So far, it’s not a good year for Italy’s former Eurovision singers. Two of the three singers who have represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest are now out of the festival.
On the second evening of the 59th Sanremo Festival, three of the remaining 13 acts in the Artisti section of the festival were eliminated by the ‘giuria demoscopica’, joining Al Bano in disappointment were Nicky Nicolai & Stefano di Battista and Sal da Vinci.
The evening started with a 46 member choir called Jubilate di Legnano performing a medley from Mozart’s Requiem and then Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd. It was then time for the first of the Artisti to perform again. After a couple of special guests, the rest of the Artisti had the opportunity to impress the jury while fighting for survival.
After more special guests, it was then the turn of the Proposte (newcomers) to show their talents. Four of the Proposte performed last night and so the remaining six sung on the second evening. Unlike the Artisti, the Proposte don’t face elimination.
The third evening of the festival will be a big evening in the lives of the young singers. They will all sing a duet with well known singers, including 1988 festival winner and Italy’s representative in the 1971 and 1973 Eurovision Song Contest, Massimo Ranieri. The evening will also see the three Artisti eliminated on Wednesday evening go head to head with the three acts voted out of the festival on the first evening. Two will return to the competition courtesy of a public vote.
