Skip to main content

BLOGILKAR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: VALENTINA MONETTA

This season I did an editorial choice not to do any interviews for various reasons, but there's one I just had to do: my main girl Valentina Monetta, the Sammarinese representative for the third year in a row. The young girl using social network almost emerged from the crisalide last year as a woman but this year, maybe, she will shine like a a pearl in the shell in Copenhagen! What does she think about her past, present and future? And what does kite surfing mean to her? Would she rather hang out with Nina, Raphael or Marco? Find it all out here:

Valentina, here you are again. What's up?
It's good, I'm happy and I go forward, doing what I love the most in life and if I have this ability and luck, I owe it to Eurovision.  
To begin with, let's go back in time. Valentina in 2004. Where was she and what she was doing, what she dreamed about?
In 2004, I was working, dating a police officer and in the evenings I trasformed as a singer ..
Well, now let's go to the future instead. Valentina in 2024?
Good question! Maybe I'll have two sons and a Pygmalion companion? Perhaps I'm producing myself and will produce other talents, too. One thing is certain: I will be still singing. 
Back to the present. Soon you'll be in both Eurovision in Concert and the London Eurovision Party once again. What is the significance of these two fan events for you?
It 's great, in both occasions I felt loved so much and this of course is always a great pleasure, I hope it will be like that this time, too.
What do you expect the most in Copenhagen ? You were already in Eurovision twice and you know the festival better than any other artist this year. Do you think this experience helps you in some way?
It's different every time and it's as if it was the first time, although the logistics are more or less the same but every time you breathe a different air, emotions are always more and more intense, but perhaps easier to manage or perhaps not. You're never too experienced and this is its beauty. Eurovision Song Contest will always be one of the most significant experiences of my career and for both my artistic maturity and humanity.
Your performance in the Party of San Marino in Malmo in 2013 was a success which is still talked about. Are you planning something similar in Copenhagen?
Maybe .. hahaha :)
How do you respond to criticism of your Eurovision choices compared to those songs you sing and write for yourself usually and perform in gigs?
I think it's fun and constructive to test and find that you have resources that go beyond your comfort zone and certainty. For me to work with Ralph Siegel and interpret his songs is a privilege and great study. He is a great professional and composer, and if he saw in me in what we propose to you that is a valid reason and I believe in him. Like it or not, what we are able to transmit with his music, it never happened to me before. This is not to say that my music is worth of nothing, in fact, it is thanks to him that many fans have discovered and are singing ''Una giornata bellissima” for example, and I had the opportunity to write and work on my album “Sensibilità”, which will be released on April 4.
If you were not a singer as a profession, what would you do? Or have you always been sure that one day you will a singer? Childhood dreams?
Yes. Since my childhood I knew I had artistic talent, i was always singing and often preferred to play and listen to music instead of other games and even in my dreams. Maybe I would have otherwise been part of Greenpeace and it is never too late unless the planet definitely turns against us seeing how we treat it...
In your third participation at Eurovision you have many supporters but also, in contrast , detractors and critics . How important criticism is to you, what do you think?
The critic is needed but still I go on my way, hoping to make the best choices just like everyone else.
 

 Had you done TV before Eurovision 2012? And what was your biggest audience pre-Baku 2012?
I participated in several talent shows and worked for some local Sammarinese and Italian TVs but never of this caliber. But it's a fact that if I had not sung in clubs with live musicians for years making my steps, I probably would not be here and would not be able to write and compose songs and be able to give so much to the listener.
When you sing in a small club with a few dozen people, or in the arena of 15,000 people and 100 million infront of the TV screen ... is there any difference in the end?
No, the respect I have for myself, the song and the audience in front of me is so huge, no matter how many they are. 
Nina Zilli , Marco Mengoni, Emma .... who is your favorite ? Who of these three would you do a duet with?
All three are great artists .. with all three but with Nina Zilli we would have so much fun togerher, I think. 
Finally let's talk about something totally different. Kite surfing . How would you describe in a few words what it is and what it gives to you? Many do not have a clue of this extreme sport There are also various types of kitesurfing , freestyle , freeride, downwinders , jumping, wave -riding .....
Hahaha .. kitesurfing you can cherish for many reasons. After I begin to practice this sport it has given me so much .. It helped me overcome my fears and insecurities, and when I'm stressed, it helps me to regain my mental and physical balance. I love the wind and its unpredictability and surf on water or snow (snow kite), driven by a large kite, being caught by his strength, it is an unforgettable experience ..(And sometimes it gives unforgetable moments to passersby, too, read more here) I am still a beginniner and now I am still learning but to do freestyle that is my goal. I've even written a song '' Il vento (Wind) '' that will be in my album "Sensibilità".
And with that I thank you. See you soon in Copenhagen! 
Thank you! ENJOY YOUR LIFE! It's worth it! . .. Kisses, Vale. 
 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

ESC 2016 WISH LIST: MARGARET FOR POLAND

Małgorzata Jamroży aka Margaret has also been tipped for Eurovision and apparently she did turn it down but she'd be perfect. She's got a look and persona you can't unnotice nor forget, she's got hit songs, she has been voted or nominated for everything from Trendy artist to the Hope of the Year, Fashion Icon and Glamour Woman of the year besides the usual best video, song, album, debut..... Oh she's also a fashion designer! She's very clever with social medias and would surely use it to her advantage if selected for Stockholm 2016. Her debut album is titled Add the blonde , do we need to say more? Except it includes mostly Swedish written pop tunes like Tell me how are ya , Wasted , Start a fire and Heartbeat . And of course her debut single and internationally noticed Thank you very much that you can enjoy below with all its anti-textil feel. I think she's Eurovision perfection, she's cheeky and fun, can we have her?

SONGS OF THE YEAR 2015: #5 KRISTA SIEGFRIDS - ON & OFF

Krista Siegfrids is delivering nice pop tunes one after another and this one is particularly catchy and soon you will be singing along..... Hopefully her Melodifestivalen entry will be equally good!

Regina Lund - naked and censored

Regina Lund's new video Jag är osynlig was censored by Youtube only minutes after it had been uploaded. In the video she was playing a female Jesus who gets crusified in the end. "I was shocked!" she says. "There's nothing more naked in it as in every church! It's ok to have naked man hanging on the wall but my nakedness is too much on internet? ". Oh well, no comment. She's prepairing a new album Dare Regina Lund and we of course remember her from her Melodifestivalen 2007 adventure with Rainbow star .

ESC 2016 BELARUS: NAKED WITH WOLVES?

Today's funniest Eurovision related story comes from Belarus. Some sources claim Ivan wants to perform on stage naked and with live wolf or wolves. It surely would be a first on Eurovision stage! We have seen some forgotten underwear over the years, and some cardbox animals though..... Is it time to take things a bit further?  No, according the rules live animals are not allowed, and Eurovision being a family show nudity won't do either. (It seems to be ok to be half naked if you are a dancer though..... )

CAROLA'S BOOBS STEAL THE SHOW, SVT APOLOGIES

Update! Another thing got Swedes talking last night: Carola's boobs when she was giving away an award. This is not the first time her boombs cause headlines; her misfortunate adventures in the 80's in Japan wer explained with her boobs being too big for Japanese market. Ok.... Or was it the song ? Anyways, Carola apologies and says she thinks the dress is stylish and elegant (even her friends said so) and she's a mature woman in her 40s, not a 16-year-old girl and looks like one. The Swedish Oscars, Guldbagge awards were given out last night. Carola was there as a guest star to sing Barbra Streisand's The way we were when honoring the movie stars who passed away during 2012. However, the cameras were too much on Carola, not on the stars showed in photos in the background and that upset many viewers as that part of the show was to celebrate them, not Carola. Oh well...  The producer of the show tells in Aftonbladet the part of the show was made the sam

TIM SCHOU AND HIS NAKED GRAVITY

Tim Schou has a pretty good solo career going since he left his friends in London. He's travelling the world and relesing songs and videos. The latest one is a great track and comes with a steamy video that kinda takes away from the song really. But who's complaining. If you got it, flaunt it. Enjoy the video below. This post coming after the other Dane, Rasmus Seebach as wishlist for Eurovision. To think about it, Tim would do nicely, too. Maybe he should give it another go?

JEDWARD GETS NAKED FOR THE FANS

Well, almost. The boys celebrated their 650.000th follower on Twitter by being photographed fresh from shower as promised. It's not the first time they drop their clothes as you see here . Meanwhile their second album is nearly here and the title track Young love is hitting the charts....

GREECE: HELENA PAPARIZOU HITS AGAIN WITH HAIDE

Eurovision song contest 2005 winner Helena Paparizou has been enjoying Top-5 hits every year since 2003 with the exception of 2010 and 2014, this latest one being already her 27th! And Haide is charting also in Bulgaria and Finland, of all places. The catchiness of her hits has changed less over the years than her face....  Here's the English version , below the Greek version. 

ITALY: ALICE 70 - PER ELISA

Alice's second Sanremo. No longer Alice Visconti, nor Carla Bissi but simply Alice. A song written by Alice herself with Franco Battiato and Giusto Pio. An usual song lacking a proper refrain, performed in an aggressive way by fierce looking Alice with wild hair. It was a real breakthrough. If the trio's first offering the year before for Italian hit waves was a hit this became a mega hit and international success that made her known not only in Italy but abroad as well. Such a shame Italy didn't participate in Eurovision that year (but her time would come) but then again, most likely they wouldn't have had sent Sanremo winner anyways. Number one hit in Italy, Top-5 in Austria and Switzerland, Top-20 in Germany.  The song featured in her 4th album simply titled Alice, that was published abroad as Per Elisa with different styling. A new version of the song is included in Personal Jukebox album. Per Elisa Vuoi vedere che perderai anche me Per Elisa Non sai più distinguere

ITALY: ALICE 70 - NATA IERI

  Alice - Nata ieri In 2012 Alice released her first studio album with new original songs in 14(fourteen!!!) years, Samsara . Among them a song Franco Battiato had written especially for her (Eri con me), a first since 1982!, a couple from Tiziano Ferro including this Nata ieri. The album included also three covers from Lucio Dalla, Giuni Russo and Califfi. Her fans had been waiting for this album and it entered the Italian charts straight at number 10.  Se la vita è migliorata dopo ogni ferita, è grazie a te. Tra le grigie ceneri dei giorni neri, lì sono nata ieri. If life has improved after every wound, it is thanks to you. Among the gray ashes of the dark days, there I was born yesterday.