just stood there and stole the show 😀

Eve
Eve
6 years ago

William, you lucky guy, I’m jelaous!!! 😀
Thank you very much for this interview <3

Aldebaran
Aldebaran
6 years ago

@ Wiwibloggs staff: Thank you for the work yesterday night by uploading all the songs to YouTube from the café ????
You did an excellent job. Thank you!

Gippa
Gippa
6 years ago

He slayed. Period.
(now waiting for the haters to get a laugh)

oldschool
oldschool
6 years ago

Francesco and Alma have slayed, stolen the show, the best performances and by far. They have excited the audience!!!!

Richard
Richard
6 years ago

He totally brought the house down at Cafe de Paris last night. There is such a wonderful, infectious energy to his song, the crowd in Kyiv will go wild, singing along, arms in the air. Love it.

oldschool
oldschool
6 years ago

Francesco and Alma are the winners of this evening in london.

Pant7
Pant7
6 years ago

Am I the only one who read “I didn’t know..” thinking about Serhat’s song? Hahah I need to sleep…

Jane
Jane
6 years ago

I adore him since “Amen” and then “Foglie al gelo”.. I’m so happy to see him on the ESC. Good luck Francesco!

Jon Smith
Jon Smith
6 years ago

THE WINNERRRRRRR………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

———- ROME 2018 ———-