As the curtain falls on the Grammys, considered the most important international music event, it is set to rise on another major music event, this time closer to home.
The festival... considered Italy’s national song contest, draws annual criticism and praise for various reasons
The 62nd edition of Italy’s Sanremo festival kicks off tonight, hosted by the evergreen presenter Gianni Morandi.
This year he will be accompanied by actor/singer Rocco Papaleo and Czech supermodel Ivana Mrazova.
The festival, which can be considered Italy’s national song contest, draws annual criticism and praise for various reasons – from presenters’ outfits to song lyrics to controversial guests. But it certainly draws the crowds who flock to the city in western Liguria – known as La città dei fiori due to its horticulture industry – to get a glimpse of their favourite Italian artists and international guests.
As usual the festival is divided into two categories: the “Big” or established singers category and the “Giovani” (youth) category which this year has been renamed SanremoSocial, referring to the social media. The eight participants of this category have been chosen partly through voting on Facebook.
The 14 artists competing in the main category include few well-established singers such as Gigi D’Alessio and Loredana Berte, who are duetting together, Samuele Bersani, Matia Bazaar, Francesco Renga who won the festival in 2005 with Angelo and Eugenio Finardi. Noemi, Dolcenera, Zucchero’s daughter, Irene Fornaciari, Nina Zilli and Arisa – who has changed look since her winning the Giovani category with Sincerità – are among the fresher voices that will reverberate through the Ariston theatre.
There are also Emma and singer-songwriter Davide Carone, who had won and taken part respectively in Mediaset’s reality show Amici, alternative rock band Marlene Kuntz and Chiara Civello, who is almost unknown on the Italian music scene but who has been very successful in Brazil.
Standing out in SanremoSocial is 15-year-old Alessandro Casillo, who won this year’s edition of another reality show on Mediaset, Io canto and who already has legions of fans. In fact, his Facebook page already counts over 122,000 fans.
Appreciators of Italian and international music will not want to miss the third night of the festival on Thursday, when all the above artistes will be singing, alongside some truly great names from the international music scene.
Themed Viva l’Italia, the evening will be dedicated to popular Italian songs which have been translated into English over the years for audiences worldwide.
Some of the most interesting collaborations include:
• Gigi D’Alessio and Loredana Berte duetting with American R’n’B singer Macy Gray on the song Flame, better known in Italian as Almeno tu nell’universo, the 1989 hit originally sung by Ms Berte’s late sister, Mia Martini.
• Chiara Civello and Jamaican-American reggae singer and rapper Shaggy, perhaps best known for his 1995 single Boombastic. The duo will interpret You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me or Io che non vivo (senza te), originally sung by Pino Donaggio.
• Irene Fornaciari and former Queen member Brian May will interpret I (Who Have Nothing) – Uno dei tanti, originally sung by Joe Sentieri in 1961 but also performed by Joe Cocker and James Brown.
• Dolcenera and English rapper Professor Green singing My Life Is Mine or Vita spericolata, with which rocker Vasco Rossi participated in the festival in 1983.
• Pierdavide Carone duetting with Danish singer-songwriter Mads Langer on Anema e core. Mr Langer became known internationally for his cover version of You’re Not Alone by British band Olive.
• Nina Zilli and Skye, lead singer of British band Morcheeba, singing Never Never Never or Grande, grande, grande by Italian music icon Mina.
• Marlene Kuntz and the American singer-songwriter Patti Smith, aka the “Godmother of Punk”, interpreting The World Became the World (Impressioni di Settembre) by Italian writer to the stars, Mogol.
• Arisa and Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano performing Que será or Che sarà which I Ricchi e Poveri had performed in Sanremo in 1971.
Friday’s show will see the 10 finalists in the main category re-interpreting their entry with other guest singers.
The festival is, however, not only about the music, but also about comedy and satire, fashion and other entertainment forms, including cinema and dance.
Other guests this year include comedians Luca and Paolo, Belen Rodriguez and Elisabetta Canalis who last year were Mr Morandi’s vallette (or assistants), swimming champion Federica Pellegrini, actress Sabrina Ferilli and Irish band The Cranberries.
Another much-awaited guest is Italian singer Adriano Celentano, but it is not known exactly what his role will be as yet.
The winner of the youth category will be announced on Friday while that of the established category will be declared on Saturday. The winners will be selected by a jury, televoting and voting on Facebook.
A jury will also select who will represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan, in May.
Songs in the main category
• Per sempre – Nina Zilli
• Un pallone – Samuele Bersani
• Nanì – Pierdavide Carone
• Ci vediamo a casa – Dolcenera
• Grande mistero – Irene Fornaciari
• Non è l’inferno – Emma
• Sei tu – Matia Bazar
• Sono solo parole – Noemi
• La tua bellezza – Francesco Renga
• La notte – Arisa
• Al posto del mondo – Chiara Civello
• Respirare – Loredana Bertè and Gigi D’Alessio
• E tu lo chiami – Eugenio Finardi
• Canzone per un figlio – Marlene Kuntz