When you’re living in the Eurovision bubble, it can be hard to tell how a more casual Eurovision viewer might react to a song. Thankfully our very own Suzanne lives across the ocean and only has time to dip into Eurovision now and again. That made her a perfect guinea pig to watch and react to Mahmood’s “Soldi” — perhaps the most talked-about track so far this season.
Suzanne, who has a thing for Italian men, was instantly drawn in by “adorable” Mahmood. And his gripping, get-under-your-skin beat kept her there. While she doesn’t speak Italian, she notices a sadness underscoring the song and can be seen trying to figure it all out. It takes her a while to realise what soldi means, so you’ll have to bear with her.
As wiwiblogger Cristian explained in an earlier post, the “Soldi” lyrics do indeed deal with a difficult subject.
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 “.
Anyway, what was your first reaction to “Soldi”? Do your non-Eurovision friends enjoy it as much as Suzanne? Let us know in the comments box below!
I like Suzanne’s reaction videos. If there is anything I feel that she needs to do to improve them, it would be to go ahead and get some research in beforehand, and download the lyrics/a translation of the lyrics into English.
I can’t wait to see her reaction to “Sebi!”
Like, there were a bunch of comments earlier about how this girl is a mess, and all of them were deleted. William, stop tryna make Suzanne a thing. She will never be a thing. You barely are yourself.
lmao my comment got deleted bc I dared to criticise William’s sister.
Suzanne is a delight.
Who cares what an American has to say. They have terrible taste, especially when it comes to public votes. With respect to the nice lady in the video, I would find it more interesting to see what someone from a participatory country thought.
Oh, pleaaase!
Enjoyable video! I do the same with a friend. I show her each week the chosen contestants and some of the favs in different national finals and she tells me what she thinks about them. It’s really interesting to see how people outside the Eurovision bubble react to some entries. Though she is becoming more and more fan of Eurovision. By now, she doesn’t have any favs. Just ike me she thinks this year is a bit average. She likes Czech Republic, Italy (not his voice) and Estonia. She also loves Electric Fields and completely refuses to hear “Zero Gravity”… Read more »
In bocca al lupo (good luck) for Italy, but again you are early favorite, and is not good. Italy needs to have Sanremo’s final on March 12, the last day for submissions.
What is her reaction to the other songs was my first thought? Soldi and Mahmood is wiwibloggs sweet baby this year. Talk about favourism!
Wiwibloggs has posted her reactions to Roi and La Venda as well.
Give Mahmood some space now, Cuz we know it will all about Tamta and Lazarev soon here.
I just want to say that I love how Suzanne has kept such an open mind about her brother’s passion and has quickly found her own love for Eurovision with William’s help. A really nice sibling relationship. 🙂
I would be happy if Mahmood win this year, he has everything, amazing song with strong message , nice voice, cool vibe and modern sound, and he also very charming and cute 🙂
Alessandro, you have my vote from Ukraine
Mine too.
I agree. He is the standout this year so far.
Thank you from Italy <3