Back in May, Italy’s Eurovision 2020 entrant Diodato performed his song “Fai rumore” in an empty Arena di Verona — an overwhelming experience that he likened to projecting “a cry of freedom, a desire to express your humanity.”
A 30-second fragment of the performance was shown during the broadcast of Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light — the replacement programmed that hoped to bring Europe together amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Shortly after the broadcast, the full Arena di Verona performance of the Italian Eurovision 2020 entry racked up over a million of views on YouTube. Some even started calling it the highlight of the Eurovision season.
Diodato performs “Fai rumore” at SEAT Music Awards
Four months later, Diodato has returned to Verona to reprise his song once more during the annual SEAT Music Awards. This time, a small audience was allowed to be inside the legendary venue, after lockdown measures helped to flatten the curve of infections and deaths in recent months. Diodato shared the stage with many Eurovision contestants on that 5 September night, including Il Volo, Mahmood and Ermal Meta.
However, this year no awards were presented. Instead, the evening served as a beneficiary concert to support Sosteniamo la musica of Music Innovation Hub. The fund, both supported by Spotify and FIMA — Italy’s music industry federation.
The fund aims to help entertainment workers who have been affected by the pandemic in Italy. Since the start of the pandemic, venue closures and event cancellations have led to serious financial insecurities for those who are primarily employed in the entertainment industry.
Shortly after his performance in May, Diodato explained the beauty and solemnity of singing in an empty amphiteater.
“It was such a strong feeling to hear my voice resonate inside this place. Going back and thinking of our cultural legacy is something that is really overwhelming.”
“When I wrote this song I started with my personal feelings. The night I presented it at the [Sanremo] festival I said it was an invitation to cancel all walls, to bring your humanity out. I thought I had reached my emotional peak by winning the festival and people sending all their love. I would never have imagined….seeing this song become an anthem, a cry of freedom, a desire to express your humanity, a desire to sing this from your balcony. I was so moved by this because it reminded me what music should be doing.”
Did you like Diodato’s new performance of “Fai rumore” at Arena di Verona during the SEAT Music Awards? Would you like Diodato return for Italy? Let us know in the comments down below!
I loved this song since the first time I’ve listened to it and it’s beautiful how its lyrics became even more meaningful given all that has happened since (and actually just a few days after) Sanremo. I really want to see Diodato in Eurovision someday and I trust this day will come. But in his particular case, what he achieved with “Fai Rumore” is something that even some of the contest winners won’t ever experience. Bravo!
Diodato making me feel emotional again.
Delightful as always. Fai Rumore will always hit and mean a lot
Goosebumps!
It was incredible experience to watch it again. This song has always been a favourite and close to my heart since day 1 when I’ve heard at Sam Remo. Then he won and would represent Italy in ES.C 2020!! His song then became a cry for hope sung from Italian balconies!! Then Verona!! Twice!! What a story, what an amazing song and singer!! Thanks Diodato for your masterpiece that got us through. These performances will be among the memories of ES.C 2020!! Tu hai FATTO RUMORE!! ????
Fai Rumore, like nearly all Italian entries, has aged like a fine wine. I am hoping and lowkey expecting Diodato to return for Italy since they went internal in 2014.
I don’t want him back, because that just creates one more “lost” Eurovision entry, the Sanremo winner of 2021. Maybe that will be him, though…
They could just let all Sanremo participants know in advance that they won’t be going to Eurovision. Most are not interested in Eurovision anyway as their priority is pushing their nationwide career, even more so once the restrictions are lifted and normal live concerts are possible again.
They could do that, yeah – but it will still mean the loss of a great song. If they’d done that in 2019, that would mean no Soldi. Who knows what greatness awaits us in 2021?