Starting today, until Saturday, the famous Italian music festival Sanremo will be held. Twenty-two artists in the Campioni Category will be competing for the victory and consequently have the right to represent Italy at Eurovision 2017. The jury and the running order for tonight’s show has just been revealed.
Italy’s biggest music festival kicks off this evening with the first night of the Sanremo Music Festival 2017. The festival will run over the 5 days with the grand final taking place on Saturday the 11th of February. If you are still confused about the rules of the festival you just have to read our previous article for all you need to know to follow the Sanremo festival.
During the first two nights, the twenty two big artists will present their songs. A mixed voting of televote and the journalists in the press center (composed of accredited journalists that will follow the competition from the Roof hall at the Teatro Ariston) will vote the first two nights. The bottom three entries will enter an extra competition round in the third night and face additional voting to determine if they continue to the festival or not. The top eight will qualify directly to the next stage of the competition on Friday.
At today’s first night, Clean Bandit and Ricky Martin, along with Italian artists Tiziano Ferro will be performing as the interval acts. The show will be presented by Carlo Conti, who also serves as the artistic director for the competition. Conti will present the show together with his biggest TV opponent Maria De Filippi.
The running order for tonight is:
- Giusy Ferreri – Fatalmente male
- Fabrizio Moro – Portami via
- Elodie – Tutta colpa mia
- Lodovica Comello – Il cielo non mi basta
- Fiorella Mannoia – Che sia benedetta
- Alessio Bernabei – Nel mezzo di un applauso
- Al Bano – Di rose di spine
- Samuel – Vedrai
- Ron – L’ottava meraviglia
- Clementino – Ragazzi fuori
- Ermal Meta – Vietato morire
Yesterday, a press conference took place in Italy prior to the start of the 2017 Sanremo Festival. Carlo Conti and Maria De Filippi, revealed the names of the eight jury members, who hold a 30% share of the votes for the semifinal and the final of the festival. They are:
- Giorgio Moroder (head of jury, Italian composer and producer)
- Linus (radio DJ)
- Andrea Morricone (composer and conducter)
- Rita Pavone (singer)
- Paolo Genovese (director and screenwriter)
- Violante Placido (actress and singer)
- Greta Menchi (YouTuber)
- Giorgia Surina (presenter)
Fiorella Mannoia who is 62 years old, remains the biggest pre-festival favorite for the victory according to the bets, with Sergio Sylvestre in the second place.
The winner of the Campioni category will have right to represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest. However if the winner refuses for whatever reason, then RAI will choose any of the other participants in both divisions (Big or Newcomers). Last year’s winner, Stadio turned down the offer, leaving runner up Francesca Michielin to represent her country in Stockholm.
The exact programme of Sanremo 2016 is as follows:
Serata 1: February 7th (Tuesday)
Serata 2: February 8th (Wednesday)
Serata 3: February 9th (Thursday)
Serata 4: February 10th (Friday)
Serata 5: FINALE – February 11th (Saturday)
You can watch Sanremo live at the official site of Sanremo at 20.30 CET.
Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest
Italy has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 42 times since making its debut at the first contest in 1956. It was one of only seven countries that competed in the very first contest. Italy competed frequently in the contest until 1997. After a fourteen-year absence, the country returned to the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, with a respectable second place achieved by Raphael Gualazzi and Madness of Love. Italy has won the contest twice (1964, 1990).
Along with Germany, France, Spain and the United Kingdom, Italy is one of the Big 5 who are automatically allowed to participate in the grand final because they are the five biggest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Remember to check into EuroVisionary for more news about Sanremo 2017. Until then, enjoy last year’s Italian entrant in the Eurovision Song Contest, Francesca Michielin:
