Black or white, good or bad, up or down—and then someone who turns all of that on its head: «Viceversa» by Francesco Gabbani celebrates life’s contradictions and love as the only balance that holds us up in a crazy world. In 2020, Gabbani competed with this song at the Sanremo Festival and finished in second place. The acclaimed «Occidentali’s Karma» star has thus evolved into a songwriter who combines grand emotions with subtle irony.
Profile
- Artist: Francesco Gabbani (from Carrara, Tuscany)
- Published: 2020, title track of the album «Viceversa»
- Lyrics / Music: Francesco Gabbani & Pacifico
- Genre: Cantautore pop / Italian pop
- Special features: 2nd place at the 2020 Sanremo Festival; certified platinum
The Story Behind the Song
Francesco Gabbani, born in 1982 in Carrara, is one of the most original songwriters in contemporary Italian pop—a multi-instrumentalist who combines catchy melodies with clever, often ironic lyrics. He rose to fame in a rare double victory: In 2016, he won the young artists’ category of Sanremo with «Amen» (including the Critics« Choice Award), and then in 2017 the main category with the global hit »Occidentali’s Karma.« This made him the first artist to win both competitions in two consecutive years. »Occidentali’s Karma” represented Italy at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, where Gabbani was considered the favorite and ultimately finished in sixth place.
In 2020, he returned to Sanremo—this time with a completely different sound. «Viceversa» is not a tongue-in-cheek catchy tune about selfies and yoga, but a warm, almost classic love song. In the competition, the song reached the second place, followed by the winner, Diodato, with «Fai rumore.» Gabbani wrote the song together with the renowned cantautore Pacifico (born Luigi «Gino» De Crescenzo).
Shortly after the festival, the album of the same name was also released «Viceversa» (produced by Luca Chiaravalli), with the title track at its heart. The official music video, released on February 6, 2020, is deliberately simple: Gabbani accompanies the lyrics with expressive gestures—a play on symbols that perfectly fits the theme of contrasts.
What is «Viceversa» about?
The title says it all: «vice versa» means «the other way around,» «backwards.» The song thrives on contradictions—on oxymorons that have become the norm in everyday life. Good and bad, closeness and distance, elation and sadness lie close together and constantly flip into one another.
At its heart lies a simple, touching idea: In a chaotic, often absurd world, there is one person with whom everything suddenly falls into place. With him, bad things turn into good—and vice versa. Love thus becomes the only reliable Balance, which provides stability amid all the chaos.
Gabbani quietly extends this personal image to the societal level: He alludes to people who speak of peace yet sow discord, who are hard-headed but tender-hearted. In a world that likes to see everything in black and white, the song advocates for the shades of gray—for not letting oneself be forced into simple categories, but rather for showing one’s own, human perspective. Despite this depth, the tone remains light, warm, and tongue-in-cheek.
Lyrics & Meaning
Because the text is protected by copyright, we will not reproduce it here line by line, but will explain its central images and their meaning in general terms.
The Beginning It juxtaposes the contradictions of everyday life: opposites that are actually mutually exclusive suddenly belong together. This sets the tone—life as a constant back-and-forth, a «sometimes this way, sometimes the other.».
The Chorus sums up the core idea: There’s a person who lifts you out of tough times, and in return, you offer them the same support. It’s precisely this mutual reversal—good becomes bad, bad becomes good—that is at the heart of the song and the reason for the title «Viceversa.».
One prominent spot It opens our eyes to the world outside: to hypocrisy and loud slogans, to people who say one thing and do another. The song contrasts this with an image of shades of gray—the refusal to simply align oneself with either side.
To put it in my own words, «Viceversa» is a declaration of love that also embodies a small philosophy of life: Embrace the contradictions, find the person with whom they become bearable—and stay true to yourself.
«Viceversa» on video
At the top of the page, you'll find the official music video for «Viceversa» by Francesco Gabbani, in which he accompanies the lyrics with expressive gestures. The song has an even more immediate impact in a live performance: The following video shows «Viceversa» live by Francesco Gabbani In an intimate, acoustic recording—here, the melody comes through clearly and unadorned.
«You can also stream »Viceversa”—for example, on Spotify and Apple Music.
That's what makes this song special
- A new Gabbani: Following the ironic hits «Amen» and «Occidentali’s Karma,» «Viceversa» showcased its more serious, emotional side in 2020—without losing its subtle sense of humor.
- Strong result at Sanremo: Finishing in second place at the 2020 festival made the song one of the most-played tracks of the year and earned it a platinum certification.
- A thought-provoking text: The play on contrasts and the call for «shades of gray» set the song apart from the usual festival repertoire.
- Two big names: The collaboration with singer-songwriter Pacifico gave the song its poetic, carefully crafted lyrics.
Conclusion
«Viceversa» is a love song that aims to do more than just move listeners: It celebrates the contradictions that make up life and finds in love the balance that makes them bearable. With a great melody, clever lyrics, and plenty of warmth, Francesco Gabbani proved in 2020 that behind the entertainer lies a songwriter to be taken seriously. If you want to discover more great Sanremo moments, check out our story on «Luce (sunset in the northeast)» by Elisa.
