Festival della Canzone Italiana
Written by admin on 17 February, 2009 – 4:50 pm -Tonight begins the Festival di Sanremo (Sanremo Music Festival) – Italy’s equivalent of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Simone Cristicchi – Ti regalerò una rosa (Winner 2007, Categoria Artisti)
This annual contest, which lasts until Saturday, is held at the Teatro Ariston in Sanremo. It is split into two categories – Categoria Artisti (or i Big) for established artists, Categoria Nuove Proposte or (i Giovani) for newcomers. Each artist performs their song several times throughout the week, and special guests make appearances. In the past many famous names have participated including Zucchero, Andrea Bocelli, Vasco Rossi, Laura Pausini, Elisa and Eros Ramazzoti.
The festival always seems to attract criticism. This year it is about the amount the main presenter, Paolo Bonolis, is being paid – a staggering €1million! And in order to cut costs last Sunday’s practice was cancelled.
I watched the festival in 2007 and 2008 and below are some of the performances I enjoyed. However, this year I have decided to give it a miss.
What do Italians themselves think about this ‘institution’? Have any non-Italians heard of this famous contest? Who has enjoyed it in the past? Who will be watching it this year? Does it have much of a future?
For those interested find out more by visiting the official site or sanremonline.tv.
Fabrizio Moro – Pensa (Winner 2007, Categoria Nuove Proposte)
Take That – Shine, Sanremo 2007
Giò di Tonno & Lola Ponce – Colpo di fulmine (Winner 2008, Categoria Artisti)
Durran Duran – Falling Down, Sanremo 2008
Gli Stadio & Teresa Salgueiro – Guardami, Sanremo 2007
Amalia Grè – Amami Per Sempre, Sanremo 2007
Paolo Rossi, Sanremo 2007 – In Italia si sta male (...)
Posted in Entertainment |
By The MDs on Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Never heard of the contest. I think the UK should join in with the Italians as the Eurovision Song Contest is a farce, now that the voting always is in favour of the Eastern European countries. The songs don’t matter any more as far as most of the voting goes.