Italian and Estonian Eurovision fans may not be sitting down to coffee in Basel…

While Italians were being hypnotized by the allure of the Sanremo final Saturday night, the winning song of Eesti Laul in Estonia was not on their radar. Now as Espresso macchiato by Tommy Cash grows in popularity after winning the Estonian pre-selection, Italians have taken note — and they are NOT amused.

Cash’s song is a parody on Italian culture with many stereotypical expressions taken from the Italian language that often get distorted by foreigners, such as:

“Ciao bella, I’m Tomaso, addicted to tobacco / Mi like mi coffè very importante / No time to talk, scusi, my days are very busy / And I just own this little ristorante.”

— Text from Espresso macchiato by Tommy Cash

The song even includes some obvious references to the mafia, which is a huge faux pas in Italian culture:

“Mi money numeroso, I work around the clocko / That’s why I’m sweating like a mafioso“

— Text from Espresso macchiato by Tommy Cash

On the Rai1 show La volta buona today, there was discussion about Cash’s song, and the host did not mince words:

“I’m about to get angry with this Tommy Cash, because with this song he makes fun of Italy in a crazy way. The mafia, spaghetti, the ostentation of Italians. Let’s be indignant!”

— Caterina Balivo

Codacons, an Italian consumer protection group, is particularly disgusted with Cash’s song, and has released a statement, part of which reads:

“Without prejudice to the freedom of artistic expression that must characterize events such as Eurovision, we cannot help but raise doubts about the appropriateness of having a song that is offensive to a plurality of subjects participate in a competition followed by the public all over the world […] A text containing stereotypes about Italy and Italians, associated with the usual clichés of coffee and spaghetti, but above all with the mafia and the ostentation of luxury, and which lets the message get through that the people are tied to organised crime.

— Statement from Codacons

The statement continues and asks the EBU “to evaluate measures such as the possible exclusion of the song ‘Espresso Macchiato’ from the next Eurovision.”

Meanwhile, Il Giornale described the song as a “clear and obvious provocation and mockery of Italy”, the outlet admits that when it comes to Eurovision, it most likely does not break any rules, “even if it is probably against ethical and common sense.”

---

What do you think about this news? Do you agree with the criticisms? Let us know in the comments and on our social media profiles @buildingbridgespod !

Photo credit: ETV | ERR / Screenshot

Sources: Il Giornale, Wired, ANSA