Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The hugely successful and polar duo has left Sanremo after five years. Whoever follows them has to face a similar situation as UMK2024 artists had to do post-Käärijä. Nothing is good enough. Artic director and host Amadeus and co-host Fiorello, after celebrating Angelina Mango's victory on stage walked out of Teatro Ariston hand in hand, stepped into their Cinderella carriage with horses and drove to sunset, or as it was Sanremo final night to dawn. All that after scoring a record breaking 90,7% share in the viewing figures as nearly 9 million Italians were still clued to their tv-screens to see them off. Earlier in the evening they reached 18,259 million and 85% share at 01.56 when the Top-5 super finalists were announced. How can you beat that? And it's not only the viewing figures but his five years have also been hugely popular in charts as all those chart toppers, multi platinum selling singles prove. Mahmood winning in 2019 was a shock and a start of something new in the ...

Last night 15 acts performed and the voting was 50-50 by radios and televoters and the ranking went all upside down on the top: Geolier first, Irama second. Annalisa, Loredana Berté and Mahmood managed to keep their Top-5 going on.  The Fantasanremo thingy is getting very annoying as the artists are collecting points by wearing black, sunglasses, giving flowers to conductors, kissing people in the audience, taking the broom on stage and other stupid things that get very tiring in the end. Especially in the wardrobe as if I counted right 11 out of 15 wore black. Clara stands out even more so as the real beauty of elegance this year sporting another stunning gown last night. That was not black. Today's news is John Travolta didn't sign the permission to use the footage they have of his visit never ever anywhere again and totally understandably. It was ridiculous. As Fiorello admitted after it was probably the most stupid thing ever seen on Italian television. I don't think Tr...

The 74th Festival della canzone italiana kicks off in legendary Teatro Ariston in Sanremo tonight. The artistic director and main host is once again Amadeus for the 5th year, officially his last but there's demand from Rai for him to do it again next year. His festivals have been not only viewing successes but also an endless source for multiplatinum scoring hits. The first night's co-host is none other than last year's winner and Eurovision 2023 4th placed Marco Mengoni who will open the night with his winning entry (and the most streamed Italian song abroad) Due vite. Singer and Sanremo winner Giorgia will co-host second night, comedian/actress Teresa Mannio 3rd, showgirl Lorella Cuccarini 4th and finally legendary funny man Fiorello the final.  Among the artists Eurovision veterans Mahmood, Emma, Il Volo and Ricchi e Poveri with Diodato. Other previous winner is Francesco Renga. 15 out of 30 acts are debutantes, or 16 if you don't count Negramaro's participation ...

Here it is finally! It looks like Sanremo has finally taken the crown off Melodifestivalen as the most anticipated national selection show. Which it isn't really but that's a minor detail for fandom. Makes me think of this blog's early years when Italy hadn't yet returned to Eurovision and I was pretty alone following and blogging about it. Oh well, things change. I will be watching as always, blogging along and reviewing the songs as they happen. Amadeus is the artistic director, the Godfather of Måneskin's global success. Next to him as always Fiorello and tonight's prettist host is film star Ornella Muti. Musical guest stars are of course Måneskin, and Meduza. Add tennis player Matteo Berrettini, actors Raul Bova, Nico Frascati and Claudio Gioè. Orietta Berti and Fabio Rovazzi are hosting a side show from a cruise boat where tonight's guests are Colapesce Dimartino whose last year's entry Musica leggerissima was the biggest success from Sanremo, rece...

  A new day in Sanremo, or rather night, after yesterday's start that was in my opinion a bit slow and underwhelming what comes to the songs and the overall experience and it all can't be put on the absence of the live public. Tonight continues with the same formula as last night: first four Newcomers battle out the two places in Friday's final, and then the remaining 13 Big present their songs. Or is could be 12: Due to the positive Covid-19 cases in Irama 's entourage he is not allowed to perform live according the strict rules. Amadeus is trying to find a solution by using a rehearsal tape instead if Irama and all the other artists agree. We will find out later tonight. Missing tonight also Zlatan as he's got a game today to play.... Elodie will be tonight's co-hostess and there will be a string of other guests: Eurovision royalty Gigliola Cinquetti, Fausto Leali and Il Volo (in doubt though due to sudden death of Ignozio's father), fresh Golden Globe ...

  Amadeus and his side kick Fiorello have been finally confirmed as the hosts of the Sanremo 2021 music festival that will be held a month later as in the recent years from March 2 to 6 . The 71th festival is supposed to go on as usual in its usual form and an extra month will give more time for the insecurities the Covid-19 has caused. However, as we all know, nothing is for sure these days, so there is also a Plan B, just like for the Eurovision song contest in the making even if the aim is to have the festival as close to its usual format as possible and never put the Plan B in action. These dates shouldn't cause any problem selecting the winner for Eurovision 2021 as well. If things go wrong there's always the option to send this year's entrant Diodato after all.  In best case the Covid-19 is under control then and Sanremo can and will be the grand opening of the big music events and comeback for the many artists who have had to cancel their tours this year and...

Another rating success for Sanremo 2020. The fourth night scored a share of 53,3%, the highest since 1999 with over 9,5 million Italians glued to their tv- screens.  Fiorello and Tiziano Ferro had a minor fight the night before for the lenght of Fiore's gags and the fact Tiz had to sing sometime at morning light (apparently) but last night they kissed and made up (apparently). Fiorello was accusing Ferro launching a hate campaign against him in socail medias and threatened to walk away.... maybe.  This said Ferro acted like an idiot after the kiss that was ment to be "almost there" but Fiorello did it for real. Ferro's esaggerated reaction as a gay man was rather enbarassing to watch.  Like if his husband will get angry for that for real. If he does maybe it's time to really divorce. Later in the evening there was a kiss between Fiorello (masked as Ghali) and Ghali, following that fake one between Elettra Lamborghini and Myss Keta the night before. ...