Dancing nuns go viral with Italian Eurovision parody

Italy's Eurovision 2017 entry has emerged as an early favourite, not just in betting shops but also on social media, where dozens of parodies of the tongue-in-cheek song have emerged. One of the most popular stars a group of spirited 'singing nuns'.

Published: 7 March 2017 10:27 CET

Dancing nuns go viral with Italian Eurovision parody

A screenshot of the video. Credit: Ima Caforio

'Occidentali's Karma' by Tuscan singer-songwriter Francesco Gabbani, won Italy's Sanremo Song Festival, a prestigious contest which actually inspired Eurovision and is used to pick the national entry.

In the lyrics, Gabbani pokes fun at Westerners' fascination with eastern spirituality, and “our clumsy attempt to ape the Eastern habits to find inner peace.”

But it's the dance routine – which sees Gabbani and a man in an ape costume imitate classic yoga and meditation poses – which has particularly caught the imagination of the country.

One of the most popular parodies features a group of 'dancing nuns' attempting Gabbani's signature move in the northern city of Bologna.

Ima Caforio, who produced the video, told The Local that she was inspired by Sister Alberta Cocchi, one of the first nuns to perform music for the pope.

Caforio learned about the musical nun when working as a producer on a documentary.

“Sister Alberta spoke often about her passion for music, and when the Sanremo winner went viral, with people making videos of the dance routine, I was talking to my mum and said that if Sister Alberta was alive, she definitely would have joined in!” she said.

She made the video “in honour of Sister Alberta”, with her mother, sister, and two friends playing the part of the four dancing nuns.

The video was shot in some of Bologna's best-known tourist spots, including the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. In some clips, bemused passersby stop to watch the nuns' dance moves.

“We showed the video on the final day of carnival in Bologna, and the audience seemed to enjoy it!” Caforio said.

“The Internet responded positively – there were some people who didn't agree with it, but only a few – and I've done loads of interviews with national newspapers, radio stations and TV programmes.

“Sister Alberta would be pleased!”

The official music video is hardly any less surreal, featuring a man in an ape costume in a nod to the book The Naked Ape by zoologist Desmond Morris.

While the nuns in Caforio's video may not be genuine, Italy does have its very own musical nun. Sister Cristina first rose to fame on TV reality show The Voice, with the clip of the judges' shock when they saw her quickly going viral.

The Sicilian nun has gone on to record an album – including a cover of Madonna's 'Like a Virgin' – and to star in a stage production of Sister Act.

'Italians couldn't care less about Eurovision'