In three weeks i male won their first Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the awards ceremony in California. The prize could be within reach as Maneskin is the rock band, according to the Los Angeles Times preferred by Americans. But there’s still someone in the States who turns their noses up at them as a group that pioneered international rock ‘n’ roll. In his latest review, American music critic Spencer Kornhaber denigrated the worldwide success of the four Roman boys whom she calls “Barband”.
“Recycled and Mediocre Songs”
On The Atlantic, Kornhaber wrote a scathing review of Maneskin’s new album Rush!, in which he spoke more about the group’s success than the new songs. As if the Rock’n’Roll was an American prerogative. But if you look closely at the numbers and prizes collected by Damiano, Victoria, Ethan and Thomas, the first point should be enough to silence many.
“This is the band that’s supposed to save rock ‘n’ roll?” the journalist headlined, drawing attention to the group’s new music project. The critic called Maneskin’s songs “clear recycled and blatant mediocre‘, filled with ‘stereotypes about reality and untruths’ with lyrics that appear like ‘timid attempts to shock and annoy.’
The success of the maneskin in the USA
Envy is an ugly beast, one thinks when one reads Kornhaber’s review of Maneskin, a band that has quickly established itself on the global music scene and conquered the charts worldwide. And the Italians don’t say it, but the data does: Måneskin’s cover of Beggin’ by the Four Seasons has become a reality keyword on American radio, so much so that The Maneskin won an American Music Award in the Favorite Rock Song category.
Not only. In 2021, “Beggin'” was that second most played song on TikTok worldwide. Facts also recalled by Spencer Kornhaber, who, however, got lost in the maze of his criticism and decided to draw attention to Maneskin’s “memorable” television presence, which would have helped them emerge.
And on Maneskin’s win at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest, the critic hit rock bottom: “No journalist could understand why a bar band in burgundy leather playing what sounded like a Rage Against the Machine song modified for a promotional Chevy was run away with it was the grand prize. Eurovision is known for Abba-style shows, silly and brilliant.” But what do they know American an award they have never attended. Luckily, artists’ fame doesn’t come from the critics, but from the public.