He’s one of the favourites for the bookies to win Eurovision 2019. And he’s also currently leading the OGAE Poll 2019.

This weekend, Italian hopeful Mahmood brought down the house at Café de Paris. He took to the stage at London Eurovision Party with a persuasive performance of his entry “Soldi”.

With just over a month to go until he performs at the grand final, wiwibloggs met him for the first time to speak about his song, his expectations and what we’ll see on Tel Aviv stage.

Mahmood interview – London Eurovision Party

The Italian R&B singer told us that he’s living the fairytale: “Everything is unexpected. I am happy that many people are liking “Soldi”. I hope to do a good job at Eurovision”.

As reported in the past, his entry’s lyrics tell a painful story about living without a father figure. Mahmood specifies that there is more anger than sadness in the song: “It’s an outburst, (…) there is resentment”.

He also revealed that his father contacted him after the victory in Sanremo: “He congratulated me. He’s glad that I succeeded with this song. He wants us to keep in touch because he wants to take me out to eat sometime”.

The songwriter of “Gioventù bruciata” explains that he is not worried to put personal elements and feelings in his songs, whether he talks about his family or a love affair: “The emotional charge is always the same.” He adds: “I am person, I’m an artist, I always put music first. Everyone must focus on this”.

As well as with his voice and his song, Mahmood has won over many supporters for his look and the way he expresses himself: “I like to take care of my outfit, my physical appearance, without worrying too much about fashion, mostly to feel at ease with what I wear. It is not important to follow trends”.

To those who think he might have problems in Israel because of his origins, Mahmood responds clearly: “I am Italian, I only have Egyptian roots. (…) I am going to enter a competition which takes place in Israel, I’m not going there to hold my own concert or bring political messages”.

“Soldi” – Mahmood

The city of Tel Aviv − which Mahmood visited last week to shot his Eurovision postcard − left an excellent impression on the singer: “It is an open city, both for the people who live there and for the atmosphere you breathe. It is available to different cultures”.

His performance at Eurovision is just over a month away. As stated by the singer, we will not see the same minimalist staging of Sanremo brought to the Expo Tel Aviv stage: “I’ll add something else. There will be surprises that I don’t want to reveal. I want it to be something original on the stage”.

Mahmood will perform in the grand final on the 18th of May.

Do you think Mahmood can snatch the crown? Will Italy be our 2020 host country? Let us know below!

Read more Italy Eurovision news here

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ESC 2019
5 years ago

We cant have abad winner this year again if Italy win. He cant sing the song is awful. Go The Netherland

Moran
Moran
5 years ago

I love him and his song , He has a good chance of winning.

Kirby Romford
Kirby Romford
5 years ago

William flirting and drooling over Mahmood was hilarious to watch lol
I love how Alessandro warmed up and smiled after William made some really nice and so deserved compliments to Mahmood, he looked a bit tense at the beginning…
I cant wait for his performance in Tel Aviv
We love you dear!

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

he better keep his staging minimal bc this song doesn’t need any gimmicks or drama distracting us

Nicky91
Nicky91
5 years ago

well said, and more attention to the vocals

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

tea. arcade issa rather generic ballad and it’s quite cold overall, while soldi issa contemporary r&b piece that manages to convey emotions with a near-minimal production.

Ludo95
Ludo95
5 years ago

Ormai hanno capito che sei italiano. Non è bello essere così di parte per il proprio connazionale (anche se mahmood è anche il mio preferito) però preferisco non dirlo e lasciare che i fatti parlino a tel Aviv. Non diventiamo come quei fan accaniti che attaccano chiunque tranne il proprio rappresentante, ti prego

La Signora
La Signora
5 years ago
Reply to  Ludo95

That’s the same for me. This year I really support Mahmood and I hope him the best in the competion but, of course, I can’t vote for him as Italian. There are plenty of good song that I like and that I will vote for 🙂

Fatima
Fatima
5 years ago

So why Mahmood used translator in this interview when i just watched two or three interviews with Alessandro from the same event when he speaks English just fine, huh?
Anyway it was great to see him and hear from him, Mahmood is such an amazing artist and charming guy:)
Thank you William!

haron
haron
5 years ago

its all about between Slovenia Italy and The Netherlands

Luís
Luís
5 years ago
Reply to  haron

Yes! I do think that Slovenia entry is definetly in the race to win!

Guntur Nugroho
Guntur Nugroho
5 years ago

Surprise? Hmm… I think it will be money rain orang something related with money lol

Ted
Ted
5 years ago

Wishing him well. He’s one of my faves this year and I’d be happy to see him win

Nicky91
Nicky91
5 years ago
Reply to  Ted

i second this, only for the verses of soldi, where his singing gives me goosebumps, wish he would sing the same in the chorus (would be my only thing what annoys me) cause now it seems he’s talking in chorus

sorry for the annoying negative posts of mine in this topic, for the verses alone i might be able to vote for italy again

Gavin
Gavin
5 years ago

Anyone else start to worry when ‘surprises’ Are mentioned on the Eurovision stage?

Nvm
Nvm
5 years ago
Reply to  Gavin

I’m sure he can be trusted. He seems too meticulous and careful to let it all go to hell because of the staging.

Nicky91
Nicky91
5 years ago

i like mahmood, he seems so down to earth and friendly

what i like about soldi, are the verses, which reminds of music from one of my fave italian artists eros ramazzotti

the chorus though is the only part i don’t like, way too cringy for my liking

good luck sweetie mahmood, have fun and entertain your fans

my score for soldi is a solid 8.5/10

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

Nicky wtf are you doing… We can still see your comments about how much you dislike Soldi.

stommie
stommie
5 years ago
Reply to  Weißbrot

Only yesterday I read on the Dutch eurovision forum how happy they were that they didn’t have to deal with Nicky anymore.

Nicky91
Nicky91
5 years ago
Reply to  stommie

i don’t dislike soldi, i never disliked soldi, how can you dislike a cutie mahmood anyway, i see the potential in him

no more stress for me pls, i want to behave and relax

i will enjoy this years contest, and i will enjoy every performance, no hate from me this year

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

can’t stop laughing at your comments, they’re so bipolar 😀

Clara
Clara
5 years ago

Thanks William for your interview to Mahmood, you were very nice and the questions interesting.
Here the link to another interview of mahmood with eurovoxx, very interesting too. Here mahmood speaks english… and yes he can do it!
https://youtu.be/VFo5OtkOnjI
Interview mahmood english eurovoxx

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago

I genuinly like Mahmood so much, he definitly deserves to win. I wouldn’t stage the song too much, he should keep it cool and simple. Good luck Mahmood, show your haters how it’s done! Rooting for Mahmood and Duncan. <3

Nicky91
Nicky91
5 years ago
Reply to  Weißbrot

Alessandro is his first name anyway, so you can also call him that

he was a first boot at italian x factor

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

Yeah I know…

Nicky91
Nicky91
5 years ago

Soldi makes me puke how lifeless, dull, boring, unoriginal it is

Haku
Haku
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

@wiwi team, please BAN THIS TROLL. This is not encouraging civil discussion, he’s just endlessly trying to start flames. Too much is too much, this has to be done.

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago
Reply to  Haku

I second that. Please wiwibloggs, Nicky91 is unbearably annoying.

Nicky91
Nicky91
5 years ago
Reply to  Haku

no, then you guys have ruined eurovision for me

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

I can live with that.

Nicolas
Nicolas
5 years ago

Maybe a gorilla on stage.

Elsa
Elsa
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicolas

😀 Gabbani’s song was beautifully ironic! Loved it! Mahmood’s instead… hmmm… bit flat

Nicky91
Nicky91
5 years ago

why an article about this bore

only the king duncan articles are interesting, arcade best eurovision winner ever

Nicky91
Nicky91
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

omg what a trollpost from me

Nicky91
Nicky91
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

i am not a troll i swear, i am sorry i have ruined it for myself on here

soldi just annoys me, i love love love the verses, but chorus he just talks and too cringy for me personally, he needs to improve on that, maybe listen more to eros, how he handles choruses, get a smoother flow on future music coming from sweetie mahmood and then he’s worthy of a 10/10 from me

but now a 8.5/10

i voted last year for italy, bc i loved vocals, i loved message in the song, everything came together perfectly

Lion76
Lion76
5 years ago
Reply to  Nicky91

If this article does not interest you why are you reading it???

Nicky91
Nicky91
5 years ago
Reply to  Lion76

because it does interest me, i have a bad habit that i usually go over the top for attention, and i write without thinking about consequences

i like reading everyone else’s posts here, i like reading most articles this year, there’s no song what i dislike or hate

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago

The one I’ve been waiting for. Thanks!

Clara
Clara
5 years ago

I know well Mahmood because I’m Italian, I watched the video of the exhibition in London and I can say yes, he deserves to snatch the crown; but I have to say also in this Esc there are other beautiful songs, with a different style in comparaison to Soldi, so I think the winner will be the song that matches better the taste of juries and public (I think there are two ot three songs this year that deserve the crown, and one is Soldi. I like very much also Portugal but it is very underrated…). I like so much… Read more »

Nvm
Nvm
5 years ago

Thank you wiwi for adding English subtitles to his interview, the interpreter clearly had quite a few difficulties and it would be a pity not to fully convey all his thoughts and analyses just because of the language barrier… I have no idea what he has in store for us about the staging, but I’m feeling positive he’ll do a better job than other italian artists these past years. He gives me the impression of being a perfectionist, so I don’t expect to be a half-*ssed staging. Fingers crossed.

Fast Food Music Lover
Fast Food Music Lover
5 years ago

He sounds ambitious and I like that! All the best Mahmood!

KAY
KAY
5 years ago

Watch somebody from “international media” ask him an inappropiate question about his sexuality in Tel Aviv during the press conference

Clara
Clara
5 years ago
Reply to  KAY

Where did you read it ? There was a press conference with mahmood in tel aviv ? I only listened to the interview in channel KAN but here the questions were fair…

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago
Reply to  Clara

No Clara, it didn’t happen yet. Kay stated that he thinks, that these questions will come up in Tel Aviv.

Clara
Clara
5 years ago
Reply to  Weißbrot

Ok, sorry I haven’t understood. I hope the journalists won’t make these kind of questions, because mahmood said very very clearly that he doesn’t want to talk about that and they have to tespect him.