Following a week of questions, it’s now official — Lucio Corsi will represent Italy at Eurovision 2025. This comes after Sanremo 2025 champion Olly declined the initial invitation.
Lucio will compete at Eurovision with his second-placed Sanremo entry, “Volevo essere un duro.”
Olly says “no” to Eurovision
Last Saturday, Olly emerged as the champion of Festival di Sanremo 2025. In addition to the trophy, the victory also gave him first refusal on the opportunity to represent Italy at Eurovision in Basel.
After a week of thinking about it, Olly has decided to turn down the offer. Writing on Instagram, the singer noted:
“For me, this decision is my way of listening to myself and maybe also my twisted way of saying thank you. Some will say that I’m giving up on a dream, but I think that I’ve just chosen to live it with my time.
“I wish huge good luck to anyone who will take my place: music in Italy is full of amazing artists and this year’s cast is the most sincere proof of it.”
View this post on Instagram
Lucio Corsi says “yes” to Eurovision
With Olly bowing out, the Eurovision invitation subsequently went to Lucio Corsi, who finished second at Sanremo 2025.
Italian broadcaster Rai revealed on its own social platforms and website that Corsi had accepted the offer and will now wave the Italian flag in Basel this May.
View this post on Instagram
Italy has been consistently using Festival di Sanremo to select its Eurovision act since 2015.
The only other time that the winner has declined the Eurovision offer was in 2016. Rock band Stadio decided not to go, with runner-up Francesca Michielin taking the baton instead — she finished 16th at Eurovision.
What do you make of the news? Are you sad to see Olly decline the chance? Or are you happy that Lucio Corsi will have the opportunity to appear at Eurovision? Let us know in the comments.
Olly, Giorgia and Fedez, are in the Billboard Top 200.
12 points! Suberb!
I’m probably missing some touching backstory but to me this song is incredibly boring. All that this song does, we’ve seen before.
This will go down a treat with juries. I expect another top 5 result for Italy.
I hope RAI somehow manage to find a way to translate the song for all non-Italian speakers on-screen, the lyrics are pure poetry.
It’s nice
Italy 26th. Thanks
That will be Spain
Sadly maybe it will be.
Let me honestly review my opinion… top 10. The song is touching, sincere and very enjoyable.
Yes, I like this.
Much better entry than Olly’s song.
What a fantastic song, congratulations Lucio!
A question for you guys: do you think Lucio could call Topo Gigio for Eurovision? There is a possibility in your opinion? It would be amazing
Topo Gigio just posted “If I will not be present to perform with Lucio Corsi in the country of the emmental cheese, I will slap his face”.
I hope that It wasn’t just irony ahahah. Lucio Corsi with Topo Gigio could elevate the song as he did with Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu and maybe Europeans voters could pay attention to the performance a little more. It would be poetic!
Can anyone make sense of his rationale?
What do you mean?
I can’t blame Italy, it was Olly who said: No. But I can blame Italy for not letting Giorgia win San Remo and go to Basel. It’s strange and not quite fair that out of the 5 superfinalists in San Remo, all the 5 were men.
In my opinion, this year’s Sanremo was a bit underwhelming (I’m from Mexico, so there were a lot of things I didn’t fully grasp, and the slower tempo of this edition was quite surprising to me). It’s also been nearly 10 years since a Sanremo winner declined to participate in Eurovision. I believe Lucio is Italy’s best option, even though I’m not completely sold on his entry yet (it’s growing on me and the lyrics are genius, though!)
I think Lucio is amazing if we pay attention he is super intelligent gifted and real
Olly is the one catch my attention on Sanremo, not my type of genre, plain clothes, no more extra gimmick and I thought it would bore me but then he outshne with full vocals and as I keep repeating listineng to his song its growing on me and then he just decline ESC, sigh. But this the beauty of Sanremo that the winner is not really oblige for Eurovision. Well goodluck to Lucio.
I think it is time to let go off the “song for Eurovision ” mentality. The contest has proved that everything might work when set in the right moment. I find it weird that fans still try to frame what ESC is about by limiting it to a genre or certain stage elements when it has always been about what’s new.
You are right, but just this time the song is really boring.
The word boring in music shoul be used with intelligence. If everybody would think the same as you all the song will be uptempo, dance, rock etc. The fact you don’t connect to a ballad or slow tempo song is your exclusive problem. It’s a cultural thing.
This will do great!!!..
Aww no Tutta L’Italia to ESC
Shame. That would be success!
Luckily there is San Marino!
Now, whether this will do well or not at Eurovision it depends on the other entries. If all we get is a sequence of non-stop uptempo super energetic and hyper-modern bangers, one after the other, Lucio Corsi may well shine and offer a much needed break in the madness. If the audience finds it boring and overlooks it, perhaps because there are way better ballads, this could flop real bad. Somewhat I don’t think so though. What Italy’s bringing to the table is retro enough and interesting enough to gain some positive attention.
I liked the song but don’t think this song would be in top 10; especially don’t think it would get good Votes from the public.
Why RAI doesnt allow the singer to go to Eurovision with whichever song they want? Maybe Lucio had another song; rather than this entry.
Lucio Corsi will either be what Portugal 2018 was or what Italy 2011 and Netherlands 2014 were, no in between.
I was thinking more Slovakia 1998
Personally, I like it. I think it’s a good song with a nice message, we even heard it a few years ago from the reigning champion. And also, I think it shows a different side of Italy. It’s still a ballad, but not from a more mainstream looking and feeling artist, but from someone who represents the more Indie side of the musical scene in Italy.
We’re having a year of weirdos, and I’m 100% percent for it.
For those who criticize him, just go on Youtube and watch the videos of all his songs. He is a poet, a genius, a wonderful being. He, and the director Tommaso Ottomano, have created magic.
I respect that as Italian, you defend your emtrant which deserves appreciation 🙂 But his song is really not for Eurovision; too slow tempo song.
I wish he had another song so that he can represent Italy with that song
Salvador Sobral was for Eurovision?
Agree; it is strange that whenever Portugal sends boring slow tempo song; no one finds it boring. But when Italy sends that kind of song, people tend to find it boring
There is no such thing. Celebrate diveristy!
Dude, I didn’t like the song (so far, it can grow on me later on) myself but you should ditch that “a song must be suitable for Eurovision” mentality
I think this is good news for Italy.
Off you go! Back to your cave, Olli.
Wouldn’t be surprised if this song does well or does very bad at eurovision because it is difficult to predict.
I even wouldn’t be surprised if it became bottom 5 because juries even may not prefer such a slow tempo song.
Lucio will win your hearts as he did with us in Italy! With Olly there were high chances for a nice placement in the contest, nothing more. But with Lucio Italy has its chances to get the victory (with the due difference his uniqueness reminds me of what happened with Salvador Sobral)!
Vai Lucio, siamo con te!!
It appears that mostly Italians like it while foreigners don’t like it as much including myself. It will struggle to get public votes.
Totally agree. Salvador Sobral vibes!
Why is it so difficult for RAI to ask Elodie to represent Italy this year; rather than going to the 2nd placed song at Sanremo? Don’t they know that this song would not do well at Eurovision or do they really care about Italy’s success?
They have their own standards, and usually quality songs, with meaningful lyrics are appreciated there. If you like the usual soulless Swedish stuff with lots of props or another trashy queen with props, feel free to vote for them.
Holy words. I am sure Måns Zermelow will win once more. Next year Sweden will bring again Loreen and then again Måns, and then Loreen etc. etc. for the next centuries, amen.
And I don’t say that Élodie is trash. It’s still way better than most of the other ESC songs. It’s just that this year, her song was weaker.
Elodie’s song is actually quite forgettable.
speak to you as an Italian … we are not interested in winning the Eurovision, we are interested in artists coming out of Sanremo who are able to move the soul and the heart.. if we want to move the body we use the discos. we don’t like the scenographic effect or the beautiful staging. we are interested in the musical and artistic quality. then the Swedish stuff for goodness sake very nice and scenographic and catchy thanks also to the English language they certainly don’t despise them.. in fact we like them but if we have to choose we… Read more »
her new song was pretty flat, she peaked with andromeda
Si itally has a mediocre entry and the worst for me since the 2000s. Still no potential winner this year
You probably don’t deserve to listen good music.
This is the right outcome. ESC is not the right fit for a rapper/R&D artist in their native language to use as a platform to int’l success. Unless he plans to start rapping in English Olly wouldn’t have taken it very seriously in light of his sold-out tour. Just like Blanco didn’t rehearse and was exhausted in Turin. Lucio’s song is not as good but he’s a much more natural (theatrical) fit for and ESC performance. He may surpirse people and come in 11-15th.
What a beautiful song. A multi-layered self-discovery journey through insight, dreams, imagination, advice, and perspective of the world. The lyrics about one lacking love around being the norm or having too much inside but not being able to share – per my understanding – are so sad. However, there is so much calm and safety in this. That introspection leading to self-knowledge and the acknowledgement of being “enough” and “fine” with who you are is beautiful and encouraging.
Bravissimi Lucio e Tommaso, brava Italia!! Luce <3, or <3, lumière <3, light <3, phos <3
Beautiful song and also a very beautiful comment.
In last 10 years 9 of 10 Eurovision acts were Sanremo winners and we know that they all ended in top 10. The only one, who did not end in top 10 was the one that did not win Sanremo 😀 So…. yup.
Not a fan of either songs so I don’t really care who goes to Eurovision. Still bitter about Sanremo though
Let it go
I don’t understand why Italy, the land of funny, energetic people liked slow-tempo, boring songs like this :/ I respect to him but his song fits for Eurovision in 1970s; it has almost no chorus or no melody.
Probably because we have a huge history and background of singer and songwriters (or both) due our cultural and historical background. Starting from the opera, the classical music, the madrigal, the bel canto, the huge amount of wonderful lyricists, songwriters who created songs known and appreciated. Other countries just create silly and empty pop or dance songs year after year, looking one identical to the other. Or the people of those countries don’t know what quality is or the benefits to listen to quality songs than musica trash like 80% of the Eurovision songs are.
I am bit worried about whether Italy would be out of top10 this year, even if this song is not bad.
Good luck for him. His song might be slow tempo and boring but songs in Portugal’s national final are also boring.
Is someone pointing a weapon to your empty head in order to listen to Lucio or FdC? Oh, you’re just toxic, gotcha
Is someone pointing a weapon to your empty head to react agressively? Or you are just disrespectful towards other opinions.
Había una vez parapaparapapá… Un circo…
Better songs from San Remo have missed out.
Can someone explain to me why does Lucio have his face painted white?
Maybe cuz he’s old and wants to hide it like KISS?
Artistic expression.
Thank you. But can you explain how is this artistic expression by painting one’s face?
He also makes by himself all the costume he dresses on stage. He is an artist in each sense of the word. A sensitive soul. He also revealed that inside his jacket’s shoulders he put chips paks in order to leep them tight.
He’s actually black and want to f*** around with body paint police?
Dunno, just a wild guess.
At last, a quality song. Alleluia.
I thought it was Michael Jackson feom Scary Movie
Italy with Olly was my 4th favorite song at Eurovision. Now Italy drops to outside my top 10. Horrid selection
Actually I change what I said. After listening to the song more than once I have it still in my top 10. In fact I’d place him exactly where Olly was. I still prefer Olly and I think Olly would have done better at Eurovision
Translate the lyrics. And compare them to the time we are living.
And what time are we living in?
Fascist? Trump? Strong men? Autocrats? Do you read the newspapers?
I agree. That toxic winner-takes-all culture, leaving behind the poor, the weak, the timid, and those who don’t check all the right boxes. And that’s a lot of people.
I don’t think it has to do with this period of time.
He also sings about his youth and that was decades ago. And now in this period of time, in 2025, he feels free to be Lucio.
It’s nice.
Lucio sounds like Salvador Sobral to me. At the beginning no one Will understand him, but then… He is a complete artist and Europe will know! GOOD LUCK IN BASEL LUCIO!
I totally agree. Only the lazy or those who prefer to fangirl for a dance or stupid gimmick song will not understand the power of this song. Time will tell.
I like him too….
Italy 8/12
Great for Lucio but imo Olly’s song had more potential for Eurovision.
Italy has climbed from 15th to 10th place. We were 5th before Olly won. We dropped to 15th place. Now we are back in the top 10.
It is really sad that olly does’nt go to eurovision.
I really liked his song.
But I respect his choice and Lucio has really Good song too ??
Those questions Marks are meant To be hearts.
They just are like that Idk why
As an Italian I’m really happy for Lucio, our minstrel… I would love for people to read his lyrics (not only of this song but also some of the other ones as well, he’s a genius). For the first time I really don’t care how we’re gonna do voting-wise but I’m very happy that a true artist, a poet, a musician and a singsong writer with more than 10 years of paying his dues as a niche artist in the italian independent music scene could be given this possibility. Btw he’s a quite rare and pure soul, no need to… Read more »
I just read his lyrics.
He really is genius.
Im from Finland and I translated the songs and some of the lyrics didn’t make sense.
(Google transleter isn’t really trustable)
Yeah, also because he plays with words, so some things are really untraslatable…
But if you are curious you can ask some things and I will try to translate them for you.
Gotta admit, his performance put me off at first but he’s grown on me and I started to appreciate his craft recently. Truly admirable!
Anyway, the guy on the Sanremo stage accompaigning Lucio Corsi (guitar and backing vocals) is Tommaso Ottomano. Probably someone reminds he is the director behind some videos from Måneskin. The Loneliest, Gossip and others. He also directed the music video of “Volevo essere un duro”.
And he is also the cowriter of the song.
It might be another repeat of Italy ’18 (Ermal and Fabrizio) where the jury and televote might be day and night.
i think your right here, either way. disparities will be big.
i liked Ollys song but i like this aswell
First time Itlay won’t make the Top 10 since 2016 and funny enough in 2016 it was also a runner up San Remo entry.
That hasn’t happened yet, so it’s not that funny.
Talk to me in 3 months
I am sure it will … You are not an expert