The big interview

What’s going on, Gigi D’Agostino?

The Italian world star is still coming to Graz and Klagenfurt in 2024.

(Bild: Semtainment)

First right-wing extremists misused his hit, now radio stations and even UEFA are boycotting Gigi D'Agostino's love song "L'amour toujours". In an interview with Conny Bischofberger and Michael Pichler, the world star talks about neo-Nazis, moralizers and his appeal to those responsible and fans.

Italian DJ Gigi D'Agostino (55) has made headlines around the world because party guests on the North Sea island of Sylt and in Carinthia shouted racist slogans to his song. His hit from the early 2000s has long been the anthem of the far-right scene. Only this time there was a video that went viral and shows young people replacing the lyrics of the hit with "Deutschland den Deutschen. Foreigners out!".

Naturally, the artist, who is now associated with neo-Nazis and at the same time being punished by "Cancel Culture", is the number one interview partner of choice for the big "Krone" Sunday interview. Gigi D'Agostino replied to an email on Wednesday lunchtime less than an hour later, and in person: "I'm happy to do a telephone interview!" He later lets us know that he doesn't like Skype or Zoom, "I'm a shy person." And he wants to say what he has to say in his native Italian, partly because it's a sensitive topic.

On Saturday lunchtime, he calls us on the dot from his studio in Lugano, where he is currently recording new tracks. He answers all our questions for 44 minutes. My colleague Michael Pichler, from South Tyrol, conducts the interview.

"Krone": Signore D'Agostino, after the racism scandal on Sylt, even UEFA has now banned "L' amour toujours" during the European Championships. Several radio stations have taken it off the air. What's happening?
Gigi D'Agostino: È vero? Is that really true? Simply banning a song is like going back to the Middle Ages. But it's quite clear. You can't stop racism by banning music. If someone misuses a song to spread racist messages, they will do the same with the next song and the one after that. This whole thing is grotesque.

"I am shocked." Gigi D'Agostino comments on the racism scandal in the "Krone" interview.

(Bild: Gigi D'Agostino)

Why your song in particular?
Good question. Because my song is about universal love and about people lying in each other's arms and feeling united. A complete contradiction to what's happening right now: UEFA has banned my song? THAT is a racist message. THIS decision is racist. I'm still shocked, I can't believe it. This decision by UEFA is an explicit rejection of love.

You can't stop racism by banning music. If someone abuses a song, they will do the same with the next song and the one after that.

Gigi D‘Agostino findet die ganze Angelegenheit grotesk

They won't play the song at the Munich Oktoberfest either.
That's not possible! The Oktoberfest has been a huge festival for decades. How can it be that they rebel against a love song there? Words fail me. Racist sentiments are a horror because they have to do with hate. I seriously question why they don't want to stop the real problem. I would advise these people to deal with the racism that is being spread everywhere. If the authorities don't intervene soon, especially on social media where these messages circulate freely, then our children will be the next to be poisoned by this social media racism.

How can we fight back?
Racism thrives on dissemination. If social media has the power and control to delete something, but also to spread it online, and we know it is, then that is their huge responsibility. If it stays online, then it's clear that there will be no intervention. And in my case it seems clear: there was no intervention to block these racist messages. If racism is against the law, how can it be that no one intervenes? Why does this issue continue without intervention from the authorities and politicians? I don't have the power to make this happen, otherwise I would do something. But I don't have it.

Which is worse for you: the cancel culture or the racists?
Of course those people who have racist feelings are worse. It makes me very sad that in 2024 there are still people who don't want the same rights for everyone. That's horrible. We need to talk about that.

What exactly would you like to say to these people who have rewritten your song lyrics and are using them to spread right-wing propaganda?
I don't even know how this came about or what problem these people actually have. Journalists brought it to my attention.

You didn't even see the video?
No, I was in the studio the whole time. But to your question: nobody can rewrite my song. And nobody forbids me to write my song. And once again: the song is about love. Nobody has the power to sow hatred where love grows. If someone wants to sing such sentences with their friends, then unfortunately they can do so. We have freedom of speech. But if they use it to hurt other people, then that's not on. Freedom is a matter of respect, not hate. If a few people get so much attention on social media, then we know that they will do it again and again. Because what's happening right now is exactly what they obviously wanted.

Social media amplifies fears, creates harmful feelings and a lot of malicious information. I avoid it because I want to stay mentally healthy - out of respect for my time and for life.

Der Künstler nutzt auch selten sein Smartphone

Have politics, hatred and wars taken the lightness out of music? Or is that precisely why it is necessary?
Nothing, but really nothing, has the power to take away the greatness of music, that is impossible. At most, war can temporarily take music away from people, but it will never be able to take anything away from music. The same applies to hatred. Nobody can take the lightness out of music. Music is untouchable. But politicians could do more to ensure that everyone can listen to and enjoy music. Music also has therapeutic powers. In my case, politics can take responsibility to stop the spread of these messages on social media.

"L'amour toujours" has stormed to the top of the charts as a result of the scandal. Would you ever have thought that?

The captain's outfit is his trademark: Gigi D'Agostino at his Austria concert in 2019.

(Bild: elf)

(laughs) What a great question you're asking me. When social media and then the press are constantly spreading a song, interest naturally grows. If it weren't for this horrible racism component. But these people are aiming in the wrong direction. The more they target it, the more curiosity there is.

You released the song 25 years ago, do you remember how and from what mood it was written?
The song was born out of my strongest inner feelings. With the song, I describe love, this unique, universal, great feeling that connects people. Life, dancing, music. The hugging, the family, my partner. Laughing, crying, the beauty. I could go on for days. I tried to describe all of this in a song. The song also translates as: love, always.

You've been a superstar for decades, but you avoid social media, as you said yourself when you fell seriously ill in 2021. Why is that?
It was like that before. (thinks) I've always tried to protect my mind and my thoughts from it. I hardly ever use smartphones, I don't want to be dependent on them. If I want strong feelings, I try to create them with my music and don't look for them on social media. These platforms reinforce fears, generate harmful feelings and a lot of malicious information. I only use them when I want to announce my concerts and new tracks, or to thank someone. But I don't read anything that is written about me. I want to stay mentally healthy, out of respect for my time and for life.

How are you today and what has changed in your life?
I'm fine again today, thankfully. I experienced a severe trauma. The pain takes you to another planet. Since then, I don't waste any more time, I no longer live full throttle. This is my second life and I want to live it better than my first.

Pain takes you to another planet. I haven't wasted any more time since then, I'm no longer living full throttle. This is my second life, and I want to live it better than my first.

2021 erkrankte Gigi D‘Agostino schwer

May we also ask you what kind of illness it was?
If it's possible, I don't want to talk about it. I ask for your understanding.

You'll be back in Austria in October 2024. What would you like to say to your Austrian fans?
When the dates in Austria were fixed, I was overwhelmed. I didn't expect it to be such a success. I would like to thank every single person who comes to my show. The love I have felt from the Austrian audience since the beginning in 2000 is magical. It's just wonderful.

BILLIONS LISTEN TO HIS SONGS

Born Luigino Celestino Di Agostino on December 17, 1967 in Turin. He initially worked as a stonemason, mechanic and plumber. At the same time, he organized parties in various clubs and soon made a name for himself as a DJ, remixer and music producer. He is considered the inventor of the lento violento style and the most important interpreter of the Italo dance scene. He became internationally known for songs such as "In my mind", "Bla Bla Bla", "The Riddle", "La Passion" and "L'amour toujours".

The latter was misused for racist chants on the North Sea island of Sylt and in Carinthia. "In my mind" was downloaded 1.5 billion times on Spotify, "L'amour toujours" more than 450 million times, with 12.4 million listeners.

In January 2022, it was announced that D'Agostino was suffering from a serious illness. After a health-related break of almost two years, he will perform live again for the first time in the fall. The concerts in Graz (October) and Klagenfurt (December) are sold out, with remaining tickets still available for Dornbirn (March 2025).

A look at Spotify shows the gigantic number of downloads of his hits.

(Bild: Screenshot Spotify)

Will you be playing L'amour toujours in Graz and Klagenfurt?
Certo! And I will also play the song in Germany. Let them say what they want. Anyone who hears the song can confirm that it's about love and only love.

Even if it were to be banned at concerts?
Allora. They can ban it, of course, because they can do what they want, obviously. But they can't say it's not a love song. That would be wrong.

And what if the audience starts to bawl?
Neither I nor you nor anyone else can stop a person from doing that. We don't have the authority. I hope a policeman or a representative of the authorities can do that. When I give a concert, I play my song. And if that happens, I'll play it even louder. In the end, love will be stronger than hate.