01 April 2016

Eurovision 2016: Review: Italy: Francesca Michielin: No Degree of Separation

Francesca Michielin / Eurovision 2016 / Italy / No Degree of Separation
Will it be 'hats off' to Francesca Michielin in Stockholm?

Ever since Sanremo winners Stadio declined the opportunity to represent Italy at Eurovision 2016, it had been something of a mystery what runner-up Francesca Michielin would take to Stockholm as the country's entry. Finally, in mid-March, the Italians announced that a reworked version of Nessun grado di separazione (her Sanremo entry) had become their official song.

The updated adaptation shortens this uplifting ballad to the regulation three minutes, but also includes an English revamp of the final chorus, enabling a change of title to No Degree of Separation.

Purists seem to hate the alteration - Italy has been one of those nations which stubbornly refuses to send English lyrics to Eurovision - but for those who do not want to rely on the melody alone, they do help to make sense of the song.

The original version has already been very popular in her homeland, hitting Number 1 on the Italian charts, going Gold in the process. The question is "Can Francesca replicate that success at Eurovision?"

Well, the lyrical content embraces a well-trodden path at Eurovision: a difference in culture should not cause a distance between people. In other words, love, peace and harmony, man. The important thing though is how that message is wrapped up. No Degree of Separation is no A Little Peace (Ein bißchen Frieden) and we are far from the East/West Cold War which inspired that 1982 winner. There is still a much-needed imperative for those principles, but its doubtful that Francesca's song has the emotive hook to reel in the required number of votes for a victory.

What isn't in doubt is that No Degree of Separation possesses an alluring melody with a wonderful chorus. On its own, though, it just doesn't have the immediate impact that's required of a Eurovision winner. But we are promised a spectacular staging of the song from a renowned creative director; visuals are half the battle, so that may be the element which pushes this song into a deserved Top 10 finish.

What do you think?

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