Tonight's the night: the 70th Festival della Canzone Italiana di Sanremo kicks off its five nights marathon of music, guests, comic and everything in between. Come Saturday we have a winner and most likely the Italian entry for the 65th Eurovision song contest in May in Rotterdam, too.
Amadeus is this year's host and artistic director and by his side he will have every night also singer Tiziano Ferro and comic Fiorello. And a string of ladies that keep changing every night. Tonight they are Rula Jebreal, is an Israeli Arab foreign policy analyst, journalist, novelist and screenwriter with dual Israeli and Italian citizenship, and Diletta Leotta. a (sports) television presenter.
Tonight's guests include Eurovision veteran Emma and the cast of film Gli anni piú belli, a film directed by Gabriele Muccino where also Emma makes her acting debut in a feature film. We will also have Eurovision veterans Albano e Romina Power and Jessica Notaro with Antonio Maggio.
The evening is opened by a
monologue by Fiorello. Of peace and other things. He is a bit divisive but I have always liked him and it's nice to have him in Sanremo in a big role finally....
The night should kick off with the Nuove proposte/Newcomers semi-finals. Done in duels the winners move on to Friday's final. Tonight we have:
These youngsters songs have been out there already for months but I must admit I haven't listened them since the selection in November (or when it was). Tsunami is kinda nice but nothing special really for me. Energetic performance. I suppose they could win this being somewhat popular I hear.
Traditional Sanremo ballad. She's fresh and pretty, young (16), sings beautifully. Classic song as said. I like this. I hope she could make it somehow I'm not very optimistic. The stage isn't revealing much yet, it was all blue for Eugenio, now all red for Tecla.
And the winner is with 50,6% (!!!) .....
Tecla! yay!
This isn't for me. Apparently this is very hip and cool but I don't like the song nor his voice. Or the questionable look and fashion sense. Nope. But good job, not just my cup of tea.
Another classic Sanremo ballad more or less. But he hasn't got charm, just head full of curls. Tecla was adorable compared to him. At this point I hope for Fadi's qualification..... A touch of Arican hand clapping along with the audience and orchestra in the end. The same unimaginative staging color for this duel: first blue, then red.
And the winner is..... with 54,0% Leo Gassmann. Ok.....
Enter
Tiziano Ferro with Volare, the most famous song from the 70 years of Sanremo, the symbol of Italian music. Tiziano loves Sanremo, ok. How about entering the competition for once? The etrrnal question: Ok with the international guests but why the Italian? If they want to be in Sanremo, enter the competition. That's what I think.
After the twelve of the Big artists will perform and judged by a Demoscopic Jury (just like the Newcomers). In the end of the evening a ranking will be revealed. Tonight's Big are:
She's on her sixth Sanremo, after being the runner up in 2000. The same team is behind her song this year. Pretty in her green trouser dress she belts out her rock song that is pretty much as I expected, no surprise here. Never been a fan of Vasco Rossi nor her but this works. Arrangement is a bit messy (or I have bad sound on stream, also possible.) Anthemic. Eurovision? Maybe not, would end up like Emma I suppose.....
***
This is his 9th Sanremo having won the Newcomers in 1990 and the Big category in 2004. In 1991 he placed third. He enter with his usual look, sits down by the piano and sings a song that is like all his songs and sounds like him. Like Irene not bad but not one that I will be listening a lot in the future I believe.... Further listenings will tell if this keeps
*** or drops to **..... Eurovision? No.
Her fourth Sanremo but she makes a comeback with a record breaking gap of 48 years! A new record. She may be 74 but she rocks the pants off most everyone. This is catchy and uptempo, I didn't know what I expected but not this. I'm liking this! Now I totally understand why she's here. Fab job! Eurovision? Hmmm..... now that's an interesting question..... She hasn't been very fortunate in Sanremo those 3 times, now she certainly betters her placements!
****
His second Sanremo after last year's debut. He shocked last year and did it again. Entering in a cape and then revealing a skintight nude jumpsuit..... Grannies mau have suffered. The song starts slow and becomes a uptempo dance track propably in studio version, now a bit messy. His vocals and pronunciation are imbearable. Eurovision? Simply not strong enough vocally, otherwise a tiny maybe.
**
His debut in music business happened with Sebastian Ingrosso (Benjamin's uncle) and Steve Angello who later became Sweish House Mafia! He was the Newcomers runner up in 2013 Two years ago he was in Sanremo with Roy Paci so this is his solo debut among the Big. Being one of the pre-contest favorites he delivered his piano driven ballad. Beautiful, maybe a bit shouty in chorus but very, very promising. Classic but fresh with good lyrics and it all comes together nicely. Eurovision? Why not?If nothing better comes up. My favorite so far
****
They are back for the third time. Their gimmmick is the sign language interpreter behind the singer. The song is pop rock ballad where the titles comes very clearly. Nothing original. Very repetitive. Eurovision? No. My playlist? No. Yawn... No vibrations for me. Sorry.
*
Bebbeeeeeeee!!!!
Enter Romina Carrisi, last time on stage in Teatro Ariston inside her pregnant mother Romina Power, when she sung with then hubby Albano Nostalgia canaglia. Today the fighting couple performs again and Romina Junior has had a poor plastic surgery..... Romina Sr has lost the rest of her voice sadly and I am just waiting for tomorrow and Ricchi e Poveri reunion. I always preferred them anyways.... They continued with a medley of their hits and then their first new song in 25 years, Raccogli il attimo. In playback.
X Factor 2018 making his Sanremo debut in competition. Last year he did a surprise appearance. Heavy guitars and angry rap and a killer chorus. One of the pre-contest favorites isn't exactly my cup of tea but he does a great job in his genre. I guess. Eurovision? Not really. My playlist? Hardly. But the chorus is good. Hmmm..... A
*** for now.
And Tiziano Ferro is back singing
Almeno tu nell'universo, a Mia Martini classic...... Because why not? Should have been some other song though. It's always this one and Mimi had other great songs to choose from for a change......
And then various monologies and other nonsense for ages, including the film production, including Emma...... while we all are waiting for Elodie and her Mahmood written song...... Sigh.
Her second time after debuting in 2017. Ok, Mahmood and Dardust have made it again. Certainly modern and not the typical Sanremo song. I suspect this becomes just better with further hearings. Fandom will go wild I guess. I like it. Eurovision worthy? Absolutely. My play list? Totally. This echoes
Soldi but is totally different so it wouldn't be labeled as the same old in Eurovision. But all this said is it strong enough. And would it be wise? And of course: could this win the festival? Maybe not.
****
Then a very touching monologue by Rula Jebreal .... not going into detail but my eye corner may have been a bit wet, just like hers..... Standing ovation. And totally worth it. Girl power!
Bugo is debutant and Morgan has been to Sanremo with his band Bluvertigo twice. Very 80's with a lot of Battiato style actually. But a weird combination on stage, no real connection until the end. Rather useless I'm afraid. No Eurovision, no playlist.
**
Returns Emma on stage with her latest hit Stupida allegria. Because why not? No one can confuse her being in the competition, right? Very good there's no televote .....
A medley of her hits follow, including the Sanremo winner
Non è l'inferno. And after that Amadeus and Emma dress up and go for a walk outside across Sanremo city to another stage somewhere. Because why not? It's only 00.30 after all......
Fresh winner of Amici makes his Sanremo debut. He's also the youngest (22) Big artist this year. He looks and sounds a bit nervous to be honest. The song is Il Volo-esque tenor pop. Melodic and classic Sanremo song. Something I like. But with a performance like this he won't go far but all the ingredients are there, he just needs to nail it. At this point
****
And then we have Tiziano Ferro again.... Because WHY NOT????? Argh....
Winner of vocalists and runner up of the whole Amici three years ago makes his Sanremo debut. Was it worth it? No. Unoriginal forgettable nonsense. But hey, he's ultimate prove the shoulder påds of 80's and large pants are making a comeback!
**
Another musical break that has nothing to do with the competition: Antonio Maggio and Gessica Notaro in
La faccia e il cuore, written by Ermal Meta. Anti violance against women. The song is better than most in the competition......
Newcomers winner and Eurovision runner up 2011 and Sanremo runner up 2014 is back for the fourth time. The song is indeed full of Brazilian feeling, great piano playing and has a kind of lounge feeling turned into summer party. Original. But I can't get over his 70's pimp look/Elton John at his worst..... But with further listenings this will grow or just fade away. Eurovision? Why not? Playlist? Yes
***
Now there shouldn't be much more than the ranking of the night voted by the Demoscopic jury of 300 persons. About the time, too. It's 1.15 there, 2.15 here....
No comment
Her second time after debuting in 2017. Ok, Mahmood and Dardust have made it again. Certainly modern and not the typical Sanremo song. I suspect this becomes just better with further hearings. Fandom will go wild I guess. I like it. Eurovision worthy? Absolutely. My play list? Totally. This echoes Soldi but is totally different so it wouldn't be labeled as the same old in Eurovision. But all this said is it strong enough. And would it be wise? And of course: could this win the festival? Maybe not. ****
Then a very touching monologue by Rula Jebreal .... not going into detail but my eye corner may have been a bit wet, just like hers..... Standing ovation. And totally worth it. Girl power!
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