Valentina Monetta Crisalide Vola poll winner wiwibloggs

She’s the four-time Eurovision Song Contest competitor who has earned the admiration and love of the Eurovision fandom.

And, despite not qualifying for the grand final on Thursday evening, Sammarimese Queen Valentina Monetta continues to feel and share the love with Eurovision enthusiasts. The mutual passion will continue, even if San Marino’s broadcaster has teased the possibility of withdrawing [gay gasp!].

“The Eurovision Song Contest is an unforgettable experience every time,” she wrote on her Facebook page on May 15. “I had crazy fun and despite the result I’m so happy to have been back — no regrets, I tried my best, as always, and I love my sweet, little Republic. Thank you and all those who continue to believe in me and support me no matter what. I will always love my Eurovision fans.”

Ahead of Eurovision we asked our readers to name their favourite song out of the four she’s performed on the Eurovision stage. After counting 3,876 votes, we can now reveal the winner. With 2,076 of all votes — that’s 54% of the total — Crisalide (Vola) is our readers’ favourite Valentina Monetta song at Eurovision.

We aren’t exactly surprised. The song, which begins as an emotional ballad before morphing into a disco stomper in the last third of the song, was a fan wank of 2013 and remains a staple of Eurovision parties around the continent.

On the Eurovision 2013 stage in Malmö, the Sammarimese singer brought her IKEA lamp from the video with her.

And then she opened her wings and delivered one of the most memorable performances of that year. We at wiwibloggs loved the song at first listen. Writing in his Wiwi Jury review, William said:

By singing about a butterfly chrysalis she touches on birth and death, and the importance of filling the space between the two with love and self-belief. “You’ll be flying/ On the wings of confidence,” she says. “Just stop crying/ And the future will make sense/ Start emerging from your chrysalis/ Find the kind of freedom that you miss.” By the time the song morphs from emotional ballad to disco floor-stomper, Valentina’s transformation is complete. Beep Bop Girl is dead. Valentina has arrived!

Unfortunately, it was not to be for the Vale butterfly, as San Marino failed to advance to the Grand Final that year. That was despite her performance having been voted second only to Denmark (the eventual winners) by the Organisation of Eurovision Fans, OGAE. Anyway, the queen of San Marino slayed her way to the final the following year with “Maybe (Forse)”.

This year’s “Spirit Of The Night” finished second in our poll, with 19.61% of the votes. Rounding out the podium is her only Grand Final success, “Maybe (Forse)”, while her Eurovision debut entry “The Social Network Song (Oh Oh – Uh – Oh Oh)” finished in fourth place.

Full results: What’s your favourite Valentina Monetta entry?

[polldaddy poll=9692059]

What do you think about the results? Would you like to see Queen Valentina return to the Eurovision stage for a record-breaking fifth time? Let us know in the comments!

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38 Comments
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Richardinho
Richardinho
6 years ago

I find it curious that people are complaining about San Marino having the same singer ever year. Perhaps they could tell me the previous year that Jimmy Wilson performed at Eurovision for San Marino?

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Richardinho

Jimmie is completely irrelevant with regard to multiple appearances here. Solo or duet, the fact remains that this is Valentina’s 4th appearance in only 6 years. So many appearances in so very short a time–with a record of futility to go with it–will make the fans cry out for new blood. And they made their voices heard loud and clear with that 1-point outcome. Chiara’s 3 appearances for Malta are spread over 12 years. Elisabeth Andreassen’s 3 appearances for Norway, also spread over 12 years. For Chiara and Bettan both, their first and last appearances span 2 different decades.

Ern
Ern
6 years ago

I’m going to say what everyone is thinking but is too afraid to admit. The reason “Vola” failed to reach the final was because Valentina looked RIDICULOUS performing it live.

She’s a very talented singer. I’ve heard some of her non-Eurovision music, and she is actually quite good. However, she doesn’t quite look like Demy or Alma. Frankly, seeing her twirl around the stage in that butterfly dress, or standing in a half-shell like Aphroditi one year later while performing “Maybe” just looked desperate.

Her performance, staging and dress should have been more conservative.

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Do y’all seriously have a San Marino top 5? They literally have half a good entry lmao

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago

If they had stolen Loreen, maybe they would have finished 10th, no? 😛

The Anders
6 years ago

Not a fan of any of the songs, and “Crisalide” sounds too much like “I Will Survive” to me. If anything, I can live with “Maybe” which reminds me of Abba. This year’s song is a lowpoint.

Off-topic, but for anyone interested, here is a comment on the development of the contest in recent years and “Amar pelos dois” in relation to that: https://escsongreviews.com/2017/05/16/amar-pelos-dois-a-turning-point-for-eurovision/

R
R
6 years ago
Reply to  The Anders

Why these comparisons!? 😮 Could you be a little more specific?

Alex
Alex
6 years ago

Crisalide was brilliant and it’s a shame that she didn’t qualify that year.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Not a shame. Unfortunately it was fitting; and it falls more on the shoulders of SMRTV than it does on her. They had a chance to go in a new direction–with Arisa or Tony Maiello–and they pretty much screwed that up. Worse yet, the futility of Ralph Siegel taints Valentina, for they are joined at the hip, given that he has been her ONLY songwriter/producer in all 4 of her appearances. But again, she’s been at this long enough. She would do well to mentor someone new, or take over the selection process and dump Siegel for good. He is… Read more »

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex

And why do I think this should be the end for her as well? Because I believe that single point is as much an ultimate rebuke against her as it is for Siegel. If she were to come back, with a song written by Thomas G:son or Stefan Raab, and STILL fail to qualify, what then?

Alex
Alex
6 years ago
Reply to  CookyMonzta

I mean, she’s a jazz singer. Her style has never fit that of Ralph Siegel. You can’t talk about San Marino’s participation without acknowledging the fact that SMRTV cannot or is unwilling to pay the full participation fee. Why else did they choose Serhat? I doubt G:son or Raab are willing to pay that fee, but regardless, the only kind of songwriter that properly suits Valentina is a jazz songwriter like Valentina herself. But Crisalide was the best of Siegel’s compositions, and yes it was a damn shame. They were pretty close to qualifying – their draw hurt them more… Read more »

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex

I could have sworn I read somewhere that she does jazz. But Ralph doesn’t do jazz. There’s the mismatch right there. That being the case, why did San Marino continue to seek him out?

I’m almost beginning to think that, if Valentina should try a 5th time, maybe she could give Luísa Sobral a call, and maybe they could come up with something together, given that a jazz ballad won BIG this past weekend.

R
R
6 years ago
Reply to  CookyMonzta

Luísa said that this would be her last Eurovision.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  R

Crap. 🙁 I didn’t know that. I didn’t watch the interviews after the show. Who else could make a jazz ballad like that for Valentina, unless she brings one of her own, and leaves the pop/dance world to the other ESC contenders?

Alex
Alex
6 years ago
Reply to  CookyMonzta

Well, the last two ESC winners are jazz artists… there’s always Jamala… 🙂

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Correction: HER jazz ballad, Luísa’s jazz ballad, for her brother.

M_K
M_K
6 years ago

She’s a very sweet person and “Crisalide” was indeed a good song that would have deserved qualification. “Maybe” was also okay-ish in a way.

She should return to the contest for a record-breaking fifth participation, but with a GOOD song. Why doesn’t San Marino invite students from an Italian pop music conservatory to create the perfect Valentina Monetta song as a “field study”? We all know that San Marino cannot put as much money into their entry as Sweden, Italy or most of the other countries. That’s why they should go for low-price creativity!

Charles
Charles
6 years ago

No, nobody is surprised but this is 2017 … and ain’t nobody should have time for this I Will Survive wannabe … aren’t there any other more substantial gay Eurovision anthems to deliver some good music instead?

Erasmus
Erasmus
6 years ago

1. 2013
2. 2014
3. 2017
4. 2012

PP
PP
6 years ago

If I look only song
1.2013
2.2017
3.2014
4.2012

Stage performance
1.2013
2.2014
3.2012
4.2017 (good song but stage performance and staging is not good, they must to have better LED wall like maybe Lithunia 2012

SpirK
SpirK
6 years ago

I think she should do one last time in the following years so she can be the only (I think) artists that has gone to Eurovision five times! My top of Valentina’s entries:
1. Maybe 10/10
2. Crisalide (Vola) 9/10
3. Spirit Of The Night 5/10
4. The Social Network Song 5/10

nauportus90
nauportus90
6 years ago

Crisalide remains one of the best non-qualifying songs in Eurovision history, together with Cyprus 2008. I know Valentina sounded a bit tired when she performed it live, but I still can’t understand how Crisalide didn’t qualify but the much inferior Maybe did. I hope Valentina returns soon, but without Ralph please. He should have retired after 2015 – the song he wrote for San Marino that year was absolutely horrendous (and so were those two kids who performed it). This year’s song was awful too, but I thought Valentina and Jimmie sounded great live and it was obvious they really… Read more »

nauportus90
nauportus90
6 years ago
Reply to  nauportus90

*Cyprus 2007, not 2008.

PP
PP
6 years ago
Reply to  nauportus90

SVT producer and EBU refrence group for Eurovison , ruined San Marino with running order to sing 2 nd in semi final.
For me best non non-qualifying songs in Eurovision history from 2004 to 2017 from semi final
2004 Estonia, Israel
2005 The Netherlands,Iceland, Slovenia, Andorra
2006 Belgium, Poland
2007 Cyprus, Iceland , The Netherlands
2008 Andorra, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Macedonia
2009 Belarus, Ireland, Slovenia
2010 Finland, Macedonia, Croatia, Bulgaria
2011 San Marino, Bulgaria, Poland
2012 Bulgaria, Portugal, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Slovenia
2013 San Marino, Israel, Montenegro
2014 Israel, Estonia, Ireland
2015 Belarus
2016 Iceland, Belarus
2017 Finland,Georgia, Estonia, Serbia

nauportus90
nauportus90
6 years ago
Reply to  PP

Great list, PP. I agree with most of these choices. I’d add Latvia 2011 too. Those boys had a great song.

Last year’s Bosnia song was another guilty pleasure of mine. Too bad the staging was a mess.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

I loved San Marino’s songs in 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2014, and the rest was either laughable or just bad. But in general, I root for small countries like San Marino and I love when underdogs surpass expectations. I hope they will not withdraw and will send something really good next year. I wouldn’t mind if Valentina was involved again. She is awesome. Wish she had a better song this year.

PP
PP
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

For me best 5 song from San Marino
1.2013
2.2014
3.2011
4.2017
5.2016

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

San Marino needs to understand that instead of calling Ralph Siegel, all they need to do is send a quality song in Italian. They might or they might not qualify, but they won’t look ridiculous just like in the past 3 years. Their broadcaster is so petty about this year’s result, but nobody’s shocked. That song was painful to listen to.

Richardinho
Richardinho
6 years ago

You do know that Ralph Siegel wrote Crisalide, right?

azaad
azaad
6 years ago
Reply to  Richardinho

To be fair, San Marino’s only other great entry, 2008, was also in Italian.

Da
Da
6 years ago
Reply to  azaad

The problem solving is not Italian. But sound wise.. They need to be more modern. All their entries has had a non contemporary feeling. Crisalide was ok but weakend by a strange stage act

Richardinho
Richardinho
6 years ago
Reply to  Da

Some would say that’s what make them brilliant. Crisalide was a masterpiece. Spirit of the Night is also great.

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Richardinho

“Spirit of the Night was also great” invalidates your statement… that song was objectively the worst this year.

Richardinho
Richardinho
6 years ago

Obviously, you have no understanding of music.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Richardinho

And even then, “Crisalide” could not qualify, missing by quite a considerable margin against Nodi and Sophie from Georgia.

Da
Da
6 years ago

I think Valentina will return soon again!

beccaboo1212
6 years ago
Reply to  Da

But if San Marino withdraws from Eurovision next year, Valentina’s other option would to try competing at Italy’s selection, San Remo. :/

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Da

No. Sadly, Valentina and Ralph are joined at the hip with San Marino’s futility. His failures taint her, and she’s been at this long enough. It is no surprise that the voters AND the juries said, with one loud and convincing voice, that it is time for San Marino to wipe the whole slate clean (the exception, 1 point, came from Siegel’s home country, Germany). They had a chance with Tony Maiello and/or Arisa and they blew it! I hope they don’t waste the effort if Anita or Michele (both from 2015) decide to give it another shot.