As a result, Mahmood gained a spot in the top three acts of the competition and after an additional performance, the song was declared the winner of the 69th Sanremo Music Festival. During the first round of the final, "Soldi" placed 7th in the televote, but was the most voted by the experts jury, and the second most voted by the press jury. On 8 February 2019, Mahmood performed the song in a new version, featuring rapper Gué Pequeno. During the third live show, "Soldi" was the first performance of the night.
Dario "Dardust" Faini, co-writer of the song, directed the Sanremo Orchestra during his performance. Mahmood performed the song for the first time during the first live show of the 69th Sanremo Music Festival, which was held on 5 February 2019. " Soldi" was later announced as his entry for the Sanremo Music Festival 2019. Mahmood was placed first in the second episode of the show, with his entry "Gioventù bruciata", also receiving the Critics' Award among acts performing in the second final. In December 2018, Mahmood was one of 24 acts selected to compete in Sanremo Giovani, a televised competition aimed at selecting two newcomers as contestants of the 69th Sanremo Music Festival. Mahmood during a Eurovision rehearsal in May 2019. 2018–2020: Gioventù bruciata, Sanremo and Eurovision In November 2018, Marco Mengoni released his fifth album, Atlantico, which features three tracks co-written by Mahmood, including the single "Hola (I Say)". In September 2018, he released his debut extended play, Gioventù bruciata. In 2017, he was also featured on Fabri Fibra's single "Luna". In 2017, he released the single "Pesos", with which he participates in the fifth edition of the Wind Summer Festival, winning the third episode of the Youth section. In 2016, Mahmood participated in the Newcomers Section of Sanremo Music Festival with the song "Dimentica". In 2013, he released his debut single "Fallin' Rain". After this experience, he worked in a bar and attended a music school, studying piano, solfeggio and music theory, where he also started writing songs. He was originally eliminated at Judges Houses, then returned as a wildcard, before eventually being eliminated in the third episode. He became part of the boys category mentored by Simona Ventura. In 2012, Mahmood auditioned for the sixth season of the Italian version of The X Factor. Career 2012–2018: X Factor and beginnings When he was five years old, his parents divorced and he was subsequently raised by his mother. 5.1 Author and songwriter for other artistsīorn in Milan to an Egyptian father and an Italian mother from Sardinia, he was raised around Gratosoglio, a district of Milan.2.2 2018–2020: Gioventù bruciata, Sanremo and Eurovision.