The Wiwi Jury — our in-house team of music unprofessionals — is reviewing and rating the 40 competing songs in Eurovision 2022. Next we review San Marino, who have chosen Achille Lauro with “Stripper”.
Were we sliding down the pole in excitement? Read on to find out!
Achille Lauro – “Stripper” (San Marino Eurovision 2022)
Review: Achille Lauro – “Stripper”
Angus: Sex on legs! “Stripper” is a welcome shot in the arm, rippling with life, full of enlivening guitars and brought together in fantastic form by Achille Lauro. Where other rock entries this year sound behind the times, “Stripper” is pushing things forward. Listening to it, you want to jump up and down, headbang and have a good time – all the marks of a great rock song and incidentally a strong Eurovision entry too.
Score: 8.5
Ron: You know what? I really love Britney, but I don’t like rock. Maybe that’s a bad starting point for me to evaluate this song. I really tried, I read the lyrics in English, I watched this performance a few times, but I just don’t get it. Achille is a unique and good performer, yet the song doesn’t do it for me and I feel like we’ve heard this kind of song many times before. Since the message here is not that clear for me, all I can appreciate is Achille sticking to his native language and performing well, which doesn’t leave me scoring this one with too many points.
Score: 3.5
William: Achille Lauro is among the most arresting artists of the year. From the heavily-tattooed body to a face that smacks of an ancient Roman statue, he cuts a striking figure — and one that blurs notions of modern and retro, man and woman. He uses every inch of his form to great effect for “Stripper” — performing with an open jacket and slipping his thumb beneath his underwear line. It’s a statement on sexual freedom and liberation that helps distract from what is ultimately a mediocre, if catchy, pop-punk rock song. Performed by anyone else this would come off as bland and banal. But delivered by Achille it just sucks you in.
Score: 6
Oliver: “Stripper” wouldn’t be out of place as a B-side on a lost Sex Pistols 12-inch vinyl. It’s got all the tropes of classic English punk rock, plus the glorious genderf*ck fashion moments. Despite the homage, there’s little substance here. Achille Lauro exudes confidence, but beyond the Eurovision bubble his character reads less seductive, more arrogant. Moreover, the vocals and lyrics are lazy. Buzzwords like “sex toy”, “like a virgin” and “Playboy” are nothing more than an exercise in hedonism, and a shallow attempt to provoke. Lust is a wonderful thing, but Achille Lauro can pull off sleaze much better than this.
Score: 3
Robyn: At last Achille Lauro is coming to Eurovision — and he’s giving San Marino a rare Italian song. Lauro is a rock star and he has a song that perfectly captures his charisma and style. “Stripper” is a delight, a swaggering rock journey, packed with pop culture references (“I love Brinteeeeey!” dude, same) and an infectious shout-along chorus. And Lauro isn’t trying to be anyone but himself, sure to liven up proceedings in Turin.
Score: 8.5
San Marino Eurovision 2022 ranking
In the Eurovision 2022 Wiwi Jury, we have 18 jurors but only have room for five reviews. The remaining scores are below:
|
Antranig: 3.5 Cinan: 5.5 Deban: 6.5 Jonathan: 5.5 Josh: 3.5 Lucy: 5 Luis: 7.5 |
Natalie: 6 Pablo: 7 Renske: 6.5 Sebastian: 5.5 Suzanne: 4.5 Tom: 6 |
We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a low of 3 and a high of 8.5.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 5.66/10
What do you think of San Marino’s Eurovision 2022 entry? Share your own score and review for Achille Lauro’s “Stripper” below!
My 40th and last place, with a 2.5/10 rating. I’m not gonna be pretentious just because of Achille’s background, this whole concept basically includes a charismatic performer with a TERRIBLY rushed rock/punk entry that’s even edgier than a teenager’s room. The lyrics are too cliché and make absolutely zero sense, how in the name of all that’s holy was this entry lyrically composed by more than 7 people all together and the result was this? And Lauro’s NF performance didn’t leave me with the greatest impression, it looked like he was almost bored to be there and perform his act.… Read more »
The only good rock song this year, for me. It’s energetic, fun and sexy. Achille is not conventionally pretty but he has a certain charm, when I hear him singing “All I need is love” all covered in tattoos and skinny, I just want to envelop him in a big hug and tell him everything will be ok.
I don’t feel this one, sorry. Let’s see what they deliver on stage. 4/10.
Achille for San Marino. That’s something I could’ve never imagined. I want Una voce per San Marino to return next year because, honestly, it was entertaining. About the song itself, well, maybe it’s because I tend to like rock with a little bit of transgression. It is true the act is similar to last year’s winners but it is also true this is something Achille does and been doing. He has the attitude to work “Stripper” out and put and enjoyable show that will make the micronation stand out. I believe San Marino can make it to the final again.… Read more »
I love this guy’s energy and his looks but the song feels very pedestrian.
I definitely think it’s interesting… but I don’t really think it’s good. It’s great that Achille finally gets to compete in Eurovision but this song doesn’t do it for me at all. I’m not into the genre, the song just passes by without really leaving a lasting impression, and I just think this. I want to love this, but I can’t. It’s a 4/10 for me.
27.San Marino – I love the thought of San Marino singing in Italian again. But this, right now, is too similar to Måneskin (I get he did it before and all, but that doesn’t matter). I’m sure this would work really well for them if it weren’t so soon. But I’m certain he can make it crazy and eye-catching.
4.0/10
I think, for me, this is a case of right artist wrong song. He oozes spunk but the song doesn’t live up to his charisma. He needs to show more energy on the night, as I’ve found his performances so far too meandering. I’m not particularly a rock person, so I need him to sell it to me.
Achille Lauro has a huge following beyond Eurovision- thanks to some really amazing and edgy material- unfortunately, this entry just says ‘I can’t be bothered so I will take every catchphrase and cliche I can find and see what so can come up with’- it lacks the promise of creativity that the artist is renowned for.
No, Achille Lauro has not a huge following in Italy. He was able to befriend some right people in the music industry, fashion and press industry. His endless and honestly not original collaborations with some Italian artists gave him some relevance. Plus the fact that he was 4 years in a row in Sanremo. But in Italy there are actually other artists to have real huge following. Eurovision could be a good reality check for him!
SAN MARINO –This stadium punk-rock song might be channeling some of the similar vibes as Maneskin, but keep in mind that the performer, the charismatic and flamboyant Achille Lauro, was doing that before the famous 2021 winners. This is his game, and his signature ”I don’t care, but I am being provocative” attitude on stage. This guy is just fantastic! The song itself feels less polished and less structurally developed than most of the Sanremo entries, but it comes to life with his stage persona. The lyrics about being gender non-conforming are very authentic to the performer. I’m not bothered… Read more »
The EBU should be more afraid of Achille Lauro than they were of Tatu. I’d say he really would have finished off Hungary and Turkey if they hadn’t already ran.
I have a hunch that Achille might go for something so out there it will be remembered for ages. His NF performance is provocative to a degree, but for a guy who dressed as Elizabeth I, and baptised on stage, this was rather tame. So, this rating is for the package we have now, but I have hopes that he’ll go really big in Turin! Potential iconic alert?
I’m hoping that he will be the one to finally wear something different from the semi-final on the Saturday. Maybe even a whole new staging, or at least as different as possible. It seems so unlike him to do the exact same thing twice. He can save his “shock” moment for the final. He’ll need to qualify first, of course.
He has been so behaved in this year’s Sanremo, that I want to believe he’s saving something big for Eurovision. It would be a pity if we finally get Achille Lauro in Eurovision and he just performs like any other rocker would do. Fingers crossed!
I want the Pope himself to say something this time. Happy Easter, Lauro.
At least 2011 made her a KDAM winner. She should have won in 1995, and there was none in 1998.
“London Calling”, ” Personal Jesus”. He chose two of my favourite songs of all time to refer to in the lyrics. That alone does it for me. Seriously now this song seems like the quintessence of Achille as an artist. It includes most of his personal characteristics. And I might be in the minority, but I like this one more than his Sanremo efforts, with Me Me Frego being a close second place. Glad you also like it.
I like it. I almost gave it a 7, but decided to wait for his performance. I’d rank it a bit under Me ne frego, but a bit over Domenica, even if three songs are on a similar level. He makes them good. This performances are a joy to watch.
The lack of polish and structure is probably going to cripple this with juries. I could see it coming last in the jury vote. Is it wild and out there enough to get the televoters on-side? I’m not so sure. I don’t think so based on what I’ve seen of it so far.
By following his journey in Sanremo, I know 2 things about Achille Lauro. The 1st is that he loves being the talk of the town, a great asset to have in Eurovision. The 2nd is that he can be pretty divisive, which of course can go both ways. His provocative laid-back shtick can still do wonders for this entry, but I’m afraid the song itself is a disappointment. It has a cool dirty rock sound and indeed could be the soundtrack of a stripper show, but I’m not a fan of lyrics piling loose references. Will Achille be able to… Read more »
I thought this was punk music. I could be wrong though.
I think you have to be quite disconnected with reality to sing a stripping song at Eurovision, so I really don’t mind that the song isn’t that great. I just hope Achille Lauro puts on a good show. 🙂
Yes I think I would classify it as punk rock. It certainly has the most punk sound out of all his songs I have heard. Me ne Frego had a more pop punk style.
It is at the commercial end of the punk genre but it is about as punk as Eurovision will ever get. PKN’s effort was really unfairly treated so I hope this one does a lot better.
I am actually such a big fan of punk music! And post-punk as well, alongside other punk influenced genres like new wave, goth rock etc. It’s always been a dream for me to have a good punk song at ESC, so you can bet that songs like Zitti e buoni (punk and glam at the same time) or Stripper will be high on my list. Glad you also like it!
You have a kindred spirit! I’m a big fan of punk music outside of the contest (it’s hard to be a punk fan in the contest!) I like all sorts, from the early stuff in the mid-70s through to present day. Let’s hope Achille can represent well for the genre. I enjoyed Maneskin as well but I agree that Achille is closer to the punk genre so I really hope he does well.
Don’t forget Finland 2015…
Oh, wait, you didn’t. I should read more carefully. Delete delete delete.
Yes, loved that one, it was my favourite that year (I’m nothing if not predictable!). I really hope Achille fairs better this time around.
I’m terrible with subgenres, but this isn’t it punk mixed with other style of rock? Maybe arena rock? Or simply hard rock? In my mind, punk is more aggressive and accelerated. This song has a little more… don’t know, maybe swing.
I get your point. Possibly arena rock is also applicable to this entry. And glam rock influences are also visible imo. But yes I find the punk rock element most prevalent here. Perhaps more than in Zitti e buoni.
I would describe “Zitti e buoni” as hard/glam rock, I don’t see much of punk on it, while I can definitely see it in “Stripper”. I can see glam here too. In fact, Maneskin and Achille Lauro have very different sounds, what happened is that their Eurovision songs are probably the closest they’ve been to each other in terms of style, given the non-conforming nature of their entries.
Yes that’s the case. Well I am thrilled that this many rock subgenres have started getting representation at ESC. I hope this trend continues!
As with anything, punk is a diverse genre and you’re right that there tends to be a bit more speed than Stripper. But if you look at Anarchy in the UK by Sex Pistols for example, it is not a million miles away from Stripper in terms of delivery – indeed Achille reminds me a lot of Johnny Rotten – the 2022 version, as times have moved on.
Fair enough. We have to consider also the fact nowadays rockers (and musicians in general) feel much more comfortable to flow between genres. And then labels as indie and alternative became a bigger umbrella to not overthink the subgenre thing.
You say he may be disconnected from reality, I say he’s just living in his own world. 😀 I know many people see Eurovision as a family show, but I must say I love the idea of dragging an audience from their comfort zone with some provocation. That’s exactly what he did more than once in Sanremo, which I believe has (or by now used to be) a much more conservative viewer base.
I think, lyrically, this is quite in-keeping with the intended genre of the song. It’s also not really how I like my lyrics approached but I can see why they are what they are here.
You also seem to have a pretty good handle on Mr. Lauro himself! I actually think this song might just be a bit too much on the lazy, tame side to make him be the talk of Eurovision. Honestly, I was expecting something a bit more out there from him, away from SanRemo.
Like the genre, don’t like the copying last year’s winner attitude.
Achille Lauro was in Sanremo with this style two years before we heard Zitti e buoni.
It’s currently in my second place this year because I love the genre, the artist and the language. The weakest point for me are the lyrics, and I get the idea behind them but it doesn’t make them less crappy for me personally.
Wait for his live performance honeys 😉
Than I hope he took some singing lessons
I feel like this is really underrated!
He’s like Måneskin but from AliExpress…
Come on, stop comparing them… They are totally different and we could say that Achille was like this long before the success of Maneskin. Maneskin are beyond compare (because their attitude, style and talent) but Achille is an absolute genius in his genre. He had been fundamental in the renewal of Italian music. It’s normal that not everyone likes him, but he cannot be compared to Maneskin.
8.5/10 I love this songgg (and Britney ?)! San Marino is one of the most underrated countries this year, just wait for Achille’s performance HE WILL DEVOUR. This is SO close to being in my top 10.
It is what it is…. that’s all…..
Theres not much to this song but for whatever reason I just love it. I feel sexy when I listen to it and I can only imagine what staging is in store for us. Final verdict is that I know it’s trashy but I like it. 8/10
When I first listened to it, I loved it but now I’m like wtf he could’ve done way better xd
7/10 I belong to the minority that actually likes this, both the song and the performance. I am not quite sure which letter in the alphabet that makes me… Since we probably won’t be seeing this in the final, I shall make sure to enjoy it during the semi.
Oliver Adams trying to lecture us his unstomachable politically correct opinion on what a Eurovision song should be is becoming revolting. Can’t wait for him to tear down Emma Muscat for singing I Am What I Am without being black, gay, overweight or in some other minority.
This is for me me the best San Marino entry ever, but that is not saying much as all the songs balance between the mediocre and the awful. Again, San Marino runs after a fade replica of what they think is a good Eurovision entry, i.e. a cheap song that can please the tasteless masses. This was so with their first Ralph Siegel songs and it is certainly now with Lauro. The difference is that we now have a rock tune, sung by a singer playing with sexuality and gender fluidity. And as last what as a winner last gear?…… Read more »
To be honest, it probably is pretty close to being one of San Marino’s best entries. Personally, I think 2013 was their only genuine competitive entry (and it didn’t even qualify for some bizarre reason) but this is probably next in line. I don’t think they’re attempting to replicate anything here though. Achille Lauro, for better or worse, is genuinely this. Also, I think he was clearly the best option in their poor quality national final. I think it was the right choice, irregardless of the fact that there are stylistic similarities to last year’s winner.
Ok point taken 🙂
I want him in the final. Will it happen? Probably not.
Don’t get why some of the wiwi jury are being so kind to Achille.
oh sorry, we forget bullying was your motto, mr “voice of reason”
Well Achille was just being Achille! It’s def not his best song but still i really like it! I know it’ll probably NQ but he can definitely offer us a show and some iconic moments in Eurovision!
Rating: 7.5/10 (16th)
This is probably the song I’m moving down most in my ranking each time I go back to review it. Once I get over the excitement that it is Achille Lauro actually going to Eurovision and that this is not the usual embarrassment that the San Marino entry is, I start having to properly evaluate it in relation to the other songs. By most musical measures, it is a mediocre effort. Vocally, Achille’s songs generally aren’t too taxing so it is hard to really give him too much credit there and a similar approach can be taken when considering what’s… Read more »
Rating: 4.0/10.0
San Marino – As much as I love Achille and am glad he’s managed to get to do Eurovision, this song really does nothing for me. It does seem somewhat rushed and I have my doubts that the song will qualify. All the best to him of course, but for me I’ll pass. 4/10
Gold star.
Wow, this will end rock bottom. The music is as good as the singer’s English.
I was so happy to see him in the San Marinese show. I was rooting for a big Italian singer taking part with San Marino. BUT Stripper is very underwhelming. It’s a lazy, demo-sounding song that is bland and forgettable. Only a strong performance can save it from a NQ but i can see the juries placing it in bottom 5 so Achille should get ready for a big flop in Turin which will be humiliating… he should have chosen Domenica for Eurovision.
This is fine punk, but it’s unlikely to qualify. Still, I wonder if he’ll actually strip. Hey, you only live once, right? 🙂
Twice if he qualifies XD
Yeah but by then, we’ll have seen it all. 🙂
for an italian like myself this is just the same old stale achille lauro gimmick repeated for the umpteenth time… may his imminent non qualification serve as a wake up call for him
1. San Marino – Achille Lauro – Stripper – 10/10 – Throbbing from the very first beat to the very last, this is a song exquisitely delivered through the pulsating performance of a captivating character. Achille is so magnetic that I find my eyes attached to him for the entire 3 minutes. The song taps expertly into the punk vibe from an aesthetic and musical perspective, the “doing it my way” attitude is admirable and the sing-a-long chorus is as catchy as hell. It is deliciously playful both visually and lyrically, and the guitar and drum work is strong. Then… Read more »
I’m going to pretend I didn’t read this.
Our tastes go in different directions in 2022, but I have to say that I am more positive towards your winner than most of the other commentators are. It might be lower on my list, but it still is an entry I like, especially because of Achille’s fantastic performing skills. I see that you are gravitating towards more happy songs this season, and I can totally understand why. The world is not in the best place right now, and sometimes fun entries can help a lot.
I am looking forward to your review of this entry Colin, I’m glad it is not right at the bottom of your list and I’ll be interested in your perspective on it. I think I have a tendency to gravitate towards extreme emotions – I do have one exceptionally sad song (at least to me) in my top 3 but you’ll have to wait to find out which one. But yes, a happy vibe is always really important, and like you say, perhaps now more than ever. I’ve always gravitated towards how the songs make me feel rather than the… Read more »
For me, the song is okay, the performer is amazing. As a package, it’s solid and it works. If he gives us a proper banger at ESC, I’ll probably up my post-ESC score. I like it, I only like many other songs more at this point. Still, with Adrenalina and Stripper in a row, San Marino is finally leaving the stigma of a country which brings the worst songs behind them. As for my winners (there are 4, actually), I have a feeling that one will be especially grating for you, but don’t worry. It a type of song people… Read more »
This entry puts the ‘no’ in San Marino
I like Achille and his stage presence, but this isn’t it. The lyrics are awful, the vocals are shocking and the vibe is just weird. It’s a shame that everything but Lauro is painful to listen to and watch. 37th/40
35. “N O” :))
7. San Marino: Achille Lauro finally in Eurovision! It was about time actually. And ‘Stripper’ is a very well crafted punk-rock entry that fully shows Achille’s personal artistic identity. I like it more than all his Sanremo songs actually. A standing ovation from the Italian public in Turin is also certain given his fame. Even if his qualifying chances are not extremely high according to the bookies, I am confident he will qualify for the final. And give San Marino its best result ever as well!
the song isn’t great, but we know that’s not what Achille is going for…it’s all about the performance in May…
can’t wait!!
Achille Lauro has so much potential, and this song doesn’t do him justice.
I have a feeling that entering San Marino’s selection was a very last minute decision for Achille, so he just used one of his unreleased songs which was gathering dust as his entry.