Namaste, Ale! Francesco Gabbani wins Sanremo and will go to Eurovision!

Italy’s long running festival Sanremo came to a conclusion last night, with the winner of the competition offered the opportunity to represent the nation at Eurovision in May. Over the past 5 nights, a total of 22 Big Artists and 8 Newcomers all performed on the Sanremo stage, however there could only be one winner. As we announced previously, Lele won the Newcomers section with the song Ora Mai.

On the 5^th night, the 16 remaining Big Artists performed their songs once again. Here’s who performed:

• Chiara Galiazzo – Nessun posto è casa mia

• Samuel – Vedrai

• Ermal Meta – Vietato morire

• Michele Bravi – Il diario degli errori

• Fiorella Mannoia – Che sia benedetta

• Clementino – Ragazzi Fuori

• Lodovica Comello – Il cielo non mi basta

• Paola Turci – Fatti bella per te

• Marco Masini – Spostato di un secondo

• Francesco Gabbani – Occidentali’s karma

• Michele Zarrillo – Mani nelle mani

• Bianca Atzei – Ora esisti solo tu

• Sergio Sylvestre – Con te

• Elodie – Tutta colpa mia

• Fabrizio Moro – Portami via

• Alessio Bernabei – Nel mezzo di un applauso

The top three entered a second round of voting, and the top three were:

• Francesco Gabbani

• Fiorella Mannoia

• Ermal Meta

With a combination of a demoscopic poll, an expert jury and the public vote, the winner was decided to be Francesco Gabbani with the song Occidentali’s Karma! In second place was Fiorella Mannoia and third was Ermal Meta.

Other than the main placings, there are also four awards given out. Here are the winners:

• Mia Martini Critics Award: Ermal Meta with Vietato Morire

• Lucio Dalla Press Award: Fiorella Mannoia with Che sia Benedetta

• Giancarlo Bigazzi Award to the Best Arrangement: Al Bano with Di Rose e di Spine

• Lunezia Award for the best lyrics: Fabrizio Moro with Portami Via

Now to Eurovision, where the winner of Sanremo gets offered the chance to represent Italy at Eurovision. Unlike last year, where the winners of Sanremo declined the opportunity, Francesco was quick to say a big si to representing his country with the upbeat song Occidentali’s Karma.

About the Artist

Francesco Gabbani is a singer songwriter from Carrara who debuted at Sanremo last year in the Newcomers section, which he also won. To add to the accolades, he also won the critics’ prize last year with his winning song Amen. This year he returned with the song Occidentali’s Karma, which was one of the only entries this year to feature a dance.

Listen to the Italian entry here: