Who are the big favorites for Stockholm? In the next couple of weeks we will highlight some interesting participants, based on the odds they have been given by the bookmakers. This week we are providing a shortlist of the four countries that lead the board who have automatically qualified to the final. Today’s report is about Italy.
Francesca Michielin
21 year old, Francesca found fame after auditioning on the fifth season of X Factor Italy and eventually winning the show and a €300,000 music contract with Sony Music. Her winning single “Distratto” went double platinum in the Italian music charts.
Michielin appeared as a guest at the 62nd Sanremo Music Festival, performing the song “Al posto del mondo” with contestant Chiara . In 2013, Francesca continued to top Italian charts as a featuring artist for rapper Fedez including chart topper “Magnifico”.
During San Remo 2016, Francesca placed 2nd in the big artists’ category however when the winning band Stadio declined to participate for Eurovision. Francesca who has stated herself as a huge fan of the show, gained the right to represent Italy at Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm.
“No Degrees of Separation”
Her song “No Degrees of Separation” is a captivating, futuristic pop-dance ballad that utilises Francesca’s unique vocal tone to provide an authentic Italian vibe to the track. Sung in Italian with the title and one chorus in English. Lyrically symbolising Franchesca’s inner struggle to stand out into the spotlight and the inner demons that can plague all of us.
Explaining the odds
Italy qualifies straight to the final due to being one of the ‘Big 6’ countries. Currently Italy is the third most popular country that automatically qualified below Sweden & France and thirteenth overall to win the whole contest.
Italy is currently considered a potential top ten placing having previously received high results in Eurovision since their 2011 return. Italy’s current odds are at 34-to-1. This means that if you bet 1€ on Italy to win the competition again, you get 34€, thirty-four times the return if you turn out to be right.