Following a random draw at a joint press conference by Italian broadcaster RAI and the EBU, it was decided that this year’s host entry, Brividi, sung by Mahmood and Blanco, will perform 9th in the Grand Final on 14th May.
Back on 5th February, the duo won the Sanremo Music Festival, and have gone on to storm the Spotify global charts, and become a huge fan favourite, with their hit.
Hopes among Italian fans are those of the first back-to-back Eurovision victory since 1993, when Ireland won for the second time in a row in Millstreet (and would go on to win it again the following year).
While we cannot predict anything from this information, performing ninth in the Grand Final at Eurovision carries a certain mythos, particularly for British viewers, as it was the point in the night when late UK commentator Sir Terry Wogan would famously pour his first drink of the night.
The conference today was used to dispel some more details about this year’s Contest, the theme of which will be eternal peace, a decision made given the ongoing atrocities in Ukraine. EBU Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl made the statement: “Standing united, perhaps more than ever, we can really make a difference right now.”
What do you think of this draw? Will it improve Italy’s chances? And will you be raising a glass to the sound of Brividi? Let us know in the comments and on social media.
