Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Cuore matto performed by Little Tony and Mario Zelinotti placed only 10th in Sanremo 1967 but sold over one million copies and spent nine weeks as #1. Countless covers followed and the song is a regular feature in films, it even got one film named after it, starring who else but Little Tony! And this reached #6 in Argentina of all places. 

Eros Ramazzotti is like wine, he just gets better with age. Vocally great, amazing musicians, great backing singers including Lidia Schillaci , who should have won the Operazione Trionfo back in 2002. But Eros, despite looking a bit tired and uninspired at first got the concert going soon and in the end the whole Hartwall Areena was on their feet dancing and singing along to Fuoco nel fuoco. Terra promessa, Dove c'è musica, Se bastasse una canzone and L'aurora got also Finns going. And most didn't mind he did a lot of his old songs, all the way from his two first albums. An old fart like this blogger was in heaven to hear songs like Una storia importante, Adesso tu, Un cuore con le ali, Cuori agitati and Musica é , songs that were made and listened when we both were young, Eros and I. After Infinitamente he sent a kiss to heaven to late Little Tony with "Ciao Tony!". I guess no one in arena got that. But I did. Beautiful stage with its multifunctional boxes,...

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...