Måneskin: From the Street of Rome to International Fame

Published in

The Ends of Globalization

6 min readApr 4, 2022

It is indisputable that the United States has grown to be more and more supportive of deviance from social norms within the last century — both from a social and political standpoint. Prior to the twentieth century, the majority of Americans denounced and violently mistreated anyone who deviated from traditional social stereotypes (gender, sexual orientation, etc.) , commonly using religion as a lame justification. This harsh rejection from society forced many LGBTQIA+ individuals to stay closeted; people were afraid to publicly present their character and support for the community. Due to the seeming taboo nature of any LGBTQIA+ behavior and discussion, most early activism efforts were quickly squashed. But in 1924 with the establishment of “the Society for Human Rights, the first documented gay rights organization in the United States,” the nation witnessed the beginning of the US’s long overdue transformation into a truly equitable nation (History). Social movements during the following decades practically eliminated any political discrimination against “different” people and generated roaring support in liberal regions, nonetheless there is still much progress ahead to achieve full social acceptance.

This modern unapologetic advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community is clearly by Måneskin, a four-person Italian rock band who shot to international fame after winning Eurovision (2021) — Europe’s biggest music competition (iHeart). This group is largely characterized by unapologetic presentation of identity regardless of social expectations: their lyrics, music videos, interview responses, fashion, and choreography all reflect this inspiring message. Not only did Italian fans connect with this idea, but it resonated with fans across the globe, particularly in the United States. Among a plethora of other achievements, Måneskin was nominated for Favorite Trending Song at the American Music Awards (2021), won Best New Alternative Artist at the iHeartRadio Music Awards (2022), and are often invited to perform at American shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Ellen Show, and The Voice. Although others argue that Måneskin’s success in the US is solely attributed to the way their music genre resembles American Rock, which originated and grew popular in the US during the 1900s, there is also a social aspect of their appeal: Måneskin’s blatant support for the LGBTQIA+ community and distaste for social norms/expectations align with the well-known American pillar of equity for all.

Vocalist and frontman of the band, Damiano David, frequently gives a variety of speeches at live performances between songs. Perhaps one of his most iconic deliveries was “The word “difference” does not exist… There is no origin of race, religion and gender. But we are all, as at this moment, tight and united by the mere fact of being HUMAN.” This line not only speaks to LGBTQIA+ individuals, but also to all other marginalized communities. Across the history of the United States, lawmakers have worked to slowly extinguish unjustified discrimination in policy. The Constitutional term “We the People” gradually expanded to include more and more social groups, and now, the American government is true to its underlying principle: equality for all. Socially, Americans now by enlarge welcome all types of people; there is little sense of othering (“view and treat people as intrinsically alien to oneself”). This is not about ignoring differences in our identities, but rather recognizing those unique qualities and still embracing empathy. This quote from the band encapsulates the historical American stride towards equity and expresses the current growing spirit of acceptance in the United States.

Måneskin’s explicit vocal messages extend into their musical lyrics. In their hit song “I Wanna Be Your Slave,” Damiano sings “Cause baby I’m your David And you’re my Goliath.” A bit more specific than their overarching message of equal treatment and acceptance of all types of people, this quote aims to break gender expectations for men and women in the bedroom. It is an all too well known global stereotype that men should be dominant while women should be submissive. This lyric utilizes a biblical image to illustrate an opposite scenario. David and Goliath are characters in the First Book of Samuel, chapter 17: David is a scrawny shepherd boy while Goliath is a giant muscular warrior (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). When Damiano sings this line, he asserts that it is acceptable for men to take on a more submissive role (David) and for women to assume a more powerful position in sexual relationships. This idea is received well in the US which is presently undergoing much social transformation: breaking out of old-fashioned gender norms, and normalizing differences.

In the same way their words communicate unashamed pride in one’s identity, Måneskin’s eye-catching visuals further break away from traditional gender norms. All the members (one woman and three men) have worn vibrant makeup during stage performances. This is more than just basic foundation to cover blemishes; the members wear a full face of glam as if they were ready to go to prom. This visual choice implicitly conveys that makeup is not only open to women, but men can enjoy the artistry of makeup as well. Måneskin comes at a time where the United States is embracing femininity, expressiveness, and artistry in men. This trend is clearly demonstrated by the rise to fame of male makeup artists like James Charles and Jeffree Star. Naturally, Måneskin’s use of makeup to highlight all their members fits right in with this American ideal.

Moreover, their adventurous and provocative clothing is an even more blatant defiance of gender norms. In their recorded and live performances, some of Victoria De Angelis’ (woman, bassist) outfits have her breast exposed, either with see-through mesh or just completely open chest. Along the same lines, Damiano (man) has worn revealing bedazzled leather briefs, knee-high leather high heels, and fishnet stockings for performances. These images starkly contrast what Americans have traditionally considered appropriate for women and men respectively. Throughout time women have been expected to cover their breasts, for exposed cleavage may be perceived as sexually suggestive and immodest. Men on the other hand are traditionally expected to wear more masculine clothing; when most people picture a man, they most definitely do not imagine fishnet leggings paired with high heels. Maybe a guy in a suit? Or sweatpants and a t-shirt? The unique outfits that Måneskin’s presents attract American fans who are simultaneously witnessing social changes in their own country. The once clear line between male and female representation is becoming increasingly blurred as American society acknowledges that gender is not defined by visual choices such as clothing.

One comparable artist is queer American singer and songwriter Demi Lovato. Earlier on in her career, many fans were attracted to her support for the LGBTQIA+ community. However recently, Lovato has been constantly changing her labels, from one month publicly declaring herself as pansexual (March 2021), then non-binary (May 2021), and constantly adds labels to this seemingly neverending list. Although most fans support her sharing her identity, continuously changing labels communicates a sense of instability and a self-identity problem. The way that Måneskin strays away from associating themselves with too many labels is more appealing to fans because it allows people to feel more fluid, and focus on more important aspects of life rather than stress about what social label they need to be associated with. In other words, it is alright to not have labels and people do not have to feel pressured to fit into one.

In essence, Måneskin began performing at a time where the United States is experiencing radical social changes: deconstructing social norms that have limited expression of individuals. The prideful support that Måneskin has for the LGBTQIA+ community has touched the hearts of many American fans who, on a national scale, generally are in agreement with this message. The unique messages and visuals from the band represents the diversity which Americans hope to see in their own society.

Sources

Måneskin: From the Street of Rome to International Fame

Written by Jackie Pham