Hungary, Malta and Poland chose their Eurovision 2017 acts on Saturday. But Italy’s song “Occidentali’s Karma” still has the buzz. It debuted at #1 on the Italian FIMI Singles Chart, achieving a gold disc in the first week of sales, and the Italian stallion watched as his official video passed 20 million views on YouTube.

Interviewed by Radio Nostalgia recently, Francesco Gabbani talked about the Eurovision Song Contest, the musical extravaganza that will take place in Ukraine from the 9th to the 13th of May. It’s too early to call, but at the moment the odds are in his favour and Italy is ready to take the opportunity to snatch the iconic microphone made of glass with “Occidentali’s Karma”.

After talking with Francesco about Sanremo and his new album, which he’ll release in the coming weeks, the interviewer Andrea Secci asked the Italian representative which language he will sing in at Eurovision. His answer leaves little room for doubt.

“We’re still thinking about it, so I can’t give official news. The main question is: ‘Will Gabbani sing an English version of the lyrics or will he keep it in Italian?’ At this time we are more likely to stay in Italian for one reason: if I must represent our fantastic Italian music, singing in English could show me as an apple-polisher, trying to wink to the European audience. I would be proud to bring on stage these lyrics that were born and have taken root in Italy, and so I would like to sing it in Italian. Anyway, we are still under evaluation”.

He’s listening to fans as well. After all, they are the ones who crowned him the winner of Sanremo, which has gotten him to Eurovision in the first place.

“I’m honest, I’m careful about the opinion of my fans, the people who follow me. I must say that, actually, their observations go in this direction: sing it in Italian”.

It’s time to share YOUR opinion. What’s the best choice for Italy? Would you like to hear a bilingual version of the song in Kiev, would you prefer it all in Italian or is it better to change it in English? Let us know in our poll below.

Poll: What language should Francesco choose for Eurovision?

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