Tommy Cash from Estonia performs the song “Espresso Macchiato” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Tommy Cash from Estonia performs the song “Espresso Macchiato” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Tommy Cash from Estonia performs the song “Espresso Macchiato” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Estonia’s Tommy Cash poses for a photo, during the opening ceremony of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Peter Schneider/Keystone via AP)
Estonia’s Tommy Cash says Italians aren鈥檛 in a froth over his Eurovision song 鈥楨spresso Macchiato鈥
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) 鈥 One song generating a lot of froth at the Eurovision Song Contest is 鈥淓spresso Macchiato,鈥 a dance-pop ditty by Estonian rapper and visual artist Tommy Cash.
Tommy Cash from Estonia performs the song “Espresso Macchiato” during the first semi-final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) 鈥 One song generating a lot of froth at the Eurovision Song Contest is 鈥淓spresso Macchiato,鈥 a dance-pop ditty by Estonian rapper and visual artist Tommy Cash.
Estonia鈥檚 entry in the pan-continental pop competition, which on Saturday in , is a playful dance-pop track that reels off a string of Italian cliches 鈥 including references to spaghetti and 鈥渟weating like a mafioso鈥 鈥 before a singalong chorus: 鈥淓spresso macchiato, macchiato, macchiato.鈥
The song has some fans singing it in the streets of Basel. But it raised a few eyebrows in Italy, where a consumers鈥 association branded it offensive and complained to Eurovision organizer the European Broadcasting Union.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Cash said that he鈥檚 seen media articles about a backlash, but 鈥淚 see only the love.鈥
鈥淓veryone coming to me is like 鈥業鈥檓 from Italy, you鈥檙e a legend there and we鈥檙e so happy to have your song,鈥欌 he told The Associated Press on Friday amid rehearsals for the Eurovision final.
Cash said that if U.S. singer Sabrina Carpenter can have a hit about espresso in her Grammy Award-winning 2024 hit of that name, he too should be able to sing about coffee.
鈥淪he should be singing about Big Gulps,鈥 he joked. As Europeans, 鈥渨e鈥檙e the OGs. (Coffee) originated from Italy.
鈥淭he thing is, coffee is for the world,鈥 he said. 鈥淓veryone can drink coffee. Americans, Europeans, and this brings us together.鈥
Italian themes are in vogue at Eurovision this year 鈥 another competitor is Italian DJ Gabry Ponte, representing tiny San Marino with 鈥淭utta L鈥橧talia.鈥
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Many Italians have embraced the cheery catchiness of 鈥淓spresso Macchiato,鈥 even though most would never dream of adding milk to espresso, widely considering macchiato a tourists鈥 drink.
鈥淲e Italians are nice and we laugh at these things,鈥 said Francesco Malferrari, enjoying an espresso 鈥 no milk 鈥 in a Rome cafe. 鈥淵es, there are some stereotypes, but we in Italy are used to it, so in reality we smile.
鈥淏ut this year we have to root for Lucio Corsi,鈥 the glam rocker who is Italy鈥檚 Eurovision competitor. 鈥淏ecause we are for Italy, so let鈥檚 root for Lucio Corsi. But let鈥檚 have an espresso and laugh it off.鈥
___
first covered Eurovision in Athens in 2006, when it was won by masked Finnish metal band Lordi with 鈥淗ard Rock Hallelujah.鈥 She has been a fan ever since.
___
Dario Artale contributed to this story from this Rome.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again.
You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our and . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.
FIRST UP
You're signed up! You'll start getting First Up in your inbox soon.
Want more of the latest from the Star? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our and . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.
EMAIL NEWS ALERTS
When big news breaks, don鈥檛 miss it with our free alerts
Error! There was an error processing your request.
There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again.
You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our and . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.
EMAIL NEWS ALERTS
You're signed up! You'll start getting news alerts in your inbox soon.
Want more of the latest from the Star? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our and . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.
Camp is a place where unexpected fun leads to unleashed potential.
With your support, The 海角社区官网Star Fresh Air Fund provides opportunities for financially vulnerable children to ignite a lifelong love for adventure at camp. Above all, your kindness makes it happen.
