Namaste! The 67th edition of Sanremo Music Festival has come to an end and against all odds, Francesco Gabbani won the crown and the traditional “leoncino” — the little golden lion awarded to the sanremese winner.
The mustachioed songwriter — together with his dancing gorilla — emerged as an outsider in the competition with “Occidentali’s Karma”. From the start of the week though, the song was well received by both the public and critics.
During the week, it seemed that bookies’ hot favourite Fiorella Mannoia was heading to a crushing victory. She overshadowed all the competitors in every field, with millions of views on YouTube, thousands of Spotify streams and first place on iTunes Italy. Still, we’re sure she must be pleased with her silver medal.
The big question remains for Italian Eurovision fans though: will Francesco represent Italy in Kiev? At this point, it is unsure, as we are still waiting for an official answer from RAI. It’s thought likely that Francesco will take the spot, however.
We will hopefully know the name of the next Italian Eurovision representative later tonight, or even tomorrow.
Update at 01:15am: Francesco and RAI have confirmed that he will sing at Eurovision 2017.
FINAL RESULTS
As with last night, the overall combined results consisted of televoting (40%), a demoscopic jury (30%) and the expert jury (30%). All 20 Campioni finalists started off with a clean slate when they performed their entries on the night.
After the first round of voting, Fiorella Mannoia, Ermal Meta and Francesco Gabbani advanced to the second and last round. In the end, it was Francesco Gabbani who emerged triumphant!
OVERALL RANKING
- Francesco Gabbani – Occidentali’s Karma
- Fiorella Mannoia – Che sia benedetta
- Ermal Meta – Vietato morire
- Michele Bravi – Il diario degli errori
- Paola Turci – Fatti bella per te
- Sergio Sylvestre – Con te
- Fabrizio Moro – Portami via
- Elodie – Tutta colpa mia
- Bianca Atzei – Ora esisti solo tu
- Samuel – Vedrai
- Michele Zarrillo – Mani nelle mani
- Lodovica Comello – Il cielo non mi basta
- Marco Masini – Spostato di un secondo
- Chiara – Nessun posto è casa mia
- Alessio Bernabei – Nel mezzo di un applauso
- Clementino – Ragazzi fuori
THE WINNER
Born 9 September 1982 in Carrara, Tuscany, Francesco Gabbani is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter who rosed to fame after winning the Newcomer’s section and the Critic’s prize of Sanremo 2016 with the song “Amen“.
He released two albums — “Greitist Iz” in 2013 and “Eternamente Ora” in 2016 — and gained a platinum certification for his sanremese winner single.
In 2016, he also toured Italy and composed the soundtrack of Italian comedy film “Poveri ma ricchi”, directed by Fausto Brizzi. The song “Foglie al gelo” was released last December 2016 as a single from the film’s soundtrack album.
Does anyone think the cameraman knocking into Alessio might have effected the vote. I know he didn’t have a chance at winning but he could have gotten one place higher or lower because of it…
Mark, you are insane…
Italy is a dissapointment this year. It isn’t terrible, I’m happy it’s in Italian, however I can’t say I like it. And I don’t think this will make top 15 either.
I think Italy has the strongest National Selection.
Love the song, love the vibe, loving that frisky gorilla
I listen to all kinds of music, from Jazz, Opera, Pop, Rock, to Reggae, R&B, Soul, you name it. To me, as long as they convey emotions, I don’t care the genre. “Occidentali’s Karma” gives me a happy, uplifting vibe, so I should be able to appreciate it just as much as I appreciate a powerful ballad, an intense opera aria or a mind-blowing rock song. So, yes, I LOVE this song and if, to top it off, it has current, brilliant lyrics about the era we’re living in, that’s even better – the icing on the cake. Is it… Read more »
Charles
If u don’t like gorilla u can stay home or u can see another program in May 13
ITALY U ROCK!
Charles, what are you on about? Listen, people like this song for Italy, and not because of the bloody ape! The gorilla is a fun touch, I can see why many people WON’T like it but in my opinion it goes well with the feeling of the song so I don’t mind it. This is probably the worst song Italy has sent since they came back in 2011 – but I still like it, because it is unexpected, it is fun, it is catchy – it’s something that makes me feel a bit happier! But just because me and other… Read more »
@Polegend Godgarina: Since when dressing up as a gorilla is a talent? Or are you so desperate to see Eurovision in Italy at any cost? Tired of cold Nordic weather? If walls could actually talk …
@Leanne: I appreciate the message of the song … although so many others have written songs with social criticism in its message so there is nothing new in here to be quite honest … but the thing here is not even the content of the message … it’s the fact that fans were going loony with the lack of uptempo songs … adding a gorilla to the party just made them all go crazy … it’s like reliving the 2000s and their childhood days … it doesn’t even matter what the song is about. It’s all about that gorilla and… Read more »
@Griffin: You were just desperate for an uptempo song … you can’t stand music telling you you have to grow up … that’s why they are boring and mediocre … they are all telling you what you don’t want to hear. An uptempo gives you a reason to dance along to all those beats while ignoring the lyrics and what they’re supposed to mean that takes too much work … and there is a gorilla to dance along with you. Eurovision at its best … credible and musically substantial.
He has got an interesting voice that I wasn’t quite sure of at first but as the song went on, I more I was liking it .It’s my favourite song heading to Eurovision so far but I’m not sure about the gorilla
@Jonas: Leave the gorilla at home and I’ll honestly believe every word you say … otherwise with the gorilla there no one is going to believe in you and much worse no one is even bothering to believe or disbelieve because everybody is already distracted by the gorilla … it speaks for itself.
I’ll check later some translation of winner’s song lyrics. Can’t say he was top notch live, same for melody, but still he’s a good contender amongst another 10 finalists.
This was an amazing night!
And maybe my favourite song winning! Love it!
Surprised Elodie was lower than I expected, but I’m so glad Ermal Meta was in the top 3. I liked his song from the start.
This year we will have a really sexy Eurovision winner *drools*
I am predicting a male voice to win this year. Francesco could easily be that winning voice. The song itself is fresh and very current, absolutely on cue.
The performance is key, it will certainly stand out on stage this year. It also has a likeable quality about it too. This will certaintly do well for sure. Bravo Italia!
It’s Italy time! Monkey dances naked 🙂 Go ITALY
(Francesco confirmed that he will be representing Italy with this song. Great for the Italians) Safe to say that Italy will fly the Big 5 flag once again, which is very likely considering the other 4 countries’ entries (France and UK could finish around mid-table with improvements, Germany and Spain are more likely to finish close to bottom). This song is very un-Eurovision, which is exactly the reason why I feel this will do very well. As long as this song is shortened to the required 3 minutes and he brings along the gorilla, this will get another top 10… Read more »
Bravo, Francesco! A breath of fresh air, such an uplifting song! And LOVED the lyrics! Just like Leanne says, it’s a a witty jab at society in the social/web era. So brilliantly accurate! FORZA, ITALIA!
Watch the video with English subtitles here: http://dai.ly/x5bezko
this is brilliant, I hope he says yes to the ESC family because the song is so memorable he doesn’t need to do any changes but HE MUST bring the gorilla to Kiev if he accepts the invitation!
SO HAPPY 🙂
FINALLY AFTER A STREAK OF MEDIOCRE BALLAD THIS IS I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR I’M SO GLAD FRANCESCO WIN AND REPRESENT ITALY IN KYIV.
Eventhough my heart breaks when Alessio just finished in 15th
I absolutely love this. It’s so happy, witty, funny, and it’s a fantastic song to boot, not just another discardable joke act. Viva Italia!
Italy 2018!
Namaste!
Nice to see a lighter side of Italy for once and not same old dramatic dark entries.
The song is an absolute delight from start to finish and insanely positive. Really good choice that should do well
The thing that bugs me though is that songs like this always become fan favourites and everyone expects it to win, only to end up getting not that many tele-votes. Like Amir and France last year who despite being the favourite only ended up in 9th place with voters. I hope tit won’t happen for Italy this year…
This shoots up immediately to my #2 spot, just behind France.
1. France
2. Italy
3. Belarus
4. Finland
5. Switzerland
6. Albania
7. UK
8. Georgia
9. Spain
10. Germany
Something of this quality could never be considered a “joke” act. I don’t know what some of you people are thinking. Save that term for Dustin the Turkey, Rodolfo, Buranovskiye Babushki.
You are seriously mistaken if you think this is anywhere near that category, or trying to be.
ROMA 2018
Absolutely brilliant
I love Italian music, but this is certainly not my cup of tea. Too flat at first listening. Good luck anyway!
ARE YOU NUTS? I wanted Lodovica Comello to win!!!! 🙁
Oh well. The only other option is for Lodovica to represent San Marino.
Okay, so Germany and Spain are race to the bottom, but France, UK and now most certainly Italy show that being a finalist means something. Congrats, Italy just might be my favorite now!
It’s easy to mark this as a joke act based solely on the performance. If you understood the lyrics, it’s actually a witty jab at society in the social/web era.
Still amazed and happy this won, regardless of how well it will do in Eurovision, it’s a big step forward for Italy and Sanremo.
1. Italy
2. Finland
3. United Kingdom
4. Belarus
5. Switzerland
6. France
7. Albania
8. Georgia
9. Germany / Spain
Love it! This is a great song!
And I love the gorilla dance as in the final performance.
I dont know what to say. Im so happy. The moment i heard this and saw his performance, i knew he would be the perfect artist to send to ESC. He has already winner written all over him. Love the song, love his performance, just everything about it. It feels so fresh. Rome 2018, here we come 🙂
For all of you saying this is a joke act, please look up what Occidentalism is.
Yes, he’s going! 😀
http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=francesco_gabbani_to_represent_italy_in_kyiv
Seriously Italy? Sending a pathetic joke act is something I expect from Spain and the UK, not you
I love it! My favorite easily.
I’m so happy this won! He is my number one and Belarus my two. For all of you who said he needs to leave the gorilla home, I don’t think he should. I believe the gorilla goes hand in hand with the meaning of the song and its lyrics.
BRAVO ITALIA!!!! I Love your choise!!!!
Talent WON. I’m proud of my country. A song with witty lyrics and a great rhythm that’s looking at the future, instead of the same stale Italian music that can’t seem to evolve.
If the gorilla goes to Kiev, Riga Beaver must goes too !
I so love it! I love the gorilla, love the dance routine, love music. Francesco is so charismatic and his gorilla is a match. And i love the simplicity, love the fact that it is just the singer and the gorilla. People, and guess what (as I haven’t mentioned it yet): I love the gorilla!!
What a pleasure to see at least some big 5 countries returning with quality you would expect from the biggest music markets in Europe
It has also been confirmed that “Occidentali’s Karma” is the italian song for Kiev 😉
He has already accepted!
3rd win for Italy is coming 😀
Further confirmation: https://twitter.com/EurovisionRai/status/830586843225800704
It was looking like Sweden, Australia, Russia and Greece were in the running to win this year… until Italy selected Francesco. Bravo Italy, I think they could win unless the juries screw them over again like with Il Volo.
omg im actually teary eyed. I am so so so so so happy this is going to Eurovision – what a beautiful and fantastic representation of the competition!
Italy did n made mistake with winner. I like Elodie (she was my favorite ) than Francesco, Alessio and Samuel. I was affraid that Francesco wili be out of TOP 3, when I see that Alessio was placing 15 of 16, Samuel 10 , Elodie only 9. I think if Francesco want to go to Eurovision, Italy wili be in TOP 10. My prediction in TOP 3 with televote, but I affraid that juries wili put him out of TOP 5 maybe TOP 10 lke they did with some favorites Russia in 2012 , Italy in 2015 in both year… Read more »
@Mark: Alessio was really good, and he’s so gorgeous. Perhaps he will win Sanremo in the future?
Love it! Finally a humoristic song! Thank you, Italy 😉 I really hope this is the one they are going with.