DRAMA! There is no Sanremo Music Festival without polemics, and even this year the lovers of controversy may be satisfied.
In Italy in recent hours, there was no other topic of discussion: Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro, who entered Sanremo with the song “Non mi avete fatto niente”, are risking a disqualification from the contest.
Their entry is very similar to “Silenzio“, proposed by Ambra Calvani and Gabriele De Pascali for the Newcomers section of Sanremo 2016. They didn’t make the cut, but went to perform their song live on different occasions — including two appearances in national Italian festivals Musicultura and Premio Valentina Giovagnini.
Is it a plagiarism? No, it isn’t. That’s because the author of the two songs is the same, Andrea Febo. “We can talk of self-reference”, journalists say.
But rules are clear. To be accepted, a song must be “new”: unpublished, not previously sung live and without royalties gained.
The artistic director has still not made a decision in this case but the press… presses. In advance, the two singers have been suspended from performing tonight, awaiting investigation.
In the meanwhile, 36-year-old Italian-Albanian songwriter Ermal Meta has published a long outburst on his Facebook page:
Hello guys,
It’s time to talk.
We have heard of plagiarism regarding our song of Sanremo and the bone of contention is a song written by Andrea Febo (Fabrizio’s historical collaborator) that was presented in the Selections of Sanremo Giovani 3 years ago, was discarded and NEVER commercialized.
Fabrizio, Andrea and I have kept a part of that song not to sacrifice something beautiful (which we have told in more interviews) and all three together we wrote a NEW song with a completely different meaning.
Plagiarize means to copy, but it is ABSURDLY RIDICULOUS considering that Andrea Febo has written with me and Fabrizio “Non avete fatto niente”.
We have also been authors for many years and have written many songs contributing to different successes for ourselves and others. Those who know us know it.
When we decided to tell a general mood with this song we did not do it to introduce ourselves to the Festival, but to talk about peace. We are very sorry for what is happening because we did not come to the festival to make fun of people, but to embrace it.
We are sure that everything will be for the best.
A hug,Ermal
Oh NO! Italy, uugh! This is heartbreaking and awful! Obviously I haven’t compared the two songs yet, but my first reaction is: nooo!
If someone is going to claim plagiarism, you’d at least want it to be with a song that didn’t get rejected from Sanremo.
OK I heard it and it doesn’t sound similar at all……
It literally IS the SAME chorus!
FYI SuRie just won for the UK!
No one cares about SuRie.
*No lies detected*
So sad! Come on Italy, don’t mess with the best song in the competition. “Non mi avete fatto niente” is so meaningful now
I hope they can compete, win and go to Eurovision.
This is, by far, the best song we’ve heard this season.
the best of this season!! lol , the best of the world lol; again a pathetic italian fan…..
Oh no! And it’s a really good song. It’s not my favourite though. The problem is if this wins, it can’t go to Eurovision, unless both Ermal and Fabrizio sing another song.
Why couldn’t go? If Jamala did so. And Requiem last year. It’s not the first time this is happening :s
Rules are rules, which in EBU’s case means “shrug…whatever…don’t worry about it”.
Uhh nope only Metas and Moros version was performed publicly at the festival.
I hope the will be back tomorrow.
I love their song…
And when they will be disqualified, Then I’m hoping for The Kolors.
It’s really good song!
Self-plagiarism is a thing tho.
Brooke Borg should know. 🙂
You should know yeah….you should know!!
there is no such thing as self plagiarism.. Plagiarism is taking someone else’s ideas and making them out as your own. You cant plagiarise yourself lol. You can be un original and have all your songs sounding them same tho.
Bummer. 🙁
Ridiculous… They need to win!
The bigger problem would be at Eurovision. If it’s only a small element that was copied, couldn’t they just remove it? The song’s already over 3 minutes long.
Except that small element is the whole chorus…