Italy’s Mahmood and Blanco have reunited for their Eurovision 2022 second rehearsal. This year’s host representatives, the Sanremo winners performed “Brividi” on home soil in Turin’s PalaOlimpico ahead of the grand final. Did their performance leave us with chills, or did it make us shudder? Read on to find out…
Italy’s Mahmood and Blanco “Brividi” — Eurovision 2022 second rehearsal
Oliver: Good news and bad news. The positives: Blanco has arrived in Turin, and the host nation’s power duo is united once again. Mahmood has lost the sunglasses — he’s now in a loose fitting black suit, while his counterpart is in all white. The bad news… Italy’s odds of victory are drifting by the minute. This whole performance seems entirely lackadaisical. Mahmood and Blanco wander around the stage aimlessly without ever playing to the cameras once. During the second verse, Blanco sits atop a grand piano, but rather than looking cutesy and lax, it looks like he’s sat down for a breather. Plus, Mahmood’s falsetto is very shaky. This isn’t the same duo who won Sanremo.
Reaction to Italy’s second rehearsal at Eurovision 2022
@wiwibloggs_official #Italy’s @Mahmood & @BLANCO are reunited at their 2nd #Eurovision rehearsal. @jonathanvautrey watches and reacts 🇮🇹 #ESC2022 #Eurovision2022 #TheSoundOfBeauty #Brividi ♬ original sound – wiwibloggs
What do you think? Did Mahmood and Blanco live up to the hype? Let us know in the comments below.
Cud never really take to this song. A bit one dimensional and forgettable
was it just me or was this totally out of tune? If they sing like this I don’t even think top 10 is secured let alone winning. How sad I love them.
it seems that Mahmood was tired and not so unhappy to sing with the other Italian singer
Out of tune, tired, messy staging without a storytelling or something, just 2 uninterested men walking here and there trying to sing. This is Italian Titanic.
They seem really really tired. I don’t know how much rest they’ll get between now and next Saturday, but I trust they’ll be amped up on the night.
This looks pretty awful for now, but don’t forget: with the support of the home crowd, this could still be magical three minutes.
Magical for all of us in the audience for sure, but probably not when the televotes come in… Those white shades look aweful, and they need to sort out their vocals for it to have appeal to televoters.
As sb mentioned earlier both Mahmood and Blanco (and I would add Chanel to the list) are extremely tired, under enormous pressure and therefore they probably feel indifferent…
They need to rest (doctor’s advice) – but they probably won’t, and I it really pains me to see such a talent, songs and performance to be ruined for Eurovision final audience because of impossible schedule and perfomers’ burnout
My thoughts goes to Avicci and the pressure he was under. No consert or competition are as important as health and I hope they just say no, stop. At lest when it comes to pressure to accept interviews etc. Focus to the competition and then only to relax. They don’t even need to be on the red carpet event etc. Love from Sweden. Hope they are fine.
LOL, such a tragic mess, They obviously don’t care at all.
Mahmood cares about Eurovision and the song; he puts rela effort but the other Italian singer seems to be not aware of what’s going on in Eurovision
Mahmood is amidst a European tour, Blanco is on tour too. What it matters is how they’re gonna perform on Saturday and I think they WILL deliver cause they are professionals!
Both Blanco and Mahmood are visibly tired, I hope they take this week to rest. It understandbly bothers the fans that they aren’t killing themselves on the rehearsals, but in the end all it matters it what they’ll do on Friday and Saturday. Hopefully they’ll leave a much better impression when the right time comes.
And for those who are expecting more effects on stage and tricks and lights and yata yata yata…Salvador Sobral says “hi!”
We don’t expect effects and tricks in a song like this, we expect at least an original storytelling to be told in these 3 minutes in order to make the song emotionally explode. Salvador had a unique persona, these two don’t have chemistry, zero interaction, they don’t even look at each other, just look exhausted and randomly walking here and there on the stage.
During Sanremo performance, they were quite concentrated and I think their performance would be better. Portugal’s song in 2017 was really boring to be honesy
Brividi is top 3 material and probably a winner. It literally gives me brividi…chills! I see it top 3 in jury votes and top 5 in televoting. I think the winner won’t top both voting categories and probably not even one of them!
This was a real letdown imo, I really thought Blanco’s arrival would strengthen “Brividi”, but he ultimately blighted a rather captivating atmosphere. Besides, Mahmood’s quavery vocals did shock me as I wished his voice would salvage that sinking ship. Certainly though, Italy don’t want back-to-back victories, and they made it crystal clear this time….
The rehearsal clip we have doesn’t show that the singers in the best performing light, Probably out of exhaustion, but let’s hope they get some good rest and deliver next Saturday.
Gee! I expected something… better :/
They did look exhausted and let’s hope this is just a bad day and after some rest, they will be on top form next Saturday.
They need some tea, honey and vocal rest ASAP. Italy clearly does not want to host this again. The hate they got this year for all the issues they’ve had—they really don’t need the headaches and the costs 2 years running. I think they are doing enough (not enough) to ensure “yeah, let’s just coast to a top 10 and be done with it”.
It certainly seems like it given the past (particularly 1997 Fiumi di Parole, and as I always suspected 2015 Grande Amore)
But I think Mahmood and Blanco are not themselves part of some RAI’s great masterplan not to win ESC again, they are just exhausted…
If anyone, the juries will make sure Italy doesn’s win again 😉
when you talk about problems it would be because the sun doesn’t rotate during the performances? the sun rotates is not broken. Before giving definitive sentences and inventing problems and apocalyptic scenarios, let’s wait for May 14 when the show will be over, and then who knows maybe it will be the most beautiful edition.
This is a flop :/
Well, at least we now know Italy is not hosting again. Let’s keep it that way.
The staging does not match the mellow voices of these two. I don’t understand the flashing lights with such a low key song. It was distracting to me.
The staging/performance could hurt them.
Definitely, it will do well. I don’t know about winning now.
I wouldnt be surprised if Italian broadcaster and Italy would withdraw from Eurovision after 2022 because comments towards Italy, Italian singer’s began to anti-Italian and this is disrespectful. Italian singers can not be scapegoats for the staging issues
It’s unfortunate, winning has harmed them a lot when it was supposed to be an exciting and iconic experience 🙁
Don’t even talk like that! Oh my lord, how can you even suggest Italy withdraw? That would be a nightmare.
I guess we won’t. Fortunately, Eurovision is still not a matter of discussion for most of Italians (many of my friends in their 30’s-40’s are not even aware that is going to be broadcasted from here) and unlike Sanremo, it has a very low media coverage, therefore this hateful and racist campaign is unknown to anyone but ESC fans. So there won’t be such a social pressure to withdraw, we’re simply going on sending good quality songs and enjoying the show without caring that much of all the shenanigans 🙂
This song is much better without Blanco 🙂 Mahmood really puts effort for the song
Nop. Disagree, Mahmood misses always his high notes
He cares about Eurovision but the other Italian singer looks to be unfamiliar with Eurovision
Winner
The snippet sounds awful, lmao. Very messy.
Out of tune for me.
Not just for you 😀
There’s a couple of nice shots in there but overall, it seems there’s a lack of effort in the staging. It looks really empty. The camera shots aren’t covering that up either.
There’s still time but this isn’t looking like the 2nd favourite to win Eurovision right now.
Some people are talking about the second and third run-through of the rehearsal, could someone please tell me where we can watch or hear the entire thing? (assuming those people aren’t in Torino)
Someone, please, cut Blanco’s sleeves a little. He’s clearly uncomfortable with them. Just saying ?
They sound terrible, absolutely terrible, and I don’t care about those -they’re tired- excuses.
Just to add for all those who chanting they are tired – so, basically, you’re telling us that ESC is just some random side gig in between for them? They will just pop up for 2-3 days, look and sound exhausted, out of tune and just bad (while the chopper is waiting for them behind the scene for their next gig), compared to other artists who completely dedicated their lives and time to this, trying to give us the best possible show and performance… And someone expects me to root for them?! No, ma’am.
Wow, hang on there. It’s not so easy to just terminate any other events they have since they were planned in advance (probably months in advance). If those gigs were big then ofc they won’t cancel them lol.These are only the rehearsals and they have a full week in which they can rest and then be at their best on the finals. Being exhausted is not an excuse, a singers job is to SING and singing for too long can start damaging your throat. It’s basic knowledge. They’ve had a fair amount of time learning the song and singing it… Read more »
Well, I’m not buying that attitude – all the other artists are some B listers without bookings and plenty of time to rehearse their performances to perfection, while Mahmood is some overbooked diva and we have just to be thrilled he even showed up. If they want to get my respect they can at least live up to the A-lister hype. Beyonce has tons of gigs and she always gives us her best A-game performance, no excuses.
Dude, what exactly are you complaining?
Where do you see Beyoncé’s rehearsals?
right on. and too bad for people who dont want to hear the truth.
If you want an Eurovision in which compete only artists whose career purpose is Eurovision, it’s kind ridiculous. You should be happy that Italy is sending established artists that have an established public, an established life and they NOT need Eurovision to continue their career. Of course they will be professional and on point when it counts, on SATURDAY.
You talk as if they owe you something. They don’t.
Terrible vocals and I see a lot of people searching for excuses. There was nobody yesterday when it was for other countries like Belgium which had technical issues during the last run.
Italy’s song is good but that’s all. Mahmood voice absolutely doesn’t match the song and I feel really sorry to hear that. Hope it will be better live but I’m not confident about it.
I think Italy would be in top3 or top5 but don’t think it can win
You know there’s something wrong with this production, when a super professional like Mahmood cannot deliver. I haven’t seen a single great performance until now.
Excuse me? Maro and her girls sang beautifully. Mahmood can’t sing, can’t ubderstand the hype around him
Portugal’s songs have been boring since 2017 and this year their song is like lullaby
There’s only one word that comes to mind with this one: lackluster… I expect that this will get some jury love, but I fail to see how this will attract large audience support from around Europe.
Their vocals in the clip ebu posted are shameful. Its ok not wanting to win again but dont be that bad vocally
it does sound a bit dodgy in the video….
Alright, I was wrong. Like, really wrong. This entry now has the perfect atmosphere on stage to accompany the music and Mahmood & Blanco’s harmonies. It feels and looks incredible. As if the song wasn’t of big quality already. Italy joins my top 10 for the year. *clap emojis*
the annual panic with the Italian staging has now become some sort of tradition
I don’t get why they gave Mahmood glasses in one the rehersals. This isn’t the ‘glasses’ kind of song.
he was probably hungover and all of the lights would have made him throw up
Nobody gave him glasses, he put them on himself.
Why does wiwi don’t praise Mahmood and Blanco while praising all the other contestants? It’s extrange ????
I agree
because their vocals were awful
Where awful yesterday or the day before? ?. It seems this team doesn’t like a song if their singer doesn’t interact with them. It’s terribly biased.
I agree. This year wiwibloggs looks very unprofessional. I don’t know why
It is, but that’s not the reason
I remember well in 2019 when wiwibloogs totally detroyed the staging of Mahmood in Tel Aviv, and we know how it ended. So probably they just dont like Mahmood, which is ok but not professional.
Soldi had terrible staging. The song was really good and with a solid staging it could have win but it was terrible
In your opinion…I think the staging was great.
It’s fact. It wasn’t any better than NM this year
“fact” lol
He was standing and 3 guys dressed in jumpers were jumping around him
I do not want to jump to conclusions, but the rainbow of death (and below-par organization) + Blanco not showing up for the first rehearsal + seemingly lost chemistry between the two singers = makes me think it is between Ukraine, the UK and Sweden now
The UK? ?
They were tired
RAI definitely making sure they don’t have to host again next year..
Hi ,the arcticle of wiwi blogs isn’t realistic because in the last run through they well delivered it. And the bookies are going down. So for me they are still there and competing for a win .
What? No! I really cheered for them to win!
I guess Blanco missing the first rehearsal had some negative effects afterall
Italy missing the whole stage had negative effects as well.