Sammarinese rapper IROL has won the third wildcard position in San Marino’s new national selection 1 In 360. The announcement was made this evening by San Marino’s Eurovision icon Valentina Monetta.

This wildcard was dedicated to San Marino acts. It ensures that there will be at least one local artist performing in San Marino’s national selection.

Valentina broke the news in a short video. In case fans thought she was in the running to make a fifth Eurovision appearance, Val joked, “Don’t worry – it’s not me!” She then confirmed the good news, saying, “I’m very very happy to announce that the Sammarinese finalist to our contest is my great friend IROL!”

https://youtu.be/6vIANKniERk

This is not the first time IROL’s talents have been recognised. In 2015, he won the local, off-brand version of Got Talent, I talenti dei Castelli.

His win started to get him noticed, and in 2016 he was selected as San Marino’s points spokesperson for Stockholm. He introduced himself with the now immortal line, “This is IROL MC, your favourite rapper from San Marino.” To be fair, he is actually our favourite rapper from San Marino.

After this gig, IROL expressed his wish to one day represent San Marino at Eurovision.

IROL was also on our radar in 2015, when we selected him as a potential candidate for San Marino on our Wednesday Wishlist. At the time, we wrote, “While San Marino’s talent pool is smaller, that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of talent in the hillside microstate. Irol MC (aka Lorenzo Salvatori) is a San Marino rapper who’s been making quite a name for himself.”

We also featured IROL in a list of ten artists who could represent San Marino at Eurovision. At the time, wiwiblogger Edd wrote:

Lorenzo Salvatori – A.K.A. Irol – is the king of the San Marinese rap scene (which, adimittedly, is probably not that difficult). Many a eurofan will turn their nose up at rap, arguing “it just doesn’t work at Eurovision.” Well, we’ve seen Greek ethno-rap, Montenegrin dubstep-rap and Polish rap (I’ve never been the same since 2006) – but the question is, has anyone ever tried a genuine hip-hop song? Irol’s music is pure, genuine hip-hop: something that will surely stand out on the night, and could reward San Marino with a Common Linnets style success.

IROL was selected over seven other local acts vying for the San Marino wildcard. In a recent Wiwi Poll, IROL was your second favourite act to win the wildcard, after 2015 Eurovision star Anita Simoncini.

The San Marino rapper will join the two previously announced wildcards — fan vote winner Emma Sandström from Finland and controversial video-popularity winner Giovanni Montalbano from Italy.

IROL, Emma and Giovanni will compete alongside seven other acts, who will be confirmed sometime in the next week.

What do you think? Should IROL go to Eurovision? Can he lead San Marino to victory? Share your thoughts below!

READ MORE SAN MARINO EUROVISION NEWS HERE

25 Comments
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parker
parker
6 years ago

no doubt it’s a good election. let’s trust in the good taste of the juries to bring Miguel Vicente to the top 10.

Sanchez samiro
Sanchez samiro
6 years ago

Great choice! Now i hope for Hilary Smile she deserve top be in top 10! Its different and she have great personality! ??

Gianluca
Gianluca
6 years ago

Definitely a good choice. Send Miguel Vicente and Hilary Smile and it will be a high quality final.

Kaz
Kaz
6 years ago

I’m so stoked to see some good Sammarinese talent besides Valentina! He was the best in his wildcard selection by far so I’m glad he won. As most people have said maybe (haha Maybe) he should collaborate with a singer, possibly Emma. If they had a decent group of songwriters I think they could really do something special. I’m glad San Marino are going out of their comfort zone and I think if SRTV sends him to Eurovision he will definitely stand out.

Adam
Adam
6 years ago

I hope SMRTV reads wiwibloggs, because I REALLY like this idea and wish they could go with it!! Emma’s a great singer and I really like Irol as a rapper.

D
D
6 years ago

I’d love to see him get sent in a collaboration with a female singer

Adam
Adam
6 years ago
Reply to  D

#IrolandEmmaforESC2018

beccaboo1212
6 years ago

Well, ok. 🙂

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

We love this CONCEPT. Same Love 2.0 is coming for Finnish points.

Alexa
Alexa
6 years ago

I do not know if this will be ok for the jury, they usually did not like rapping look at montenegro IGRANKA . By the way where is Miguel Vicente and Dinah Nah?????

Ugnius
Ugnius
6 years ago
Reply to  Alexa

Well, “Origo” indeed finished 8th but he meant that rap songs are usually punished by juries. Origo was no exception – it was only 17th favourite of juries

Carmen
Carmen
6 years ago

Irol had no competition on this wildcard . Waiting for Dinah Nah and Miguel Vicente to make it too.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Great idea!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Creative! I like it. 🙂
What would you do with the languages though? Would you have Irol rapping in Italian or English, for example?
P.S. If the Creative Director is actually reading this… take note. 😀

Adam
Adam
6 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

Greece 2011 did something similar, but the rap was in English and the chorus was in Greek. It worked really well – 3rd in televote!

Emma
Emma
6 years ago

Irol is cool. Let see the other 7 . Hopefully Dinah Nah,Franklin Calleja, Miguel Vicente and Sara de Blue on the final . Let see let see

William Lee Adams
Admin
6 years ago

I really hope he isn’t the only Sammarinese artist in the San Marino selection. Like please include Anita at least.

William Lee Adams
Admin
6 years ago

PS His Eurovision entry may be my favourite from San Marino. He was soooo underrated!

KESC
KESC
6 years ago

Can’t they just cancel the whole selection and send Emma?
Irol would be a good option as well. He is seriously good at rapping, but not sure if it would bring San Marino to the final.

esc freak
esc freak
6 years ago

Where the hell are Dinah Nah and Franklin Calleja?

Maros
Maros
6 years ago
Reply to  esc freak

Yees! I hope they choose Elisa “ELYSA” Kolk and Dinah Nah.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

Cool choice. He could do very well. Definitely one to watch.

Jessica21
Jessica21
6 years ago

I am so happy about it. That would be really cool if we had a rap song from San Marino this year. 🙂

Branko
Branko
6 years ago

No surprise he got the wild card. He has good contacts to broadcaster and the other options as third wild card were a joke.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

I’m very happy with the result!
Jokes aside about San Marino’s size, he’s actually quite good.
I don’t think he will be selected in the end, which is sad, but I doubt the jury will choose a rapper.