Thursday, December 24, 2020

Italy - Occidentali’s Karma - Francesco Gabbani

Vinyl 7"inch single
6 - 334 pts, not in semi 
Francesco Gabbani is the winner of the 2017 Sanremo contest and he also agreed to take the ticket to Eurovision.
The winning song Occidentali’s Karma is written by Francesco Gabbani, his brother Filippo Gabbani, Fabio Ilacqua and Luca Chiaravalli.

Occidentali’s Karma (Western's Karma) is being recorded in English and Spanish.
(now where are they....)

The Eurovision edit is fully in Italian after all.
The official video is here 
On April 26 the official (full) videoclip reached the 100.000.000 views mark at Youtube (Vevo).
More than any Eurovision video ever, and the contest is still two weeks away.

Updates: One year after the video was released the ticker stands at 180.000.000.
Two Sanremo's later (2019) it's 213.078.735,  On December 26 the counter hit 250.000.000, a record for Sanremo and for a Eurovision. 

OK has been released as a digital single and can be also found on the Sanremo 2017 CD (see below).
The Eurovision version was released (digital) on April 7.

Vinile, promo's and more
Francesco Gabbani is thee King (Kong) of limited editions.
The Sanremo winner has also been released on a limited edition 7"inch single (1000 numbered copies, transparent blue vinyl) with the instrumental version on the b-side.
(Warner BMG 4050 538 8270969).
Mispressing vinyl single, pic from discogs
But Warner cheated and have pressed an extra 1500 copies numbered 1001/2500 to 2500/2500.
Mispressings of the first batch exist. They didn't turn out blue but transparant. Instant collectors item???

More Sanremo Vinyl
Warner Music Italy released three more Sanremo 2017 entries  on limited vinyl singles:
Fatti Bella Per Te - Paola Turci (red vinyl)
Togliamoci La Voglia - Raige e Giulia Luzi (yellow vinyl)
Nel Mezzo Di Un Applauso - Alessio Barnabei (blue vinyl).
Two more Vinyl Sanremo singles were released by other companies:
Tutta Colpa Mia - Elodie (Universal, pink vinyl)
Canzone Per Federica - Maldestro (Aerelive, white vinyl)

More Karma stuff
A cdsingle of Occidentali's Karma was released March 17, so far it seems to be another limited edition affair with a t-shirt. The disc includes OK, the instrumental and a version of Eternamente Ora. (BMG 5382 79820).

A 1 track promo cdsingle is also issued. It's a 3"inch cds in a 5"inch sleeve. (Promo BMG 1317)
3"inch promo, picture taken from discogs
Kyiv promo

An Italian BMG promo, also used in Kyiv (BMG 1346), includes the original version, A Benny Benassi & MazZz remix,  a Karaoke (which is ctually the full instrumental) and the song Amen.
Another promo cds is issued by Undivided records (A label from Belgium). It includes the original version, A Benny Benassi & MazZz remix, a Karaoke version and the song Amen. The Karaoke is listed as being 3:09, so I'm not sure if it's the Eurovision karaoke or the original instrumental (as on the BMG promo) with a misprint for the tracks length.

Remixes
A set of 10 remixes has been released on May 5, (digital shops, see versions below.)

Magellan(o)
Gabbani's new album, titled Magellano is released in Italy on April 28. It will be released on CD, Vinyl LP and digital. The LP will also come in a limited edition white vinyl pressing (Out on May 3, exclusively for Amazon.it).
CD: BMG 538292242 Italy
CD: BMG 538293043 Europe
LP: BMG 538292261 Italy
LP (White vinyl): BMG 538292311 Italy
The European edition titled Magellan, out on May, 12 includes one extra track: Amen from the 2016 Sanremo contest.
See tracklist below.
The Magellano album, picture from Francesco Gabbani's Facebook

Occidentali’s Karma digital single (DRI)

Not only does Gabbani's performance have an ape (inhabited by Filippo Ranaldi), he's also the first Eurovision artist ever to have ABBA in his surname. So now you know.

Last year Gabbani won the newcomers section of Sanremo with the song Amen.
He has released two albums so far: Greitist Iz in 2013 and Eternamente Ora in 2016.
He also wrote and recorded the music for the film comedy  Poveri Ma Ricchi (2016)


Magellano special edition
November 17 sees the release of a Special edition of the Magellano album. The 2CD includes a disc with live tracks recorded on Gabbani's recent tour.
Of course Occidentali's Karma is also included.



Vinyl
Versions
Occidentali’s Karma - Eurovision version
- digital release, Kyiv 2CD
Occidentali’s Karma - Original
- 7"inch vinyl, Sanremo CD, digital single, CD Magellano
Occidentali’s Karma - Instrumental
- 7"inch vinyl, cdsingle
Occidentali’s Karma - ESC version karaoke
- digital release, Undivided promo cds (unsure)
Occidentali’s Karma - Benny Benassi & Mazzz remix
- digital release, Undivided promo.
Occidentali's Karma - Marc Benjamin & DNMKG remix
Occidentali's Karma - Gabry Ponte remix
Remixes DRI
Occidentali's Karma - Addal remix (edit)
Occidentali's Karma -  Dj Ross & Savietto remix
Occidentali's Karma -  Molella & Valentini remix
Occidentali's Karma - Tyro Maniac remix
Occidentali's Karma - Simon from Deep Divas remix
Occidentali's Karma - Ken Holland vs Mess remix edit
Occidentali's Karma - Wlady remix (radio edit)
- all above remixes: digital release
Occidentali's Karma - Wlady remix (extended)
- various compilations
Occidentali's Karma - Ken Holland vs Mess remix extended
- 2CD DJ Selection 460
Occidentali's Karma (live)
- 2CD Magellano Special Edition (out Nov 17)
Occidentali's Karma (live in Palermo 2018)
- VA 2CD/DVD Radio Italia Live, Il Concerto

Occidentali’s Karma - English version
Occidentali’s Karma - Spanish version
- English and Spanish to be revealed (well,  probably not....).
Spotify had an Italian version without the intro for a while but that was changed. I rather think it was an error than an alternate version (Thanks Frank)

Charts
Occidentali's Karma got Platinum status in Italy after just one week of sales, double platinum in three weeks, triple in six, quadruple in 12. Five time platinum was announced on August 9.
Italy top 20: 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 6, 7, 8, 16, -
Switzerland top 100: 25, 79, 96, -, 43, -
Sweden top 100: 87, -
Austria top 75: 57, -
France top 200: 110, -
Spain top 50: 14, -

i Cover
A fun kids cover is released on the (digital) album Baby Dance vol. 12. It is sung by Sofia Del Baldo (watch here).
Another cover aimed at the kids (but quite crappy) by "Elsa" can be found as a digital single.
Fuori Orario made a "dance" cover better avoided. (Album Cover Medley 2).
German acoustic rock singer Meg Pfeiffer recorded an acoustic version for her digital EP Perfect Life (ESC Convention & Acoustic-Edition) which also includes a cover of the German entry.

Coverversion
A coverversion in English was released by South African singer Karin Bekker.
Find out more here at Eurocovers.


Quite nasty cover by Antonella Francavilla and by Pippo Scagliola are also released. The version by Fuori Orario is equally useless, but it has a dance beat.
Above coverversions have been released through digital stores, many other spoofs and covers have been uploaded to the Tube, but you'll have to sort these out for yourself.



Sanremo 2017
The Italian music festival Sanremo 2017 was  held from Februari 7 to 11.

A 2CD Sanremo 2017 was released by Universal on Februari 10.  It includes most new entries (all except Bianca Etzei) and coverversions performed at the Sanremo shows. Tracklist in picture below.

Many (new) songs participating have already been released on artists albums. (or will be released soon)
All Music Italia has a detailed list of these releases in the shops.

The cdsingle/t-Shirt box
Links and sources
Thanks to Marek and to Nigel.
Francesco Gabbani: Website, Facebook
Gabbani at Discogs
Occidendali's Karma videoclip
RAI Sanremo pages
Thanks to Frank
Go ape about Italy's recent entries 20162015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011
Tracks on the Sanremo 2017 CD
Tracklist Magellano
01. Magellano
02. Tra Le Granite E Le Granate
03. Occidentali’s Karma
04. A Moment Of Silence
05. La Mia Versione Dei Ricordi
06. Susanna, Susanna
07. Foglie Al Gelo
08. Pachidermi E Pappagalli
09. Spogliarmi
The European CD (out on May 12) also includes the track Amen as track 5. (originally on the CD Eternamente Ora). The Italian CD was released on April 28, the European edition on May 12.
European edition

Friday, October 16, 2020

United Kingdom - Never Give Up On You - Lucie Jones

1st version Digital release image
15 - 111 pts, not in semi 
The United Kingdom picked their 60th Eurovision entry on Januari 27 with Eurovision You Decide.
Lucie Jones' song for Kyiv is Never Give Up On You.
The song is written by Danish Eurovision winner Emmelie De Forest, Lawrie Martin and Daniel Salcedo. Originally The Treatment (rockband) were credited, but they are not mentioned on the Kyiv CD release, so I don't know what happened there. (see comments)

You can listen to the 6 competing songs here at the BBC's Eurovision pages.
All songs have also been released on Spotify and iTunes.

New version, Remixes
A new version of Never Give Up On You was recorded for Eurovision. The video of that one is here at Eurovision.tv
7th Heaven have remixed the track and it's released in a long version and radio edit on March 10 (digital stores). (More 7th Heaven at the end of this post)
The instrumental (of the new version) was released on the same date.
The Eurovision version replaced the original version at most digital outlets.

Live At The Adelphi
In 2020 a live double CD is released. The album is recorded on February 8, 2020 with the London Musical Theathre Orchestra. A live version of Lucie's Eurovision song is included.
The album was preceded by a digital single Moon River.
(Live Here Now LHN 073CD)

Lucie Jones first rose to fame when she entered the X-Factor UK 2009 where she ended 8th. (it was the series that gave us the mighty  Jedward)
In 2015 she released the single Confidence Is Conscienceless and the EP Believe. In the same year she also had three tracks on the soundtrack album for the Midsomer Murders TV series.

2nd DRI
Versions
Never give up on you - Eurovision version
- digital release
Never give up on you - Eurovision You Decide version
- digital release Januari 27
Never give up on you - 7th Heaven club mix
Never give up on you - 7th Heaven club mix(Radio edit)
Never give up on you - Instrumental (of ESC version)
- digital releases March 10
Never give up on you - live (2020)
- 2CD Live at the Adelphi

Promo - No Promo
No physical release or promo has been issued. The 4-track promo that has been offered through discogs (and sold at a whopping 150,- euros) and e-bay is a homemade fake that should be avoided.

Coverversion
Co-writer Emmelie De Forest had already shared a clip performing Never Give Up On You but there's also a released coverversion by Danish Singer Lasse Meling.
Lasse Melings version was cp-produced by Daniel Salcedo
It's out since April 14 through you favorite digi-shops and streamers.

Charts
U.K. top 100: 73

Links and sources:
Thanks to Marek.
Lucie Jones: Fan-Facebook
BBC Eurovision pages, Facebook
Ye olde British British entries: 20162015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 2011 - 2010 - 2009
Bring Back Eurovision To The U.K..

7th Heaven
7th Heaven are Jon Dixon & Andy Wetson. They started out as a DJ/Remix/Producer team in 2006. The list of stars they mixed is endless, so I’ll name just a few of my faves: Agnetha Fältskog, David Bowie, The Ting Tings, Frankmusik, Scissor Sisters, Kelis, Cher, Sugababes, Cascada, Lady Gaga, Emeli Sandé and on and on…

They have remixed the following Eurovision entries (released mixes only)
2019 U.K, Australia
2018 U.K. (SuRie), Australia (Jessica Mauboy)
2017 U.K. - Not giving up on you - Lucie Jones
2017 mixes of AustraliaFranceSwitzerlandDenmark and Cyprus are recorded, more about these in each country's post.
2016 Australia - Sound of silence - Dami Im
2016 Latvia - Heartbeat - Justs Sirmais
2016 Ireland - Sunlight - Nicky Byrne
2015 Sweden - Heroes - Måns Zelmerlöw
2012 Sweden - Euphoria - Loreen
2012 Switzerland - Unbreakable - Sinplus
2010 Iceland - Je ne sais quoi - Hera Björk
2010 Norway - My heart is yours - Didrik Solli-Tangen (as 7H)
2009 Georgia - We don't wanna put in - Stephane & 3G (Withdrawn entry)