They topped the televote at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with their nuclear harmonies and operatic flourishes.

And now Italy’s Il Volo can celebrate another achievement, becoming only the second act to reach 100 million views on YouTube for the official video of their Eurovision song.

“Grande Amore” is a bold declaration of love – great love, to be precise. “Dimmi perché quando penso, penso solo a te” – “Tell me why when I think, I only think of you” the loved-up lyrics wonder. And this big love causes problems – “Maledette notti perse a non dormire/Altre a far l’amore” – “Cursed nights without sleep/Others make love”.

Yep, everyone else is having all the fun. But this is a song of a man (or three men) in love, just wanting to know that the feeling is mutual. The song climaxes with “Dimmi chi sei/Che sei il mio unico grande amore” – “Tell me that you are/That you’re my only great love”. Oh, swoon!

That vision comes to life beautifully in their music video with the singers working their harmonies in and around a gorgeous palazzo worthy of their queens.

In joining the 100 million club, they follow in the footsteps of fellow Sanremo winner Francesco Gabbani. On April 8 of this year, the “Occidentali’s Karma” singer became the first Eurovision artist to achieve 100 million views.

Several other Eurovision artists have achieved 100 million views for music videos, though not for their Eurovision songs.

In 2015, Turkey’s 2009 singer Hadise became only the second Eurovision alum to pass the milestone with her single “Prenses”. She joined Switzerland’s 1988 winner Celine Dion, who had previously reached 100 million views with her Titanic mega-hit “My Heart Will Go On”.

However, a plethora of past acts have joined the two divas in the interim. These include Alexey Vorobyov (Russia 2011), t.A.T.u (Russia 2003), Serebro (Russia 2007), ABBA (Sweden 1974), Bonnie Tyler (UK 2013), and Olivia Newton John (UK 1974).

When we last spoke with the trio in the summer of 2016, we had to talk about Eurovision and the fact they won the televote, but didn’t take home the trophy.

“To win the televote is the most important thing,” Piero said. “The televote are the people who buy the album and come to your shows.”

Should organisers adjust the existing 50-50 televote-jury split then?

“I think Eurovision should be 80% televote and 20% the rest,” Piero said. “I think the one who has to win is the one who people like.”

Are you excited that Il Volo have reached this milestone? How many times have you watched the official video? Let us know in the comments box below. 

Read more Italy Eurovision news

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Martine
Martine
7 years ago

Dear William, your translation is not correct: “Maledette notti perse a non dormire/Altre a far l’amore” – means “Cursed nights without sleep/Other nights making love”. So, it’s not that “everyone else is having all the fun”, but that there are moments of desperation and great happiness when your love is such a grande amore.

Eric Hindson
Eric Hindson
7 years ago

“Switzerland’s Celine Dion”?? Funny, all these years, I thought Celine was from Montreal, which last time I checked, is in Canada. Silly me.

DANIELA
DANIELA
7 years ago

Da quando ho sentito questa canzone la sera finale di Sanremo, è stato Grande Amore per la canzone e per gli interpreti. Grandissimi i ragazzi del Volo e il loro successo continua in tutto il mondo ed anche in Italia anche se non sono per niente aiutati da passaggi radio o da articoli di stampa sempre con loro molto critici. Avanti ragazzi a testa alta, tutto il mondo canta Grande Amore in italiano. Ogni volta che posso riguardo questo video e mi piace leggerne i commenti.

Zebb
Zebb
7 years ago

Haven’t had them as winners, but they would’ve been better than actual for that year. Congrats…

SebastienXavier
SebastienXavier
7 years ago

L’amore e femmina, L’essenziale, Grande Amore, Nessun grado di separazione, Occidentali’s Karma, they are all gems of Eurovision. Thank you Italy for sending amazing songs year after year. Can’t wait for San Remo next year.

Jonas
Jonas
7 years ago

Italy should have won.

I have no problem with the jury/televote 50/50 split – as long as the juries score based on the actual song. In 2015, I fear they marked the impressive stage show, and Il Volo’s rather simple staging paled in comparison. Of course “the people” voted with their hearts, not their heads.

AngieP
AngieP
7 years ago

I remember how I instantly loved this song the moment I heard it and saw the music video. I still love it and it’s just amazing! It’s one of the best performances I’ve seen!

Of course I was shocked when they didn’t win but I’m not upset anymore. Because these guys are successful, the whole Europe learned about them and their talent and this still continues today.

I wish them all the best!

Richardinho
Richardinho
7 years ago

Grande Amore still stands out as one of the most incredible performances at Eurovison.

Michèle
Michèle
7 years ago

This highlights even more Francesco’s achievement of over 160,000,000 views for Occidentali’s Karma since just February! Bravo and continued success with your great music.

bsk
bsk
7 years ago

Italy should be proud of their entries, they don´t send music to be liked in the eurovision bubble or to win a music contest. They keep thinking San Remo festival as a showcase of Italian music and a way to show proud of their musical roots and that´s why they send quality and have success. Congratulations!

bsk
bsk
7 years ago
Reply to  bsk

Songs like “Nel blu dipinto di blu”, “Grande amore”, “Occidentali’s Karma” will always be emblematic songs even if they have never won the Eurovision…

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago
Reply to  bsk

Well, Grande amore and Occidentali’s Karma won the OGAE vote while Nessun grado di separazione came 5th. The ESC bubble loves our entries even though we don’t try to send stereotypical generic pop songs to please the average public like certain other countries.

Jo
Jo
7 years ago

ooohh that’s the best part: slaying without even trying lol. That’s why Italy has many haters in the bubble, because the delegation don’t play the rules. We’re not gonna buy stuff from Sweden. Remember when they asked Stadio to go to Stockholm, lol imagine if they had accepted it.

Also, I believe Marco was OGAE Top 5 as well..

Hada
Hada
7 years ago

This is proof that the EBU and many countries need to rethink their approach to Eurovision. Sweden isn’t the commercially successful country, Italy is, and not necessarily by designing pop songs to sell. Maybe just focusing on making and sending good music is not such a crazy idea.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

Because in the long run, talent always wins. Horrors stays a forgotten local hit in Sweden while Il Volo keep selling albums. Televote winners only <3

Azaad
Azaad
7 years ago

I get where you’re coming from but the jury would’ve given Italy the win in 2011 over the Swedish production of Azerbaijan…

Rochelle
Rochelle
7 years ago

I think they wanted so much to win, just like Francesco Gabbani or Kristian Kostov, because even if the artist is just fine, he/she wants to give this gift to the country. The fact that you represent your country is very important and is really more important than your own promotion.

Jo
Jo
7 years ago

I’ve seen many people criticizing Il Volo, but I hardly believe they minded lost Eurovision. They are the most successful act from 2015 and that’s what matters in the world outside the ESC bubble.