He started as a complete outsider but emerged triumphant in Sanremo 2019 with a surprising trap influenced R’n’B song filled with sounds from the Middle East.
Yes, 27 year-old Mahmood, with the contemporary “Soldi”, managed to overturn all the predictions of the night, coming out victorious in a fierce edition of the Italian kermesse. He did it with an autobiographical song, written by himself, together with Dario “Dardust” Faini and Charlie Charles. It was, no doubt, born of suffering.
Alessandro has become a symbol of cultural integration. His song speaks about it from a personal point of view.
“I was born in Milan from an Egyptian father and Sardinian mother, but I grew up with her. I have a reference of a father figure, but it is not very clear. My life has always been this way, looking for a way to fill a gap,” he told Vanity Fair.
His father — who today has four marriages behind him, and children scattered around the world — disappeared when Mahmood was 6 years old (“You leave the city without anybody knowing, yesterday you were here, where are you now, dad?“). Yet he gave him precise references during his childhood, which Mahmood has turned into lyrics and music today.
Ramadan, shisha, and that verse in Arabic — “Waladi waladi habibi ta’aleena (my son, my son, darling, come over here)” — these are a first in Sanremo and the first for Italy at the Eurovision.
“I do not speak Arabic, but there are sentences that I remember, which are part of my childhood,” he tells FanPage. “It’s a perfect memory. Singing those sentences reminds me of a specific scene, at a certain moment of my life”.
A troubled life that becomes an example in which many can identify, analyzed in a rough and lucid way, with a touch of emotion involving despair (“It hurts to be alive, when you lose your pride“).
“My song is a personal outburst to make people understand that, after having been children, a critical sense develops in us towards parents, life, the way we see things. ‘Soldi’ tells a story “.
But the word “money”, let’s be clear, does not just refer to cash: “It does not speak about money on a material level, it talks about how money can change relationships within a family”.
“Soldi” lyrics – Mahmood (Italy, Eurovision 2019)
“Soldi”
In periferia fa molto caldo
Mamma stai tranquilla sto arrivando
Te la prenderai per un bugiardo
Ti sembrava amore ma era altro
Beve champagne sotto Ramadan
Alla tv danno Jackie Chan
Fuma narghilè mi chiede come va
Mi chiede come va, come va, come va
Sai già come va, come va, come va
Penso più veloce per capire
Se domani tu mi fregherai
Non ho tempo per chiarire
Perché solo ora so cosa sei
È difficile stare al mondo
Quando perdi l’orgoglio
Lasci casa in un giorno
Tu dimmi se
Pensavi solo ai soldi, soldi
Come se avessi avuto soldi, soldi
Dimmi se ti manco o te ne fotti, fotti
Mi chiedevi come va, come va, come va
Adesso come va, come va, come va
Ciò che devi dire non l’hai detto
Tradire è una pallottola nel petto
Prendi tutta la tua carità
Menti a casa ma lo sai che lo sa
Su una sedia lei mi chiederà
Mi chiede come va, come va, come va
Sai già come va, come va, come va
Penso più veloce per capire se domani tu mi fregherai
Non ho tempo per chiarire perché solo ora so cosa sei
È difficile stare al mondo
Quando perdi l’orgoglio
Ho capito in un secondo
Che tu da me
Volevi solo soldi, soldi
Come se avessi avuto soldi, soldi
Prima mi parlavi fino a tardi, tardi
Mi chiedevi come va, come va, come va
Adesso come va, come va, come va
Waladi waladi habibi ta’aleena
Mi dicevi giocando, giocando con aria fiera
Waladi waladi habibi sembrava vera
La voglia, la voglia di tornare come prima
Io da te non ho voluto soldi
È difficile stare al mondo
Quando perdi l’orgoglio
Lasci casa in un giorno
Tu dimmi se
Volevi solo soldi, soldi
Come se avessi avuto soldi, soldi
Lasci la città ma nessuno lo sa
Ieri eri qua, ora dove sei papà?
Mi chiedi come va, come va, come va
Sai già come va, come va, come va
English translation
It’s really hot down in the suburbs
Mum don’t worry I’m on my way home
You will be upset by a liar
It looked like love to you, it was something else
He’s drinking champagne during Ramadan
On tv they are airing Jackie Chan
He’s smoking shisha and asks me how I’m doing
He asks me how I’m doing, doing, doing
You already know how things are going, going, going
I think faster to try to figure out
If you’re going to fool me tomorrow
I have no time to clear things up
‘Cause I finally found out what you are
It hurts to be alive
When you lose your pride
You leave home out of the blue
You, tell me if
You only cared for the money, money
As if you had any money, money
Tell me whether you miss me or you don’t give a damn
You used to ask me how I was doing, doing, doing
Now how are things going, going, going
What you’re supposed to say you haven’t said yet
Betrayal is a bullet in your chest
Keep all the compassion to yourself
You keep lyin’ at home but you know she knows
Sittin’ there she’ll be asking me
Asking me how I’m doing, doing, doing
You already know how things are going, going, going
I think faster to try to figure out
If you’re going to fool me tomorrow
I have no time to clear things up
‘Cause I finally found out what you are
It hurts to be alive
When you lose your pride
I figured it out in one second
That you, from me
You only wanted money, money
As if I had any money, money
Before you would talk to me till late
You used to ask me how I’m doing, doing, doing
Now how are things going, going, going
My son, my son, darling, come over here
You used to tell me while playing with me looking proud
My son, my son, darling, it seemed real
the desire, the desire to bring things back to what they were
I didn’t ask for your money
It hurts to be alive
When you lose your pride
You leave home out of the blue
You, tell me if
You only wanted money, money
As if I had any money, money
You leave the city without anybody knowing
Yesterday you were here, where are you now, dad?
You ask me how I’m doing, doing, doing
You already know how things are going, going, going
good jiob
good job
nice one
nice job
Reading the lyrics, I like it even more!
Mahmood has eros ramazzotti vibes in his voice LOVE THAT Alone from him, the soldi soldi bit is too monotone for me but the rest is fab
i can see myself voting for italy again in final maybe
Gagnant de l eurovison 2019 !!!!!!!Sure
I have to admit…. At first i didn’t like the song at all, but now that i have listened to it a few times it has grown on me. I actually like the song and it has become my favorite of 2019 so far.
I hope Italy does a better staging than usual and his live vocals improve from Sanremo.
Just to be precise, it’s the first time for a verse in Arabic in a Sanremo winner and in an Eurovision entry.
It’s the third time that a Sanremo entry has a verse in Arabic. (before Mahmood 2019 we’ve had Peppino di Capri 2001, Eugenio Bennato 2008).
The first Arabic in Eurovision was Morocco 1980.
not the first time in eurovision history, Samira Saed moroccan singer had a song in ESC 1980 totally in arabic
wow I was taken off guard with this quite unconventional song and now lyrics are setting fire up high. Cool
Does anyone know what Matteo Salvini is saying in this interview on RAI about Mahmood? https://youtu.be/rthWwLShBUo
tldr; He didn’t like the song. Salvini is one of the many clowns in Italy long ver: -bullshit about NGO committing some infraction ( to be readed: it shouldn’t sail ) (1) -I don’t like his song. After that he says Bullshit about the expert jury (called “8 radical chics”) and the journalist jury choosing to vote Mamhood ( they do NOT know the votes of people in advance ) to try and demonstrate that vote there should be decided just by people.(2) (1) Salvini violated electoral silence laws, human rights and such just for a few more votes (2)… Read more »
Salvini is an idiot and a racist. You shouldn’t care much about his opinion…
Mahmood confirmed, guys. Yaaaaas, time to celebrate!
Yes! 😀
We confirmed! Yassss
The song is very well written. Has a very strong Middle East vibe, only 3 minutes but it was like hearing the rhythm of the muezzin call. And the story adds to that, you can feel the passion, the anger of Mahmood. I think it will do well in ESC. Top 10 for sure.
If he hates his father why does he use his surname ? I’d change it . Anyway, the song is good and will do well
Well it takes a lot of time and money to change a surname.
I hated my father too, but I kept his surname out of respect for the fact that without the lowlife, I wouldn’t be here and it’s a good reminder not to become like him. Maybe Alessandro feels the similar way.
A super strong narrative, which is an important factor for winning. I think I am going to start betting money on Italy this year… 😉 If he goes to Eurovision, of course… If not, I will be heartbroken…
Has he decided if he goes to ESC? He must go to Tel Aviv. When deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini says he doesn’t like your song, must be a lot of pressure on Mahmood right now. He must say YES.
Early this morning he said that he will make the decision very very soon (today or tomorrow).
Yes, It’s confirmed! He will go to Tel Aviv for Eurovision Song Contest!!!
If you don’t like your father, why use his name? The actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers hates his father and he uses his mother’s name Meyers.
So he could take control of his destiny. Let him define his surname, not the other way around.
Is not the surname of the parent he likes. It can bring bad energy vibes.
Hence replacing the -u in “Mahmoud” and changing it into “Mahmood” as his professional name.
I mean…is this for real? Let him do whatever he wants with his surname, who are we to question his personal decisions? xdddd
It sounds good in theory, but it brings bad energy. Is real, this is why people that change their religion, must have a new name too.
Islam and many of Christianity’s major denominations don’t encourage converts to adopt a new surname to reflect their newly found faith, especially depending the nomenclature conventions by different cultures. Only their first names are what religious leaders encourage to have it change upon conversion.
This is actually the first Italian entry that I genuinely like.
Same for me, as Italian
Fingers crossed he stays in the competition. 🙂
People are upset because of his stage name? And people like Mahmood don’t always have to hate their fathers for leaving them and their mothers. There is still a room for hope for the likes of these people if given a chance and they can’t always stay negative about their experiences.
Thank you for the article, Cristian! Many people don’t pay much attention to the lyrics of the songs, which is a pity. I’m glad to notice that every year we are getting more entries like this one in Eurovision. Being able to express your feelings and tell your own story through music is a rare gift. In Mahmood’s case, I guess there are many people around the world that are going or went through similar situations. It’s always good to assure them that they’re not alone. So… what I was calling rap, it actually trap? Lesson learned.
Such a beautiful song. I think everyone can relate to the abandonment theme that his song is all about.
I don´t….and I´ve never met my father.
Well it’s hard to feel abandoned by someone you have never met or had the chance to love. If you had known him you might have felt different once he left.
If you want to be part of Italy why not use your actual name which happens to be Italian, rather than the surname of the man you feel betrayed you?
This is a fake story. He is a fraud.
He’s not your toy!!
Guess that makes you the stupid boy? 😛
His last name is Mahmoud with u. He said he uses Mahmood, bcs except for being close to his real name, it sounds like ” My Mood” and he thought it was cool. I think it’s cool too 🙂
Is that really why? I was having fun making puns using his name but now I don’t feel as witty anymore. 🙁
Yes, that’s what he said in an interview 🙂
He doesn’t have to do anything to be part of Italy. Whether you like him or not, good or bad, he is part of Italy.
And btw the surname of the man who betrayed him is like with any one of us the surname of his father and his own.
I guarantee that even if he was using a different name, people like you would find a different reason to try to ‘disprove’ his Italian nationality. Jog on.
he wrote three songs about his father… I don’t think it’s a fake story.
Btw Mahmood and Soldi are cuerrently
charting on Itunes in:
– Italy
– Malta
– Switzerland
– Luxembourg
– Finland
– Belgium
– Ireland
– Spain
– France
– Netherlands
– Germany
– Norway
– Austria
#GoingGlobal
…wow. Never though it would resonate to Finland too.
Good thing is that Mahmood won’t be the solo pre-contest favourite. Tamta and Lazarev will be overhyped as hell, so others will have the opportunity to prosper.
Mahmood gave few interviews today for Italian tv, has anybody watched it?
my Italian is not very good, maybe someone can explain what he is saying? i only understood the part where he is talking about his mom’ reaction on his winning and relationship with the father, then he was talking about Eurovision i guees , but i didn’t get is he go or not…
here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHymRLUAXNg&t=15s
Mahmood basically said that he wrote this song the last year but it was a little messy so he fixed it with the producers. Then the host asked him what he thinks about the controversies about Sanremo, he said that when you are young it’s quite simple to be wrong, beacause of tiredness and stress (talking about Ultimo who spoke bad about him). He didn’t expect his win, that’s great and unbelievable. His mother is super happy and his home is full of prizes (before the main event he also won Sanremo Giovani with Einar). The father is far away… Read more »
I think the fact that people in Italy are upset an Arab won just rubs salt to the wound considering he hasn’t really been in touch with that part of his heritage. Mahmood grew up Italian, is Italian by blood, and calls Italy home. Regardless of his background, why must people look at the differences amongst us?! One simple listen to his lyrics and you instantly realize this is a man feeling betrayed, lost, and in desperate need for someone to tell him that he fits in regardless of his familial history, his ethnic background, religion, sexual orientation, or whatever… Read more »
beautifully said!
I sincerely hope we will see Alessandro in Tel Aviv and people there show him love and support:)
I relate to this more than songs about how great their father is/was.
Mahmood you have my respect and support.
Hmm maybe
YES! A great, modern, catchy song, that is different from all the rest… sung by a passionate artist, who will perform it perfectly and who actually has a deep connection to the song. The lyrics are meaningful, it’s not just a commercial product… Guys, everything fits, what more would I want in a Eurovision winner? I’ve already found my number one.
Nah, can’t do it. Gotta stay loyal to my man Mahmood. 😛 Jokes aside, I’m worried too, that there will be too many good songs in the end. The Netherlands might take my first place, Duncan is amazing.
One more time, one of Italy’s biggest challenge is showing the meaning of the lyrics, what made Gabbani look like a mad man dancing with a gorilla.
So his father disappeared and he is mad at him but as an artist he uses only the surname belonging to his father without even his first name (Alessandro)? I think he is merely selling a sod story.
I mean Augusten Burroughs the author says you should take the bad things that happen to you and turn them into something beautiful. He might be doing that here
it seemed real
the desire, the desire to bring things back to what they were
I don’t think he really mad to his father.. he just feel so sorry for everything happened to them.. therefore he created this song..
I don’t know if anyone’s going to read this, but “fiera” means “proud”, it has nothing to do with the English word “fierce”, so “while playing with me looking proud” kind of. Translating it with “fiercely” really changes the meaning of his words there.
Thanks for your comment, I probably made a mistake there, I didn’t know exactly how to translate that part, I’ll change it to your version, it fits better 🙂
I’ve never liked Italy’s entry.(Yeah, even II Volo) But I looooove the studio version of this song. It’s on repeat now. The live version is okay, though.
This song is awful and overhyped. Where’s the melody, the catchiness? If “Occidentali’s Karma” didn’t win, this won’t either, for sure. It is only overappreciated cause it is somehow exotic and he is cute, but no way this was the best among this year’s San Remo bunch. There were better songs and artists. In addition, I really feel he won cause some people in Italy wanted to protest against the “right” society and government who is currently ruling the country. I mean, just to pretend or make a statement like “look how cool we are choosing someone who sings two… Read more »
He was not my favorite either (I wish Irama, Ultimo, Simone and Arisa could all go to Eurovision) but I can still see and appreciate what he brings to the table. And the Arabic part of his song is not very flattering considering the fact that he is confronting his useless father with it. It is an integral part of the song, not something he just threw in. Now as far as how the voting in Sanremo happened, I am absolutely against that. But he is not the one to blame for that.
omh spanish ppl should just shut up with the embarrassing song they’re sending
You are being nasty and rude. Stop
No one has to shut up, since this is a public forum where everyone can express their opinions.
Be polite, please
Best from Spain
I mean, you weren’t very polite either, calling a song ,that probably means much to its artist “awful”. You know, there has been put lots of thought and work into “Soldi”. Just writing “Best from Spain” doesn’t make your whole comment polite lol. It’s like walking up to a girl in a bar saying “Hey, you’re freaking ugly. Kind regards.”
OMG You all have very thin skin…
If a song sounds awful to me, I have the right and freedom to say so!
I always end up my comments with “Best from Spain”, because for me it is always fun and nice to participate in this blog.
Best from Spain, btw
You are a part of us, too, anyways 😀 I see there are no real problems in this comment, and I can respect it, yet the delivery of the comment isn’t good, IMHO. I’ve learned some good knowledge about expressing opinions in this blog–one of the most important is that, to give a good delivery, you can’t only give your idea to one side only (amazing/awful), but to both. Praising too much would look delusional, and bashing too much would be sore. This comment is still heavy to the negatives, would be better to add something you would still praise… Read more »
So I guess you two are even now.
No, we are not.
I expressed my opinion in a polite manner, and I did not say “shut up” to anyone.
Best from Spain
YESSS!!! Right’on sister!
What a said and reactionary comment, probably from a Vox voter. Shame on you.
Hahaha Shame on you for not respecting others’ opinions! Take your pills
Best from Spain
The jury – led by Maestro Mario Pagani – and the journalists tried to select the best song and the best musical project. The fact that it’s topping the charts after the festival it’s a clear evidence of it. The rules of Sanremo introduced back the jury to avoid fandoms to determine the Sanremo result, and some songs needs to be listened a few times more than others. The organisers were tired of Festival when the winner is ignored by the charts, and they are always looking for a system where the winner can shine in the charts as well.… Read more »
Thanks for the translation!
Must not exaggerate. it’s good but it’s not the song of the year either. it will work staging. the orchestra is a track.
can you use ‘f*k’ in a lyric at eurovision?
u don’t give a damn would be the correct corresponding translation in terms of offensiveness
I’ll change to this one, I really don’t want people to focus on that “fuck”, for the reasons Robyn wrote above
‘te ne fotti’ can be easily turned into an inoffensive ‘non te ne importi’, same meaning + no need to change the melody n rhymin
It’s truly amazing how you can connect and relate through music. When I heard this song the first time, I was struck how dark, moody and intense it was. Something familiar stirred in me as if I was feeling his pain and emotion. When I read the lyrics, I cried because I too grew up without a father figure due to similar circumstances including the immigration factor. This is one powerful song and I encourage everyone to read the lyrics and reflect. If you have your fathers, hug them, tell them how much you loved them and realize how fortunate… Read more »
He’s great. An Artist!
This song is a bomb of emotions, that feels like it’s going to explode in any moment. It’s a collage of memories, images from the past, feelings you felt your whole life, but couldn’t express. It’s hadd to find Eurovision comparisson, but if I had to, I’d say Hungary 2018 – skmilar sensibility.
I really want italy to win. And i know we havent heard the heavy weights yet like Sergey, Tamta, Srbuk etc but this will still be at the top imho
I realized that this is actually the kind of Eurovision entry I always advocate for. An actual artist, an actual story, an actual meaning. You know, substance. I want much more articles about Italy and Sanremo, also from the other participants who didn’t win. After the Nordics continue to let me down down down, I think I have finally found a praiseworthy Eurovision nation. I get that Sanremo is not all primarily a Eurovision selection but in our world it can be regarded as such, so I think it is valid to say: Best national final in terms of song… Read more »
this is truly an emotional, insightful and personal song. even i got touched by his story….. he truly deserves his acclaim and success, what an amazing musician in the italian music scene !
Amazing lyrics and very touching story behind it , Alessandro is beautiful man with beautiful soul…