“Brividi,” Italy’s song for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, has been certified four-times platinum. This honour comes only two months after the song won the 72nd Sanremo Festival, and it has since been played and downloaded over 400,000 times. “Brividi” broke the record for the most streams in 24 hours on Italian Spotify upon its debut.
After a historically successful result in 2019, how did you decide to risk again by competing in Eurovision?
MAHMOOD
My new participation in Eurovision is a direct consequence of the victory at the Sanremo Festival with BRIVIDI. It was not a decision but a process that took place naturally, as demonstrated by the fact that we decided to go to Sanremo only when the track was born. However, I am proud and honoured to be able to step back on that stage, even more so this year we play at home.
Why did you decide to participate with BRIVIDI and how this song is affecting you?
BLANCO
The song was born a bit by chance: we found ourselves in the studio with Michelangelo (producer) and we wrote the chorus together, born from a wrong chord on the piano. Then we wrote the respective verses on our own. We made our families listen to Brividi: it was our parents who suggested we participate in the Festival.
Since 2019 you are considered a superstar with top publications, and sold-out concerts. Did you ever believe you can go to the top of the stardom just with a song in Eurovision?
MAHMOOD
Thinking about my Sanremo victory in 2019 and participating in Eurovision still makes me incredulous today, because that’s where I started to make myself known to the general public. I have had some amazing experiences ever since that I am extremely grateful for, and I have wonderful memories of that time.
When Mahmood explained and described Eurovision, how did he describe it to you?
BLANCO
As happened for Sanremo, Alessandro preferred not to give me too many indications or suggestions, despite the fact that for him it was the second time on the Ariston stage. He did it because he wanted to preserve and respect what would be my first experience at the Festival, which is different for each artist, without creating expectations for me. For Eurovision, itโll be the same!
Have you been in any contact for advice, wishes by Mรฅneskin?
MAHMOOD
Not yet, but we can’t wait to meet them in Turin.
Your duet is a favourite to win Eurovision. What will it mean for you to keep Eurovision in Italy, because of Brividi?
BLANCO
For me, Eurovision is not so much a competition as a precious opportunity to compare myself to many artists from all over Europe. Among my Italian idols of reference are Celentano, Gino Paoli and Modugno, artists who in the past have managed to bring a part of Italian culture to the world. In my small way, I am very happy to be able to sing a song in our language in front of an international audience and it is even more beautiful to do it from an Italian stage! If that happens, I would be really proud of it.
Is there any chance we see you and Blanco at a concert in Greece? because your fanbase here is insanely big…
MAHMOOD
We don’t have any Greek dates planned for our respective tours yet, but it would be really nice to be able to perform in your country as well
If you could sing BRIVIDI to any special person or a person you wanna strongly share a message whom would that be?
BLANCO
BRIVIDI is a song that talks about freedom: I would therefore dedicate it to the whole world.
an oikotimes original text
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