Ticket to Tel Aviv: Meet Mahmood from Italy

The final of Italy's annual Sanremo Festival took place in the Ariston Theatre in February this year. The competition came down to 24 acts, including some well known names in Italian show business and some newcomers to the stage. The final guided the audience through a the performance of the 24 acts, and in the end awarded Mahmood with the first prize for his song Soldi (Money). Mahmood won based on the cumulative vote of the journalists at the press centre, the music experts jury and viewers at home.

Who is Mahmood?

Alessandro Mahmoud, aka Mahmood, was born in Milan in 1992 from an Italian mother and an Egyptian father. In 2016 he participated in the Newcomers Section of Sanremo with the song Dimentica. As a songwriter, Mahmood has written for Elodie, Michele Bravi and Marco Mengoni who represented Italy at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.

With Gioventù Bruciata, the title track of his EP published last November, he won one of the two available tickets for Sanremo 2019 via the newcomers' competition Sanremo Giovani 2018 where he also won the Critics Award. 

READ MORE: Mahmood’s participant profile

You can follow Mahmood on the following social media platforms:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

Mahmood's Song

Mahmood will sing Soldi in Tel Aviv, the song was written and produced with Dardust and Charlie Charles. The track became a megahit in Italy, resulting in certified platinum status and reaching the number 1 position in all the Italian charts including airplay, the official singles chart, iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music and even charting in the Spotify Global Top 50.

LISTEN: Stream or download Mahmood via your favourite music service

Italy at Eurovision 2018

Last year, Ermal Meta e Fabrizio Moro finished 5th in the Grand Final. The duo received 308 points for their song Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente.

READ MORE: Italy’s country page

What do you think of Mahmood's song for the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest? Let us know in the comments!