The song was originally written in English by Christian Rabb, Kristoffer Sjökvist, Frida Molander and Charlie Mason. A demo of the song was later sent to Zilli's manager, Fabrizio Giannini.[4] After hearing the song, Zilli translated the lyrics in Italian and recorded it with the title "L'amore è femmina". The song was chosen as the sixth track of her second studio album, named after the song itself.[5]
Explaining the meaning of the song, Zilli claimed that the lyrics are written from the point of view of a woman telling her man that he should not expect anything from her if he acts "like a stupid".[1] Zilli also stated that the song contains references to sensual love, specifying that she didn't intend to write a sort of new "Material Girl".[6]
Critical reception
OndaRock.it's Claudio Fabretti described the song as "an essay of muffled vocalism, counterpointed with a lot of choruses and wind instruments on a rocking rhythm".[7]
Eurovision Song Contest
During the Final of the 2012 Sanremo Music Festival, Nina Zilli was announced by the ESC 2011 winners Ell & Nikki as the singer who would represent Italy at the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest.[8] One week later, her Sanremo entry, "Per sempre", was confirmed as the song chosen to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.[9] However, on 13 March 2012, RAI and Universal Music Italy announced that the Italian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest would be the title-track of her second studio album, L'amore è femmina.[10]
The version that represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 was mostly sung in English, but it kept some of its parts in Italian.[11] It was presented on 23 March 2012, at Eurovision's official website. A video of Zilli singing the song inside the studio was uploaded on their YouTube channel.[12]
As Italy is one of the Eurovision's "Big Five", she automatically qualified for the final, where she finished in 9th place with 101 points.[13]
Music videos
On 23 March 2012, a preview video for "L'amore è femmina (Out of Love)" was uploaded on Eurovision.tv's YouTube channel. It shows Zilli inside the studio singing the international version of the song that represented Italy in Eurovision 2012.[12]
The official music video, featuring the Italian-language version of the song, later premiered on 7 May 2012 on Gazzetta TV.[14] The video, directed by Cosimo Alemà[15] and filmed in March 2012[16] at a palazzo in EUR, Rome, focuses on Zilli, who is accompanied by six male dancers.[17] The video for the international version of the song that represented Italy in Eurovision was eventually released on 10 March 2012.[18]
Live performances
The song was presented for the first time on a TV show on 25 April 2012, when Zilli performed live the Italian-language version of the song on the Italian programme Quelli che... il Calcio.[19][20] The song was also included in the setlist of her L'amore è femmina tour,[21] which started on 10 April 2012 in Florence.[22][23]