Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Una voce per San Marino 2024 gives a second chance to Loredana Bertè to get to Eurovision song contest in Malmö, Sweden, as she has declared her wish to go there and annoy her ex-husband Björn Borg in every possible way. SMRTV said they invited her due public demand and her before mentioned wish. The other artists had to apply unlike in previous years when they were invited. However, due to this fact it is yet uncertain La Bertè will be able to make it as she's already booked for gigs and promotion here and there and other work. The final decision will come in coming days when he's got her schedules sorted out. UPDATE 22.2.2024: Loredana Bertè confirmed with her Sanremo song Pazza Jalisse has tried to get back to Sanremo for almost three decades now without luck, and apparently also to Eurovision via San Marino and here they are finally. This blogger loved them back then and their debut album was fab. The material after that so and so. I hope they have something good to give us...

After the list of those who made it to the festival the media is announcing the ones who didn't make it this time around, among them Eurovision veterans Jalisse who were not taken for the 26th year in a row! Now that's a record to beat. But they are not alone. The list of excluded ones includes names like Mietta, Paola Turci, Syria, Dolcenera and Marcella Bella, for the zillionth time. But also names like Elettra Lamborghini, Francesca Michielin, Michele Bravi, Annalisa and Eurovision veterans Francesco Gabbani, Raf, Fausto Leali, Ricchi e Poveri, Alan Sorrenti and Albano. Add names like Eiffel 65, that would have filled the nostalgy slot nicely. Without further notes here's the list combined from various sources of names that didn't make it this year: Alan Sorrenti, Albano, Alex Wyse, Andrea Sannino, Annalisa, Antonino, Auroro Boreolo, Baby K, Beba, Bresh, Bugo, Chadia Rodriguez, Clementino, Daniele Silvestri,  Ditonellapiaga, Dolcenera, Drusilla Foer, Eiffel 65, Elett...

Sanremo 2022 kicks off tonight when finally the 12 become 2 and those two join the Sanremo 2022 Big cast. Meanwhile there was a rumor Amadeus might be adding another two Big names in the cast as well to make it 26 in total. Veteran names like Alice (!!!), Ron, Nada, Marcella Bella, Ricchi e Poveri, Riccardo Fogli, Luca Barbarossa and Anna Tatangelo, or newcomers like Ariete and Mara Sattei, or will he add the newcomers winners from past two years Leo Gassman and Gaudiano after all? Or more superpower to the already stellar cast with Francesco Gabbani, Elodie or Diodato? Or Giovanni Caccamo with a song written by late Franco Battiato? Matteo Andrea's son Bocelli? Simona Molinari? Renzo Rubino?  All that proved wrong (so far....) yesterday when he announced that not only Top-2 but Top-3 of the artists tonight will have a ticket to Ariston in February!  He also let us know that 320 submissions didn't make it, among them that of Jalisse who he said he's got nothing personal aga...

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 winner s. Maybe the most controversial Italian participation at the Eurovision ever. Italy returned after skipping three editions and vanished after this until 2011. The one surrounded by all sort of conspiracy theories of Rai making sure they won't win,  and dirty job by the Italian media. All in vain, Jalisse finished 4th out of 25 with their Sanremo winner Fiumi di parole . Unknown Jalisse's win at Sanremo was some sort of a shock and soon they became a symbol of everything bad and ridiculous in the festival and sadly this image still remains. Jalisse has tried to get back to Sanremo ever since and has accused and blamed Rai in turn but the fandom loves them and this song and indeed the song is great! Italian media tried to accuse th...

It's summer and most every one is releasing summer songs with Latin flavour but not Jalisse. On the contrary. They go metal. Don't be afraid to call it love , they sing in their latest single and video featuring metal band Teodasia and the result is somewhat Nightwish-esque and against all odds it works as Alessandra's voice fits in very well, maybe even better than in some previous pop tunes they have released....  And guess what, by October they will publish a new album with only new songs! (About the time, too...)

Here are some sounds to fight PED. Enjoy! Jalisse covers another Eurovision veteran, Matia Bazar

Rai1 launched a new show this summer Ora o mai più or a second chance for those forgotten singers of the 80s and 90s to retake their spotlight and maybe place in the charts. Four prime time shows and an album to be released on July 10 in every Italian newspaper stand. Plus dueting with the big names of the business who were their coaches and doing covers. And finally in the last episode a new song that should relaunch their career.... Inviting, isn't it?  This blogger has been following Italian music since very early 80s so the whole cast was very familiar (with the exception of Stefano Sani, tbh) and I even own most of the hit records they had made in the past. From the very first episode Lisa was a front runner winning the first and second show - there were coaches like Marco Masini, Loredana Berté, Zarrillo, Marcella Bella and Patty Pravo with Eurovision veteran Fausto Leali who voted along with the public - but Eurovision veterans Jalisse stormed to victory in the third...

Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro are already Italy's 8th duo in the Eurovision song contest over the years. That counts also then happily married Al Bano & Romina Power who did it twice, and another stilL happily married couple, Alessandra Drusian and Fabio Ricci aka Jalisse, while the other duos have been formeD for Sanremo, or Eurovision song contest in mind. And the interesting fact is they all ended up in top-10! This is as good an eXcuse to relisten and watch all these beauties.... 1975 - Wess & Dori Ghezzi - Era - 3rd 1976 - Al Bano & Romina Power - We'll live it all again - 7th 1984 - Alice & Franco Battiato - I treni di Tozeeur - 5th 1985 - Al Bano & Romina Power - Magic oh magic - 7th 1987 - Umberto Tozzi & Raf - Gente di mare - 3rd 1989 - Anna Oxa & Fausto Leali - Avrei voluto - 9th 1997 - Jalisse - Fiumi di parole - 4th 2018 - Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro - Non mi avete fatto niente - ?

Two weeks to go for the announcements of the Sanremo artists, and finding out who are the Newcomers finalists. The rumour mill is running wild as always and some new names have entered the speculation in the past days.  Ermal Meta could finally move among the Big ones after ebing in Newcomers last year (and twice before with various bands), Sanremo winner and Eurovision veteran Enrico Ruggeri is named again as a possible one, Al Bano really wants to celebrate his 50th anniversary of his first big success in Sanremo, Francesco Renga and  Renzo Rubino could be back, too. Some names that have been missing for some time could reappear invited by Carlo Conti: Syria, Paolo Vallesi, Mietta, Mariella Nava, Marco Masini, Jalisse, Ricchi e Poveri, Zarrillo, Ron, New Trolls, Paola Turci, Annalisa Mnetti, Dirotta su Cuba, Nomadi .... The duo that comes up every year is back this year, too: Anna Tatangelo & Gigi D'Alessio . Another possible duos might be Elodie & Fabr...

While the guessing and gossiping continues and same names are making it loud and clear they are aiming for Sanremo - from Jalisse to Gerardina Trovato and Al Bano - and some surprise names like Fiorella Mannoia seem to materialize, some other artists are making it known they won't be there in 2017.  Those include fan favorites Annalisa  and Nek , Eurovision veteran Nina Zilli, teenage heartdrops Benji & Fede , previous Newcomers winner and last year's third placed Giovanni Caccamo (but this blogger bets his duet partner Deborah Iurato will be there!), and further Malika Ayane (too busy playing Evita ) and Giorgia (she's probably going to be a guest star instead), Noemi , Tiromancino, Fred De Palma , Valerio Scanu , Urban Strangers and TheGiornalisti . The mystery will be solved in 3 weeks, on December 12. Stay tuned...

The primetime show on Raiuno on December 12, 2016 to select the six Newcomers for the festival - and announce the two that made it through from the AreaSanremo selection - got just a tiny bit more interesting! Carlo Conti will in the same show reveal the 20 Big. A smart move from the Sunday afternoon shows or some random last bit of the tv-news to let the world know. This will also attract surely more viewers for the newcomers and hype up Sanremo in general. Apparently we will also know his co-host(s) who could and should be Laura Pausini .  Meanwhile the guessing and wishing for the Big artists has also started. Chiara, Nina Zilli, Francesco Sarcina, Michele Zarrillo and Giusy Ferri are given as sure thing. Marco Carta (well, he has treid to get back to Sanremo many years by now), Clementino, Fausto Leali, Syria, Nesli and Elodie are also highly tipped, as is last year's newcomers winner Francesco Gabbani . One to propose themselves - once again - is  Jalisse . ...

Laura Pausini debuted as show hostess with Paola Cortellesi, an imitator and comedian, last night on Rai1. And she handled it surprisingly well, a highly entertaining show with Marco Mengoni , Noemi and Andrea Bocelli among guests. On top of that she did several of her songs , medleys, talked a bit dirty, changed outfits. And it was striking how Eurovision/Swedish friendly the show was for an Italian prime time production: first of all Mengoni was there, A medley included Gente di mare , Jalisse was named (and Fiumi di parole sung but with different lyrics by Paola), Andrea Bocelli sat down the piano and played and sung a bit of Pippi Longstocking , Laura's act for Innamorata was all yellow-blue.... they did ABBA medley ! And more; there was Raul Bova, they did The Superemes ! Marco Mengoni and Paola Cortellesi did touching monologue against bullism with Guerriero . Teary eyes all over. That was entertainment at its perfection.  They show was also a rating success being t...

Jalisse is back. Or at least trying to be. Ever since they won Sanremo 1997 and for some reason the Italian media decided to put them down and snob them every possible way (There's even a book written about it, Valeria Ducato's I Jalisse, che fine hanno fatto? or Jalisse, whatever happened to them? ). Over the years they have released songs following their excellent debut album including the Sanremo winner and Italy's Eurovision 1997 entry Fiumi di parole , but to be honest, the material they have released hasn't been up to the standard of the debut album that was indeed something unique; fresh and original topped with interesting arrangement and production topped with Alessandra's crystallic voice. It's no secret they have tried to get back to Sanremo without luck, and even to Eurovision via San Marino's 2008 selection but nothing. The final slap in face must have been Alessandra's participation in The Voice where none of the judges wanted her......

Italian OGAE has selected its song and singer for the OGAE Song contest 2013. Reigning champions nearly sent last year's winner Nina Zilli for the third time in four years but the Facebook "jury" put end to that and her Per le strade . Annalisa's win with Alice e il blu was a very convincing one anyways: winner with the international jury and second with the Facebook jury and the OGAE Italy members jury. Facebookers put only Emma with her 1,2,3 ahead her, and the Italy memebers Nina Zilli. Marco Mengoni came third with Una parola , Jalisse with Tra rose e cielo 11th, Raphael Gualazzi with Mambo soul 15th. Excellent choice all in all and most likely Italy will be scoring very well again this year. A 5th victory isn't out of reach either.... Check the full list of songs, the voting and the placements here . Annalisa Scarrone took part in this year's Sanremo with Scintille and Non so ballare , and apparently was also considered for Eurovision by the ju...

What a weekend, ragazzi! I just realized I have spent over 21 hours in front  of the screen blogging and watching Sanremo.... no wonder my shoulders, neck and head are aching like there's no tomorrow. But all is fine when things end well. My favorite won the Newcomers Friday night, namely Antonio Maggio with Mi servirebbe sapere . Then I was having cold sweat for the Big category's superfinal when Elio & Co and Modá made it but Marco Mengoni made it all up by winning it and even going to Eurovision. For the first time since Jalisse Italy will be represented by the latest Sanremo winner, even if he will most likely pick up a song from his coming album. L'essenziale wouldn't be bad either; a classic Italian song but how would it fit into 3 minute formula? Latvia also selected their winner and I must say I'm not pleased at all.... PeR and Here we go didn't impress me before nor after their win..... Shame.  In Hungary they also selected the last semifina...

Tonight the Bosnia-Herzegovina's entry will be presented in a show that besides Dino features last year's Vukasin Brajic and Italy's "no-longer-the-last-Italian-entry" Jalisse. Dino will also sing other songs and duets, one of the with Beatrice and their 1999 entry I putnici . The show starts at 21.00 CET. If the show goes like last year the Bosnian version will be first heard and then the English version. UPDATE: Love in rewind it is. And I like it! 

Alessandra Drusian has proposed a song to the selection committee of the 61. Sanremo festival. The lyrics of the song have been written by the pupils of the school in L'Aquila, the town that suffered in the earthqueke last year. "I want to bring to the stage the dreams and the hopes of these kids, and to show how creative these kids are" she tells. She has been working on this kind of a project with Fabio Ricci, her husband and the other hald of Jalisse for years already, writing songs with children and doing various projects in schools. Alessandra is also a singing teacher so it all fits very nicely. Now we just have to wait and see if she will be selected to the festival... Jalisse remains the last Italian entry in the Eurovision when they took Fiumi di parole to the 4th place back in 1997 after winning Sanremo.

Laura Pausini gathered with the help of Elisa, Gianna Nannini, Giorgia and Fiorella Mannoia the leading ladies in the Italian music business together to S.Siro stadium in Milan last June 22 to raise money for the Abruzzi earthquake victims. Now exactly a year later the 2-DVD of the event will be published with over 4 hours of music, 50 songs and 1.183.406,52 euros raised back then. Eurovision stars Alice, Anna Oxa and Alessandra Drusian join in with recent X Factor and other reality stars Alessandra Amoroso, Giusy Ferreri, Noemi and Malika Ayanae with the international superstars Laura Pausini, Gianna Nannini and Elisa added with national megastars Giorgia, Fiorella Mannoia and so on... Solos, duets, groups. Their own songs and covers. Four hours of girl power. If you can get one! Tette per un tetto! (translates to Tits for roofs!)

The past few days the media has been filled with Jalisse and everybody's talking about them, Sanremo and Eurovision again. Why? Gigi Vesigna (78), a great music expert in Italy as well as ex-editor in chief of TV Sorrisi e Canzoni, the main TV-music magazine in Italy, has published a book of the history of Sanremo titled Vox populi, voci di sessant'anni della nostra vita , on what's going on behind she scenes, how victories have been bought and how it all changed when Jalisse won and Sanremo was never the same again.  When they won in 1997 they didn't belong to any major record company but had produced themselves, independent. That made all the major labels furious and - as Antonio Ricci writes in the book - "instead of being treated like a winner they should have,  they were completely cancelled from radio and TV, they were just made to disappear. Ever since winning Sanremo wasn't a big deal anymore. A couple of months later the winner was forgotten matematic...

Sammarinese newspaper Tribuna wrote about Eurovision on August 5 revealing they had already chosen Little Tony to follow Miodio's footsteps. Little Tony was the chairman of the committee that chose Miodio to be the country's first represent in Eurovision in 2008 in Belgrade. Despite the lack of success in contest itself Miodio has managed to keep going and become rather popular. The government of San Marino was happy for the visibility ESC gave them. So, they were to be in Moscow initially and government decided to skip the selection process (apparently around 30 acts did apply to represent San Marino in 2008, amongst them Jalisse and L'Aura) and send Little Tony - who is not so little anymore at the tender age of 68 - instead of giving a chance to some new talent. Change of government and lack of funds put end to this little farsa italiana and San Marino did not return to the contest in Moscow 2009. Maybe it was a good thing.... Little Tony's hits include Cuore matt...