1970s style: Italian band accused Måneskin of copying the look

Italian pop group I Cugini di Campagna has announced Måneskin is mimicking their look during their opening act at the Rolling Stones in Las Vegas on November 6.

The winners of the last Eurovision took to the stage in shiny costumes with the image of the American flag.

Lead singer Damiano David wore a blue turtleneck with white stars and red trousers with a white print.

I Cugini di Campagna guitarist Ivano Michetti told the Italian newspaper La Stampa that he could not really relax on Sunday due to the large stream of messages from fans talking about Måneskin costumes.

Michetti confirmed that young colleagues copied the image used by his group in the 1970s.

The artist explained that then they chose such outfits in order to show: their team is romantic, but there are also elements of rock in their work.

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Publication from 𝐈 𝐂𝐮𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐝𝐢 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐚 𝐔𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐞 (@i_cugini_di_campagna_official)

In support of the allegations, the group I Cugini di Campagna posted on social media a photo of their lead singer Nick Luciani and a photo of Damiano David from Måneskin, whose costume actually resembles that of a 1970s star.

According to Michetti, this was how Måneskin wanted to attract attention.

In another publication, I Cugini di Campagna encouraged colleagues to come up with something better.

As an example, the musicians posted their own cover of the hit Måneskin Zitti E Buoni, with which they won the Eurovision Song Contest.

The group I Cugini di Campagna was popular in the 1970s and early 1980s.

The band's hits include songs such as Anima Mia and Un'Altra Donna.

The artists stopped performing in the late 1980s, and in 1997 returned to the stage with a new line-up.

Previously, Måneskin has repeatedly found itself at the center of scandals.

During the broadcast of the Eurovision final, Damiano David bent over the table.

Seeing this shot, many viewers thought that the artist was using drugs.

David denied the charges, and later passed a banned substance test.

He showed a negative result.

Måneskin faced plagiarism charges as well.

In March 2021, when the group won first place at the Italian Song Festival in San Remo with the song Zitti E Buoni and thus qualified for Eurovision, some social media users considered the song to be similar to the work of the FDT collective Anthony Laszlo and demanded Måneskin's disqualification.

The Dutch group The Vendettas also had complaints against the Italians.

The artists stated that Måneskin's hit was inspired by their 1994 song You Want It, You've Got It.

“Of course, at the time of our group, these young people were not even born yet.

But, as Måneskin said, “rock and roll is forever,” says The Vendettas member Joris Lissens.

Italian group Nebra claimed that Zitti E Buoni has the same guitar riff as their 2018 song.

Technical due diligence was carried out and Nebra dismissed the charges.

Social media users speculated that Måneskin had unintentionally copied the fragment.

Bloggers believe that no one dares to present a song borrowed from another group at the San Remo festival, which is watched by ten million Italians.

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Publication from Måneskin (@maneskinofficial)

The Måneskin Group was founded in 2016. The artists started out as street musicians, and in 2017 were able to make a name for themselves with a performance at the Italian X Factor. The victory at the Eurovision Song Contest had the greatest influence on the band's career. Måneskin found fans in many countries, and their songs hit the biggest charts. As Dmitry Konnov, managing partner of the ZVONKO GROUP conglomerate, noted in an interview with RT, Måneskin were among the few artists who became a musical phenomenon after Eurovision.

“They hit the charts in the United States, and it's generally difficult for artists outside of the United States and Great Britain to get there.

They are very popular in England, France and Germany, but the most interesting thing is that not with the song with which they won Eurovision, but with a cover and composition in English.

In my opinion, this is the last example when the victory at Eurovision has led to the fact that this group is spoken of as a musical phenomenon.

Let's be honest: this kind of thing rarely happens.

I think Måneskin will be among a very small number of artists who somehow opened up to the general public as a result of Eurovision, ”Konnov says.

Måneskin is expected to hold a concert in Moscow in March 2022.