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“Rock ‘n’ roll never dies!”
That’s what Måneskin’s frontmanDamiano Davidexclaimed when the band was crowned2021 Eurovision Song Contest championsin May. While the Italian group is a music phenomenon the U.S. didn’t see coming, the Rome rockers' upcoming appearances onSaturday Night Liveand Coachella prove they’re here to stay.
Behind the fishnets, leather, and smokey eyes are Måneskin’s four members: lead vocalist David, bassistVictoria De Angelis, guitaristThomas Raggi, and drummerEthan Torchio.
Whether you’ve been listening to the radio or scrolling through TikTok, you’ve definitely heard Måneskin’s cover ofFrankie Valli and the Four Seasons' 1967 hit “Beggin,'” a song that’s quickly risen to the top of the charts.
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Although the song initially appeared on their 2017 EP,Chosen, the hit achieved international success in 2021 due to its popularity on the aforementioned social media platform.
Not only has “Beggin'” peaked at No. 13 on theBillboardHot 100 chart, but it’s landed No. 1 in nine countries. Oh, and it’s been streamed nearly900 million times on Spotify!
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Aside from Måneskin’s chart-topping tracks and international success, the band’s background falls nothing short of impressive. From singing on the streets in their earlier years to performing on some of the biggest stages, here are interesting facts about the band.
Måneskin means “moonlight” in Danish
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Although the band is from Italy, bassist De Angelis is half Danish. When the group entered a talent show for emerging artists in 2016 and had to quickly come up with a name, she suggested naming the band in honor of her heritage. They agreed on Måneskin, meaning “Moonlight,” for no particular reason except they liked the way it sounded.
“We chose it in an hour because we had to compete in a musical competition and we didn’t have time to pick a name,” De Angelis told102.7KIISFM. “[Her bandmates] just told me, ‘Say random words in Danish … We are going to choose one, and change it later,'” she added.
Three members of Måneskin met in high school
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David, De Angelis, and Raggi all met in high school in 2015. Before becoming the band that they are today, De Angelis and Raggi played in many bands together. They quickly got David on board before setting out to find a drummer.
Måneskin found their fourth member on Facebook
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Before they gained international success, performing on stages all over the world, Måneskin showcased their talents on the streets of Rome.
“One of our first memories is when we started to play together on the streets. At first, we were like 16 years old and we went to this very known street in Rome, and we just stayed there and played until the cops came after us,” De Angelis said in an interview withThe Upcoming.
“Even though it was a little tough at first, it helped us a lot to improve our stage presence too because we had to grab people’s attention,” she adds.
Måneskin appeared on Italy’sTheX Factorin 2017
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The band rose to fame on the Italian singing competition,The X Factor, a show that had no history of propelling up-and-coming rock artists prior. They performed a variety of originals and covers, including “Beggin’,” and placed second overall.
“At first, we weren’t very sure of going [onThe X Factor] because of the way television shows are seen and perceived,” De Angelis toldVariety. “Often people think that they’re fake, but then we thought it was just a chance to share our music with a big audience.”
The televised performances don’t stop there as they’re set to make theirSaturday Night Livedebut on Jan. 22.
Måneskin is passionate about LGBTQ+ rights
“We try to do our part,” De Angelis told theAssociated Press. “I think the main thing is that everyone should feel good with themselves, and they should identify with who they want and be with who they want. I think it’s insane that some people are against that,” she adds.
Måneskin’s David shares a birthday with two rock icons
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Young rocker David was born on Jan. 8, 1999, and shares his birthday with two of the biggest rock legends in history. King of Rock and RollElvis Presleywas born on Jan. 8, 1935, while Thin White DukeDavid Bowiewas born on Jan. 8, 1947.
source: people.com
