Blanco
Blanco in 2022
Blanco in 2022
Background information
Birth nameRiccardo Fabbriconi
Born (2003-02-10) 10 February 2003 (age 20)
Brescia, Lombardy, Italy
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2020–present
Labels

Riccardo Fabbriconi (born 10 February 2003), known professionally as Blanco, is an Italian singer, rapper and songwriter.[1] He rose to prominence in 2021 with the hits "La canzone nostra" and "Mi fai impazzire", which topped the Italian Singles Chart. He later released his debut album Blu celeste, driven by the singles "Notti in bianco", "Paraocchi" and the title track. In 2022, he won the 72nd Sanremo Music Festival alongside Mahmood with the song "Brividi", with which the duo represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, finishing in sixth place.

Early life

Riccardo Fabbriconi was born in Brescia[2] on 10 February 2003, to a father from Rome and a mother from Lombardy, and raised in Calvagese della Riviera, a small town on Lake Garda. He spent most of his childhood between his hometown, Brescia and Desenzano del Garda, where he attended school.[3] During childhood, his father introduced him to artists such as Lucio Battisti, Lucio Dalla and Pino Daniele, and he also enjoyed most pop radio; growing up, he was involved in the Italian hip hop scene.[4]

Career

2020–2021: "Mi fai impazzire" and Blu celeste

In June 2020, he released on SoundCloud his EP Quarantine Paranoid, thanks to which he was noticed and signed by Universal and Island Records.[5] He subsequently released his debut single "Belladonna (Adieu)",[6] followed by his second single "Notti in bianco",[7] which became a sleeper hit in the summer of 2021, peaking at number two on FIMI's singles chart.[8] On 8 January 2021, Blanco, Mace and Salmo released the collaborative single "La canzone nostra".[9] It became Blanco's first single to peak at number one on FIMI's singles chart[10] and was certified quintuple platinum, having sold 350,000 copies.[11]

On 26 February 2021, Blanco released his single "Paraocchi",[12] which also reached the top ten of FIMI's singles chart.[13] On 18 June 2021, he released the hit single "Mi fai impazzire" in collaboration with Sfera Ebbasta;[14] it peaked at number one on FIMI's singles chart for eight consecutive weeks[15] and was certified sextuple platinum, having sold 420,000 copies.[11]

On 10 September 2021, Blanco released his debut studio album Blu celeste, containing nine original tracks produced by Michelangelo, as well as the previously published singles "Notti in bianco", "Ladro di fiori" and "Paraocchi".[16] The album, which debuted atop FIMI's album chart, was certified as a gold record a week after its release, having sold 250,000 album-equivalent units, and as a platinum record the following week.[11] Simultaneously, the lead single of the same name debuted at number one on FIMI's singles chart and Blanco's songs occupied the entire top ten; furthermore, all twelve tracks included in the album appeared concomitantly on the chart.[17] In November 2021, the track "Finché non mi seppelliscono" was selected as a radio single.[18]

2022–present: Sanremo, Eurovision Song Contest and Innamorato

In December 2021, RAI announced that Mahmood and Blanco would be participating together in the Sanremo Music Festival 2022 with the song "Brividi".[19] They won the competition with over fifty percent of the vote and subsequently confirmed their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 as Italy's representatives.[20] Critics commented how for the first time in the history of the festival a performance put on the same level homosexual and heterosexual love.[21] "Brividi" recorded over 3.3 million streams in 24 hours, becoming the most-streamed song in a single day on Spotify in Italy.[22] It debuted at number one on FIMI's singles chart[23] and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Global 200.[24]

On 3 April 2022, Blanco embarked on the Blu celeste Tour, consisting of two legs and 27 shows, which concluded on 17 September 2022 in Milan.[25] Blanco was chosen by the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) to introduce Pope Francis's meeting at Piazza San Pietro on 18 April 2022. He performed "Blu celeste" accompanied by Michelangelo.[26] The choice was criticized by the bishop of Ventimiglia, Monsignor Antonio Suetta [it], who thought the message expressed through Blanco's performance was "not suitable to a Catholic context"; however, a representative of the CEI, Don Michele Falabretti, replied to the concerns and restated the decision to invite Blanco to the event.[27] In May 2022, Blanco and Mahmood participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 held in Turin and finished in sixth place. In June 2022, he released "Nostalgia", his first single after Sanremo and the Eurovision, which peaked at number two on FIMI's singles chart and was certified triple platinum by FIMI.[28]

Blanco released "L'isola delle rose", the first single from his second studio album, Innamorato, on 27 January 2023. Blanco performed the song as a guest during the first night of the Sanremo Music Festival 2023, but in-ear monitoring issues made him unable to hear himself while he was singing.[29] He then proceeded to cause damage to the rose garden set on stage, for which he was booed by the audience at the end of his performance.[30] He later apologized.[31] Innamorato was released on 14 April 2023.[32]

Artistry

Blanco was originally described as a rapper and trapper,[33] although he always rejected any labels, saying that "music should always and exclusively be listened without giving too many definitions".[34] After the release of his debut album, critics found pop, punk, rock and funk influences in Blanco's music.[35][36] Rolling Stone Italia defined him as "genreless".[33] Claudio Cabona of Rockol commented on how Blanco is capable of mixing rap with a "nihilistic punk attitude".[37] La Repubblica described him as "the new face of the post-trap".[38] While talking about his way of delivering his lyrics, heavily inspired by his personal experiences,[39][33] Blanco said: "I don't sing, I shout with the heart".[33] Among his inspirations, Blanco named several Italian singer-songwriters including Adriano Celentano, Domenico Modugno, Luigi Tenco, Franco Battiato and Gino Paoli.[33][40]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
ITA
[41] 		SWI
[42]
Blu celeste
  • Released: 10 September 2021
  • Label: Universal, Island
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 1 11
Innamorato
  • Released: 14 April 2023[32]
  • Label: Universal, Island
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 1 6

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
ITA
[44] 		LTU
[45] 		LUX
[46] 		SPA
[47] 		SWI
[48]
"Belladonna (Adieu)" 2020 — — — — — Non-album single
"Notti in bianco" 2 — — — —
  • FIMI: 6× Platinum[43]
 Blu celeste
"Ladro di fiori" 16 — — — —
  • FIMI: 2× Platinum[43]
"La canzone nostra"
(with Mace and Salmo) 		2021 1 — — — —
  • FIMI: 6× Platinum[43]
 Obe
"Paraocchi" 3 — — — —
  • FIMI: 4× Platinum[43]
 Blu celeste
"Mi fai impazzire"
(with Sfera Ebbasta) 		1 — — — 56
  • FIMI: 8× Platinum[43]
 Non-album single
"Blu celeste" 1 — — — —
  • FIMI: 3× Platinum[43]
 Blu celeste
"Finché non mi seppelliscono" 3 — — — —
  • FIMI: 5× Platinum[43]
"Brividi"
(with Mahmood) 		2022 1 3 11 95 1
  • FIMI: 7× Platinum[43]
 Non-album singles
"Nostalgia" 2 — — — —
  • FIMI: 4× Platinum[43]
"L'isola delle rose" 2023 5 — — — 42
  • FIMI: 2× Platinum[43]
 Innamorato
"Un briciolo di allegria"
(with Mina) 		1 — — — —
  • FIMI: 4× Platinum[43]
"Bruciasse il cielo" 5 — — — — Innamorato
(re-release)
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.

As featured artist

List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
ITA
[44] 		SWI
[49]
"Bon ton"
(Drillionaire featuring Lazza, Blanco, Sfera Ebbasta and Michelangelo) 		2023 1 87 10

Guest appearances

List of non-single appearances on compilation albums or other artists' albums, with chart positions, album name and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
ITA
[44]
"Tutti muoiono"
(Madame featuring Blanco) 		2021 28 Madame
"Dio perdonami"
(Blanco & Drast) 		48 Red Bull 64 Bars: The Album
"Nemesi"
(Marracash featuring Blanco) 		4
  • FIMI: 2× Platinum
 Noi, loro, gli altri

Other charted songs

List of charting songs that were never released as singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
ITA
[44]
"Sai cosa c'è" 2021 4 Blu celeste
"Lucciole" 5
  • FIMI: 2× Platinum[43]
"Mezz'ora di sole" 6
"Figli di puttana" 8
"Pornografia (Bianco paradiso)" 10
"Afrodite" 15
"David" 19
"Anima tormentata" 2023 27 Innamorato
"Ancora, ancora, ancora" 33
"Lacrime di piombo" 10
"Innamorato" 16
"Scusa" 32
"Fotocopia" 34
"Giulia" 23
"La mia famiglia" 53
"Raggi del sole" 47
"Vada come vada" 48

Videography

Year Title Director Ref.
2020 "Notti in bianco" Simone Peluso [50]
"Ladro di fiori"
2021 "La canzone nostra"
(with Mace and Salmo) 		YouNuts! [51]
"Paraocchi" Simone Peluso [50]
"Mi fai impazzire"
(with Sfera Ebbasta) 		Andrea Folino [52]
"Afrodite" Simone Peluso [50]
"David"
"Pornografia (Bianco Paradiso)"
"Finché non mi seppelliscono"
"Lucciole"
"Sai cosa c'è"
"Blu celeste"
"Figli di puttana"
"Mezz'ora di sole"
2022 "Brividi"
(with Mahmood) 		Attilio Cusani [53]
"Nostalgia" Simone Peluso [54]
2023 "L'isola delle rose" [55]
"Un briciolo di allegria" [56]
"Bruciasse il cielo" [57]

Tours

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination
Year Award ceremony Category Work Result Ref.
2021 SEAT Music Awards Single Award "Notti in bianco" Won [58]
"La canzone nostra" Won
"Mi fai impazzire" Won
2022 Sanremo Music Festival Big Artists "Brividi" 1st Place [20]
Eurovision Song Contest — 6th Place [20]

References

  1. ^ Biazzetti, Claudio (19 May 2021). "Chi è Blanco: la vita del cantante de La Canzone Nostra". Red Bull. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  2. ^ Tomelli, Mauro (19 September 2021). "Blanco, il primo album è Blu celeste: "Niente etichette, io sto bene così"". Vanity Fair (in Italian). Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Chi è Blanco: la vita del cantante de La Canzone Nostra". Red Bull (in Italian). Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  4. ^ Benedetta Borioni (22 June 2020). "15 domande a Blanco sul suo singolo d'esordio "Belladonna (Adieu)"". i-D. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Blanco e Sfera Ebbasta fuori con "Mi fai impazzire"". Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  6. ^ Cristina Breuza (24 June 2020). "Blanco pubblica Belladonna (Adieu)". Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  7. ^ Simone Zani (31 July 2020). "Blanco Notti In Bianco: un racconto trasgressivo e romantico". All Music Italia. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Classifica settimanale WK 37 (dal 10.09.2021 al 16.09.2021)". FIMI. Archived from the original on 5 February 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  9. ^ Benedetta Borioni (8 January 2021). "In viaggio con MACE, Salmo e Blanco". i-D. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Classifica settimanale WK 3 (dal 15.01.2021 al 21.01.2021)". FIMI. Archived from the original on 5 February 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "Certificazioni". FIMI. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2022. Type "Tutti gli anni" in the section "Anno" and "Blanco" in the section "Filtra".
  12. ^ "BLANCO non si ferma: dopo il platino arriva il nuovo brano "Paraocchi"". Billboard Italia. 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Classifica settimanale WK 36 (dal 03.09.2021 al 09.09.2021)". FIMI. Archived from the original on 5 February 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Blanco e Sfera Ebbasta, il testo di Mi fai impazzire il nuovo singolo". Sky TG24. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  15. ^ Andrea Picariello (26 July 2021). "Classifiche: "Mi fai impazzire" è il singolo più venduto in Italia". 4Quarti Magazine. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  16. ^ Claudio Todesco (10 September 2021). "Ma sei normale, Blanco?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Blanco occupa tutta la top 10 della classifica dei singoli". Rolling Stone Italia. 18 September 2021. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  18. ^ Paola Corradini (10 November 2021). "Blanco - Finchè Non Mi Seppelliscono (Radio Date:2-11-2021)". EarOne. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  19. ^ Santos, Pedro (4 December 2021). "Italy: Artists for Sanremo 2022 revealed". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  20. ^ a b c "Mahmood and Blanco win the Sanremo Festival and agree to represent Italy in Eurovision 2022". Spain's News. 6 February 2022. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Se gli amori (gay o etero) hanno pari dignità, a Sanremo". Corriere della Sera. 2 February 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Mahmood e Blanco conquistano Spotify, "Brividi" nella top 5 globale". Il Messaggero. 3 February 2022. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  23. ^ "Classifica settimanale WK 5 (dal 28.01.2022 al 03.02.2022)". FIMI. Archived from the original on 5 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  24. ^ "Billboard Global 200 – Week of February 19, 2022". Billboard. 15 February 2022. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Musica, tutti pazzi per Blanco: polverizzati i biglietti del tour estivo dopo il "sold out" nei club". La Stampa (in Italian). 15 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Blanco ha cantato "Blu Celeste" in Vaticano davanti a 57mila adolescenti". Sky TG24. 19 April 2022. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  27. ^ Paolo Rodari (17 April 2022). "I brividi di Blanco per la piazza del Papa: "Abbiamo scelto lui per la capacità di attirare i giovani"". la Repubblica. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  28. ^ "Musica nuova per Blanco, il 3 giugno arriva 'Nostalgia'". la Repubblica. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  29. ^ "Sanremo 2023, Blanco distrugge le rose sul palco. FOTO". tg24.sky.it (in Italian). Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  30. ^ "Sanremo 2023, Blanco chaos: the singer destroys the flowers on stage. The public boos, Amadeus: "The skiabbarabba has gone off"". Italy 24 Press News. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  31. ^ "Blanco chiede scusa su Instagram: «Ti voglio bene, Ariston. Non sono perfetto come mi volevi»". Leggo. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  32. ^ a b "Blanco, "Innamorato" è il nuovo album in uscita il 14 aprile". Billboard Italia. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  33. ^ a b c d e Claudio Todesco (10 September 2021). "Ma sei normale, Blanco?". Rolling Stone Italia (in Italian). Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  34. ^ Mauro Tomelli (19 September 2021). "Blanco: "Niente etichette, io sto bene così"". Vanity Fair (in Italian). Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  35. ^ Fabio Fume (10 February 2022). "Blanco – Blu celeste: il merito di farsi recensire mesi dopo l'uscita del disco..." All Music Italia (in Italian). Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  36. ^ "Blanco, ospite di Radio Zeta, ci parla del suo nuovo album "Blu celeste"". Radio Zeta (in Italian). 20 September 2021. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  37. ^ Claudio Cabona (4 November 2020). "Blanco: indole punk, parti rappate e mutande bianche". Rockol (in Italian). Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  38. ^ Gino Castaldo (10 September 2021). "Blanco, il volto della post-trap che ci mette il cuore: "Ho canalizzato la rabbia in qualcosa di positivo: la musica"". La Repubblica (in Italian). Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  39. ^ "Blanco, Blu Celeste: il testo della nuova canzone". Sky Tg24 (in Italian). 13 September 2021. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  40. ^ Claudio Cabona (10 September 2021). "Blanco: un primo disco con zero feat e tanta voglia di fare casino. L'intervista". Rockol (in Italian). Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  41. ^ "Italian Charts - Blanco - Albums". Italiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  42. ^ "Discographie Blanco". swisscharts.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  43. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Italian certifications – Blanco" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 9 May 2023. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Blanco" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Tutte le sezioni" under "Sezione".
  44. ^ a b c d * "Italian Charts – Blanco – Singles". Italiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  45. ^ "2022 6-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)". AGATA. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  46. ^ "Luxembourg Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  47. ^ "Brividi". EPDM. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  48. ^ "Blanco Charts". swisscharts.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  49. ^ "Drillionaire, Lazza & BLANCO feat. Sfera Ebbasta & Michelangelo – Bon ton". Swiss Hitparade. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  50. ^ a b c Andrea Conti (10 September 2021). "Blanco a FqMagazine: "Il sesso? È passionale e carnale. Mi sono allontanato da una relazione tossica andando per la mia strada. Tra dieci anni spero di essere felice e vivo"". Il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  51. ^ "Mace Salmo Blanco fuori il trasgressivo e folle video de "La canzone nostra" diretto da YouNuts!". All Music Italia (in Italian). 11 January 2021. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  52. ^ "Blanco e Sfera Ebbasta, è uscito il video di 'Mi fai impazzire'". Rolling Stone. 7 July 2021. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  53. ^ Musillo, Alessia (2 February 2022). "Il video di Brividi di Mahmood e Blanco è una pedalata su una bici di cristallo nella periferia di Amsterdam". Elle Decor (in Italian). Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  54. ^ Blanco - Nostalgia, retrieved 8 February 2023
  55. ^ Blanco - L'Isola Delle Rose, retrieved 8 February 2023
  56. ^ Blanco, Mina - Un briciolo di allegria, retrieved 13 November 2023
  57. ^ Blanco - Bruciasse il cielo, retrieved 13 November 2023
  58. ^ "Blanco: tre premi ai Seat Music Awards e la sua dedica per le persone che non ci sono più sulle noti di "Blu celeste"". All Music Italia (in Italian). 10 September 2021. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
Awards and achievements Preceded byMåneskin Sanremo Music Festival winner with Mahmood2022 Succeeded byMarco Mengoni Preceded byMåneskin with "Zitti e buoni" Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest with Mahmood2022 Succeeded byMarco Mengoni with "Due vite"
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