Tikibombom Explained

Tikibombom
Type:	single
Artist:	Levante
Album:	Magmamemoria MMXX (Deluxe Edition)
Genre:	Indie pop
Length:	3:23
Label:	Parlophone, Warner Music Italy
Producer:	Antonio Filippelli
Prev Title:	Bravi tutti voi
Prev Year:	2019
Next Title:	Sirene
Next Year:	2020

"Tikibombom" is a song by Italian singer Levante. It was written by Levante and produced by Antonio Filippelli.^[1]

It was released by Parlophone and Warner Music Italy on 6 February 2020 as the first single from the reissue of fourth studio album Magmamemoria.^[2] The song was Levante's entry for the Sanremo Music Festival 2020, the 70th edition of Italy's musical festival which doubles also as a selection of the act for Eurovision Song Contest, where it placed 12th in the grand final.^[3] "Tikibombom" peaked at number 8 on the Italian FIMI Singles Chart and was certified platinum in Italy.^[4]

Background

The main theme of the song is diversity: it is dedicated to those who want to differentiate themselves from the crowd, which is embodied by the title.^[5] The title, in fact, "repeats the rhythm of a dance song, typical of Saturday night mass culture". In the lyrics, the singer "compares the artificiality of a computerized sound to the cultural and artistic depth of tango" (Sei rimasto da solo, non segui il branco / Balli il tango, mentre tutto il mondo / Muove il fianco sopra un tempo che fa: / "Tiki-bom-bom-bom"; "You are left alone, you don't follow the crowd / You dance the tango, while the whole world / Dances on a rhythm that goes: / "Tiki-bom-bom-bom"").^[6]

Commercial performance

The song was a huge radio hit in Italy, becoming the most played Sanremo song of the year on radio and the fifth overall in 2020.^[7]

Music video

The music video for the song was released on YouTube on 11 February 2020. Directed by Giacomo Triglia, it reflects the non-conformist theme of the song and also contains a reference to a short film by Chinese director Sing J Lee, which shows Levante surrounded by dancers facing away from the camera.^[8]

Live performances

On 22 February 2020 Levante performed an acoustic version of the song live on Verissimo.^[9]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart performance for "Tikibombom"!Chart (2020)!Peak
position

Italy (FIMI)^[10]	8
Italy (Airplay)^[11]	1

Year-end charts

Notes and References

1. Web site: LEVANTE – TIKIBOMBOM. radiobussola.it. it. 10 July 2021.
2. Web site: La riedizione dell'ultimo disco di Levante: la memoria è magma e non si spegne mai. thequeersound.it. it. 10 July 2021.
3. Web site: Le mille vite di "Tikibombom": dopo il boom in radio si fa casalinga con un video delicato e intimo. music.fanpage.it. it. 10 July 2021.
4. Web site: Levante e il suo Tikibombom, certificato il Disco Platino.. mondotv24.it. it. 10 July 2021.
5. Web site: TikiBomBom, Levante: la canzone di Sanremo 2020 sulla forza di essere se stessi e considerati diversi. soundsblog.it. it. 10 July 2021.
6. Web site: "Tikibombom": spiegazione e significato del brano di Levante a Sanremo 2020. sorrisi.com. it. 10 July 2021.
7. Web site: La canzone più trasmessa dalle radio italiane nel 2020 è tedesca. music.fanpage.it. it. 10 July 2021.
8. Web site: Online il video del brano TIKIBOMBOM. it. 10 July 2021.
9. Web site: "Tiki Bom Bom": l'esibizione di Levante a Verissimo. Mediaset Infinity. it. 10 July 2021.
10. Web site: Classifica settimanale WK 7 (dal 07.02.2020 al 13.02.2020). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. 10 July 2021.
11. Web site: Classifica Airplay Radio Settimanale . EarOne . 31 October 2023.
12. Web site: Top of the Music 2020: 'Persona' di Marracash è l'album più venduto. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. 10 July 2021.