Italy’s Nina Zilli

Italy’s comeback to Eurovision has been phenomenal. The lowest placing the country has received since its return in 2011 has been ninth place, and their average ranking is sixth. Italy seems to break the stigma of the Big 5 being…inadequate, out-of-touch, and too arrogant to take the contest seriously. Although Italy might not have its economy or politics sorted, it certainly knows how to entertain at Eurovision. Here are five reasons why Italy is so successful.

1. The Juries

The Juries love Italy. A lot. Raphael placed first with the jury in 2011, instead of the heavily-favored Amaury Vassili. Nina Zilli also received a good bit of love, reaching fourth place in the jury calculation. Marco Mengoni also placed eighth with the juries this year. As a general rule, the juries tend to favor the Big 5. But Italy doesn’t rely on that: it places quite highly with televoters, too.

2. Sanremo

Much to the horror of other Big 5 countries, Italy uses a competition for its national selection! Well, sort of. In 2011, Raphael Gualazzi won the newcomers section of the Sanremo Festival, Nina was selected by a panel of artists, and Marco won the main shindig. So unlike Germany’s “Unser Song” series, it isn’t a clear-cut competition. Class, with that undertone of competition.

3. Running Order

Italy has also performed later during the grand final (on average 15th) than France (seventh) and the UK (tenth). Germany (15.66) and Spain (15.33) both overtake Italy, yet Spain has been blessed with two very late performances, and Germany has had a good streak. So Italy’s consistent. And it broke through the middle-time curse.

4. Voting Bloc

Analyzing how other countries voted for Italy also sheds some light on their success. In two out of three years (2011 and 2013) Spain has given Italy douze points (and 1 point in 2012). Malta (8 points in 2013, 12 in 2012, and 10 in 2011), Switzerland (12 in 2013, 5 in 2012, and 4 in 2011), Albania (12 in 2013, 7 in 2012, and 12 in 2011), San Marino (4 in 2013, 7 in 2012, and 12 in 2011), and the Balkans (FYR Macedonia- 10 in 2013, 5 in 2012, and 1 in 2011; Slovenia- 8 in 2013, 5 in 2012, and 3 in 2011; Greece- 6 in 2013, 3 in 2012, and 10 in 2011) and France (10 in 2013, 1 in 2012, and 8 in 2011) all love Italian entries! Could it be the warm weather? The economic troubles? The widespread use of Romance languages in Spain and France and the Italian language trend in Yugoslavia? Or the Big 5 and former Yugoslavia coping with less-than-successful entries? The world may never know.

5. Variety

A lot of the main criticism of Eurovision comes from some people saying that there isn’t enough variety. Well, Italy brings variety. 2011 brought a distinctively jazzy number (but yet again, so did Romania. Coincidence?). Nina Zilli’s entry blended pop with slightly unusual characteristics, and Marco Mengoni branched out into the difficult world of ballads from his pop rock roots.

Now the big question is this: How is Italy going to fare in the future? Will the land of the Romans continue to flourish? Or will it turn into the stereotype of the Big 5 and start cheering like crazy when they don’t get last place (Graham Norton, I’m looking at you)? What do you think of Italy at Eurovision? Let us know in the comments section below!

Francheska contributed this report from the United States. Follow her on Twitter at @FranRants. You can also keep up-to-date with the latest Eurovision news and gossip by liking our Facebook page

Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)

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voucher khách s?n nha trang giá r?

I’m impressed, I have to admit. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both equally
educative and amusing, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail
on the head. The problem is something not enough
folks are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy I found this during my search for something
regarding this.

Zach
Zach
10 years ago

I think 2011 Italy got sympathy points for returning in a such a long time. I would have loved Eric Saade to have been 2nd but tough. Although Nina Zilli’s L’amore è Femmina is a Eurovision cult classic so is the almost was Per Sempre. Marco Mengoni was ehh okay.I thought maybe not top ten.

EurovisionFanatic
EurovisionFanatic
10 years ago

2011 was one of the best, if not one of, it was the best comeback in the history of Eurovision. Not because it got 2nd place, but because it was something every Eurovision song needs. Slick staging (I thought so anyway), catchy song, not over choreographed.

2012 was a great song too.

Now, forgive me for saying this but 2013 was rather boring and I thought Italy got lucky with they’re placing.

They definitely take it more seriously than the other “Big 5” members. Italy is heading for a win.

Charles
Charles
10 years ago

It is fair to say Italy has faired well ever since it came back. I looked at 2011 and said to myself that jazz song is not gonna be loved by the tacky cheesy tastes of televoters but apparently I was a bit wrong. That 2nd place was in my opinion well deserved and anything above the swedish crap from Eric Saade is fine by me. I must admit that in hindsight I looked at that 2nd place and said to myself this was a hidden EBU message telling Italy to stay for good. It has been working. I was… Read more »

Comy
Comy
10 years ago

Well,I actually didn’t like 2011 and 2013,but 2012 was AWESOME 🙂 It should has been in top 3 or even WIN! 🙂
-from Montenegro 🙂

Kristín
Kristín
10 years ago

The contest will be broadcast from Rome sometime in the next five years…mark my words.

Lawrence Gibb
Lawrence Gibb
10 years ago

You’re over analysing. Italian music has always been popular outside Italy. Good singers, giving solid performances of songs with a wide appeal is why it’s doin well.

Fikri
Fikri
10 years ago

they’re good, yes, but it seems like their place is keep slipping and slipping. i wouldn’t be suprised if next year they’ll place outside top 10.

Tiggeh
Tiggeh
10 years ago

L’Amore e femmina definitely has been my favorite of the return to Eurovision songs, very fresh indeed.

Alex
Alex
10 years ago

I still listen to L’Amore e femmina all the time. Italy’s become one of the most exciting countries in the contest in recent years, and it’s quite likely in my estimation that they’ll continue to be that way.

Z24
Z24
10 years ago

Okay, this year was their weakest effort IMO, but their entries always had that finesse and artisan-like quality while also being catchy or relevant, something others (Russia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta) need to strive for.

Eurovisiondco
Eurovisiondco
10 years ago

Italy have done well last 3 years , only reason the haven’t dont even better is that their entiries are maybe too good … Raphael , Nina and Marco are 3 quality outstanding artists ..
Gonna see a win from Italy soon if not in 2014 ..
The just need a song that has more mass appeal an the have a great eurovision winner ..