Tag: Italy

Top 10 favourite songs from the Eurovision song contest 2022 

  • Italian entry ‘Brividi’ by Mahmood and Blanco is the most popular entry song in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, with more than 77.2 million streams 
  • Second is Sweden’s entry ‘Hold Me Closer’ by Cornelia Jakobs, with 16 million streams  
  • S10’s ‘De Diepte’ from the Netherlands is the third favourite, reaching more than 14.7 million streams via Spotify and YouTube 

New research reveals Italy’s song ‘Brividi’ by Mahmood and Blanco is the internet’s favourite entry for Eurovision 2022.   

The study by entertainment experts JohnSlots analysed all 40 Eurovision songs from each country based on how much they had been played on Spotify and YouTube, to discover which song has generated the highest stream count this year. 

Storming in first is Italy’s ‘Brividi’ by Mahmood and Blanco; the song has been played more than 77 million times on Spotify and YouTube. Italy has won the annual contest three times, first in 1964 and most recently in 2021 with the song ‘Zitti e Buoni’ by Maneskin. This track has seen more than 300 million streams on Spotify, which this year’s winners will hope they can replicate. 

Second with a total stream count of 16.8 million is Sweden’s entry with ‘Hold Me Closer’ performed by Cornelia Jakobs. The country has taken a storming total of six wins in the contest, with its last win in 2015. 

S10’s ‘De Diepte’ has gained a sum of 14.7 million streams – 2.8 million from YouTube and 11.9 million from Spotify – placing Netherlands third in the ranking. The Netherlands won the second-ever Eurovision contest and have racked up four more wins since. 

Representing Spain, Chanel’s single ‘SloMo’ ranks fourth, with a combined stream count of 10.8 million.  

‘Stefania’ performed by Kalush Orchestra, claims fifth in the ranking for Ukraine, from its total stream count of more than 8.9 million plays.  

Norway’s entry has gathered 6.8 million via Spotify and 618,000 views on YouTube, totalling 7.4 million in streams; the single ‘Give That Wolf a Banana’ by Subwoolfer takes sixth place.  

Austria’s entrance this year with ‘Halo’ by artists LUM!X and Pia Maria claim seventh place with more than 7.2 million streams.  

Representing the United Kingdom, Sam Ryder’s ‘Space Man’ has a sum of 5.8 million plays. Sam was selected from an internal process with TaP Music, which also manages A-list stars such as Dua Lipa and Ellie Goulding. With a win count of five from the UK, the country hasn’t won for more than two decades.  

Malik Harris’s ‘Rockstars’ claims ninth, having accumulated 4.4 million streams. Germany has won twice before in previous years of the contest, the last being 2010 with ‘Satellite’ by Lena Meyer-Landrut.  

Finland follows in tenth, the entry ‘Jezebel’ by The Rasmus has gained more than four million streams . 

The favourite Eurovision song of 2022 
Rank Country Artist Song Spotify streams YouTube plays Total Listens 
1 Italy Mahmood & Blanco Brividi 75,975,566 1,226,438   77,202,004  
2 Sweden Cornelia Jakobs Hold Me Closer 15,074,571 1,804,558   16,879,129  
3 Netherlands S10 De Diepte 11,910,235 2,868,311   14,778,546  
4 Spain Chanel SloMo 9,448,460 1,362,667   10,811,127  
5 Ukraine Kalush Orchestra Stefania 5,363,922 3,601,829   8,965,751  
6 Norway Subwoolfer Give That Wolf a Banana 6,802,424 618,372   7,420,796  
7 Austria LUM!X & Pia Maria Halo 4,193,160 3,050,754   7,243,914  
8 United Kingdom Sam Ryder Space Man 3,688,338 1,999,882   5,688,220  
9 Germany Malik Harris Rockstars 4,051,151 381,903   4,433,054  
10 Finland The Rasmus Jezebel 

Rabbie’s kicks off first tours on the European continent

Edinburgh coach tour operator officially adds Europe tours to its portfolio

Small group tour operator Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) has ramped up its operations with the official launch of its coach tours in Europe.

Today, the first tours have departed on the continent marking the momentous occasion for the Scottish company. The first tours to set off are the six-day South of Spain & Treasures of Andalucía from Madrid and the six-day Cinque Terre, Florence & the Flavours of Tuscany from Milan.

Rabbie’s will operate 20 new itineraries in Europe this year, each six or 13 days in duration, taking guests across Italy, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland.

Similar to the company’s popular UK trips, guests travelling on Rabbie’s European tours will travel in comfortable mini-coaches, with a maximum group size of just 16, allowing them to reach less-touristed destinations.

Each tour includes the expert services of a driver and English-speaking guide, providing insider local knowledge and entertainment along the way.

Tours available include:

South of Spain & the Treasures of Andalucía

This six-day tour travels from Madrid to Lisbon, taking in Spain’s former capital Toledo, Córdoba, Granada including Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada National Park, dramatic Ronda, Seville and the charming Algarve town of Tavira en route.

Travellers will visit a Spanish olive oil production site for a lesson in olive oil-making, be entranced by the ornamentation of the Alhambra Palace and delve into the rugged landscapes of the Cumbres Verdes mountains on the forefront of the Sierra Nevada. Stroll the city walls and picturesque plazas of cliff-top Ronda and join a half-day tour to Jerez de la Frontera – the heartland of sherry and Spanish brandy. Prices start from €1,185 per person based on 4 July 2022 departure.

Cinque Terre, Florence & the Flavours of Tuscany

Over six-days, this tour takes guests on a journey exploring renaissance art, quaint coastal villages and world-famous wines.

Holidaymakers will travel from Milan to Rome by way of Parma, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Florence, Siena and Montepulciano. Uncover the terraced cliffs and clear deep blue water of the Cinque Terre, admire the famed leaning tower in Pisa before wandering the cobbled streets and picturesque piazzas of Lucca.

Marvel at the finest collection of Italian Renaissance art and architecture in Florence before journeying to the stunning hill town of San Gimignano and the Tuscan hills of Va d’Orcia. Prices start from €1,519 per person based on 1 August 2022 departure.

Rabbie’s European tour prices include transport in an air conditioned mini-coach with a local driver, the stories and services of an English-speaking guide, accommodation in 3-4 star hotels with continental breakfast and selected excursions.

For more information and to book, please visit www.rabbies.com

The most profitable Eurovision songs of 2022

  • Representing Italy ‘Brividi’ by Mahmood and Blanco is the most profitable song in the Eurovision song contest 2022, with more than 69 million Spotify streams has potential earnings of £237,439 in royalties 
  • Second is Sweden with their single ‘Hold Me Closer’ by Cornelia Jakobs earning an estimated £39,566 from royalties from more than 11 million streams via Spotify 
  • S10’s ‘De Diepte’ from the Netherlands earns third place, making a potential £30,117 

New research reveals Italy’s song ‘Brividi’ by Mahmood and Blanco is the most profitable Eurovision of 2022.   

A study by entertainment experts JohnSlots analysed all 40 Eurovision songs from each country available to stream via Spotify, to discover which song has generated the highest in potential royalties.   

Storming in first is Italy’s ‘Brividi’ by Mahmood and Blanco; the song has taken more than 69 million streams, earning an estimated £237,439 in royalties. Italy won the annual contest three times, first in 1964 and most recently in 2021 with the song ‘Zitti e Buoni’ by Maneskin has earnt an estimated £1,017,239 from its stream count of 295 million streams, which this year’s winners could look forward to seeing.  

Second with a total stream count of 11.5 million is Sweden’s entry with ‘Hold Me Closer’ performed by Cornelia Jakobs; the single’s Spotify stream adds up to a potential royalty count of £39,566. The country has taken a storming total of six wins in the contest, with Sweden’s last win in 2015. 

S10’s ‘De Diepte’ earning an estimated £30,117 in royalties following more than 8.7 million streams, places Netherlands third in the ranking. The Netherlands won the second-ever Eurovision contest and continued to win four other years in the competition to date.   

Representing Spain, Chanel’s single ‘SloMo’ ranks fourth, totalling streams of 7.8 million, with a potentially high royalty earning of £27,156.   

Norway’s entry has gathered an estimated £19,283 in royalties following 5.6 million Spotify streams; the single ‘Give That Wolf a Banana’ by Subwoolfer takes fifth place. Having previously won three times and last took the crown in 2009 with Alexander Rybak’s ‘Fairytale”.   

‘Stefania’ performed by Kalush Orchestra claims sixth in the ranking for Ukraine, from its total stream count of more than 4 million, accumulating a potential royalty earning of £13,792. Finland follows in seventh, the entry ‘Jezebel’ by The Rasmus has earnt more than 3.2 million streams, totalling £11,258 from royalties in estimation from Spotify.   

Austria’s entrance this year with ‘Halo’ by artists LUM!X and Pia Maria claim eighth place with more than 2.6 million streams, has gathered potential earnings of £9,208. 

Representing Germany, Malik Harris’s ‘Rockstars’ claims ninth with just under £9,000 in royalties it is estimated, has accumulated 2.6 million Spotify streams. Germany has won twice before in previous years of the contest, the last being 2010 with ‘Satellite’ by Lena Meyer-Landrut.  

British singer and TikTok star, Sam Ryder, follows in tenth with the single ‘Space Man’ for the United Kingdom. Sam was selected from an internal process with TaP Music, which also manages A-list stars such as Dua Lipa and Ellie Goulding. ‘Space Man’ has an estimated royalty count of £8,921 following more than 2.5 million streams of the single.  

The Most Profitable Eurovision Song of 2022 
Rank Country Artist Song Spotify Streams (£) Pay per play on Spotify 
1 Italy Mahmood & Blanco Brividi 69,023,157 £237,439  
2 Sweden Cornelia Jakobs Hold Me Closer 11,502,004 £39,566 
3 Netherlands S10 De Diepte 8,755,103 £30,117 
4 Spain Chanel SloMo 7,894,204 £27,156 
5 Norway Subwoolfer Give That Wolf a Banana 5,605,737 £19,283 
6 Ukraine Kalush Orchestra Stefania 4,009,491 £13,792 
7 Finland The Rasmus Jezebel 3,272,948 £11,258 
8 Austria LUM!X & Pia Maria Halo 2,676,998 £9,208 
9 Germany Malik Harris Rockstars 2,616,005 £8,999 
10 United Kingdom Sam Ryder Space Man 2,593,327 £8,921 

Commenting on their findings, a spokesperson from JohnSlots said, “With Eurovision approaching next month and being held in Turin, Italy, it will be interesting to see if Italy’s song will impact the show’s results with the existing popularity taking the strongest lead in streams. 

With Italy’s extensive stream count, it’s equally as insightful to see if they could expect to win for a second time running in the annual song contest. Eurovision has become a tradition for dedicated fanbases worldwide to watch the event, with it being a great source of entertainment and representation of their country for many.”   

The research was conducted by JohnSlots, which is dedicated to slot games, and honest reviews of online games. Crafting a handpicked selection of online casino’s for of an enjoyable experience.

Travel with your taste buds!

Fabulous Fennel from Filippo Berio

A trip to Italy may still seem an impossible dream but this summer make your taste buds travel for you!

August is fennel season in the UK and fennel can be fabulous if you make it like the Italians do!

The aromatic bulb we know as fennel is popular in Italian cuisine, both raw and cooked. A simple side dish packed with complex flavours, this roasted fennel enlivened with the decadent taste of parmesan and the kick of chilli is an experience to savour. 

At the heart of Italian cooking are the principles of simplicity and eating with the seasons. Filippo Berio, the UK’s favourite Extra Virgin Olive Oil, brings you the real taste of Italy – recipes that create a little piece of Italy in your own home! 

Roasted Fennel

Serves 4-6 as a side dish

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: about 50 minutes

3-4 fennel bulbs, outer leaves removed and fronds reserved

3tbsp Filippo Berio Classico Olive Oil

2 cloves garlic, crushed

2tsp fennel seeds, crushed

1tsp dried chilli flakes

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

30g freshly grated parmesan

15g dried breadcrumbs

2tbsp flat-leaf parsley, freshly chopped

Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for drizzling

  1. Preheat the oven to 190°C, gas mark 5. Quarter the fennel bulbs, keeping them intact at the base. Place in a large bowl and toss with the Filippo Berio Classico Olive Oil, garlic, fennel seeds, chilli flakes and seasoning. Put into a large gratin dish or roasting tin and cover tightly with foil.
  2. In a small bowl mix together, the parmesan and breadcrumbs. Roughly chop the fronds.
  3. Roast for about 30-35 minutes, the undersides should be golden. Remove the foil, sprinkle over the reserved fennel fronds and the breadcrumb mixture and return to the oven. Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the fennel is tender and the topping is golden.
  4. Sprinkle over the chopped parsley and serve immediately, drizzle with Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Italian Food Celebration Pushes Covid Off The Menu

Lovers of Italian food and culture, who have been starved of their favourite restaurants or travel because of the pandemic restrictions, are getting a chance to sample and learn about the delights of Italy – without having to leave their homes.

Two celebration events to showcase the food of Sicily – including a rare opportunity for a select group of people to take part in a live cook-a-long with one of Italy’s top chefs – have been planned as Scotland’s contribution to the World Week of Italian Cuisine.

World Week of Italian Cuisine (November 23-29), now in its fifth year, is an initiative started by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to promote the country’s high-quality cuisine around the world.

It aims to boost food and wine tourism, particularly to regions little-known outside Italy, following the spirit of Pellegrino Artusi who 130 years ago published “La scienza in cucina e l’arte di mangiar bene” [Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well] which gathered and united the regional culinary traditions of the Bel Paese.

To mark the week, the Italian Consulate General, Italian Institute of Culture in Edinburgh and the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the UK – in collaboration with Alma and Ambasciatori del Gusto – have organised events themed around how the Mediterranean diet can boost the body’s immune system.

The opening event of the week (A Sicilian Dinner) will see an invited audience of food writers and bloggers take part in a Sicilian-food themed live cookery webinar from Italy with leading chef Carlo Maria Ricci, an ambassador with the acclaimed Italian ALMA cook school in Parma (La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana) – with the menu actually being delivered to their homes to allow them to sample the exact dishes.

Giovanna Eusebi and chef Sebastian Wereski from Eusebi Deli restaurant in Glasgow and Sabrina Damiani, who runs Edinburgh-based Damiani Sicilian Fine Dining, have been recruited to make the Chef Ricci’s dishes before arranging for them to delivered to each of the writer’s home. They will be present on the webinar to answer any questions.

This event will also be screened live over the internet to allow as wide an audience as possible to watch the demonstration and pick up tips.

The closing event (Cooking in Sicily) – in partnership with Ambasciatori del Gusto (the Italian Association of Ambassadors of Taste – whose members focus on enhancing Italian food and wine heritage) will involve 30 people winning the chance to cook a specially designed menu in their own kitchens through a cookery demonstration beamed live from Sicily with leading chef Bonetta dell’Oglio (above).

The lucky home cooks will also have the chance to ask questions to Palermo-born Chef dell’Oglio who has won widespread praise for her innovative cooking which celebrates her Sicilian heritage and her passion for showcasing organic agriculture and the benefits of healthy eating. There will also be a wine pairing presentation from Mariella Caputo from Ambasciatori del Gusto.

The participants will be judged on their dishes with the winner scooping a luxury Italian food hampers from sponsors Pastificio dei Campi and Berlucchi Wines. Details of how to enter the competition will be made available on social media channels of Italian Institute of Culture in Edinburgh and Italian Chamber of Commerce in Scotland.

The event will also be screened live over the internet to allow other Italian cooking enthusiasts to watch and make the menu.

Fabio Monaco, Consul General of Italy to Scotland and Northern Ireland, said: “While the Covid-19 restrictions have upset our usual planning for the World Week of Italian Cuisine, we wanted to ensure that people still had the chance to enjoy and celebrate the amazing food of Italy.

“We think we have brought some clever thinking to overcome the challenges to bring a taste and education of Italy once more – without anyone having to leave their homes.

“While travel to Italy remains complicated for now, we hope these events will continue to inspire people to learn more of our culture and those of our wide range of different territories – and better still to plan a visit when we can do so easily.”

For more details on all the events: 

https://iicedimburgo.esteri.it/iic_edimburgo/en/gli_eventi

www.italchamind.org.uk/archive/events