by InTrieste
Italy’s Lucio Corsi delivered a distinctive and nostalgic performance at the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night, securing a fifth-place finish with his harmonica-infused track Volevo essere un duro (“I Wanted to Be Tough”).
Corsi, 31, captivated audiences across the continent with his throwback glam-rock aesthetic and became the first Eurovision contestant in years to perform live with an instrument on stage — in this case, the harmonica. His song, an emotive blend of folk and rock, resonated with voters and national juries alike, earning a combined 256 points.
The grand final, held in Basel, Switzerland, crowned Austria’s JJ as the winner with the synth-heavy ballad Wasted Love. Israel’s Yuval Raphael claimed second place with the soaring anthem New Day Will Rise, while Estonia’s Tommy Cash took third with Espresso Macchiato, a provocative and polarizing performance that sparked both acclaim and controversy. Sweden’s KAJ rounded out the top four with the upbeat Bara Bada Bastu.
Italy, as one of the Eurovision’s “Big Five” countries — alongside France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom — automatically qualified for the final, bypassing the semi-final rounds. Corsi was a surprise pick for Italy’s entry after Olly, the winner of the 2025 Sanremo Music Festival, declined the invitation to participate in Eurovision.
Corsi’s fifth-place finish adds another strong showing to Italy’s recent Eurovision record. The country last won the competition in 2021, thanks to the international breakout success of rock band Måneskin. Previous victories came from Totò Cutugno in 1990 and Gigliola Cinquetti in 1964.
While not a win, Corsi’s performance reaffirmed Italy’s reputation for delivering memorable, genre-defying acts on one of the world’s biggest music stages — harmonica and all.
