Let’s start off by acknowledging the title: I am actually Italian (half), but I don’t like cheese so there are some suspicions.
I first discovered/heard of Måneskin after they won Eurovision in 2021 with their song “ZITTI E BUONI.” There was, and is, something so captivating about their songs, and I loved it. And then I absolutely forgot about the band.
Over the break, I saw they released an album titled RUSH! (ARE U COMING?), which is actually a reissue of their album RUSH! from earlier in the year, and I fell back down the Måneskin rabbit hole.
Some background on Måneskin: Founded in Rome in 2016, the band is composed of lead vocalist Damiano David, bassist Victoria De Angelis, guitarist Thomas Raggi, and drummer Ethan Torchio. Placing second on the 11th season of X-Factor in 2017 and winning the Eurovision Song Contest for Italy in 2021, the band was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Artist Category in 2023. They are known for their rock style, often being compared to 1970s rock music.
I listened to the entire reissued album, which was released on November 10, 2023 and contains 22 songs, with all members of the group being credited as a writer on every song. Here are some of the songs that came out on top, in the order they are on the album:
“VALENTINE”
A song added for the reissue, “VALENTINE” is a rock ballad from the point of view of someone deeply in love. However, the object of the narrator’s affections does not return such feelings, and the narrator can only rot away with their love. The song’s composition looks to evoke unease and anguish.
“OFF MY FACE”
Another song added for the reissue, “OFF MY FACE” is upbeat, and follows a distinct bass line. The lyrics tell of a toxic love, one where there is disgust towards one’s partner. The narrator returns to their partner, despite no longer having feelings for the other.
“THE DRIVER”
The final song on my list that is only a part of the reissued album, I like “THE DRIVER” less for its meaning and lyrics, but more for the vibes. The lyrics tell the common story of a chaotic, up-and-down relationship, and the music follows that upbeat and chaotic theme.
“GASOLINE”
When I chose “GASOLINE” originally for this list, it was solely based on how fun the song was, but for this article, I discovered there’s much more meaning to this song. “GASOLINE” is a criticism of war and violence, particularly when the violence stems from those who are affluent and will not suffer the consequences of their actions. Anger can be felt in the performance of the song, and is a prime example of Måneskin’s political awareness and use of their platform.
“READ YOUR DIARY”
This song is the most vulgar of all the songs on my list, and yet the vulgarity is not used poorly, rather lifting this song higher. “READ YOUR DIARY” is told from the point of view of a person who is obsessed with another, and the emotional addiction they have. The disordered chaos of the narrator’s thoughts is seen in the delivery of the lyrics.
“MARK CHAPMAN”
The first song in the album whose lyrics are all in Italian, the song’s title references Mark David Chapman, an obsessed fan who assassinated John Lennon. “MARK CHAPMAN” tells the story of a stalker and a star, and the parasocial relationship occurring. This song is one of the fastest Måneskin has ever made, at a BPM of 178.
“SUPERMODEL”
Written after Måneskin had been in Los Angeles for a few months, this song follows a supermodel character, who is suffering internally, yet outwardly has a very upbeat presence. “SUPERMODEL” also tells about the obsession with popularity that is so popular these days.