The new year has started, but not all of the drama stayed behind in 2016. Case in point: San Marino.

A few days ago Italian songwriter Tony Maiello claimed on his Facebook page that he had received an unofficial proposal to represent la Serenissima Repubblica at Eurovision 2016 if he could cough up €500,000.

Apparently keen to take the piss out of those making the alleged offer, the 27-year-old singer boasted that he had thrown the offer back in their face.

“I asked them” – he said referring to San Marino RTV – “if they want it in banknotes or coins”.

The day after his revelation, Il Fatto Quotidiano – a well-known Italian newspaper – reported on the matter, claiming to have obtained the actual Facebook conversation from Tony, in which an intermediary asked the singer if he was willing to represent San Marino.

The mediator also warned him that he would need half-a-million euros ready to cover promotion, transport and other extras. (Sorry, but San Marino’s staging in recent years hasn’t exactly screamed six figures!)

Following the article’s publication, Maiello turned up the heat on the matter yet again, sharing his opinions and getting rul loud.

“You must always denounce any form of illegality,” he wrote. “For me, music is sacred. They’ve chosen the wrong person to propose crap like this. Also, with all due respect, with €500,000 I would buy myself a house”.

It would likely have a very big clothes hanger in the front yard, as it appears he likes to wash his dirty laundry in public.

That outburst wasn’t enough for the winner of the Newcomers’ section of the Sanremo Music Festival 2010.

On January 1 he piled it on again, this time with Italian Eurovision source Eurofestival News, who also reported the story saying that there were several abnormalities in what Maiello had said.

“I blacked out all the names and surnames of people who forwarded me the proposal and believe me, they really have something to do with SMRTV, the TV channel of San Marino,” he said. “Do you know the real scandal in this situation? The total lack of interest about lawlessness, and I mean generally. We live in a nation where people have learned to be sodomized by the system. I am not surprised to be surrounded by a flock of sheep who tremble at the master’s voice”. He was clearly speaking with his teeth clenched.

Maiello goes on: “I’ve highlighted a huge problem — the fact they quietly sell a place on the stage without anyone knowing. This is the problem: the big sh*t there is behind the competition (…) You can shove your truth up your *ss!”

The plot thickened yet again on January 2 when San Marino RTV released an official statement denying any involvement in the alleged messages sent to Tony.

Alessandro Capicchioni, Sammarinese head of delegation, said: “I can affirm that we’ve never had direct contact with Mr. Maiello and we’ve never charged someone to contact him on our behalf”.

It’s unclear whether this affair will have legal repercussions and whether Tony has followed up with the person who appears to have fooled him.

Capicchioni says: “We do not exclude the influence peddling, since our names are public and easily available on the Internet”.

READ MORE SAN MARINO NEWS HERE

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Lex
Lex
7 years ago

He needs promotion

Stephanie
7 years ago

I know for certain we can forget about Vasilije’s attempt to represent San Marino, because a source of mine confirmed that Robyn told me a while back is true: the source contacted the Sammarinese HoD who told her that SMRTV was neither in talks with him to represent the microstate with the song “Perfume”, nor did they even have any thoughts of selecting him! On top of that, because of the selection of Slavko in his home country of Montenegro, he posted on his Facebook page on Sunday that he’s not going to bother with his aspirations of participating in… Read more »

MarioMario
7 years ago

Just send a Peppermint with something like I Didn’t Know and you’ll get more points than you can imagine, just like Serhat did.

Kylie
Kylie
7 years ago

Just bring back valentina

Davve
Davve
7 years ago

San Marino should send Lys Assia to Kiev

an esc fan
an esc fan
7 years ago

Don’t forget Bulgaria that wants money, not from the singer, but from the record label, and an artist that does not have a contract with a strong record label will not be allowed to compete. This is ugly.
I respect countries that still have that casting/national selection, in the old fashion way, some countries don’t even want the artists to reveal their names in the early stages of the competition (when is everything only on CD), or at least this is how it used to be.

PP
PP
7 years ago

I would love to see Valentina again at Eurovision 2017 but not with Siegel song, maybe song from some swedish authors like Azerbaijan did every year from 2009 to 2016.

PP
PP
7 years ago

I expect to some reach girl from Russia sing for San Marino 2017 , who have rich husband, boyfriend or parents.

an esc fan
an esc fan
7 years ago

Tony used the word ”illegal”, and I’m not sure that is illegal just like asking bribe would be, but is not a good trend to have in ESC only rich artists because is convenient for the broadcaster.
Also I hope that the people who vote will not avoid small countries because ”they can’t host”. The host can be another country if needed.

Miguel Angel
Miguel Angel
7 years ago

The smrtv should give the opportunity to brequette cassie former candidate to represent Spain in the years 2014 and 2016?

Thomas
Thomas
7 years ago

Tony isnt even that good. I am Glad San Marino’s delegation is standing up for itself.

YoungsterJoey
YoungsterJoey
7 years ago

Tony needs to STFU, it sounds like he’s seeking the attention at this point.