The Sanremo Festival 2025 came with exciting changes under the artistic direction of Carlo Conti, but one thing remained: the festival’s reputation for showcasing top Italian talent. This year promised five nights filled with music and emotions at the legendary Teatro Ariston.
Lucio Corsi placed second at the 75th edition of Sanremo, finishing just 0.4 points behind winner Olly. When Olly announced he wouldn’t represent Italy at Eurovision to focus on his tour and projects, Lucio Corsi was officially confirmed as Italy’s Eurovision 2025 act. Even before Olly stepped down, Corsi had expressed his wish to perform at Eurovision.
Who Is Lucio Corsi?
Born in Grosseto, Italy, in 1993, Lucio Corsi is an Italian singer-songwriter celebrated for his poetic lyrics and distinctive style. Raised in Vetulonia, he grew up surrounded by creativity—his mother is a painter, and his father worked various roles, including a leather craftsman and a RAI camera operator.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Corsi’s passion for music ignited after watching “The Blues Brothers” as a child. By 2011, he was already performing original songs in local venues. Initially influenced by Peter Gabriel’s Genesis, he later embraced a uniquely Italian songwriting tradition, inspired by artists like Flavio Giurato and Ivan Graziani.
After graduating from Guglielmo Marconi Scientific High School in Grosseto, Corsi moved to Milan to pursue music, performing solo and with his duo Miaosatelliti. His first EP, “Vetulonia Dakar,” was released in 2014. By 2015, he released a follow-up EP, “Altalena Boy,” produced by Federico Dragogna.
Breakthrough and Indie Recognition
Corsi’s debut album, “Altalena Boy/Vetulonia Dakar” (2015), combined his two EPs and gained critical acclaim. In 2017, he released “Bestiario musicale,” an album inspired by animal fables, further establishing him in the Italian indie scene. That year, he toured with Baustelle and Brunori Sas, and even collaborated with Gucci for their Cruise 2018 campaign.
In 2019, he signed with Sugar Music and released his album “Cosa faremo da grandi?” in 2020, featuring a short film directed by Tommaso Ottomano.
By 2021, after his appearance at Premio Tenco, Corsi continued growing his career. In 2024, he performed at Firenze Rocks, opening for The Who. In 2023, he released his fourth album, “La gente che sogna,” which explored 1970s glam rock sounds while lyrically diving into themes of darkness, dreams, and imagination.
Latest Projects
On November 13, 2024, Corsi released “Tu sei il mattino,” featured on the soundtrack of Vita da Carlo Season 3, where he also made a guest appearance as himself. The music video included a cameo by Carlo Verdone.
“Volevo essere un duro”: Lucio Corsi’s Eurovision 2025 Song
At Sanremo 2025, Lucio Corsi performed “Volevo essere un duro”, a powerful track that resonated with both audiences and critics. The song addresses society’s pressure for perfection, using the metaphor of flowers hanging by a threaddespite their beauty. With this entry, Corsi aims to leave a strong impression at Eurovision, staying true to his artistic identity while forging an emotional connection with listeners.
Lyrics for “Volevo essere un duro” by Lucio Corsi
Before diving into the lyrics, here’s what you should know: “Volevo essere un duro” tells a story about vulnerability behind strength, using poetic imagery to explore self-perception and societal expectations. Below you’ll find the original Italian lyrics, perfect for fans looking to sing along or understand the song’s message during Eurovision.
Italian
Volevo essere un duro
Che non gli importa del futuro
Un robot
Un lottatore di sumo
Uno spaccino in fuga da un cane lupo
Alla stazione di Bolo
Una gallina dalle uova d’oro
Però non sono nessuno
Non sono nato con la faccia da duro
Ho anche paura del buio
Se faccio a botte le prendo
Così mi truccano gli occhi di nero
Ma non ho mai perso tempo
È lui che mi ha lasciato indietro
Vivere la vita
È un gioco da ragazzi
Me lo diceva mamma ed io
Cadevo giù dagli alberi
Quanto è duro il mondo
Per quelli normali
Che hanno poco amore intorno
O troppo sole negli occhiali
Volevo essere un duro
Che non gli importa del futuro no
Un robot
Medaglia d’oro di sputo
Lo scippatore che t’aspetta nel buio
Il Re di Porta Portese
La gazza ladra che ti ruba la fede
Vivere la vita
È un gioco da ragazzi
Me lo diceva mamma ed io
Cadevo giù dagli alberi
Quanto è duro il mondo
Per quelli normali
Che hanno poco amore intorno
O troppo sole negli occhiali
Volevo essere un duro
Però non sono nessuno
Cintura bianca di Judo
Invece che una stella uno starnuto
I girasoli con gli occhiali mi hanno detto
“Stai attento alla luce”
E che le lune senza buche
Sono fregature
E che in fondo è inutile fuggire
Dalle tue paure
Vivere la vita è un gioco da ragazzi
Lo, Lo volevo essere un duro
Però non sono nessuno
Non sono altro che Lucio
Non sono altro che Lucio
English
I wanted to be a tough guy
Who doesn’t care about the future
A robot
A sumo wrestler
A dealer on the run from a wolf dog
At the Bologna station
A hen that lays golden eggs
But I’m nobody
I wasn’t born with a tough guy’s face
I’m even afraid of the dark
If I get into a fight, I get beaten up
So they paint my eyes black
But I’ve never wasted time
It’s time that has left me behind
“Living life is child’s play”
That’s what my mom used to tell me
As I fell from trees
How tough the world is
For the ordinary ones
Who have little love around them
Or too much sun in their glasses
I wanted to be a tough guy
Who doesn’t care about the future
A robot
A gold medalist in spitting
The mugger waiting for you in the dark
The King of Porta Portese
The magpie stealing your wedding ring
“Living life is child’s play”
That’s what my mom used to tell me
As I fell from trees
How tough the world is
For the ordinary ones
Who have little love around them
Or too much sun in their glasses
I wanted to be a tough guy
But I’m nobody
A white belt in judo
Instead of a star, just a sneeze
The sunflowers with sunglasses told me
“Beware of the light”
And that moons without craters
Are just rip-offs
And that in the end, there’s no use running away
From your fears
“Living life is child’s play”
I – I wanted to be a tough guy
But I’m nobody
I’m nothing but Lucio
I’m nothing but Lucio
Italy’s History at Eurovision
Italy debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 as one of the founding countries. Since then, Italy has won three times: in 1964 (Gigliola Cinquetti, “Non ho l’età”), 1990 (Toto Cutugno, “Insieme: 1992”), and 2021 (Måneskin, “Zitti e buoni”).
While Italy has had its highs, it also skipped some contests, withdrawing in 1981 and 1998 before returning in 2011 with Raphael Gualazzi’s “Madness of Love”, which earned a second place. Since then, Italy has consistently placed well, including 7th place in 2024 with Angelina Mango’s “La noia”.