Italian rock band Maneskin won the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with Zitti E Buoni, thanks to a major boost of votes from the public, ending a 31-year drought for Italy.
The irreverent and daring rock and roll of the Italians conquered the heart of the European public.
Before the festival there was much speculation that a rock band would win the crown this year and the options were only two: Italy or Finland.
The Finns from Blind Channel ended sixth. They did a very good performance, impeccable in execution, with their two singers who seemed like a cross between rappers and Kurt Cobain just out of the shower.
Maneskin band perform on the stage during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. Photo: Sander Koning/dpa.
All very clean and very musical, but the audience preferred the rage and anarchy of the Italians, with their semi-punk aesthetic, their electrifying riffs from start to finish and their frontman with witch makeup, prison tattoos and a dog collar around his neck.
The Rome band overtook Gjon's Tears of Switzerland, France's Barbara Pravi and Malta's Destiny, who were ahead in the standings after all jury votes were counted, thanks to 380 points from the public.
'Rock 'n' roll never dies'
"We just want to say, to the whole of Europe, to the whole world, rock 'n' roll never dies," Maneskin's frontman Damiano David said after the win, the third for Italy.
Gigliola Cinquetti was the first Italian contestant to win in 1964, followed by Toto Cutugno in 1990.
Singer Damiano of the band Maneskin rejoices after winning the Eurovision Song Contest. Photo: Soeren Stache/dpa.
Among the more shocking results were the mere 47 points handed to Destiny from the public, dropping the Malta act from third after the jury vote to a final seventh place.
Icelandic band Dadi og Gagnamagnid, who had to perform their entry remotely after a member tested positive for coronavirus, ended in fourth place.
The event saw many of the participants who were due to compete in 2020 in the running, after last year's event was cancelled due to the pandemic, the first time in the competition's history.
Designed to avoid infection
The Rotterdam event was designed to avoid infection as far as possible.
Everyone participating in this year's song contest underwent intensive testing. Delegations were restricted to their hotels unless they were rehearsing or performing. No one with an active infection was allowed to perform.
But despite all efforts, the reigning ESC champion Duncan Laurence from the Netherlands also tested positive for the virus.
Members of the Maneskin band celebrate on the stage after winning the contest. Photo: Sander Koning/dpa.
Some 3,500 people were allowed to attend this year's event in person, as long as they tested negative. A further 150 million viewers were expected to watch from around the world.
Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Denmark, Ireland, Croatia and Australia were all knocked out in the semifinals.
