This year’s edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest is just around the corner, and Italy is ready to rock the stage! As in previous years, Italy went with an internal selection made by RAI, the national broadcaster, and the choice has been made: Leonardo Giovannangeli will represent the country with “Rockstar,” a track about music, confidence, and chasing the dream of becoming a rockstar.
Last year, Italy was represented by Simone Grande with “Pigiama Party,” ending on the ninth place.
Scroll down for the “Rockstar” lyrics
Leonardo is 11 years old and comes from Rome. In 2023, he competed in Sanremo Junior, and last year he impressed everyone with his participation in The Voice Kids, where he reached the final. His biggest inspiration and role model in his music career is Michael Jackson, who is also mentioned in his JESC entry.
He is passionate about music and dance, but acting and wrestling are also among his interests. Leonardo is fascinated by dinosaurs and loves learning about them. He is also a fan of Korean culture and K-pop — his song “Reggaeton Coreano” (Korean Reggaeton) is performed in both Italian and Korean, featuring verses from the Korean band Big Bang. He became a fan of the rapper T.O.P, member of Big Bang, after seeing him in Squid Game.
His Junior Eurovision entry is the second single Leonardo has released, and its music video was filmed in Switzerland.
“Rockstar” is an anthem of confidence and chasing dreams. The lyrics are both in Italian and English. Leonardo sings about his desire to become a world-famous rockstar and how nothing can stop him. Musically, the song blends pop, rock, and rap, resulting in a dynamic and refreshing mix. Who says rockstars can’t rap? Leonardo proves he can do this with ease.
He’s not here just to try, he’s here to succeed. As mentioned before, Michael Jackson is his idol, and Leonardo pays homage to him in the song: “Win everything, at least an Oscar / Be like Michael on every poster.” He also highlights how music is a very important element to his life through the metaphor “Music is my only garden.”
Even though he’s still a child, Leonardo’s lyrics show his strong determination and his desire of making his voice heard: “And if this world is unfair / I will fight until my last breath / Even if I’m a child / Because I’m alive / I shout it to you, I tell it to you, I write it to you.” He wants the world to see and hear him and he is here to make a statement.
He even dreams big, as he wants to perform one day in Milan’s legendary San Siro Stadium: “Because I know / Only with commitment / It’s my destiny / With respect / I bow / While I dream one day of filling San Siro.” For Leonardo, becoming a rockstar is a way of achieving immortality: “A wish / I dream of infinity.”
So, as the lyrics ask, “Are you ready?” Because Leonardo is 100% ready to bring his best to the Junior Eurovision stage.
Lyrics and music: Claudia Zanecchia, Giancarlo Prandelli
Let’s go
Let’s go
Let’s go
Fuoco fiamma
Rosso rubino che ti incendia la faccia
Se ti imbarazzo in fretta
Cambia sta’ traccia, whoa
Generazione alfa
Alla ribalta
In tuta nera non mi serve la scorta
Completo bianco e oro per fare la rockstar
Vincere ogni cosa, almeno un Oscar
Essere come Michael sopra ogni poster
Cambio vestito maldestro
A canestro io no che non sbaglio un tiro
Grido canto e sorrido
Non importa cosa dicono
Era destino, indefinito
Lo la settima gemma dell’infinito
Lo la settima gemma dell’infinito
Lo la settima gemma dell’infinito
Sono l’ultimo
Dei carnotauri mai estinto
Per istinto primitivo
Lo dice anche il mio vicino
La musica il mio solo giardino
E se sto mondo fa schifo
Combatterò fino all’ultimo respiro
Anche se sono un bambino
Perché son vivo
Te lo grido, te lo dico, te lo scrivo, whoa
E se sto mondo fa schifo
I am not a pop star
I am a super rockstar
I am a monster
Your roller coaster
Are you ready?
I’m ready
I’m ready
In tuta nera non mi serve la scorta
Completo bianco e oro per fare la rockstar
Vincere ogni cosa, almeno un Oscar
Essere come Michael sopra ogni poster
Pe pe perché so
Solo con l’impegno
È il mio destino
Con rispetto
Faccio un inchino
Mentre sogno un giorno di riempire San Siro
Sarò io quel bambino
Lo la settima gemma dell’infinito
Lo la settima gemma dell’infinito
E se sto mondo fa schifo
Combatterò fino all’ultimo respiro
Anche se sono un bambino
Perché son vivo
Te lo grido, te lo dico, te lo scrivo, whoa
E se sto mondo fa schifo
I am not a pop star
I am a super rockstar
I am a monster
Your roller coaster
Are you ready?
I’m ready
I’m ready
Snap one two three
Rocking tonight!
Rockstar
Rockstar
Rockstar
Rockstar
Rockstar
Rockstar
Un desiderio
Lo sogno l’infinito
Let’s go
Let’s go
Let’s go
Fire flames
Ruby red that sets your face on fire
If I embarrass you quickly
Change this track, whoa
Generation Alpha
In the spotlight
In a black tracksuit I don’t need security
White and gold suit to be a rockstar
Win everything, at least an Oscar
Be like Michael on every poster
I change clothes clumsily
I never miss a shot at the basket
I shout, sing, and smile
Doesn’t matter what they say
It was destiny, undefined
I’m the seventh gem of infinity
I’m the seventh gem of infinity
I’m the seventh gem of infinity
I’m the last
Of the carnivores never extinct
By primitive instinct
Even my neighbour says so
Music is my only garden
And if this world is unfair
I will fight until my last breath
Even if I’m a child
Because I’m alive
I shout it to you, I tell it to you, I write it to you, whoa
And if this world is unfair
I am not a pop star
I am a super rockstar
I am a monster
Your roller coaster
Are you ready?
I’m ready
I’m ready
In a black tracksuit I don’t need security
White and gold suit to be a rockstar
Win everything, at least an Oscar
Be like Michael on every poster
Because I know
Only with commitment
It’s my destiny
With respect
I bow
While I dream one day of filling San Siro
I’ll be that child
I’m the seventh gem of infinity
I’m the seventh gem of infinity
And if this world is unfair
I will fight until my last breath
Even if I’m a child
Because I’m alive
I shout it to you, I tell it to you, I write it to you, whoa
And if this world is unfair
I am not a pop star
I am a super rockstar
I am a monster
Your roller coaster
Are you ready?
I’m ready
I’m ready
Snap one two three
Rocking tonight!
Rockstar
Rockstar
Rockstar
Rockstar
Rockstar
Rockstar
A wish
I dream of infinity
What do you think of “Rockstar”? Is Leonardo Giovannangeli one of your favourites in this year’s contest? Let us know in the comments below.
