Toto Cutugno came only 5th with L'Italiano in Sanremo 1983 but it was clearly the big seller of that edition and an international hit. Kari Tapio covered it in Finnish as Olen suomalainen (I'm a Finn) and the lyrics are even more patriotic than the original Italian version if possible - praising Finland and it's white and blue spirit and people. Finns fell in love instantly and this song became Kari Tapio's trademark song that he would (or have to) perform in every gig until his sudden death last December. An evergreen, a karaoke favourite and another song most every Finn knows the lyrics by heart - some of them at least! And here's the perfect duet.
The Azerbaijani selection show for the represant was as long as the selection process for the five finalists. Kurt Calleja from Malta and Can Bonomo from Turkey were present with Ell/Nikki to see Sabina Babayeva to emerge as the winner after each and every finalist had done about zillion songs amongst other guests. Now the Azeri TV will shop around a suitable song for her.

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