A nighttime drive along the Roman coast, a feeling that knows no bounds: «Completamente» by Thegiornalisti is exactly that—a love song that refuses to play it safe. Released in 2016, the song became the big breakthrough for the Roman band led by singer Tommaso Paradiso and an anthem for everyone who would rather lose themselves completely than love half-heartedly.
Profile: «Completamente»
- Artist: Thegiornalisti
- Published: 2016, released as a single on September 21; from the album *Completamente Sold Out*«
- Lyrics & Music: Tommaso Paradiso
- Genre: Indie pop, pop ballad
- Special features: The band's breakthrough song; the video was filmed on the Roman coast between Fregene, Ostia, and Fiumicino
The Story Behind the Song
Thegiornalisti is a Roman band that has been active on the indie scene since 2009 and was formed around singer and songwriter Tommaso Paradiso. In addition to Paradiso, the core of the trio consists of guitarist and bassist Marco Antonio Musella and drummer Marco Primavera; producer Matteo Cantaluppi also played a key role in shaping the album’s sound. Over the years, they built up a loyal fan base—until one song changed everything.
«Completamente» was released as a single on September 21, 2016, and served as a preview of the fourth studio album, «Completamente Sold Out,» which followed a month later on Carosello Records. The track marked a turning point: In Italy, the single was certified platinum and sold over 150,000 copies. From there, things took off—with the subsequent hits «Riccione,» «Felicità puttana,» and «New York,» Thegiornalisti became one of the country’s biggest pop bands and eventually even filled the Circus Maximus in Rome. Alessio Lauria and Francesco Lettieri shot the accompanying video along the Roman coast between Fregene, Ostia, and the piers of Fiumicino—using imagery that deliberately evokes 1960s Italian cinema.
What is «Completamente» about?
At its core, «Completamente» is an uncompromising declaration: it’s about surrendering completely to love, with no safety net or backup plan. The narrator celebrates the feeling that keeps you awake, that overrides reason, and that throws all caution to the wind.
Tommaso Paradiso once described the song as the first one he wrote „against“ something—against the coldness of those who weigh and calculate everything in love. He made himself an advocate for those who take risks, suffer, and may ultimately lose. It is precisely this risk, the message goes, that is the only thing that brings the whole thing to life. „Completamente“—completely, with everything you have—is thus not just the title, but the very essence of the song.
Lyrics & Meaning
The song makes its impact through a few recurring images. The night takes center stage: sleepless hours in which thoughts revolve solely around one person, and a restlessness that prevents sleep until that feeling is reciprocated.
Paradiso contrasts this with the vastness of the coast—the sea, the wind, the open road—as a symbol of a heart that refuses to be confined. The text moves between these two extremes: on the one hand, the narrow, calculating world that controls every emotion; on the other, the desire to let go completely.
The chorus encapsulates all of this in a single word. „Completamente“ becomes an invocation, a promise not to hold back, but to give it your all. The verses convey this attitude without ever veering into sentimentality: They tell of a love that is exhausting, risky, and yet the only worthwhile way to love. Instead of a glossy romance, the song paints a portrait of someone who would rather fail while giving it their all than stand safely on the sidelines.
«Completamente» in the video
Below, you can watch «Completamente» in a rousing live performance by Thegiornalisti (Radio Italia Live, 2018)—the song that regularly turned into a big sing-along moment at their concerts.
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That's what makes this song special
«Completamente» marks the moment when a beloved indie band became a phenomenon in the Italian mainstream. The song encapsulates everything Tommaso Paradiso stands for as a songwriter: big, warm melodies, a dash of nostalgia, and lyrics that tell stories of everyday emotions without getting complicated.
The visual style is also unique. With its sun-bleached coastal scenes and the feel of 1960s cinema, the video blends a modern pop sound with a longing for a timeless, Italian way of life—a trademark that the band perfected in the years that followed. At the end of 2019, Thegiornalisti disbanded, and Paradiso continued on his own as a solo artist; but «Completamente» remained: as a classic of the 2010s, a staple of karaoke and concerts, and a song that to this day celebrates the idea of giving oneself not halfway, but completely, in love.
Conclusion
«Completamente» is Thegiornalisti’s plea for love without a safety net: a song that scorns calculation and celebrates devotion. It is precisely this uncompromising spirit—and a melody that sticks with you after just one listen—that has made the song one of the defining moments in Italian pop of its time. You can find more great Italian songs and their stories in our Music Section.
