Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Italian OGAE has kicked off their selection for the OGAE Song contest 2014 and it's as good an excuse to check out some new fresh Italian musicc as any. Here you go - who's your favorite? The cast includes Sanremo 2014 winner Arisa and Castrocaro 2013 winner Davide Papasidero as well Raphael Gualazzi. Many goodies here but I'm torn between Giorgia and Arisa. But also Moreno, Giusy, Biagio, Perturbazione.... Cremonini.... Syria.... great selection! Greta - L'estate Renzo Rubino - Per sempre e poi basta Cesare Cremonini - Logico #1 Elisa - L'anima vola Arisa - Controvento Davide Papasidero - Adesso oppure mai Moreno feat. Fiorella Mannoia - Sempre sarai Raphael Gualazzi feat. The Bloody Beetroots - Liberi o no Violetta - Dimmi che non passa Giusy Ferreri - Ti porto a cena con me Patty Pravo feat. Ermal Meta - Non mi interessa  Biagio Antonacci - Ti penso raramente Noemi - Acciaio Francesco Renga ...

Sanremo's final didn't attract as many viewers as usually and end the flop season in that sense with a flop final, only 9,3 million ( 43,5%) against last year's 12,9 million and (53,8%). But the top-3 turned out b´not very Sanremo-esque when really a newcomer Renzo Rubino came third, Gualazzi with the Bloody Beetroots second and Arisa won. Well, Arisa is quite Sanremo after all, isn't she? While waiting for the detailed results here is the votes for the top-3 Televote: Arisa 58%, Gualazzi 23%, Rubino 19% Jury votes: Arisa 42%, Gualazzi 29%, Rubino 29% Here is the list of the other awards given out: Premio della Critica Mia Martini for Big: Cristiano De Andrè for Invisibili Premio della Critica Mia Martini for Newcomers: Zibba for Senza di te Award for the best lyrics Sergio Bardotti: Cristiano De André for Invisibili Award for the best arrangement for Big: Renzo Rubino for Per sempre e poi basta Award Lucio Dalla, given my the journalists: ...

Tonight the 62nd festival of Italian song aka Sanremo kicks off in Teatro Ariston in Sanremo. It's the first time the public will hear the songs of the first seven Big, and due to strange events the first time the press will hear the songs by Giusy Ferreri: She was absent of the presentation event due to matters in family, and absent of the rehearsals due to a flu, it seems. Each Big will present two songs and one of them is voted out by the 50-50 vote by the journalists in press center and the televoters at home. They are: ARISA: Lentamente / Controvento FRANKIE HI-NRG MC: Pedala /Un uomo è vivo ANTONELLA RUGGIERO: Quando balliamo / Da lontano RAPHAEL GUALAZZI & THE BLOODY BEETROOTS: Liberi o no / Tanto ci sei CRISTIANO DE ANDRÉ: Invisibili / Il cielo è vuoto PERTURBAZIONE: L'Unica / L'Italia vista dal bar GIUSY FERRERI: L'Amore possiede il bene / Ti porto a cena con me Sanremo wouldn't be Sanremo without countless guests. The Big artis...