Last night the annual festival of San Remo took place, the 67th edition hosted by Carlo Conti and Maria di Filippa.
After 3 artists from the Campioni league (the big names), Ermal Meta, Fiorella Mannoia and Francesco Gabbani, going through to a super final, it was the latter that won, with Ermal and Fiorella ending 3rd and 2nd respectively.

Francesco debuted at San Remo in the Giovani (newcomers) category last year, winning that one, and now, one year later, he is the winner in the Campioni category!
His song Occidentali’s Karma (Western Karma) is about the fascination people from Western cultures have with the spirituality that Eastern cultures offer. Also, how these days we are busier with petty stuff than the things that really matter. Francesco presents himself in a suit but without that he’s just a naked ape, which is what the dancing gorilla next to him stands for. We are not so different from our ancestors.

The fact that Francesco won, doesn’t have to mean he’s representing Italy or even with the song he won with. He can refuse. At the press conference however he gladly accepted the offer, after being in tears of happiness on stage after having won, and RAI have also confirmed this will be the Italian entry.
A performance of the song from San Remo can be seen here: Francesco Gabbani – Occidentali’s Karma