Namaste! The people have spoken and the votes are in: Italy has won our poll for the best lyrics of Eurovision 2017.
Our readers cast nearly 12,000 votes and in the end Francesco Gabbani walked away with 1,117 of them (or around 9.53% of all those cast). Despite being in Italian, “Occidentali’s Karma” tells a universally intelligible story about the dumbing down of society through social media and our evolution from ape to Chanel shopper. It’s not just the gorilla, y’all!
Our readers have been looking beyond Francesco’s undeniable charm and his gorilla dance and delved into the text and subtext beneath the catchy melody. Penned by Francesco and Fabio Ilacqua, it’s sprinkled with philosophical concepts but also easy to remember catchphrases. Charting our course from apes to Homo sapiens to today’s selfie-generation, the lyrics of “Occidentali’s Karma” are sharp but never pretentious, amusing but never cheesy. At his first press conference in Kyiv, Francesco told the many journalists present that the song is meant for people who understand the lyrics. Those who don’t understand them are the subject of the song.
In second place is another Big 5 country, France.
Alma‘s “Requiem” earned 944 votes — a very respectable result for a chanson sung almost entirely in French.
“Requiem” tackles a philosophical question French thinkers have grappled with for centuries: Will all this matter after we’re gone from this world? But nearly 8% of our readers were not put off by the heavy content and supported the beautiful French entry.
In third place is Bulgaria’s Kristian Kostov with “Beautiful Mess”.
The gorgeous power ballad boasts equally powerful lyrics that gripped our readers’ attention — and votes. More precisely, 720 of them — which is a little over six percent of the vote.
Poll results: Who has the best lyrics at Eurovision 2017?
- Italy: Francesco Gabbani with “Occidentali’s Karma” 9.35% (1,117 votes)
- France: Alma with “Requiem” 7.9% (944 votes)
- Bulgaria: Kristian Kostov with “Beautiful Mess” 6.02% (720 votes)
- Portugal: Salvador Sobral with “Amar pelos dois” 6.01% (718 votes)
- Ireland: Brendan Murray with “Dying to Try” 5.54% (662 votes)
- United Kingdom: Lucie Jones with “Never Give Up On You” 5.54% (662 votes)
- Netherlands: O’G3NE with “Lights and Shadows” 4.36% (521 votes)
- Poland: Kasia Mos with “Flashlight” 3.31% (395 votes)
- Finland: Norma John with “Blackbird” 3.28% (392 votes)
- Belgium: Blanche with “City Lights” 3.25% (388 votes)
- Albania: Lindita with “World” 2.91% (348 votes)
- Azerbaijan: Dihaj with “Skeletons” 2.69% (322 votes)
- Hungary: Joci Pápai with “Origo” 2.33% (278 votes)
- Armenia: Artsvik with “Fly With Me” 2.15% (257 votes)
- Estonia: Koit Toome and Laura with “Verona” 2.13% (254 votes)
- Norway: JOWST with “Grab the Moment” 2.09% (250 votes)
- Iceland: Svala with “Paper” 2.07% (247 votes)
- Switzerland: Timebelle with “Apollo” 2.06% (246 votes)
- FYR Macedonia: Jana Burceska with “Dance Alone” 1.99% (238 votes)
- Australia: Isaiah with “Don’t Come Easy” 1.98% (237 votes)
- Austria: Nathan Trent with “Running on Air” 1.82% (218 votes)
- Denmark: Anja Nissen with “Where I Am” 1.59% (190 votes)
- Greece: Demy with “This is Love” 1.52% (182 votes)
- Czech Republic: Martina Barta with “My Turn” 1.48% (177 votes)
- Georgia: Tako Gachechiladze with “Keep the Faith” 1.46% (174 votes)
- Romania: Ilinca feat. Alex Florea with “Yodel It!” 1.36% (162 votes)
- Belarus: NaviBand with “Historyja majho žyccia” 1.33% (159 votes)
- Croatia: Jacques Houdek with “My Friend” 1.32% (158 votes)
- Malta: Claudia Faniello with “Breathlessly” 1.21% (145 votes)
- Germany: Levina with “Perfect Life” 1.16% (139 votes)
- Serbia: Tijana Bogicevic with “In Too Deep” 1.11% (133 votes)
- Sweden: Robin Bengtsson with “I Can’t Go On“ 1% (120 votes)
- Ukraine: O.Torvald with “Time” 0.98% (117 votes)
- Latvia: Triana Park with “Line” 0.88% (105 votes)
- Israel: Imri Ziv with “I Feel Alive” 0.83% (99 votes)
- Cyprus: Hovig with “Gravity” 0.74% (89 votes)
- Montenegro: Slavko Kalezic with “Space” 0.7% (84 votes)
- Moldova: SunStroke Project with “Hey Mamma” 0.59% (70 votes)
- Lithuania: Fusedmarc with “Rain of Revolution” 0.54% (64 votes)
- Spain: Manel Navarro with “Do It for Your Lover” 0.52% (62 votes)
- Slovenia: Omar Naber with “On My Way” 0.48% (57 votes)
- San Marino: Valentina Monetta & Jimmie Wilson with “Spirit of the Night” 0.42% (51 votes)
Total Votes: 11,951
What do you think about the results? Is Italy the song to beat also lyrically this year? Let us know in the comments box!
I do love the way you have framed this specific concern plus it does provide me personally some fodder for thought. Nevertheless, through just what I have experienced, I just wish as the responses pile on that men and women continue to be on point and not start on a soap box regarding some other news of the day. Still, thank you for this fantastic point and whilst I do not really agree with it in totality, I regard the standpoint.
It’s no my favorite, and not the kind of song I like, but I admit Francesco will be probably the winner. It’s a real show, with strong visual identity and the chorus stay in the head. It’s a party anthem. Jamalia had a very serious song, so I think this year the winner will be more “festive”. In addition the big 5 wasn’t win since a number of years. [The last time was Germany with Lena if I don’t write mistake]
The music of Salvador Sobral is the best!
EUROVISION is not for movie producers….
Salvador only use a Microphone to sing and not need a show stage whith massive virtual effects…!
EUROVISION is for sing and not for Music vídeo…!
The only one that is real is Salvador, voice + piano + string NO MORE VIRTUAL EFFECTS!!!!
Italy and bulgaria have massive effects and and unreal voice treatment…and more of the same dance music…!
His music is not the best. Just because you have a microphone and not much of a stage show does not make you the best. His song is a dated but sweet love song. It has some cheesy lyrics that turn me off personally. Francesco song? is lyrically brilliant and he deserves to win.
Hey guys, check out this video on Semi-Final 1 and let me know what you think!! I would love to read your thoughts on the result! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJPA40szVZQ
hilarious – ireland rated 5 for best lyrics yet 100/1 by the bookies and a non qualifier by most reviews here- what a total joke!! what is a song without lyrics that make sense?
The booksmakers are mosly british and are overrated because for once they have a chance to not finish bottom 5. Lucie staging is really beautiful, but they forget the song is dull and boring, and the faces Lucie do when singing are atrocious.
Of course, it’s a well deserved win for O.K., if anything the song would deserve a bigger lead. It’s a very rare thing that such an original, intelligent and witty satirical text can be heard in Eurovision. Funnily enough, those who feel entitled to be condescending and call it stupid, because the references, the metaphors and the irony go over their heads, won’t even realize that the song is also about them. Portugal’s lyrics would have to be in second place for me. They’re truly poetic and heartbreakingly romantic. Gripping from the first two lines to the very last with… Read more »
Still don’t understand what is clever in Italian lyrics. That he says people are vain, and in love with themselves, and greedy? Any generation says that about next generation. He can’t even say it with his own words, he needs quotes.
No, that’s not the quintessence of the song. (And where does that “greedy” idea come from???) It’s a bit more complicated. Try again. If you need help, there’s a nice article on wiwiblogs. Clearly, there is no Love-Love-Peace-Peace element in this, if you’re only into that kind of thing, than I agree, Occidentali’s Karma is not for you. I hope you know that the text is much more than just quotes. And if you knew the original sources you should have noticed that even there he did write “in his own words” as he very cleverly changed and adapted some… Read more »
Comments like yours are the reason some hate O. K.
You assume people are stupid or haven’t read video’s subtitles.
Leave people alone, O. K. fans became bullies.
Actually Education Sentimentale just corrected a misinterpretation of the song. He/she responded to someone who wasn’t praising the song and he/she has been explicatory and on point.
Please stop attacking people who are defending something bullies, because they just react to provocations and you’re a bully just as much.
Thanks, Gippa! @JP It’s one thing not to understand the meaning or just not to care for song lyrics or not to agree with the message — people are different, Celebrate Diversity. It’s another thing to use one’s own ignorance as an excuse for being condescending and for basically calling a song(author(s)) stupid. The latter — as showcased by ewe — is bullie’s behavior par excellence. Since ewe used a question mark, I thought an answer would be welcome. And, by the way, it’s only fair to assume that someone hasn’t read the lyrics properly when he writes this song… Read more »
The Slovene lyrics might easily be read as a “suicide letter”. In that case, i think it desveres a much higher place. Not that I think Omar – or myself – plans suicide. But much deeper meaning. At first I just found the lyrics as boring as the song. But now I at least like the lyrics. Sometimes it’s good with ambitious lyrics….
And yep – Italy has GREAT lyrics! Certainly the best ones this year.
And don’t get me wrong,lyrics that express joy can often be good
I seldom like political lyrics.
Absolutely agree: Italy!
A catchy song with a deeper meaning! And a dancing routine that makes everyone get off their seats!
I also love France and Portugal in this top 10!
“To send light into the darkness of men’s hearts , such is the duty of the true artist.” ~ Robert Schumann In a fake sad world all we need is a powerfull musical message to illuminate our consciousness and to inspire humankind evolution… Francesco had the talent and courage to guide and inspire us trough this incredible journey!! In psychology terms, we call the “ape” the “human shadow”. Our personal and emotional maturity is related to the ability to recognize this aspect of our humanness, and so, the overall performance with the ape on stage, is a strong symbolic message… Read more »
so tired of this (italian) song and he has not even performed or win yet 😀
Italy is overrated. I do see Portugal or Armenia as a winner for now. I am sure even more contenders will come after the second semi. Like for example France, Bulgaria or Macedonia.
Why are you saying that RAI is not supporting him. Because of staging ? Is like Sanremo, why fix it, if is not broken ?
Francesco seems to like religious lyrics, his other hit was more about Christianity.
http://lyricstranslate.com/en/amen-amen.html-4
It was not about Christianity rather how we tend to be upset by a lot of things but at the end of the day we do nothing about it (just saying Amen and waiting for something to happen, a miracle maybe).
The first one of the english version is terrible, there are part that are completely wrong, the second one is more correct
I’m talking about the camera shots, they are all wrong.
People are also talking about the gorilla, but I think it’s ok. It looks more like “Francesco’s soul” than just a gimmick.
I might have overreacted, I don’t know…I’m so confused.
Italy its not gonna win. Hihi. Its gonna be Portugal.
hopping on the bandwagon like always, the only important thing is to trash Italy, right? What fun!
Dude, relax. It’s not like he personally insulted Francesco, he just states his opinion.
In a way it’s a shame it’s sung in Italian when the lyrics are so interesting. But at the same time, the beautiful Italian language shouldn’t be thrown away lightly. At least by now all ESC-fans know how special this song is. It really is a winner even if it doesn’t win on Saturday.
Jo, are you SERIOUSLY thinking it? Look at how Rai is acting this year, then let’s talk about it again. I’m from Italy and I can assure that Rai is backing its artist like never before.
Yes, it’s clear what they need to fix on the stage. I know that there’s a lot of promotion. Idk, maybe I’m just seeing things, but I feel depressed somehow.
Winner !
Rai destroying the chances of victory for Italy. Well, we saw this before.
Deeply sad for Italian Eurofans. They clearly think that Italy doesn’t fit in the constest, sometimes I feel convinced.
You can say whatever you want about voices, performance etc. but Italy lyrics are the most witty complicated intersting ones (probably of all Esc history).
Now spam this section with overrated and things like that.
Overrated