Soon the second night will start with all the 14 Artisti and 8 Newcomers. I'll be blogging until I or the webcast will drop...
UPDATE: Italian voters know how to surprise us all: the duets D'Alessio-Berté and Carone-Dalla were eliminated along with Marlene Kuntz and Irene Fornaciari. Here's a recap of the eliminated entries. I bet the two duets will re-enter the contest in second chance. In Newcomers Erica Mou won her duel as expected, and Marco Guazzone won over Giulia Anania.
20.45 here comes the familiar Eurovision theme.... :-) Let the show begin! And it begins with a white and black dance act. And how they come together in harmony in the end. "I have a dream". Very clever.
20.54 without further ado we go to the songs (Phew!). Nina Zilli opens the evening with Per sempre. Totally different look from last night. And she's even better. This would be great for Baku 2012 me thinks. Good old time charm and elegance! After La Zilli Morandi happily announces the last night's viewing figures; over 14 million or 49% share. Not bad at all...
21.04 after Rocco Papaleo's moment it's Arisa time! La notte. Looking every bit fantastic tonight. And the song sounds very nice, too, now when hearing it again. Fragile tender little ballad that could also work in Baku 2012. Perhaps.
21.10 tonight we move fast! Time for the next one, Gigi D'Alessio ft Loredana Bertè with Respirare. It's an odd couple but somehow it works. The song has a real sing-a-long chorus but maybe we can forget Baku 2012 for them.... I have a soft spot for Loredana so I cannot hate this one either. Actually I kinda like it :-)
21.22 after advertising we are back and Gianni Morandi and Rocco Papaleo welcome on stage the ladies Elisabetta Canalis and Belen Rodriguez, stille here. Can Ivanka make it tonight?
21.27 back to music. Pierdavide Carone ft Lucio Dalla with Nani. The song has its certain something and he performs well while Lucio gives a little extra back up by conducting the orchestra and adding vocals here and there. Very Italian. Not very commercial. Let's see how this will do. Very well I suspect. Maybe even to Baku 2012?
21.32 and now we start with the Newcomers selection. Sanremosocial was all made in Facebook initially and after singing live to judges we have the controversial final eight. The first duel is Casillo-Angi. Casillo can't go to Baku as he's only 15, and Angi wants to go to Baku but apparently RAI is not even considering her for that matter... We will see.
Alessandro Casillo starts with É vero. Unlike the Artisti songs these Newcomer songs have been online for ages and Casillo has already an army of teenage girls after him and making their fingers hurt while sending in their votes. Typical Italian pop ballad with additional teenage pathos. Girls will love this. Sigh
And then Eurovision fan Giordana Angi with Incognita poesia. The song is rather difficult but she kept it together well and sung well. Unfortunately I think she has no chance against Casillo. the televote is opened for them. For 20 minutes.
21.50 we go back to Artisti. It's Matia Bazar and Sei tu. A change of look for Silvia as well, tonight in a hot red dress. She sings well and it's all fine but is it exciting? No. Is it fresh? No. Is it safe and sleepy? Yes. And hopefully not for Baku 2012.
21.56 and fast we move on. Eugenio Finardi with E tu lo chiami Dio. I like this. Very melodic, like the songs that made me discover him in the 1980's. But definately not for Baku 2012.
And after Finardi "stop al televoto" and after that some "humour".... yawn.
22.10 and the first Newcomers qualifier is.... Casillo. Quel surprise! And the next duel is Io ho sempre voglia and Celeste Gaia.
Io ho sempre voglia starts with Incredibile. I would just say this song is a very boring one. Not going anywhere, not coming from anywhere. Una noia mortale insomma.
Celeste Gaia continues with Carlo. Now this is much better. Funny little song self written by Celeste who performs it with gusto. This could work also in Baku 2012. Her performance is like a little mini thater with her facial expressions. Good stuff! Televote is open so everybody vote Gaia!
22.26 and we go on with the Artisti. It's Emma with Non è l'inferno. New look also to Emma who gives a very convincing performance of her song. A hot favourite but can she make it? She might be even concidered for Baku 2012. And after Emma time for some advertising.... I hate to say it but I miss Italian advertising in TV - for all the wrong reasons!
22.36 and after ten minutes of bla bla bla... Ivana Mrazova is here! Her neck is working again, Hooray! (Who cares?) But now we will get the news who qualifiers next in Newcomers. Or then not. It's Marlene Kuntz instead with Canzone per un figlio. I'm still amused they are considered the rockiest band in Italy.... Rather useless song I'd say.
22.51 and we go on with Irene Fornaciari and Grande mistero. The surprise of the first night and also a good contender for baku 2012. A very nice uptempo pop song that sounds great with the big orchestra. What she lacks in voice she ads in energy on stage.
22.55 is she Ivana or Ivanka? She is called both all the time.... sigh... But the contest continues with Samuele Bersani and his ball, Un pallone. A nice song, makes me in a good mood. Would be a rather logical follow up to Raphael Gualazzi in a way in Baku 2012, but will they rather take a change of direction? And after that we go for humour again.... this time with antiracism theme. It was fun for a moment but now they sing on stage.... a perfect timing for a pee break, me thinks....
23.14 ok we are back after pubblicità and we will now finally here if it's Gaia or the needy guys. Btw, Casillo won Angi 89%-11%. And Io ho sempre voglia wins here. WTF? The orchestra seems to favour Gaia as well and protests... And right away we go for the third duel, Erika Mou vs. Bidiel.
23.18 and Erica Mou starts with Nella vasca da bagno del tempo. This was a sort of pre-contest favourite and was heavily tipped for Baku 2012 as well. And quite nice it is indeed. Maybe not instant enough for Eurovision but considering Caterina Caselli is behind her (like Raphael Gualazzi) it would be a bit strange she would take care of Eurovision again.... And then Morandi promises to reveal all the votes given in the Facebook voting etc to calm the protests of these elected ones. We will see.
Bidiel next with Sono un errore. Rather boring pop rock. Erica should win this hands down. But then who knows? And the mystery of Ivana/Ivanka's name is resolved. Her name is Ivana but Morandi calls her Ivanka. And her granny.
23.34 and we are back to Artisti. Chiara Civello next with Al posto del mondo. And as we know this song can't go to Baku 2012 for sure. Also she has changed her nude color dress to a hot red. Her vocals are better tonight and the song sways smoothly and is pleasant but heard so many times before.
23.43 next is Noemi with Sono solo parole. Change of dress also for her. And better vocals tonight also for her. The song isn't bad at all but not very original I'm afraid. Bau 2012? I hope not.
23.49 while Sanremo went for pubblicità my stream disappeared again. Buffering buffering.... We still miss Renga and Dolcenera from the Artisti, the result of the third duel and the last Newcomers duel Anania vs. Guazzone. Can't do else than comment them tomorrow.... :-(
Marco Guazzone - Guasto. A guy behind piano with his eyes closed for almost the whole time of the song. Could that be an omen? Anyways, a very nice song and well performed in a sensible jacket.
Giulia Anania - La mail che non ti ho scritto. Nothing wrong with her or the song. But there isn't much to say good either. The song is heard a zillion times, her personality isn't very evident and her voice reminds Gianna Nannini light - and many others.
UPDATE: Italian voters know how to surprise us all: the duets D'Alessio-Berté and Carone-Dalla were eliminated along with Marlene Kuntz and Irene Fornaciari. Here's a recap of the eliminated entries. I bet the two duets will re-enter the contest in second chance. In Newcomers Erica Mou won her duel as expected, and Marco Guazzone won over Giulia Anania.
Comments