Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The same confusing category mess was used as last year, but this time only top-2 of each category went on to the final, meaning there were only 8 songs! Also the Classic category was dropped. Death matches once again lead to the final 2 and eventually the winner, again from the Men category when Povia's Vorrei avere il becco beats - as rumoured - Nomandi's Dove si va with only 2% of the votes! Apparently Anna Tatangelo's Essere una donna was third most voted and Riccardo Maffoni with Sole negli occhi 4th. Previous winner or Eurovision artists taking part were Ron and Anna Oxa . Worth mentioning also Dolcenera , Ivana Spagna and L'Aura who would later be considering Eurovision for San Marino. Or so they insist. In all a rather mediocre and forgettable edition IMO.

Here are some Sanremo 2009 videos for you to enjoy: The newcomers winner Arisa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1RHx7bb8qI Third placed Sal Da Vinci: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2AkVdjnGAU Second placed Povia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8F3U-StM4Q Winner Marco Carta: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnsh3fpbkfE Gemelli DiVersi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kQmZsXlZUw Dolcenera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eVc6jaAco8 and a couple of favourites of mine from the newcomers: Irene "Zucchero's daughter" Fornaciari: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ_4UgQJq8M Malika Ayane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bDRLZPSsB0 In the Italian top-20 download charts Sanremo takes the lead: Arisa enters at #1, Marco Carta at #2, Povia at #3, Malika at #4, Dolcenera at #5 followed by Francesco Renga at #10!

The winner of Sanremo 2009, Marco Carta picked up a platinum disc for his album La forza mia after 4 days of sales. His debut album from 2008 has also sold platinum, and a live album also from 2008 gold. This is good news to Sanremo where most songs have no life afterwords, and have no place but Teatro Ariston. He was helped to win by his huge fanbase and who can blame him or them if he was against to nobody? This year the most radio-friendly songs were kicked out before the final (Dolcenera, Gemelli Diversi) and if Eurovision have managed to renew itself over the years and produces hits and follows the times, Sanremo seems to have stuck into its past. It is worth mentioning Carta was the youngest Artist this year (23) while Sal Da Vinci at 39 being the third youngest and Povia there in between. Several artists around 60-70 took part. When is Sanremo getting a facelift? Have again more than 1-3 songs that will make it in radio and sell records? Enjoy here some videos from Sanremo incl...

Marco Carta (23) has won Sanremo 2009 with La forza mia . Povia came second with Luca era gay and Sal Da Vinci third with Non riesco a farti innamorare . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35EtLhHmECU , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTVuDZbw6AE , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFDJv8I8LZg

Sanremo festival has gotten its top-3: Povia with his gay themed and most discussed and protested song; Marco Carta from Sardegna, famous from a TV-reality show; and Sal da Vinci who made his way back to final from second chance round. Their votes have now been zeroed and they will reperform their songs....

Paolo Bonolis is cooking up in a hurry the next Sanremo festival. His eternal TV partner Luca Laurenti will be there, too, which is good news. Last year's newcomer's winner Sonohra has said they will not participate, which is sad news. However, it seems almost sure that Real Rock will enter Teatro Ariston in the form of Afterhours ! Also Patty Pravo seems to be making yet another visit and so are Matia Bazar (who is their singer these days??). Lost , an Italian imitation of Tokyo Hotel is also given almost a sure thing, as well as reality show Amici winner Marco Carta (and many his fellow competitors are trying to make it throught to Proposte category!). Also 2006 winner Giuseppe Povia seems like returning as well as Pupo. Many names also in the hostess list (there should be a different hostess every night next to Bonolis): Wendy Windham, Angelina Jolie, Monica Bellucci, Carla Bruni Sarkozy and Luciana Littizzetto. I say: drop everybody and have La Littizzetto every night...