L‘Eurovision 2023 was won by Sweden with favorite Loreen, but Italy conquered a more than decent fourth place thanks to Marco Mengoni and his team Two lives. With 350 pointsthe winner of Sanremo 2023 defeated the competition and gave away an exhibition at the height of the stage of the Liverpool Arena in Liverpool.
Eurovision 2023, Marco Mengoni receives the Award for the best composition
26 countries reached the final among the 37 competing. The final standings saw Sweden triumph with 583 points, followed by Finland with 526 and Israel with 362. For a moment, it was revealed for Italy the concrete possibility of a victory. A few minutes in which she placed second after Sweden.
“Oh my God, I don’t know what to say. I’m confused, but very happy to be here» commented Mengoni immediately. «Representing Italy means representing love and peace, the most important thing». Then she revealed what happens behind the scenes: “Many hugs and many chats”.
Unfortunately, the votes were not enough and the hypothesis of the podium vanished by a handful of points. Twelve to be precise, but it doesn’t matter, because the singer can still be considered more than satisfied. Even before the spotlights turned on the last round of the Eurovision Song Contest, received the Marcel Bezençon Composer Award, i.e. the Award for the best composition. The recognition is assigned by the composers of the pieces competing during the final.
The rainbow flag and the chain mail
The final of the most watched non-sporting event in the world opened with the performance of the Kalush Orchestra, last year’s winner of the Ukrainian band, who sang Stephanie. 6 minutes of great impact, followed byentry into the arena of competing countries. Marco Mengoni walked the catwalk with two flags: the Italian one and the rainbow one.
The will, therefore, to transmit a message of union, equality, parity: what Eurovision has always aimed for. In regards to performance, he performed 11th. He went on stage with the metal shirt, the one mentioned in Two liveswhich has now become a fetish. A performance full of energycombined with great technique, but also emotion.
The emotion was great and it emerged at the endwhen for a moment his voice cracked, but it didn’t stop him from completing a masterful show.
Marco Mengoni at Eurovision 2023 with “Two Lives”. (words for you)
Marco Mengoni: «Victory is being here after 10 years»
Waiting to hear the verdict, he commented on the performance to the microphones of Gabriele Corsi and Mara Maionchi, the presenters of the Italian version of the event. «The thing is, when you’re on stage and performing, there’s so much energy. I don’t realize what I’m doing. It’s as if I enter a parallel world and have no perception of what is happening at that moment,” he said.
Then he stated: «Victory is being here after 10 years, in this context, above all in the city of the Beatles. I couldn’t ask for better”. The Beatles, in fact, also brought him luck in Sanremo 2023, when he won the Cover Evening with Let it be.
Eurovision 2023, Marco Mengoni waves the rainbow and the Italian flag.
Despite the strong placement, Mengoni did not go to Eurovision 2023 to win. In his case the saying holds true the important thing is to participate. «It is a gift after 13 years of incredible career. I am very calm. Whatever the location, it is still beautiful and will be beautiful”he added.
“The dates have already come out in Europe, there is already a lot of excitement and these are the real victories, going to share your work with everyone”, he continued, referring to the European tour starting in the fall. Note that the singer returned to the Song Contest stage 10 years after his first participation, with The essential. At the time he finished seventh.
Marco Mengoni on May 7, 2023 in Liverpool, during the Eurovision 2023 Tourquoise Carpet. Credit: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images
Alessandra Mele competing for Norway and Mahmood guest
Marco Mengoni is not the only Italian present at Eurovision 2023. Norway was represented by the Italian singer Alessandra Mele. Originally from Pietra Ligure, the 20-year-old brought the song Queen of Kingstaking fifth place with 268 points.
Mahmood, instead, after participating last year as a couple with Blanco, he was invited as guest. He performed to the tune of Imagine during the Interval Actthe block that precedes the reading of the final classification.
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