Expectations are high and the pressure is immense. But Eurovision 2017 favourite Francesco Gabbani was no worse for the wear during his first rehearsal inside the International Exhibition Centre in Kyiv.
Wearing a suit similar to the one that secured him victory at Sanremo, he stood centre-stage while his backing vocalists stood to the side wearing bright jumpers in orange, yellow and green — helping set the tone for this truly colourful performance. The LED features a series of Buddhist symbols, including the outline of Buddha. Other images — including a lotus flower and hands with henna — all have an Eastern edge to them. Even a series of umbrellas — which fly across the screen in bright colours when he says “singing in the rain” — seem to have Indian design elements.
Francesco sells this as well as he always has — he smiles at the camera and at times he laughed at him self as he got used to the vast stage. But there are some things producers can still work on. Owing to the floor’s frequently dark colouring, and the dark background of the LED across which brighter objects fly, he and his gorilla sometimes disappear into the background. Brightening up the background and floor — or somehow lightening the gorilla or Francesco’s suit — might make them stand out a bit more.
During the first run-through we worried there were far too many images on the screen — it was almost an assault on the eyes. But as the run-throughs progressed the producers cut the camera slightly differently so it seemed less frenetic. There’s also a black and white ying-yang symbol, which seems somehow out-of-place compared to all the other bold accents on the LED.
Initially I was underwhelmed and worried victory was slipping from his grasp. But this remains incredibly strong and very feel-good, and all criticisms are minor at best. Surely with some simple tweaks this will once again feel like the hands-down favourite.
Francesco Gabbani — “Occidentali’s Karma”: Reviews and Reactions
Italy: First rehearsal at Eurovision 2017
Italy: First press conference 2017
*Buy the naked ape shirt in a variety of colours
*Buy the naked ape shirt in white
*Buy the Namaste Gorilla Shirt
*Buy the TWO GORILLAS shirt in a range of colours
*Buy the TWO GORILLAS shirt in white
Italy’s Francesco Gabbani will be joined on stage by a naked gorilla. But the ape knows that sometimes you have to cover up for your Eurovision selfie. This funky, psychedelic design captures him doing just that.
lots of noise around some pieces of song. I dont get the whole thing at all. if the song is not musically appealing to me, I skip. and whats the big fuss about the message anyway? some inside joke of southern europe?
can someone please tell me why this is gonna finish on the left hand side of the scoreboard. Forza Malta
What I like most about the song is that it’s like a self fulfilling prophecy, be cause every time he performs the song on stage the audience does exactly what he is singing about. Che ironia ?
@Marcus
?Haha
😀
I LOVE this song! I do Yoga and I don’t feel even a bit offended with his lyrics. I think they are ver true because it’s about the superficiality of our life style. A great message that comes out, but he is doing it with lot of fun. I would love so much if Italy would win. So don’t get me wrong, but is the staging not a little too much over the top? It seems somehow unfocused and going in all directions. It would be terrible if he looses over staging options…
Mario and Donkey Kong look lost without their Karts
What a deep analyse.
Very intelligent.
Usually it is called a hater’s analyse
It could be very easy to analyse in that way.
Like Dihaj?????
What was that??? A Zombie singing in a cemetry full of skeletons.????
I love monkey more then skeletons…..want to think more about our origin then our end.
But i’m not a hater. I love Dihaj song too even supporting Francesco
If you think our origin is truly from Monkey then you are not very intelligent. So many flaws in the evolution lie. Mario and Donkey Kong should stick to Karting 😀
Even your brain fells lost…
I have never understood the hype around this song though I never tend to ‘get’ winners songs until they are performed on the night. I kinda hope he doesn’t win though because I don’t want to see loads of countries doing a rip off version of this next year with animals dancing on stage etc.
If this song wins I think I will have officially lost all faith in Eurovision. Jamala’s song I am pretending not ever happened, but if this gimmick song wins I think I’m done.
I’m praying a real artist and song wins. Dihaj. Skeletons.
I dont want Italy to win without a fight… for me the battle is Italian BUDA vs Bulgarian Prince of Ballads
A small correction, the Italian wanna-be-Buddha vs…
Im sorry for the negative comments people are making re: insult to igion but I ask those people to google translation to the song as there is no anti religious tendency or words in Francesco’s song,.
Its really unfair to make such accusations.
Overrated song…but it will will cause this is Eurovision. Let’s hope the jury prevents this song from winning.
Why?
Irs a cheap, childich sonf, whot a silly dance.
You already write this below. Did you forgot which Italy’s articles you spammed today with your pointless (always the same sconnected hateful thoughts) comments?
Hahaha
If I had a penny for every time you wrote this comment I could have flied to Kiev in first class…
Hi get a life!!!
I’m very afraid this will not win. I can see Portugal as winner, but not Italy, and I want Italy. Is very unfortunate that viewers will not understand why monkey, why reiki meditation images…..I’m a fan of Italian entry, and a fan of Reiki.
Portugal might even not go to the final. Let’s be realistic
Feeling very uncomfortable about any use of religious imagery in a “fun” song … aren’t there supposed to be EBU rules about the use of religion in a Eurovision song? Like with the Switzerland Salvation Army having to change their name a couple of years ago? Still love it, but can’t help feeling a twinge of inconsistency with policy and respect for beliefs here.
Yeah. It may be freedom of speech but by doing so they are hurting a portion of people. Surely this contest is watched outside Europe as well. Although his song doesn’t intend to hurt and the lyrics are truly opposite the viewers watching the first time won’t get that. They won’t be those geeks who would search the meanings of lyrics. They just see the images and they feel offended. I’m not trying to be offensive but imagine putting up an image of Jesus or something in this same feel good song. Dancing gorillas and Jesus. It’s not kinda appropriate… Read more »
I like how people come out with this stuff but in the end put a random “but I like the song, don’t get me wrong”. LoL.
Perhaps that’s to point out a matter in the most respectful way possible.
I feel it is more likely that this will break the Eurovision points record than not win. I can see every country giving this ten or twelve points with maybe a singular eight thrown in there.
It’s bound to happen someday, so why not? But it’s difficult to get high remarks from every country, no winner is that loved everywhere. Even popular winners like Rybak, Lordi and Loreen failed to get 12 or 10 points from every country. It would be quite a stretch that Francesco would be universally loved that everyone hands him 12 or 10 points As for breaking records: it’s only second year this new system is used. Had it been the old system it would have been easier to break record. Perhaps if the televote was done separately from country to country… Read more »
I’ve seen the lyrics to this and it sounds like he is insulting others religions and teasing them! Its absolutely disgusting how someone could do that!! This is the worst Italian entry since 2011. This won’t win!
And where did you saw those insulting lyrics: in an alternate universe? Please enlighten me, and while you’re at it read this: http://wiwibloggs.com/2017/02/15/occidentalis-karma-lyrics/174193/
Inform yourself before speaking.
Read this for the meaning of the song http://wiwibloggs.com/2017/02/15/occidentalis-karma-lyrics/174193/
I think the song is meant to criticise “cultural appropriation” – basically, Western people using something of great value from another culture without honouring and respecting it enough. Many people use Buddha statues as mere decoration, for example. Some proclaim their love for Hinduism because they have yoga lessons twice a week. They see other people’s cultures and religions as an exotic holiday. Oddly enough, Francesco is doing the very thing he’s criticising in his music video. I suppose he’s trying to point that cultural appropriators come across rather ridiculous. Anyway. Italy used to be one of my favourite ESC… Read more »
I still don’t understand why people must be criticize for using any religion works for them. Whatever works.
So what if people do yoga wearing fashionable clothes? Yes, some are snobs, but come on…let them be.
Others say the same thing about Christmas, that people preach kindness only around Christmas.
I truly believe that a real religious person does not criticize those who try to find peace in any religion, in any way, as long as it doesn’t hurt others.
Candy, cultural appropriation means using images, clothing and other cultural symbols to mock something. A westerner who is practing Buddhism or yoga, however lamely and without understandingis still not aporopriating anything. On the other hand Gabbani is doing just that–his song is a pardogy of the regilious practices of these culture, which uses clothing, room settings and religious symbology to do that, while there is a funny song and a gorilla dancing. I have said that before–if this has aired here in the USA, Gabbani would have to apologize and redo the video. It will be a shame for Europe… Read more »
Actually the opposite, he’s teasing westerners who try to casually use eastern religions fix their lives. The lyrics are quite inventive and clever. You must have found a bad translation, or misunderstood them.
”casually use eastern religions fix their lives”
After all, what is wrong with that? To FIX a life is great!
With all due respect, I think that you have missed the point slightly.
This kind of commens sounds like desperation to me. I don’t why you guys are still replying to this.
my connection is lame today, sorry.
This kind of comment sounds like desperation to me. I don’t why you guys are still replying to this.
You are clearly one of the persons that he sings about.
Coherent with his Sanremo’s staging with some new thingies added. That’s good news for Francesco, Italy has all planets aligned to win. Bravo! 🙂
I really can’t believe that this is a favourite to win?
WINNER
I’d love for our Italian cousins to win it.
Love from NL
There is much going on on stage! But they pretty much brought the Sanremo performance here! Even Francesco’s suit was almost the same if not the same as the one in Sanremo! I liked they didn’t change anything cause this performance was successful! I love the Gorilla!
Italy is my winner!
Namaste Ale!
P.S.: I really enjoyed him at the press conference!
I actually can’t believe I hated this song the first time I heard it after San Reno.
Now its my go to song to make me feel happy!
I made a mistake… I read most of the comments before seeing the preview itself and was underwhelmed ><
It wasn't nearly as spectacular as it is made to be. Waiting for second rehearsal^^3
The short snipet gave by EurovisionTV is just a taste of what could be.
There is only a fixed service camera which films the first rehearsal.
For sure EurovisionTv is not going to show us the exact image of what we are going to see during semifinals/final.
Things to observe during these first shots are staging,backgrounds, energy carisma. For the rest we have to wait
Winner song. Winner staging. Roma 2018.
I can’t imagine this losing, to be honest.
But I’m willing to expand my imagination. 😉
We have a WINNER! ITALY!
I don’t think this is going to win
Out of curiousity: who do you think will win instead? Italy seems like a certain winner this year.
Russia was certain winner last year…but in the end it was 3rd. I think that probably Bulgaria, Armenia or Portugal are going to win. I will bet on Bulgaria, but not sure what will happen in the end. For me the Italian song is missing something.
Russia wasn’t a winner. Before rehearsals there were grumbles about it being a formula song. The over the top staging solidified the “Russia is trying to buy Eurovision” sentiment that probably gave jurors an easy way to downgrade it.
The performance might not be top notch but it’s good enough to impress. I’m 75% sure he will win. Everything speaks for it. Though last year Sergey had lower/better odds and everyone was 90% sure he would win. So anything can still happen! It looks very unlikely though.. And unlike the majority I was sure Sergey wouldn’t win, the same way I’m sure Francesco will win this year. Still, it ain’t over until the fat lady sings and the cows come home BTW is ESC a big thing in Italy? If he would win would people care about it enough?… Read more »
The song is still not contemporary. His performance of it is OK. But the hype around this song is too much…. I think top3 but to win? No.
I don’t get the hype around this song.Its average and there are a lot of much more better quality songs in the contest. I still don’t think this will win. The juries will not appreciate so much i think. And I’m sorry but I don’t think the hole Europe will get behind this. I think this year will be close, and it is open the race for the win for at least 4-5 countries.
To all those who say that a Eurovision performance should be fun: now THAT is a fun performance, on top of being artistically on point! He’s the only one who manages to pull that off this year, and he does that with great talent. Good luck to him, he’s great!
I would love the top 3 to be Italy, Portugal and Belgium (random order).
The graphics look amazing and Francesco is as great as always, now it’s up to the producers to get the camera angles right.
Lmao @ people predicting a dark horse. A dark gorilla maybe.
Welcome to the circus contest 2017
Welcome to the pressed contest and congratulations for winning it! 🙂
Polegend, you’re the only pressed one here. You’re the one who keeps writing negative comments on other articles of other entries where you claim that they have “no chance over Italy”. It’s gonna be really embarrassing for you if Francesco completely flops, cause there’s a big difference between San Remo and Eurovision.
mmmh Ariana are you serious? It was WIM to talk about circus… Nevertheless i know italians, and they are kind…. i’ m sorry when i read comments like yours, because (maybe you don’t know) eurovision was created (inspired by SanRemo) to made Europe more united… it’s sorry see someone hope that an entry of another country will flop… So, if it made you feel better i hope Francesco will fail (as you hope)…
Kiss
Polegend is always responding to people that criticize Francesco’s song, even if they’re being polite about it. He’s probably the biggest fanwanker of Gabbani on this entire blog to the point where it’s almost obsessive and creepy. I don’t hope that Gabbani will flop, cause I won’t sink to Polegend’s level. I’m just saying that it’s gonna be really embarrassing if Gabbani doesn’t win and Polegend has defended him with tooth and nail. I’m just sick of seeing Polegend being hateful towards other entries and throwing out insults to people that don’t agree with him.
If you don’t like circus then you should give up on Eurovision. What do you expect? 43 ballads?
Looks great, sounds great, amazing song that could be a hit all over Europe… I think it’s Italy’s turn to win. Even though my personal #1 favourite is Portugal, I think that Italy would be a very, very worthy winner.
EPIC!!
So, magic is working on a big stage too, great 🙂
Go, Francesco <3
He didnt won juries votes at San Remo festival in final and only in final he won televote 2 time in first and second round . When tv viewers first heard his song at San Remo, they put him on 4 place in televote , then on 3 rd place on second time when he present the song. Remember that many people hear and watch fist time song in eurovision final.
I agree . The biggest problem with the song other than he sings in a language most viewers don’t understand ,and that’s a problem when 90% of this songs appeal to some people are the words , is that his voice isn’t anything special .
Eurovision will be over the day that every country will sing in English. It’s totally meaningless and it fails to achieve the purpose of the contest. The fact that Portugal is the only country in the first SF singing in another language rather than English makes the #CelebrateDiversity sounds like hypocrisy. Only 4/43 countries if you look at the overall. About getting the message, you can google “italy eurovision lyrics” and you will get it in less than 5 seconds on your mobile device. Il Volo won the televoting singing in pure Italian, without neighbour and political voting or rigged… Read more »
Firstly, it does not matter the language and Toto Cotugno also sang in Italian. Secondly, in Eurovision should be sung in own language.
Music has no lanquage. And at Eurovision shoul be sung in own language and not in English.
I think that Italian is even more understandable than Crimean Tartar, yet Jamala managed to win with a song that had that language on it.
So, yes… Your point is invallid.
You mean the chorus that was a tiny fraction of Jamala’s song? What language was the 1944 sung in majority-wise? Don’t even compare Gabbani to Jamala. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH
This got a surely catchy tune but in San Remo this year there were three song at least which I can consider close to be masterpieces…
The Sanremo thing is complicated, singers there are already famous and there are people more famous that have a more active fanbase, I wouldn’t taking Sanremo as an example, also for juries. Eurovision and Sanremo are two very different things.
Yeah, as Gippa said, he came to Sanremo against many estabilished singers who have fanbases heavily voting for them. He had only had one hit before Sanremo, so he had no fanbase support. As for the juries, I guess their intent was to make Fiorella Mannoia win as a “prize to her career” like Roberto Vecchioni in 2011. That happens a lot, but thank heavens this wasn’t the case. We dodged a major bullet here, because Fiorella would’ve represented us had she won.
Sanremo works on other level than Eurovision.
The name there is a factor to begin with.
And in the semifinal, Francesco was only 0’5% behind the second (and no App haha). We need to say everything 😉
And the competition was much harder in Sanremo.
Jury voting was won by a masterpiece btw.
Esc is whole different thing.
He won’t win . The language is a big obstacle . I have a feeling we are in for a surprise winner
The language was a big obstacle in 2015 too, right? Sometimes, music goes beyond words – and that’s how Serbia won in 2007, for example.
How Serbia won in 2007? A song in a language most Europeans can’t understand! And yet the performance was so effective it touched people and it actually won! For me, countries should be encouraged to sing in their language! The winning song doesn’t have to be in English! It’s more obvious as English is a universal language everyone can understand! However, music is also universal! A song in a language not known in the majority can win! And also, many years ago, when every country should sing in its language, there were winners who sang in many different languages! I… Read more »
My absolute favourite this year!!! Go Italy!! 😀
I hope the Italians give their song the staging it deserves rather than the staging it needs.
It would be fun if the luck of the draw and the producers would let Gabbani perform last, as a nod to 2015. OK is a perfect way to close the show in any case.
I think that they’ll squash him between two ballads, like the United Kingdom and Switzerland (just an example). If he picks 1st half, they’ll have him 10-13; in 2nd half I’m predicting 19-21. But I think he’d win even performing 2nd…
I’m stuck with the #18 on my mind.
1st half they will put him 6-10.
Second half, it really doesn’t matter where, but I don’t think he will be last.
OK, what do you base these predictions on? Would be very interesting to hear.
I realise I’m about to be killed by every ESC fan of the contest, but I think Italy might of thrown it. I mean, there is a reason every country which had an orchestral version of the strong changed it to something more contemporary. This is such a same given they amazing studio amazing.
The one positive of this is the contest is anyone’s. I realise I will be destroyed by the fans, but to quote fans of RPDR: sue me.
It’s not my favorite but I see the appeal and I think Italy’s worth the win after sending so many classy songs and being robbed -15. (I’m Swedish and likes Heroes but Il Volo should have won.)
Keeping it in Italian was the right thing, but I wish Francesco would have English lyrics appearing on the screen behind him. To non Italian speakers who see the performance for the first time, the dancing monkey would make more sense that way.
well if some people call Romania’s Yodel It a JESC sort of song, same can then also be said about Gabbani’s song with the dancing gorilla, something kids will really find funny
i am being positive with this, cause i like upbeat, happy joyful songs 🙂
Do you like Belarus, then? Obsessed with Story of My Life!
yeah i do
Romania, Belarus and Moldova are happy upbeat joyful fun songs i really love 🙂
I agree from the staging point of view. Well, but the quality of both songs are miles away.
I meant Italy and Romania
Haters are scared for his winning. Hahahaha, so funny. Well, that’s the proof that this song is the winning one 😛
Not my personal number 1, but this will win for sure. And, for me, that’s actually quite OK! Happy to see ESC’18 in a Mediterranean country!
How much italy payed ebu as direct qualifier is an advantage for italy to win. This year we don’t have a song that can make you go WOW, that’s another advantage for italy or another country to win. I truly see new version of toto cotugno who won eurovision for italy in 1990 , everybody were shocked when italy won juries voted for that song was the question because viewers didn’t understand the lyrics. Anyway I would like to say this the 3 guys chatting in that video above how could you say things like I thought armenia was going… Read more »
If Italy wins this year, Italy will have 3 wins in Italian lyrics. That’ s quite amazing especially for nowadays Englishvision
Italians are scared of winning. It has been commented on many radio shows they don’t want to win and having to organize next year’s festival, as the economy is a sensible topic in the country and Eurovision is not SO popular, it’s not worth the effort… Let’s see. I think this is a 75% probability winner, but everything can still happen. Ask Sergey Lazarev
Are you italian? Oli
???
That’s totally a LIE.
What is this kind of lie? I’m from Italy, and here the radios are encouraging Francesco. Even RAI’s director tweeted him to take the trophy! In Ukraine, last year’s edition was watched by 1.2 million people in a country of 40 million. In Italy the figures are 3.5 million in a country of 60 million. So I don’t get your point about the lack of popularity – which will grow exponentially in case of Francesco’s victory. No, Italians aren’t scared to win, we want to 🙂
The popularity is so high in Italy that I can see normal people singing occidentali’s karma in restaurant or festival in Youtube..
I’m really proud of him, I’m more confident than ever he’ll take the Eurovision to Italy. Truly the full package.
This is a stupid song, a stupid dance abd a silly monkey. This dong is sioooo cheap, i hope its not gonna winn.
Haha poor you 🙂
Hello Hater!!!
Why do you feel compelled to say this in every article? Think we couldn’t read the other 110 times?
Gosh, some of you go the extra mile to talk trash about Italy :P.
Hi enjoy your life and hate less…
@lamme first you learn how to not hate israel, i read your comments against israel and why israel even participate..So as an israeli i want to ask you, are you antisemitic or just hate israel?
I like Israel and Italy, stop bashing countries.
I can’t remember saying anything bad about Israel’s song; I actually can’t remember saying anything bad about any song… of course I do feel free to express my opinion! By the way: I think I simply LOVE Israel as a Country for its culture and for the HUGE courage that the population daily demonstrate. Therefore: I am planning to visit it very soon!
@lamme I read that you wrote in the past things like Israel is not in europe so Israelis not aloud to give their opinions of the songs or Something like that..maybe it come out wrong.Any way you welcome in israel 🙂 Shabbat Shalom to you from Israel 🙂
Hi I agree with you..his dance is stupid..the song is ok , but i think he will win because all of the hype around it.
Francesco at the press conference:
Two kinds of people: The ones who get the message in the song and the ones whom the song was created for.
This is a great reply.
You are so EXTRA.
As an italian, I’due say he is a breath of fresh air. I am not quite sure he’s going to win the competition but …who minds? What is important in the end is to get joy and good feelings, the rest really doesn’t matter!