The preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest have just about begun, but tension is already high as Italy plays Estonia, just days after the BBC found itself in hot water as an X-rated lyric appeared to be repeated in Malta’s entry.
The Estonian rapper Espresso Macchiato, which he performed on Saturday, was chosen to sing for his country at the May competition. In the song, he steps into the role of an Italian man named Tomaso, taking digs at Italians and rapping stereotypes about the nation – including jibes about smoking, Mafia, and spaghetti obsession.
“Ciao bella, I’m Tomaso, addicted to tobacco. Mi like mi coffee very importante”, he sings early in the song, later rapping: “Mi like to fly privati with twenty-four carati, also mi casa very grandioso. Mi money numeroso, I work around the clocko, that’s why I’m sweating like a mafioso”.
The lyrics, which were read in Italians, caused some Italians to be upset, with the statement, “Whoever insults Italy must stay out of Eurovision, must not do so.” Gian Marco Centinaio, a far-right senator, featured Cash on a flyer. The politician also retaliated on Instagram by saying, “This singer should visit Italy to see how good people work before writing such obscene songs full of stereotypes.”
A lengthy statement from Codacons, an Italian advocacy group for consumer and civil rights, was also released that questioned whether “it’s appropriate to allow a song to offend a country and an entire community” to be in Eurovision.
We cannot help but doubt the inclusion of a song that offends a number of people in a competition that is watched by audiences all over the world, according to Codacons, despite the freedom of artistic expression that must define events like Eurovision.
Numerous people have expressed condolences [over a song] whose lyrics contain stereotypes about Italy and Italians, including the cliches of coffee and spaghetti, but also the ostentation of luxury and the mafia, which serve as a message to a population connected to organized crime.
Many Italians online expressed complete disagreement with Codacons and the far-right leader, who appeared to believe that the song’s average Italian should be insulted. They also claimed that they found Estonia’s Eurovision entry hilarious. One person expressed appreciation for a line from the song in one of his video’s YouTube comments. No stresso, no stresso, don’t need to be depresso ‘ – as an Italian, I think I’m going to get this tattooed”, they joked.
Another wrote: “As an Italian, I find it funny how some people are offended by Espresso Macchiato. The song isn’t stereotyping Italy – it’s stereotyping how foreigners think they’re being Italian. It’s an exaggerated, ironic take on that outsider perspective, not an attack on our culture. No intelligent person would take it seriously or feel offended by something that is so blatantly tongue-in-cheek.
The controversial song will be performed live at the 69th Eurovision show, which will take place in Basel, Switzerland this year, so fans can make up their minds about it. The semi-finals will take place on May 13 and 15, according to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), with the St. Jakobshalle arena hosting the grand final on May 17.
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Source: Mirror
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