“Rock and Roll never dies,” said Måneskin’s lead singer Damiano David and I couldn’t agree more. The Italian rock band started in 2016 when the four members were still in high school, playing for the sake of playing, unaware that their fan base would come from all over the world and sing to their songs without even knowing what they meant. You know the music is good when it transcends language barriers and cultures. Just watch a performance of “Zitti e Buoni” and you’ll understand why they’re dominating the world at the moment. This success comes after winning the 2021 Eurovision song contest, but Måneskin has been making incredible music long before that, with albums like “Chosen” and “Il Ballo Della Vita.” Thankfully, the world has taken notice of their older projects to the point of elevating some songs to the top of the global charts.
Måneskin means “moonlight” in Danish. Bassist Victoria de Angelis chose this word to honor her heritage but it also fits perfectly with the band’s style. They illuminate every stage they touch but are followed by a darkness that’s characteristic of angsty rock bands, yet their poetic side comes across in their lyrics and impactful melodies.
Lead singer Damino David has one of the most unique and enchanting voices of the last decades, with a versatile range and an extraordinary power that matches his bandmates’ instrumentals. Whether he’s whispering or screaming with all the might of his lungs, the effect is charged with emotion. That is the case of “CORALINE” (my personal favorite song) which starts as a slow and melancholy ballad before Ethan Torchio’s drums kick in to elevate the spectacle. The bridge of this songs shows Damiano at his most vulnerable and sincere state; after all, he’s telling a sad story that’s very close to his heart.
Although their songs in Italian are superior, their repertoire in English is also impressive. This includes hits like “Beggin’, “Somebody told me,” “I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE” and “FOR YOUR LOVE.” It’s likely they’ll write more songs in English after their international success but I hope they never lose their essence and keep writing in Italian.
Another remarkable characteristic about Måneskin is their consistent support for the LGBTQ+ community. During a recent concert in Poland, one of Europe’s most homophobic countries, Damiano kissed guitarist Thomas Raggi and gave a short speech encouraging acceptance and freedom of expression.
“Love is never wrong,” Damiano said.
Their music videos and performances are charged with sexual liberation and they aren’t afraid of showing that regardless of what the critics might say. Victoria acknowledges that Italy still has a long way to go before they can move past their homophobic traditions, but she (and her bandmates) will keep campaigning against it using music as a tool of unity.
Here’s my recommended playlist to get into Måneskin:
“Zitti e Buoni”
“Torna a Casa”
“Beggin’”
“VENT’ANII”
“CORALINE”
“Morirò da Re”
“I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE”
“FOR YOUR LOVE”
