Italy took its well deserved third victory - finally! - at the Eurovision song contest 2021. Over the years several other Italian entries would have been worthy winners. In this series I will go through all of them from the worst ranking to the winners.
Italy did a triuphant and somewhat unexpected return to Eurovision in 2011 after 14 years pause. Rai timidly chose Sanremo Newcomers winner Raphael Gualazzi with his Follia d'amore that became mixed language version Madness of love for Eurovision. The points were rolling in and Italy took a surprise second place out of 43, heavily packed by the juries.
Raphael Gualazzi (40) already releasd his debut album in 2005 and slowly made a name in the jazz and blues circuit mostly abroad before trying the Sanremo card. After winning Newcomers 2011 he returned in 2013 and 2014 placing fifth and second, and again in 2020 (11th). Five studio albums so far with many singles and most of live appearances in various jazz festivals his career is still going strong.
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