Join me for live blogging from Sanremo 2011. Gianni Morandi, Elisabetta Canalis and Argentinian Belen Rodriguez present and all the 14 Big perform tonight.
21.15 The Eurovision tune opens the connection to teatro Ariston in Sanremo. E via! Last year's succesful presenter Antonella Clerici on stage now with her daughter remembering her Sanremo experiences... She was fab last year, let's see if Morandi can repeat the success!? In the end she welcomes Morandi on stage. An excellent start for the show, very sweet and a good idea!
21.24 Morandi officially opens the 61st festival of Italian song after some small talk with La Clerici. The stage looks nice with a very starry sky....Some acrobatics follow, looking very much like any Eurovision opening act really!
21.30 Morandi remembers the past editions and their first minutes, the salutes and styles of the previous presenters, Mike Bongiorno, Pippo Baudo, La Clerici and La Carrá.... then he presents the orchestra that is live as always and finally the jury: 300 people in Teatro Ariston from all over Italy, various ages....
21.33 Time for the first artist: Giusy Ferreri! Il mare immenso starts with rock guitars. She wear a black rather daring dress. The song's a typical Italian pop-rock song, mid-tempo. She's got a voive that you either like or dislike. I tend to dislike it more than like unfortunately. I'm not very impressed by the first hearing. The jury has already voted by giving each from one to ten votes immediately after each song.
21.37 Morandi presents his co-hosts Luca and Paolo. The two comics tell about their inital reactions to the invitation to come and host the festival. After that we go for a commercial break.....
21.43 It's time for Luca Barbarossa and Raquel del Rosario.Fino in fondo.Quite nice mid-tempo ballad. Spanish Raquel brings some extra to the song. She wears a velvet minidress and he a shiny dark suit. I kinda like this - at least for the first hearing.
21.50 Next act already! Sanremo is really learning from Eurovision! Roberto Vecchioni. Chiamami ancora amore.He's of the old school Italian singer-songwriter league. The song is mostly half spoken instead of singing, rather oldfashioned but it has some beauty. The stage shows some of it's 3D effects in LED walls. I'm starting to think it's one of the best stages for a long time in Sanremo - yet still designed by Gaetano Caselli, for the 17th (?) year in a row.... Huge applause from the public.
21.56 And off we go with the next one: Anna Tatangelo. Bastardo. Dressed in black suit and white shirt, messy hair, heavy make-up she makes me think of Anna Oxa's debut in 1978! The song's a mid-tempo rcokpop, again. Some rockguitars softened by strong violins. She could be one of the main candidates for Eurovision and... well, it wouldn't be that bad....
22.01 And of to the next one: La Crus. Io confesso.They are totally unknown to me and I was expecting some rockact but the song's very soft, musical, nice arrangement and atmosphere. Half spoken verses and nicely oldfashioned chorus. A bit Nina Zilli like I'd say. Maybe my favourite so far.... yes indeed, a female soprano just entered! Yes, the best so far by far!
22.07 Time for another commercial break while Paolo and Luca are asking where are the girls? Indeed! Instead of ads on internet I have Alice doing Per Elisa! Fab fab fab!
22.12 Ok, finally here they are, le Vallette: Elisabetta Canalis and Belen Rodriguez! Also known as the pretty smiley girls next to middle-aged presenters. Constant change of dresses and smiles, smiles and smiles and not much.... Trés Italien!
22.17 After smiles and pretty dresses time for Max Pezzali and Il mio secondo tempo. Idols of teenage girls age, too and he shows it. Dressed very casully for Sanremo, actually he looks like he has been hunting or fishing or something and then wandered to the stage (remember Sami Hintsanen in Euroviisut 2011 semifinals?). An uptempo poptrack and very nasal vocals.... Catchy tune but nothing special really.
22.23 After remembering Elisabetta is George Clooney's girlfriend time for the next one: Davide Van De Sfoors with Yanez. Sung in dialect of Lake Como. Very diffeent from anything we have heard tonight so far. Uptempo with nice arrangement with a bit of Latin influence and a mix of a bit of everything. Not bad! He's the other artists I had no idea who he is.... After some nonsense bla bla bla by Morandi and Belen time for a break. It's quite interesting I have liked most the two artists I had never heard before. Should I be worried?
22.31 Back on stage with Luca and Paolo and their comic act. Can't be worse than the Finnish one in Euroviisut? Indeed, they sing one of Morandi's Sanremo hits with new lyrics... Berlusconi amongst others gets his share of "praise".... :-) After this musical treat in the notes of In amore let's get back to business.
22.36 Time for Anna Oxa. La mia anima d'uomo.She has a hair accident just like La Tatangelo! Whatäs going on? She looks and acts weird dressed in Jane Finda's aerobics dress with neon bracelet and it's hard to understand one word she's singing or shouting the chorus. I was hoping she's be back with a bang but she's still in the dark place. Yikes.
22.43 After some bla bla bla with Morandi and Elisabetta time for Tricarico and 3 colori. Very nervous and shaky performance, or simply he can't sing I don't know. The song isn't much to talk about either... about the Italian flag in desperate attempt to fish votes with patriotism which has never been very strong in Italy. Useless crap.
22.47 Morandi and Belen waste some time off stage amongst the orchestra so they can fix it for the next act or something. Yes indeed, next Modá with Emma. Arriverá. One of the superfavourites, let's hear how it is! Modá in dark suits, Emma in turquoise minidress. And yes, messy hair! But less than the two previous disasters, maybe the hairdresser is getting his act together little by little? There's hope for Nathalie to have it nice and done as she's out second to last. The song? Disappointment. Pleasant and nice but nothing special really. A big no for Eurovision at least! Modá has much better songs and propbaly Emma, too, even if I don't know her stuff really. And it's time for a break!
23.00 we are back! Morandi and le Vallette on stage....with new dresses. Boombs up even more! Luca and Paolo bring them flowers, after all this is Sanremo, the city of flowers! And the mayor is all smiles, too...
23.4 It's Luca Madonia with Franco Battiato. L'Alieno. Luca on stage alone with his guitar. The song sounds very old Battiato in melody, smooth arrangement. Yes, this sounds very Battiato! Like Battiato light! Il maestro himself walks to the piano in the end and sings a few verses alone and then together with Luca. If you like Battiato you like this! I like it. But not for Eurovision....
23.10 Patty Pravo next with Il vento e le rose.The egocentric diva is in weird black dress, her hair in a very grannylike do (but not messy!). I have never been fan of hers and this song either does nothing to me.She seems to perform every song the same way, the same faces and hand movements. Yawn.
23.15 The trio of male presenters making fun of Berlusconi again. But stop it, it's time for Nathalie! Ah, another commercial break before that...
23.18 And now some Argentinian tango with Belen....What? Are there male couples dancing tango behind her? In RaiUno??
23.24 It's Nathalie with Vivo sospesa. She starts with the piano and after a few notes I'm in love already! For some reason she makes me think of late Valentina Giovagnini and that's not a bad thing. Beautiful song, dramatic enough to make it interesting. No doubt the best choise for Eurovision until now. In fact this would be perfect. My clear favourite! Viva Nathalie!'
23.30 Last but not least Albano with Amanda é libera. Musically pleasant but I'm a bit fed up with this man who suffers of homofobia. The arrangement is quite nice with some oriental influences here and there. Nothing new though.
So in conclusion rather disappointing year in Sanremo I must say. At least with first hearing only 3-4 songs sounded interesting. For Eurovision there isn't much to choose I'm afraid. One word: Nathalie. I would eliminate without doubt Tricarico and Anna Oxa tonight. Tomorrow maybe Pravo and Van De Sfroos or Albano. Or Ferreri.
23.40 we are back in Ariston....Elisabetta and Morandi twisting.... Sigh....
23.44 Time to have a look at the newcomers tomorrow. Hmm, me thinks here are better songs! These eight have been selected out of over 700 hopefuls... And after that Luca and Paolo have their moment again. They are actually quite funny :-)
23.55 More Argentinina tango. Without Belen this time.
23.59 Time for results...but no, time for telepromozione!
00,08 finally back. Is it time now? Tricarico is in. So is Madonia-Battiato. And Ferreri.
00.12 Vecchioni is in.Modá and Emma as well. And Barbarossa & co.
00.15 Albano is in. Nathalie is in! :-) And so is La Crus :-) And Patty Pravo.
00.18 And the last two to go on are.... Davide Van De Sfroos! And the last one is .... Max Pezzali!
00.20 So Anna Oxa is out. And that's only fair. And Oxa-wannabe Anna Tatangelo. But they will have a second chance Thursday night with the two songs kicked out tomorrow. I suspect La Tatangelo will re-enter but Oxa is hopeless.
00.25 Time to say goodnight. Join me again tomorrow when these 12 will perform again along with the newcomers. Buona notte mondo! E tanti auguri alla mia figliastra Aurora nata stamattina! Smack!
21.15 The Eurovision tune opens the connection to teatro Ariston in Sanremo. E via! Last year's succesful presenter Antonella Clerici on stage now with her daughter remembering her Sanremo experiences... She was fab last year, let's see if Morandi can repeat the success!? In the end she welcomes Morandi on stage. An excellent start for the show, very sweet and a good idea!
21.24 Morandi officially opens the 61st festival of Italian song after some small talk with La Clerici. The stage looks nice with a very starry sky....Some acrobatics follow, looking very much like any Eurovision opening act really!
21.30 Morandi remembers the past editions and their first minutes, the salutes and styles of the previous presenters, Mike Bongiorno, Pippo Baudo, La Clerici and La Carrá.... then he presents the orchestra that is live as always and finally the jury: 300 people in Teatro Ariston from all over Italy, various ages....
21.33 Time for the first artist: Giusy Ferreri! Il mare immenso starts with rock guitars. She wear a black rather daring dress. The song's a typical Italian pop-rock song, mid-tempo. She's got a voive that you either like or dislike. I tend to dislike it more than like unfortunately. I'm not very impressed by the first hearing. The jury has already voted by giving each from one to ten votes immediately after each song.
21.37 Morandi presents his co-hosts Luca and Paolo. The two comics tell about their inital reactions to the invitation to come and host the festival. After that we go for a commercial break.....
21.43 It's time for Luca Barbarossa and Raquel del Rosario.Fino in fondo.Quite nice mid-tempo ballad. Spanish Raquel brings some extra to the song. She wears a velvet minidress and he a shiny dark suit. I kinda like this - at least for the first hearing.
21.50 Next act already! Sanremo is really learning from Eurovision! Roberto Vecchioni. Chiamami ancora amore.He's of the old school Italian singer-songwriter league. The song is mostly half spoken instead of singing, rather oldfashioned but it has some beauty. The stage shows some of it's 3D effects in LED walls. I'm starting to think it's one of the best stages for a long time in Sanremo - yet still designed by Gaetano Caselli, for the 17th (?) year in a row.... Huge applause from the public.
21.56 And off we go with the next one: Anna Tatangelo. Bastardo. Dressed in black suit and white shirt, messy hair, heavy make-up she makes me think of Anna Oxa's debut in 1978! The song's a mid-tempo rcokpop, again. Some rockguitars softened by strong violins. She could be one of the main candidates for Eurovision and... well, it wouldn't be that bad....
22.01 And of to the next one: La Crus. Io confesso.They are totally unknown to me and I was expecting some rockact but the song's very soft, musical, nice arrangement and atmosphere. Half spoken verses and nicely oldfashioned chorus. A bit Nina Zilli like I'd say. Maybe my favourite so far.... yes indeed, a female soprano just entered! Yes, the best so far by far!
22.07 Time for another commercial break while Paolo and Luca are asking where are the girls? Indeed! Instead of ads on internet I have Alice doing Per Elisa! Fab fab fab!
22.12 Ok, finally here they are, le Vallette: Elisabetta Canalis and Belen Rodriguez! Also known as the pretty smiley girls next to middle-aged presenters. Constant change of dresses and smiles, smiles and smiles and not much.... Trés Italien!
22.17 After smiles and pretty dresses time for Max Pezzali and Il mio secondo tempo. Idols of teenage girls age, too and he shows it. Dressed very casully for Sanremo, actually he looks like he has been hunting or fishing or something and then wandered to the stage (remember Sami Hintsanen in Euroviisut 2011 semifinals?). An uptempo poptrack and very nasal vocals.... Catchy tune but nothing special really.
22.23 After remembering Elisabetta is George Clooney's girlfriend time for the next one: Davide Van De Sfoors with Yanez. Sung in dialect of Lake Como. Very diffeent from anything we have heard tonight so far. Uptempo with nice arrangement with a bit of Latin influence and a mix of a bit of everything. Not bad! He's the other artists I had no idea who he is.... After some nonsense bla bla bla by Morandi and Belen time for a break. It's quite interesting I have liked most the two artists I had never heard before. Should I be worried?
22.31 Back on stage with Luca and Paolo and their comic act. Can't be worse than the Finnish one in Euroviisut? Indeed, they sing one of Morandi's Sanremo hits with new lyrics... Berlusconi amongst others gets his share of "praise".... :-) After this musical treat in the notes of In amore let's get back to business.
22.36 Time for Anna Oxa. La mia anima d'uomo.She has a hair accident just like La Tatangelo! Whatäs going on? She looks and acts weird dressed in Jane Finda's aerobics dress with neon bracelet and it's hard to understand one word she's singing or shouting the chorus. I was hoping she's be back with a bang but she's still in the dark place. Yikes.
22.43 After some bla bla bla with Morandi and Elisabetta time for Tricarico and 3 colori. Very nervous and shaky performance, or simply he can't sing I don't know. The song isn't much to talk about either... about the Italian flag in desperate attempt to fish votes with patriotism which has never been very strong in Italy. Useless crap.
22.47 Morandi and Belen waste some time off stage amongst the orchestra so they can fix it for the next act or something. Yes indeed, next Modá with Emma. Arriverá. One of the superfavourites, let's hear how it is! Modá in dark suits, Emma in turquoise minidress. And yes, messy hair! But less than the two previous disasters, maybe the hairdresser is getting his act together little by little? There's hope for Nathalie to have it nice and done as she's out second to last. The song? Disappointment. Pleasant and nice but nothing special really. A big no for Eurovision at least! Modá has much better songs and propbaly Emma, too, even if I don't know her stuff really. And it's time for a break!
23.00 we are back! Morandi and le Vallette on stage....with new dresses. Boombs up even more! Luca and Paolo bring them flowers, after all this is Sanremo, the city of flowers! And the mayor is all smiles, too...
23.4 It's Luca Madonia with Franco Battiato. L'Alieno. Luca on stage alone with his guitar. The song sounds very old Battiato in melody, smooth arrangement. Yes, this sounds very Battiato! Like Battiato light! Il maestro himself walks to the piano in the end and sings a few verses alone and then together with Luca. If you like Battiato you like this! I like it. But not for Eurovision....
23.10 Patty Pravo next with Il vento e le rose.The egocentric diva is in weird black dress, her hair in a very grannylike do (but not messy!). I have never been fan of hers and this song either does nothing to me.She seems to perform every song the same way, the same faces and hand movements. Yawn.
23.15 The trio of male presenters making fun of Berlusconi again. But stop it, it's time for Nathalie! Ah, another commercial break before that...
23.18 And now some Argentinian tango with Belen....What? Are there male couples dancing tango behind her? In RaiUno??
23.24 It's Nathalie with Vivo sospesa. She starts with the piano and after a few notes I'm in love already! For some reason she makes me think of late Valentina Giovagnini and that's not a bad thing. Beautiful song, dramatic enough to make it interesting. No doubt the best choise for Eurovision until now. In fact this would be perfect. My clear favourite! Viva Nathalie!'
23.30 Last but not least Albano with Amanda é libera. Musically pleasant but I'm a bit fed up with this man who suffers of homofobia. The arrangement is quite nice with some oriental influences here and there. Nothing new though.
So in conclusion rather disappointing year in Sanremo I must say. At least with first hearing only 3-4 songs sounded interesting. For Eurovision there isn't much to choose I'm afraid. One word: Nathalie. I would eliminate without doubt Tricarico and Anna Oxa tonight. Tomorrow maybe Pravo and Van De Sfroos or Albano. Or Ferreri.
23.40 we are back in Ariston....Elisabetta and Morandi twisting.... Sigh....
23.44 Time to have a look at the newcomers tomorrow. Hmm, me thinks here are better songs! These eight have been selected out of over 700 hopefuls... And after that Luca and Paolo have their moment again. They are actually quite funny :-)
23.55 More Argentinina tango. Without Belen this time.
23.59 Time for results...but no, time for telepromozione!
00,08 finally back. Is it time now? Tricarico is in. So is Madonia-Battiato. And Ferreri.
00.12 Vecchioni is in.Modá and Emma as well. And Barbarossa & co.
00.15 Albano is in. Nathalie is in! :-) And so is La Crus :-) And Patty Pravo.
00.18 And the last two to go on are.... Davide Van De Sfroos! And the last one is .... Max Pezzali!
00.20 So Anna Oxa is out. And that's only fair. And Oxa-wannabe Anna Tatangelo. But they will have a second chance Thursday night with the two songs kicked out tomorrow. I suspect La Tatangelo will re-enter but Oxa is hopeless.
00.25 Time to say goodnight. Join me again tomorrow when these 12 will perform again along with the newcomers. Buona notte mondo! E tanti auguri alla mia figliastra Aurora nata stamattina! Smack!
Comments
La Crus...was a duet. The duet stopped in 2008 and reunite only for Sanremo After, solo careers of the two singers (Mauro Ermanno Govnaardi and Cesare Malfatti) will restart