🇮🇹 Road to Basel: Italy

Road to Basel: Italy

This is the road to Basel: Italy. As we eagerly anticipate the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Italy.

Lucio Corsi

Lucio Corsi is an Italian singer-songwriter hailing from Tuscany. Known for his poetic lyrics and unique musical style, he blends elements of folk, rock, and Italian chanson. Corsi’s artistic expression often incorporates whimsical storytelling, reflecting on themes of identity and self-discovery. His distinctive approach has garnered him critical acclaim within the Italian music scene.

Volevo essere un duro (what AI says)

“Volevo essere un duro” (“I Wanted to Be a Tough Guy”) is a track from Corsi’s fourth studio album, released on March 21, 2025. The song features poetic lyrics that explore themes of identity and self-perception. Corsi’s performance combines delicate melodies with a touch of humor, offering a profound reflection on societal expectations and personal aspirations. The song has been praised for its introspective nature and artistic depth.

National Selection Process

Italy traditionally uses the Sanremo Music Festival to select its Eurovision representative. In 2025, Olly won the festival with “Balorda nostalgia” but declined the Eurovision opportunity due to scheduling conflicts. Consequently, RAI, Italy’s national broadcaster, appointed the runner-up, Lucio Corsi, to represent the country with his song “Volevo essere un duro.” This decision underscores RAI’s commitment to showcasing Italy’s diverse musical talent on the international stage.

The top-10 results of San Remo were:

  1. Olly, “Balorda nostalgia
  2. Lucio Corsi, “Volevo ​essere un duro
  3. Brunori Sas, “L’albero della noci
  4. Fedez, “Battito
  5. Simone Cristicchi, “Quando sarai piccola
  6. Giorgia, “La cura per me
  7. Achille Lauro, “Incoscienti giovani
  8. Francesco Gabbani, “Viva la vita
  9. Irama, “Lentamente
  10. Cuoricini, “Coma con me
Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest

Italy has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since its inception in 1956, achieving three victories: in 1964 with Gigliola Cinquetti‘s “Non ho l’età,” in 1990 with Toto Cutugno‘s “Insieme: 1992,” and in 2021 with Måneskin‘s “Zitti e buoni.” As a member of the “Big Five,” Italy automatically qualifies for the Grand Final, allowing its entries to consistently showcase the nation’s rich musical heritage.

photo: EBU/Thomas Hanses

A Random Italian Entry

Reflecting on Italy’s Eurovision history, we asked random.org to get one of the former Italian entries out of the archives. It’s a duo, and quite a recent one: Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro, San Remo winners, represented Italy in 2018. With Ermal Meta, they brought an Albanian singer on stage for Italy. Their song was “Non mi avete fatto niente”. Enjoy!

Betting Odds

As of now, Lucio Corsi’s “Volevo essere un duro” has a 12th place in the betting odds. That means Lucio has the 12th chance to win the contest. Will it also mean that, in the final, Lucio might end up around the 12th place? We don’t know.

We eagerly await the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel and look forward to witnessing Lucio Corsi’s performance on the grand stage.

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Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 with DARA’s “Bangaranga”

📷 EBU/Corinne Cumming The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 winner has been revealed after a dazzling Grand Final at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna. Dara won the contest with “Bangaranga”, representing Bulgaria, and finished the night with  points. The victory brought a dramatic conclusion to the 70th edition of the contest, which once again united millions of viewers across Europe and beyond. From the first notes of the performance, Dara stood out with a staging concept that combined strong vocals, clear storytelling and a memorable visual identity. A winning performance with impact “Bangaranga” became one of the most talked-about entries of the season thanks to its instant hook, emotional build and confident live delivery. During the Grand Final, the performance connected with both juries and viewers, turning early expectations into a winning result. Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 in spectacular fashion, as DARA’s “Bangaranga” topped both the jury vote and the public televote in Vienna. The country scored 516 points in the Grand Final, turning its Eurovision comeback into a historic first victory. The result was clear proof of broad appeal. Professional juries rewarded the entry with 204 points, while viewers across Europe and the Rest of the World added another 312 points. That rare double gave Bulgaria the strongest possible mandate: technical recognition from experts and emotional support from audiences. A Eurovision victory built on impact “Bangaranga” arrived at the Wiener Stadthalle as one of the most energetic entries of the year. DARA combined sharp pop production with a confident stage presence, making the song feel immediate from the first beat. The performance was bold, polished and easy to remember, three qualities that often decide a Eurovision result. For Bulgaria, the win carries extra meaning. The country returned to the contest in 2026 after several years away, and its comeback quickly became one of the season’s biggest stories. Instead of simply rejoining the competition, Bulgaria went all the way and claimed the trophy for the first time. DARA’s victory also marks a personal breakthrough. Already known in Bulgaria and across the Balkan pop scene, she now has a major international platform. “Bangaranga” is likely to gain fresh momentum on streaming services, while the performance itself will remain one of the defining Eurovision moments of 2026. Why Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 with juries and viewers The voting sequence underlined the strength of the entry. Bulgaria led the jury vote, then confirmed its win with the highest televote score of the night. That balance is important: many Eurovision entries succeed with either juries or viewers, but “Bangaranga” managed to connect with both. It also shows how effective the Bulgarian package was. The song had radio-friendly energy, the staging delivered arena impact, and DARA carried the performance with charisma and control. Nothing about the win felt accidental. It was exactly the kind of result that Eurovision fans remember long after the Grand Final. After the final votes were revealed, Bulgaria stood at the top of the scoreboard with a result that will change the country’s Eurovision story forever. From comeback participant to Eurovision champion, DARA and “Bangaranga” gave Bulgaria a night of celebration and a place in contest history.    

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Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 with DARA’s “Bangaranga”

📷 EBU/Corinne Cumming The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 winner has been revealed after a dazzling Grand Final at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna. Dara won the contest with “Bangaranga”, representing Bulgaria, and finished the night with  points. The victory brought a dramatic conclusion to the 70th edition of the contest, which once again united millions of viewers across Europe and beyond. From the first notes of the performance, Dara stood out with a staging concept that combined strong vocals, clear storytelling and a memorable visual identity. A winning performance with impact “Bangaranga” became one of the most talked-about entries of the season thanks to its instant hook, emotional build and confident live delivery. During the Grand Final, the performance connected with both juries and viewers, turning early expectations into a winning result. Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 in spectacular fashion, as DARA’s “Bangaranga” topped both the jury vote and the public televote in Vienna. The country scored 516 points in the Grand Final, turning its Eurovision comeback into a historic first victory. The result was clear proof of broad appeal. Professional juries rewarded the entry with 204 points, while viewers across Europe and the Rest of the World added another 312 points. That rare double gave Bulgaria the strongest possible mandate: technical recognition from experts and emotional support from audiences. A Eurovision victory built on impact “Bangaranga” arrived at the Wiener Stadthalle as one of the most energetic entries of the year. DARA combined sharp pop production with a confident stage presence, making the song feel immediate from the first beat. The performance was bold, polished and easy to remember, three qualities that often decide a Eurovision result. For Bulgaria, the win carries extra meaning. The country returned to the contest in 2026 after several years away, and its comeback quickly became one of the season’s biggest stories. Instead of simply rejoining the competition, Bulgaria went all the way and claimed the trophy for the first time. DARA’s victory also marks a personal breakthrough. Already known in Bulgaria and across the Balkan pop scene, she now has a major international platform. “Bangaranga” is likely to gain fresh momentum on streaming services, while the performance itself will remain one of the defining Eurovision moments of 2026. Why Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026 with juries and viewers The voting sequence underlined the strength of the entry. Bulgaria led the jury vote, then confirmed its win with the highest televote score of the night. That balance is important: many Eurovision entries succeed with either juries or viewers, but “Bangaranga” managed to connect with both. It also shows how effective the Bulgarian package was. The song had radio-friendly energy, the staging delivered arena impact, and DARA carried the performance with charisma and control. Nothing about the win felt accidental. It was exactly the kind of result that Eurovision fans remember long after the Grand Final. After the final votes were revealed, Bulgaria stood at the top of the scoreboard with a result that will change the country’s Eurovision story forever. From comeback participant to Eurovision champion, DARA and “Bangaranga” gave Bulgaria a night of celebration and a place in contest history.    

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