Mahmood Discusses His Eurovision Comeback: ‘If You Don’t Take A Danger, You Are Already Lifeless’

Since ending in second place at Eurovision in 2019, it’s secure to say that Italian singer Mahmood’s star has solely continued to rise.

Not solely has his observe Soldi swiftly change into a modern-day basic of the competitors, held up by the BBC and Eurovision icon Måns Zelmermöw as probably the greatest entries of all time, Mahmood additionally achieved enormous highs in his profession.

He has damaged streaming information in his house nation of Italy, and simply final week carried out a bought out present at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire the place he was given a welcome normally reserved for the likes of Harry Kinds or Shawn Mendes.

This yr, he’s returning to the competitors alongside fellow Italian singer Blanco with their theatrical ballad Brividi. Because the pair’s duet gained the Italian choice present (the Sanremo Music Competition) in February, the observe has reached primary in a number of nations, racked up 50 million views on YouTube and even landed among the many high 5 most listened-to songs on Spotify worldwide.

Not dangerous, contemplating Mahmood wasn’t even positive whether or not to enter the music at Sanremo in any respect.

“It took me seven days to resolve,” he admits to HuffPost UK, recalling Blanco’s preliminary textual content message suggesting they take Brividi to the nationwide competitors.

“I’d already executed Sanremo, and already gained. So, I assumed, ‘is it higher to be left with an excellent reminiscence, or will we wish to take a danger and take a look at it once more?’. Lastly, I mentioned that in life, for those who don’t take a danger, you’re already useless. So I mentioned, ‘OK, let’s go once more to Sanremo’.”

Now gearing as much as return to the Eurovision stage, this time on his house soil, Mahmood’s music with Blanco has been among the many bookies’ favourites for the win since its debut. Right here’s what he needed to inform us forward of this yr’s competitors….

In actuality, Italy hasn’t at all times been part of Eurovision. So, in Italy, the Sanremo Music Competition is far more seen, and Italian persons are actually hooked up to that. However Eurovision has change into extra well-known in our nation since round 4 or 5 years in the past. And now Eurovision in Italy is de facto large.

After the ultimate in 2019, there have been nice events. And I keep in mind somebody gave me a cocktail with my face on it – in order that was actually, actually unbelievable, like a film.

No, that’s the humorous [answer]. The emotional [answer] is being in Tel Aviv for the primary time, seeing a brand new nation for the primary time. I keep in mind the folks working for Eurovision had been so skilled, so exact. I’d by no means seen something like that earlier than in Italy.

In 2011, Raphael Gualazzi went to Eurovision with Follia D’Amore. I cherished that music, and he truly got here in second place too! It was a little bit bit jazzy, and I like jazz. In Italy, it’s not so common, so when Rapahel Gualazzi represented with a pop-jazzy music, for me, he felt like a sort of innovator.

And I keep in mind in Tel Aviv, I used to be in a disco membership, and everyone was dancing,. At one level they performed Fuego by Eleni Foureira, and it was large! Folks went loopy, and so I keep in mind dancing like loopy to that. And perhaps Waterloo by ABBA is one other favorite, too. I actually like that one.

It’s so necessary as a result of it represents music from throughout Europe. It’s one of many greatest exhibits exterior of America, you already know? And in addition for folks like French singers, Spanish singers or Italian singers, it’s an enormous platform to point out a special kind of music.

For instance, lots of the songs this yr are all in several kinds. In Italy, music is so totally different to different nations, so it’s necessary for Eurovision to point out the totally different kinds of different nations to all of Europe.

No, we don’t give it some thought. The one stress that I’ve on this second is that each one the issues that may go into the efficiency need to be excellent. As a result of it’s not going to be a easy stage, you already know? It’s an enormous stage. And to verify it’s an amazing efficiency, we now have to test all the things. We wish to do the music justice.

I’m zero aggressive. I’m actually aggressive [when it comes to my own] music, you already know, I wish to do good music and do an amazing efficiency. However for me, competitors [with others] in music isn’t an excellent factor. As a result of in a contest, the place is artwork? Actually, my greatest aim can be to do an amazing efficiency on stage. The remaining isn’t necessary for me.

This interview has been edited for readability and size.

We’ll be publishing an interview with a brand new Eurovision legend on daily basis main as much as this yr’s stay closing on Saturday 14 Could. Come again tomorrow after we’ll be chatting with this yr’s UK hopeful Sam Ryder.

Watch the music video for Mahmood and Blanco’s Brividi beneath: