Bellissimo! On Tuesday evening, Italy’s Francesca Michielin finally premiered the Eurovision version of “No Degree Of Separation”… well, almost. The performance was an acoustic take on what she’ll sing in Stockholm. But it did mark the first time that we heard the new English lyrics.

As we previously reported, Francesca and her team have decided to sing a bilingual version of her Sanremese hit “Nessun Grado di Separazione” in Sweden. The song will remain primarily in Italian with one chorus in English. The stripped-back set took place on Webnotte, a famous Italian web show aired by the La Repubblica newspaper.

Francesca Michielin “No Degree Of Separation” (Acoustic)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9DOIv2Lk00

With just her beloved piano for company, the Sanremo runner-up debuted the much talked about English verse.

There is no degree of separation
There is no degree of hesitation
There is no degree of space between us
live in love
We are stars aligned together
dancing through the sky, we are shining

Francesca’s rendition is sweet and emotional. You can feel the passion through her delicate voice. She also seems very comfortable playing the piano and the chorus in English doesn’t ruin the song. It sounds natural, not forced. We like it! In bocca al lupo!

We’ll hear the studio version when the official video is released on Friday.

READ ALL OUR ITALY EUROVISION 2016 NEWS.

40 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Juan Kerem
8 years ago

She is on her way Good Luck for Eurovision. Nationality not important for music!!!

Juan Kerem
8 years ago

She is on her way. Good Luck for Eurovision. (Nationality is not important for music)

Juan Kerem
8 years ago

Natonality is not important for music. Vamos Michelin !!!…

Rich
Rich
8 years ago

The English part in the chorus really suits her vocals, i personally disagree with some of the other’s who feel it doesn’t fit with the rest of the song. Francesca’s vocals either in Italian or English is sweet music to the ears. I can’t wait to see this sung live on the big stage in Stockholm. My Italian flag will be waving for sure. Buona fortuna Italia!!

Go Team Francesca!!

.

ESC BRAZILIAN FAN
ESC BRAZILIAN FAN
8 years ago

Oh my God! Loved it! Italy, the winner of ESC 2016!

Bhrister Cjorkman
Bhrister Cjorkman
8 years ago

Not sure how I feel about the English verse. Unfortunately I think it does more harm than good. Still hanging up there in top 10 though.

ct_greece
ct_greece
8 years ago

Just her and the piano – this is absolutely moving and lovely. It’s great that english chorus works as a mere asterisk/translation instead of taking over the whole song. English really suits her voice too!

My only caveats: They could have found something more original to say in english than the final line about “stars shining in the sky” and she should hire a better make-up artist. I’ve noticed that bad make-up was a problem for her in San Remo as well 🙂

Amdiron
Amdiron
8 years ago

Oh God, I love it more and more. She has amazing voice, this song just with piano sounds so emotionally. And surprisingly, that short english part sounds really good. Love this, it is my number five for now, but I expect it is gonna get higher, because more and more I listen to it, more and more I like it <3

Criticca
Criticca
8 years ago

You guys complaining do realise that its still in FULL Italian right? She just added a short English verse during the bridge. She just wants viewers at home to know that this song has a beautiful message behind it.

Ejin
Ejin
8 years ago

The song in full Italian is much better,but this version is great as the original and Francesca’s voice LIVE is amazing and beautiful

baykostar
baykostar
8 years ago

I liked full italian version better but this is still my favourite entry.

fikri
fikri
8 years ago

love the english lyrics. this is how you translate an entry… take note albania!

Aibolat
Aibolat
8 years ago

OMG! Is it me or she sounds and looks like Birdy’s sister?

Juan
Juan
8 years ago

@EugeneESCUK: My favorite was Finalmente Piove, but it seems – in general – italian critics don’t like Valeriu Scanu 🙁

I do think Russia, France or Australia have great chances to win. However, Italy and Estonia are also between my favorites.

Denis
Denis
8 years ago

Funny, I don’t think any of the Italian entries since their return has been ESC compatible. They were just songs. For Italy it’s still very much a singing contest, nothing else. They just had the good fortune to send songs a majority liked.

Juan
Juan
8 years ago

@EugeneESCUK: Actually most of the songs in Sanremo this year were not ESC compatible. Considering the winners of the festival declined to go to Stockholm, and the second place was awarded to Francesca Michielin, RAI had it quite easy. 🙂

chessguy99
8 years ago

I was more concerned about editing out the thirty seconds the original was over. This works well, and cuts out some of the repetitiveness of the original.

Bekim
Bekim
8 years ago

We saw that when Italy send man 2011,2013,2015 they are always in TOP 10, 2011 2nd, 2013 7th , 2015 3r, when they send female 2012,2014 they don t have good result 2012 9th, 2014 21th, my prediction for Italy 2014 12 th place thanks to juries.

Ben Rafter
Ben Rafter
8 years ago

Extremely boring and average as I had feared. The song is good but her voice is nothing special and it was uncomfortable watching her play the piano as she isn’t great…. Sorry Francesca…. You look great though!

Alvaricomg
Alvaricomg
8 years ago

Wow her english is SO good, it sounds really natural
The perfomance was great! So emocional, althought I missed the “high notes” it feels like it doesn’t build at all, but it’s still being absolutely AMAZING

Fransen
Fransen
8 years ago

I think the English chorus fits in well with the rest of the song. Francesca wanted to sing one part in English in order to share her message with everyone, that’s it. I personally believe several people are saying they don’t like this new version because they have a preconceived opinion since they know what it sounds like fully in Italian. How would have you liked the song if she had sung it bilingual even at Sanremo? Listen to it as if it was the first time you hear the Italian entry, leaving your preconceptions behind… Despite liking songs fully… Read more »

Juan
Juan
8 years ago

She will get my televote.
If this acoustic version is broadcasted in Stockholm (and if she gets a good position in the manipulated final draw), probably she will get lots of undecided televoters 🙂

Racal
Racal
8 years ago

I was sure she would ruin her song with the English lyrics and… Yup, she did. We surely won’t go to Italy in 2017. Too bad, the full Italian version was my #1.

Now I’m running for Douwe Bob and the Netherlands!

olivia
olivia
8 years ago

She should get rid of the english lyrics, it sounds weird
otherwise, it’s a beautiful song and she’s lovely

Ñu
Ñu
8 years ago

To be honest, english verses doesn’t add anything so I prefere the full italian version. She is really good and her english is also great, but sounds better in italian. Anyways hope she will be at least top 10.

Maxime Melikian
Maxime Melikian
8 years ago

Bonsoir Stockholm,

Je ne suis pas d’accord avec l’auteur de l’article. Il est vrai que la version acoustique est magnifique. Par contre non, le refrain en anglais ruine la chanson. Dommage. Il volo a chanté tout en Italien l’année dernière et remporté le télévote !!!
Saluti,
Maxime

This is my opinion (TIMO)
This is my opinion (TIMO)
8 years ago

Singing part in English makes song disjointed as she can do it better singing all in Italian. .anyway l don’t think she will sing like this on eurovision stage because she doesn’t use her voice properly, while l like the song l sometime think the music is not instant which can easily be forgotten.

CCC
CCC
8 years ago

I am not a huge fan of the English lyrics but I am a huge fan of this song, especially the acoustic version

mad-professor
mad-professor
8 years ago

The best thing about this is that her English is really good, so it doesn’t feel jarring like most bilingual Eurovision songs.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
8 years ago

I think the English was unnecessary but she does move into it seamlessly.
Still one of the strongest entries this year and the best Italian entry since they returned to Eurovision! I like it!

Denis
Denis
8 years ago

Not sure if the English lyrics add something to the song, but no doubt it will do. Italian entries always do well. Wonder how the 3 minute version will be like.

sufle
sufle
8 years ago

I like how it remains faithful to the Italian and helps convey the meaning to non-Italian speakers but it feels jarring for some reason and I can’t tell why. Maybe its just the acoustic version but I can’t seem to get past it right now.

Happy
Happy
8 years ago

I can’t say I like English verse in the song (though I like the fact that now I at least understand what she is singing about), but I must admit – she is so adorable! I wasn’t impressed like many of ESC fans when she was announced as entry from Italy this year. Originally thought that the song was ok. Now it really grew on me and I actually love it! Can’t wait to see her perform live in London Eurovision Party!

André
André
8 years ago

Totally agreed with the article. It sounds natural! She is a talented musician, as seen on video, and there’s no risky move to compromise genuine talent! Let’s do thiiis, Francesca!

Jan
Jan
8 years ago

Why? That one English chorous spoils whole song… 🙁

giorgio
giorgio
8 years ago

lovely Francesca

Marco
Marco
8 years ago

This is such a beautiful song, yet widely ignored… maybe a dark horse?

The chorus in English doesn’t really add something, though

PP
PP
8 years ago

But for me she sound better then at San Remo festival.

PP
PP
8 years ago

They ruined their song with english lyricks.

Mark
Mark
8 years ago

That’s a good chorus! Go Francesca!