Who are Maneskinh: 5 Facts About Italia Rock Band

Maneskin win with rock song Zitti e Buoni

Who is representing Italy in Eurovision?

Måneskin is the four-piece band representing Italy this year, and the band is made up of vocalist Damiano, bassist Victoria, guitarist Thomas and Ethan on drums.

The members have all known each other since they were in school but the band was not created until 2015.

Måneskin performed the song ‘Zitti e buoni’ in the contest Eurovision 2021, which translates, roughly, into English as “shut up and be quiet”, in case you were wondering.

The track was written by band members Damiano David, Ethan Torchio, Thomas Raggi and Victoria De Angelis.

The members have all known each other since they were in school but the band was not created until 2015.

Who are Måneskin

Måneskin is a rock band from Rome, consisting of members Damiano David (lead vocals), Victoria De Angelis (bass), Thomas Raggi (guitar), and Ethan Torchio (drums). The group formed in 2016, while the members were in high school. When coming up with the name of the band, Victoria, who is half Danish, was asked to say some Danish words to see what they could come up with. And so they went with Måneskin, which means “moonshine”.

The band rose to fame after their debut single “Chosen” charted at number 2 on the Italian FIMI Singles Chart, and was later performed as covers during the X Factor live shows in 2017. They continued to release several singles, many of which had peak chart positions of 1st or 2nd place, and also released an album that reached number 1 in Italy and 26 in Switzerland.

Means of 'Måneskin' in English

The name - despite sounding a bit rude in English - means ‘moonlight’ in Danish, in homage to bassist Victoria’s home country.

The Placebo lookalikes cite glam rock as an obvious influence, and also draw from funk, reggae, and rap.

They’re currently the bookies favourite, with odds of 9/4 - but don’t discount rivals Iceland or Malta, either.

Critics are calling them one for the real music fans (whatever that means), although if you’re looking for Eurovision silliness, their lyrics are definitely part of that grand tradition.

The first verse of their track is: ‘They don’t know what I am talkin’ about/ Dirty clothes, bro, muddy clothes/ Yellow cig stains on my finger/ I am walkin’ with my cig.’

Read More: Lyrics of 'Zitti E Buoni' - Italian Text and English Translation

Måneskin: 5 facts about Italy’s Eurovision 2021 group

1. They met at school

Victoria De Angelis (bass) and Thomas “Er Cobra” Raggi (guitar) have known each other since they both attended the same middle school. Although they knew of each other’s passion for music, they only became close in August 2015, while attending the J.F. Kennedy Scientific High School in Rome. It was then that they decided to start the band. They were later joined by singer Damiano David and drummer Ethan Torchio. The latter was recruited through a Facebook ad.

2. They’re Italian but their name is Danish

The four members chose to call themselves Måneskin by accident. As Victoria revealed, the band was looking for a name to enter a local music contest for emerging bands. “But we didn’t know what to call ourselves”. Then, the idea: since Victoria is half Danish, the research focused on a word of that language. And when the bassist pronounced “Måneskin” everyone fell in love with the sound and iconicity of it. So, much so, they undertook a trip to the Nordic country a few months later. In Danish, the word means ‘moonlight’. It brought good fortune. The band went on to win first prize at the contest. It was the beginning of a bright career.

Måneskin: 5 facts about Italy’s Eurovision 2021 group

3. They started their career as buskers in Rome

Måneskin honed their craft in the heart of Rome, their city of origin. The hours of rehearsals in the studio were flanked by live performances for passers-by. You could hear them on the streets of the city’s historic centre, including the famous Via del Corso and the Colli Portuensi district.

4.They often mention the name Marlena in their songs

Måneskin mention the name Marlena on five tracks from their first studio album Il ballo della vita: “Torna a casa”, “Morirò da re”, “L’altra dimensione”, “Le parole lontane” and “Niente da dire”. Måneskin explained who Marlena was during a concert held in late 2018. She is not a physical person, but the personification of the message they want to launch with their music. She’s an ideal of freedom, life and creativity. She’s nothing more than an imaginary figure that encompasses all four members of the group and even the fans and listeners themselves. No secret love of the frontman or other band members, then. Marlena is everyone and no one at the same time. This remains a fundamental concept for Måneskin and, more generally, for the existence of us all.

5.Their singer shares his birthday with two rock icons

Måneskin’s 22-year-old singer Damiano David was born on January 8, 1999. Exactly 64 years earlier, on January 8, 1935, one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century was born: Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. A few years later, on January 8, 1947, it was the turn of The Thin White Duke David Bowie, another leading and influential figure in the music industry and one of the greatest artists of all time. Curiously enough, all three share the same date of birth with another figure, known for much more unflattering reasons: Kim Jong-un, leader of North Korea, born on January 8, 1984.

What is Måneskin’s song?

Måneskin will be performing ‘Zitti E Buoni’ at the Grand Final.

The official music video for the track has all the hallmarks of a classic rock track - we’re talking moody studio shots, bugs climbing over faces, and lots of heavy eyeliner.

Watch Måneskin - Zitti E Buoni - Italy Official Music Video - Eurovision 2021

Italy’s Eurovision-winning song lyrics

OK, now that you’re obsessed with the winning song, here are the lyrics so you can sing along. These include the altered Eurovision words:

Loro non sanno di che parlo

Voi siete sporchi fra’ di fango

Giallo di siga’ fra le dita

Io con la siga’ camminandoScusami ma ci credo tanto

Che posso fare questo salto

Anche se la strada è in salita

Per questo ora mi sto allenandoE buonasera signore e signori

Fuori gli attori

Vi conviene toccarvi i coglioni

(Eurovision version:

Vi conviene non fare più errori)

Vi conviene stare zitti e buoniQui la gente è strana tipo spacciatori

Troppe notti stavo chiuso fuori

Mo’ li prendo a calci ‘sti portoni

Sguardo in alto tipo scalatori

Quindi scusa mamma se sto sempre fuori, ma

Sono fuori di testa ma diverso da loro

E tu sei fuori di testa ma diversa da loro

Siamo fuori di testa ma diversi da loro

Siamo fuori di testa ma diversi da loro

Io

Ho scritto pagine e pagine

Ho visto sale poi lacrime

Questi uomini in macchina

Non scalare le rapide

Scritto sopra una lapide

In casa mia non c’è Dio

Ma se trovi il senso del tempo

Risalirai dal tuo oblio

E non c’è vento che fermi

La naturale potenza

Dal punto giusto di vista

Del vento senti l’ebrezza

Con ali in cera alla schiena

Ricercherò quell’altezza

Se vuoi fermarmi ritenta

Prova a tagliarmi la testa

Perché

Sono fuori di testa ma diverso da loro

E tu sei fuori di testa ma diversa da loro

Siamo fuori di testa ma diversi da loro

Siamo fuori di testa ma diversi da loro

Parla la gente purtroppo

Parla non sa di che cosa parla

Tu portami dove sto a galla

Che qui mi manca l’aria

Parla la gente purtroppo

Parla non sa di che cosa parla

Tu portami dove sto a galla

Che qui mi manca l’aria

Parla la gente purtroppo

Parla non sa di che cazzo parla

(Eurovision version: Non sa di che cosa parla)

Tu portami dove sto a galla

Che qui mi manca l’aria

Ma sono fuori di testa ma diverso da loro

E tu sei fuori di testa ma diversa da loro

Siamo fuori di testa ma diversi da loro

Siamo fuori di testa ma diversi da loro

Noi siamo diversi da loro

And if you want the lyrics in English, here you go:

They don’t know what I’m talking about

You’re dirty, bros, full of mud

Cig stains between your fingers

Me with a cig walking, I’m sorry but I really believe

That I can make this jump

Even if the road is uphill

That’s why I’m training now

And good evening ladies and gentlemen

Get the actors out

You’d better touch your nuts

(Eurovision version: You better not make any more mistakes)

You better shut up and be quiet

People here are strange like drug dealers

I’ve been locked out too many nights

Now I’m gonna kick the doorways

Lookin’ up like a climber

So excuse me, mom, for staying out all the time

I’m crazy but different from them

And you’re out of your mind but different from them

We’re out of our minds but different from them

We’re out of our minds but different from them

Me

I’ve written pages and pages

I’ve seen salt then tears

These men in the car

Don’t climb the rapids

Written on a tombstone

In my house there is no God

But if you find the sense of time

You will rise from your oblivion

And no wind can stop

The natural power

From the right point of view

Of the wind you feel the thrill

With wax wings on your back

I’ll seek out that height

If you want to stop me try again

Try cutting off my head

Because

I’m out of my mind but different from them

And you’re out of your mind but different from them

We’re out of our minds but different from them

We’re out of our minds but different from them

People talk unfortunately

They talk, they don’t know what they’re talking about

Take me where I’m floating

I’m short of air here

People are talking unfortunately

They talk, they don’t know what they are talking about

Take me where I am floating

I’m short of air here

People are talking unfortunately

They talk, they don’t know what the f**k they’re talking about

(Eurovision version: They don’t know what they’re talking about)

Take me where I’m floating

I’m short of air here

But I’m out of my mind but different from them

And you’re out of your mind but different from them

We’re out of our minds but different from them

We’re out of our minds but different from them

We’re different from them

The Full Lyrics of 'Zitti E Buoni' (Shut Up and Be Quiet) - Italian Text and English Translation The Eurovision Song Contest ended in a triumph for Italy’s Maneskin, who won with a hard-rocking song called “Zitti E Buoni” (“Shut Up and ...