The nominees for the MTV American VMA Awards have been revealed, and Eurovision fans have reason to celebrate: Damiano David, lead singer of Maneskin, is nominated for two major awards!
The nominees for the MTV American VMA Awards have been announced, and Eurovision fans can take pride: Damiano David, lead singer of Maneskin, is nominated in two important categories. This is a major milestone for a Eurovision winner, especially in a ceremony closely linked to the American music industry.
The Nominations: MTV Push Performance and Best Long Form Video Categories
David is nominated in the MTV Push Best New Performance category thanks to his appearance with “Next Summer”. The MTV Push program is designed to promote emerging musicians. David faces competition from breakthrough artists such as Shaboozey and Gigi Perez.
He is also nominated for Best Long Form Video thanks to the clip for his song “Funny Little Stories”. This time, he stands alongside superstar names like Ariana Grande, Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus, and The Weekend – a clear evidence of his rising status on the global stage.
From a Career with Maneskin to a Successful Solo Journey
Though this is his breakthrough as a solo artist, it is not the first time David has appeared at the VMA Awards. In 2022, his band Maneskin won Best Alternative Video for “I Wanna Be Your Slave” and in 2023, Best Rock Video with “The Loneliest” – appearing both times on the awards’ main stage.
After launching his solo career, David released the album “FUNNY little FEARS”, which achieved impressive success: the album reached the top of the charts in 21 European countries, including Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Spain.
Eurovision and MTV: A Rare Combination of International Talent
While the MTV EMA are more closely associated with European artists, the American VMA Awards naturally focus on local stars. Thus, the nomination of a Eurovision artist at the American ceremony is a rare achievement.
Apart from Maneskin, only a handful of Eurovision artists have made it to the prestigious nominees’ list: Cascada from Germany was nominated in 2007, six years before representing Germany at Eurovision 2013, and Mae Muller, the United Kingdom’s representative at Eurovision 2023, was nominated in 2022 – in the very same category for which Damiano David is nominated this year.
David’s nomination at the American MTV Awards is testimony that Eurovision stars no longer remain solely in Europe – they now break into the American market as well. With a promising solo career and nominations alongside names like Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus, Damiano David proves that a Eurovision winner can become a global superstar.
Italy at Eurovision 2025
“Volevo essere un duro” (in English: “I Wanted to Be Tough”) is the song performed by singer Lucio Corsi, which came second at the 75th edition of the Sanremo Festival. The song was written by the singer himself along with Tommaso Ottomano. This was the singer’s first-ever appearance at the festival. The song is performed in Italian. The song finished fifth in the grand final with 256 points.
Italy returns to the Eurovision Grand Final Top 5 after last year achieving “only” seventh place.
Eurovision 2025: This was Italy’s 50th participation in Eurovision. Italy joined the contest in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won three times over the years. Italy’s most recent victory was at Eurovision 2021 with the song “Zitti e buoni” performed by the band Måneskin.
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Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
