Interview with Australia's Eurovision 2022 delegation host - Momo from Turin

Image supplied by Momo

This week our Eurovision Fan of the Week is Momo from Turin (Torino) in Italy.

Momo is going to be one of the volunteer hosts for the Australian delegation in Turin. He will be greeting Sheldon Riley (Australia's Eurovision 2022 representative) at the airport in Turin with a cute small surprise for Sheldon!

So we wanted to find out a little more about him!

What is your name and where are you from?

I’m Mohamad Ali but you can call me Momo, originally from Beirut, Lebanon, now living in Torino, Italy.

What do you do or tell us something interesting about you?

I'm a Civil engineer student, and work as a waiter in a cozy restaurant to pay my uni expenses.

This year in Turin, you are going to be looking after the Australian Delegation. Tell us about that, how did that happen and what does involve?

So excited for that, everything started as a last moment application with Turin municipality as Eurovision Song Contest volunteer. I sent a random application answering some basic questions about what I do, my studies, my languages. Then they sent me an email for another interview when my cat started jumping on my laptop during the questions!

After 48 hours I guess, they sent me an email saying that they assigned me as AUSTRALIA’s delegation to host. Reading the mail was AMAZING and so emotional.

WOW that is so exciting!! ~ Kyriakos

What are you looking forward to the most as delegation host?

After all it’s this amazing experience that counts, it’s a good opportunity and happens once in a lifetime. The most important thing is to enjoy this event, make new friends from all over the world, and as I want to show the delegation how beautiful Italy is, especially Turin, it’s magic!

As an Italian fan what was it like to win Eurovision last year for the first time since 1990?

It was amazing, especially during the pandemic period in Italy, we really needed such news.

Måneskin are literally like each one of us, exactly as SHELDON says [in his song], we are not the same!

So, tell us how you got into Eurovision?

Actually it all started in a gay club when I heard 'Popular' by Eric Saade and that’s when I found about Eurovision. Then I got into all the other Eurostars like Conchita and Queentastic (Melodi Grand Prix 2006), my favorite so far.

What a choice! Queentastic is epic!!! ~ Kyriakos

If you could change one thing about Eurovision what would it be?

I don’t know, but maybe just giving some thing or opportunities for the volunteers, at the end we all sent the application as volunteers knowing that we will not get paid.

Also I’d like to see Lebanon in the Contest!

If Lebanon were to participate at Eurovision which artist would you like to see represent Lebanon and why?

I’d like to see MAYA DIAB or ELISSA or HAIFA WEHBE, because they've got some good songs and they can own the night with some dance moves.

From left to right: Maya Diab, Elissa and Haifa Wehbe

What is an example of one of their songs they’ve done that you wish was at the Contest?

For a song, maybe ELISSA - HANGHANI KAMAN, she sings about happiness, sadness, beauty, with some good dance moves.

What a bop! Yes we need to see Lebanon at the Contest!! ~ Kyriakos

Which artists would you like to see in the Contest or return to the Contest?

Queentastic and Conchita Wurst

What are your three favourite entries from this year?

'Not The Same' - Sheldon Riley

'I.M' - Michael Ben David

'Boys Do Cry' - Marius Bear

What do you think of Sheldon's entry 'Not The Same'?

Sheldon has got a really nice song. In my childhood, I used to be bullied, I didn’t have friends, I didn’t want any friends anymore. I got really broken sometimes... The song touches me and I cried the first time I heard it.

Which Eurovision song: Is the best winner? Conchita Wurst - 'Rise Like A Phoenix' (Austria 2014)

Has the best live vocal? KEiiNO - 'Spirit in the Sky'(Norway 2019)

Was robbed? Sandhja - 'Sing It Away' (Finland - 2016) Is your guilty pleasure? Michael Ben David - 'I.M' (Israel 2022) Kalomira - 'Secret Combination' (Greece 2008)

I absolutely love Sandhja and Kalomira, great selections! ~ Kyriakos

Is your favourite National Final song (that didn't make it to Eurovision)? Ciao Ciao - 'Rappresentante di lista' (Sanremo 2022)

WHAT AN AMAZING CHOICE!! ~ Kyriakos

And finally... Tonight Again, Sound of Silence, Don’t Come Easy, We Got Love, Zero Gravity, Don’t Break Me, Technicolour or Not The Same?

'Zero Gravity' is one of my favorites but love 'NOT THE SAME'! Thank you so much Momo for speaking to us at Aussievision! We hope you have a great time with Sheldon and the Australia delegation, and wish you all the best. Enjoy the Contest in your beautiful city! ~ Kyriakos

Feel free to follow Momo through his Instagram @momo.pattino