Tommy Cash’s Provocative “Espresso Macchiato” Sparks Debate at Eurovision 2025
Estonia's entry for Eurovision 2025, Tommy Cash's "Espresso Macchiato," is generating significant buzz, but not all of it is positive. This year's musical offering is already one of the year’s most talked about entries. The song, a satirical take on Italian stereotypes, ignites debate, testing the boundaries of cultural representation on Eurovision's international stage and sparking conversation about **cultural appropriation** in music.
The track's quirky blend of faux-operatic vocals, broken Italian phrases, and deployment of Italian stereotypes has drawn both bemusement and outrage, particularly in Italy. Some critics have even called for the song to be banned from the competition. Senator Marco Centinaio from the Northern League party stands as one of the song’s most vocal critics.
Cash, known for his absurdist humor and provocative style, sees the song as simply "funny." He says, Cash treats whatever tickles him with grave seriousness, crafting his comedy with great meticulousness. However, his prankster attitude has rankled certain Italians, as well as members of Eurovision's year-round international fanbase.
In response to critics, Cash likened treating Eurovision like a "boxing camp." He also goes on to claim what may be seen as a joke by some, he takes very seriously as he said weeks before the competition speaking to him, he's already rehearsing five full days a week.
Despite the controversy, "Espresso Macchiato" has proven to be a viral phenomenon, with over 4 million views on the official EBU channel and an additional 15 million on Cash's personal channel. Adding onto the online fervor, at Piazza Morbegno, **Tommy Cash** served coffee with the slogan “Espresso macchiato please. No stress, no stress, no need to be depressed” . The artist stated that he feels that he represents both Estonia and Italy at the same time, since the theme of his song concerns Italian culture.
This isn't the first time Cash has explored cultural parody in his music. His previous track, "Untz Untz," playfully spoofed German techno culture. In fact, what catapulted Cash on the path to Eurovision, he received astonishing national support with "Untz Untz", suggesting to him that he would have the necessary national backing to enter, as was proven, when he won Estonia's Eurovision pre-selection contest Eesti Laul in February.
Lauri Bambus, the Estonian Ambassador to Italy, reports receiving "very positive feedback" about the song. He noted, "Italians love catchy melodies and do understand jokes," adding that "Espresso Macchiato can often be heard in cafeterias in Italy and people seem to enjoy it." Paolo Prato, a lecturer in Italian Studies at John Cabot University in Rome, acknowledges that Cash is invoking "a predigested version of Italy", but says his performance in the Espresso Macchiato music video is still "credible to many Italians".
With the Eurovision Song Contest fast approaching, "Espresso Macchiato" has already made its mark. As Eurovision commentator John Kennedy O'Connor points out, the song is already the most well-known heading into the competition.
Will Tommy Cash's bold and controversial approach pay off? Can humor bridge cultural divides, or does it risk deepening them? Share your thoughts in the comments below!