In 2011 a beautiful Italian singer of Eritrean descent took the stage in the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany, representing the microstate of San Marino at Eurovision.
Senit didn’t make it to the final with her sweet love song “Stand By”, finishing sixteenth out of nineteen countries with just 34 points. But her career certainly didn’t stop there.
She has collected important experiences since then. Browsing YouTube we discover that she’s released tons of singles, performed in the prestigious Arena di Verona, as well as other Italian festivals, and become something of a club maven. If there’s a stage, our queen will sing and turn heads in the process.
Recently she’s turned her attention to TV. Senhit was among the hundred judges on the giant wall of the talent show “All Together Now” on Canale 5. (You may remember that the winner of the first British version was Eurovision 2019 act Michael Rice).
Nine years have passed and our ice-eyed curly girl has really stepped up her game. So maybe it’s time for her to return to Eurovision? San Marino RTV, she’s been stood up too long, so let’s do this!
Why Senhit should sing at Eurovision 2020
There are several reasons why choosing Senhit Zadik Zadik would be a wonderful idea. Since 2011 she’s decided to use her first name as her stage name, acquiring an “H”, thereby putting the previously missing hit in Senhit!
Take a listen to her recent tracks. The ballads are a distant memory — now she is ready to shake Europe with rhythm.
Our girl is FREAKY FREAKY. She knows how to perform and her videos are just wow!
In her latest single “HEART ACHE”, the English version of the song “Dark Room“, Senhit is serving Milan Fashion Week with her looks. She’s as elegant and mysterious as Cleopatra. We can’t sit in ‘da Nile: her class is second to none.
Luca Tommassini, one of the most influential Italian choreographers and artistic directors, directed the video. She could take him with her to the Netherlands to give her staging that is as explosive as it gets.
Italian or English? Senhit is strong in both languages.
Senhit is all about the ESC 2020 theme #OpenUp. From Bologna, where she was born, to Hamburg, Rome, New York and London, other cities where she has lived, Senhit builds bridges and opens up to the world.
To shoot the video for “Un bel niente”, she took her talent to Berlin. San Marino has the right star to shine in Rotterdam, there’s no room for na na na, we say yay yay yay!
What do you think of Senhit? Would you like to see her representing San Marino at Eurovision 2020? Let us know in the comments box below!
Italian singers who want to represent Italy but are not given the chance, as they need to win Sanremo and this makes it difficult for them as some have already won Sanremo the years that Italy was not participating and they cannot win easily Sanremo again, just because they would like to represent Italy. A singer who wanted to represent Italy was Arisa but when she won Sanremo RAI that year decided to send Emma, so I think SM should ask Arisa or other singers from Italy if they want to represent SM. Or Cristiano Malgioglio 🙂 He is very… Read more »
MAYBE ELLETRA LAMBORGHINI CAN TAKE A BETTER PLACE FOR SAN MARINO!
Yes there are many singers of Italy that SM could pick up if they want to go to Eurovision. Also Arisa who wanted many times to represent Italy or Cristiano Malgioglio would be fun :))
I was totally thinking this on the walk to work this morning!!! And I hadnt even read Wiwi ahahaha. I was thinking – so many Eurovision flops came back to destroy the contest.. Tamara winning the jury vote after 2008, our queen Valentina bringing San Marino to the final after 2 misses, Serhat bringing it back – like it’s not even just good for any performer to come back, but for San Marino it’s almost their secret! I can still remember “Stand by” and I haven’t listened since that semi final. It was dull but nice, way better than I… Read more »
I feel knowing San Marino they would send an upbeat and fun song this year.
Or Lake malawi with Lucy , perhaps
LOve its early morning and I’m reading that thinking it said SERHAT . IM like wow he has changed in a year lololol WTF !!!
Hunny no thanku ,I want aly Ryan.
red sea realness
Looking at Tallenti dei Castelli – I think I understand why San Marino is a bit more selective. Some of them are good. Some, on the other hand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAV7p9aBP4Q&list=PLfmK9DcDNmY_fXDUeG-b6TMq3mmYLjtT4&index=5
This, on the other hand, I love. Send HIM to Eurovision! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXu7r59VkM8&list=PLfmK9DcDNmY_fXDUeG-b6TMq3mmYLjtT4&index=8
Their percussionist is amazing though – he can somehow play drums without even touching them.
This sounds good Or maybe they could hold a separate contest within SAN REMO to chose their entry as well as Italy’s. That way they can split costs …sort of. Maybe mop up one of the new commers for SM
No.
The only past SM act that should return is the legend that is Valentina, but she needs to take a few more years off after the disaster that was 2017.
No, no, no! Stop being ridiculous! Who writes this stupidness.
So “It becomes a hit”. Sweet 🙂
I don’t like her, she was boring. I prefere Valentina, she’s telegenic and fun! Queen Valentina
I’ll be honest, I haven’t followed her much after Eurovision but Senhit’s San Marino entry is probably my least favourite of anything they’ve ever put forward to the contest (and that’s saying something). As a result, I’d be pretty underwhelmed to see her name representing.
I have a soft spot for that song. She did well IMHO, especially in the 2011 context. I still like Crisalide, Complice and Maybe more, but Stand By would be far from my personal last spot.
All the ones you don’t like, I actually have a perverse enjoyment of. Especially Chain Of Light. 😉
Sorry, for re-edit, I wanted to form it in a softer way. The core meaning is still there.
I also enjoyed Serhat’s 2 songs, Chain of Light, Social Network and Spirit of the Night, but in a guilty pleasure kind of way. 😛
Anyway, I kinda liked all of SM’s songs in a way. Some for being good, some for trying, some for being enjoyably bad. 🙂
Be nice to have some justice for Sara De Blu.
Why did they cancel the 1in360 selection ?. It was a good selection. They just sabotaged the winning song ‘who we are’ with a poor cheap revamp because the original version featuring Irol was really good. They should send Sara de Blue who has been robbed after Irol decided to quit the competition.
We all know Aly Ryan is gonna go for San Marino, Switzerland, Ireland, Estonia and probably Kazakhstan, but I am HERE for it
Don’t forget Libya, Hungary and Montenegro
And How about Mars.
yikes just thought. Could be Mehai
Idea for San Marino:
#OpenUp your artist/song choices not only in Italy and europe but also around the world. After they selected an artist, that artist should promote San Marino to the world for 1 year 😀
Having a San Marino brand ambassador wouldn’t make much sense if they weren’t from San Marino.
All this being said: if San Marino somehow had the resources to do a national final, here’s how I’d want it to go. 1) In a perfect world, it’d be something like an abridged Mello: three semi-finals, eight songs in each, four songs from each semi advance to a twelve-song final. Speaking realistically, it would more likely be one big final. 2) The acts would be determined half by reaching out to Sammarinese talent and half through an open call. Sammarinese acts could either be found through a public audition (think Supernova or O melodie pentru europa, plus livestreaming them… Read more »
I hope I’ve made it abundantly clear that while I’m not that bothered by San Marino fielding people outside their country, I definitely also wish they could send more local artists, or at least Italians.
2) At first I was a bit sceptic whether finding enough Sammarinese singers would be even possible, but then I found out that SMRTV organised three editions of their own talent show – “I talenti dei Castelli” (one of which was won by Irol MC). so color me surprised.
4) Maybe since we’re talking about the judges, we should rather choose the individuals who were the best at predicting the results (something like the German Eurovision Panel).
Did that too.
Presenting: the hypothetical jury! Almost everyone here either gave their top marks to the winner the year they served on the jury or gave the highest ranking of the jurors on the panel. Or they have some other area of expertise that would make them helpful (Petri was one of the judges on Supernova this year, and all of them gave excellent insight). Australia – Peta Jane Millgate (Milie Millgate) (executive producer at Sounds Australia, music export) Austria – Zoe Straub (singer, songwriter, represented Austria in the 2016 contest) Belgium – Wouter Vander Veken (music producer) Czech Republic – Hana… Read more »
(Incidentally, I know about I talenti dell’ Castelli and I’m absolutely convinced it’d be the Sammarinese selection show if they had the budget).
Chapeau bas, Joe. Since I’m a bit of a Eurovision nerd myself, I know how time-consuming and exhausting it is to make lists like this one. And wow, Zoe would be back for another year!
It took me literally days. To quote Styx, I had too much time on my hands and find this stuff way too interesting. And yeah, I deliberately picked Zoe both because of that and because she gave top marks to a winner (Salvador).
Incidentally, DJ Rudd would be an essential juror, since he’s one of the rare few who voted for a winner both times he served as a juror (Jamala in 2016 and Duncan last year, and in both cases it also got top marks from the rest of the jury).
Would love Loredana Berta or Patti Pravo to sing for San Marino. They might be around Serhat’s age (or more) but both of them can belt out modern tunes. both well respected too.
I hope that someday San Marino will become the state which opens up for all the ones who failed in their own national final.
Eg. this year Me Tana, All The blood …. would be a festival of joy!
We live in an era where Eurovision finally turns into a fair competition. Austria, Portugal, Israel (Cyprus 2nd), The Netherlands were all literally failed to qualify for the finals god knows how many times in a row. Fine music is finally appreciated and supported.
The same case applies for San Marino as well, though last year’s votes were all Turkish diaspora, so a quality act must be sent.
the iconic turkish diaspora living in moldova that gave him 8 televote points…
Or all those Turks from Estonia and…well…Cyprus in the first semi-final. (Just the fact that San Marino, fielding a Turkish singer, scored with both the Cypriot jury and televote in the semi-final and almost scored with the jury in the final feels like a middle finger to the idea that it was the Turkish diaspora that fixed it. And if Turkish diaspora had that much sway, countries like Germany, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands would’ve given them a way higher score in the final).
Cyprus is formed by two islands; Turkish (North), Greek (South). It is obvious that he would receive votes from there. Keep in mind, Serhat also had fans from Greece due to which I believe his relation with Helena Paparizou.
As for the latter, no they wouldn’t. Not every Turk has to support Serhat, just as much as I wouldn’t vote for him if I was voting from a different country, especially when he isn’t a known artist within our lands. This absolutely changes everything, and it did by receiving half the support Turkey would’ve got. The song also lacked taste.
But like, why wouldn’t Cyprus vote for Turkey more often then? Why was it a big deal when they voted for Turkey two years in a row and the second time was reciprocated? It’s mostly the Greek part that votes.
There is a feud between Turks and Greeks (not for me personally), which also involves Cyprus. And, Cyprus mainland is Greek. There is a bias vote that goes to Cyprus every year, which you can say the same for Azerbaijan and us. Serhat has Turkish bonds, but he isn’t literally screaming as a Turk. He just uses it as a campaign to receive support. Not everyone who’re responsible of voting goes on to research the roots of the artist. And as I said, the fact he is known in Greece, was friendly towards Greeks, the Paparizou factor and Turks living… Read more »
Fair enough. That all makes sense. Still doesn’t explain Estonia.
Serhat hasn’t received a single point from Estonia in the finals.
For semi-finals, you know it’s a small-sized batch. You can vote to other countries where your favorite isn’t in and yes, it came off as a fun song for some. Yet, my main concern is the final day votings which contradicts with his semi votes.
two islands??? And I don’t think the northern part votes at Eurovision, as far as I know they are under an embargo.
That’s what I thought! San Marino scored with Cyprus ‘cuz they dug the song.
Who said northern part votes? There are Turks living in the South area to vote on their own. It has always been the South who votes, which forms the majority of Greek/Cypriot people.
However, the ratio is nowhere near close, which ends up Greek voting Greece for a guaranteed 12 and Turks not having enough power to support their own. This is why I gave the Greece-Cyprus and Turkey-Azerbaijan example.
Cyprus is not formed by two islands. It’s one island divided (mostly) between the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus (southern part, inhabited by greek-cypriots) and the self-proclaimed and recognised only by Turkey “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (inhabited by turkish-cypriots). The former is the one which represents Cyprus in all international fora including Eurovision. The latter lacks international recognition and its inhabitants do not vote in Eurovision (they do not vote in any kind of Republic of Cyprus election, for that matter).
It was my fault using the islands; ‘parts’ is the correct word for it. That said, the south who has the international recognition, is also a home to many Turk. This doesn’t change the fact that Serhat’s connection to Greece, indirectly with H. Paparizou, added with Turkish identity, is one of the reasons he got points.
Regardless, he gets 6 from Greece and 4 from Cyprus. Fair enough.
I’m Turk, and I can confirm we have millions of people living in the borders of Romania and Moldova. Turkey also got many votes from Moldova as well so, I didn’t understand your point was to make a sarcastic comment or to support the comment. 8 out of 12 is great considering 12 always goes to Romania. The difference however is that Serhat made an impact as a Turkish singer in 2019 compared to 2016, which he had to as nobody literally knows him here. In his 2019 campaign, a decent number of people knew he was indirectly representing Turkey… Read more »
I guess that makes sense for 2019, but Moldova barely gave anything to Turkey back in the day. Counted two times, total. (1 point in 2007 and 3 televoting points in 2009 that got canceled out by the juries). If anything, I think they’ve voted for San Marino more than they’ve ever voted for Turkey! (7 points for The Social Network Song, for chrissake).
What if I told you that Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland and France (biggest Turkish diasporas) all ranked San Marino near the bottom?
So? It’s perfectly understandable for Turks who live there not voting for Serhat, while others may do. (Examples include Georgia, Macedonia, Albania and such.) You don’t have to support an artist just because they share bonds with your country. Matter of a fact, the song was nowhere near decent and I already said I would’ve ranked below if I’d vote.
This however, doesn’t change the fact that some Turks living in abroad cannot support him. If you check it, most of the votes comes from Turkish diaspora – not all.
So I saw. That’s why this diaspora theory doesn’t hold water. (Netherlands was close though – 12th place in the televote)
San Marino isn’t tired of recycling the same singers ?
You do you, San Marino. It could be basically anybody and it makes me so excited (and a little scared). Senhit, Serhat, Aly Ryan, Elvana, Inis Neziri – your guess is as good as mine. It would be nice to see an artist with Sammarinese citizenship representing them (or at least someone with some connection to our beloved micronation), but I know that the chances are slim, and I’ll be happy with any choice as long as it results in a good entry.
If the act does well, San Marino does well. That’s how I see it, no matter who represents them. Local football teams don’t get mad when Argentinians and Italians play for them. If they can’t get all Liverpudlians or Mancunians, what else are they supposed to do? San Marino is like that too. They need the people who can get the results.
I would like if San Marino sent a song written and performed by somebody from San Marino. Preferably in Italian. It’s a shame that they have to rely on outsiders for everything, even funding. If they can’t even provide the very basics, maybe they should not participate? I love supporting underdogs, but if it’s just “San Marino” in name only, then what’s the point?
San Marino is more than just a country. It’s a way of life. It’s about standing up for the little guys and proving that good songs transcend a country’s size. It’s why I wrote a whole play about them (that’s being put on!).
I can accept all of that, but if they just sell their slot to the highest bidder, well…what’s admirable about that? It doesn’t really seem like standing up for the little guys or a very good example. Senhit was actually the last time (in my opinion) that they sent a good song, but it’s a nice thought. Good luck with your play!
Your opinions on the songs are your opinions, I’ve enjoyed a lot of their songs while acknowledging they’re not masterpieces. And I don’t think they do, if you really break it down. Serhat obviously doesn’t have an ulterior motive to competing, and he certainly didn’t need to travel to San Marino or come back and represent them after missing the final on his first go-round. That’s commitment. And 1in360 was basically designed so that artists who wouldn’t normally have the resources to represent San Marino could at least be fielded and get a chance. None of them were big names.… Read more »
Why did Serhat represent San Marino? When you say he doesn’t have an ulterior motive, I’m not sure what you mean…it’s not for the love of San Marino – it’s to fulfil his own personal ambitions. I have no doubt that he loves the contest, and it’s his dream to perform at it – and San Marino is the only way he can get there. It’s a vanity project. Anyway, I know you love Serhat – and I don’t begrudge you that at all. I just have a different perspective. I wish San Marino nothing but the best!
I just typically see more vanity in a vanity project, and Serhat doesn’t strike me as vain. But it is what it is. Everyone has their own opinions, and I respect that you have a different perspective on it.
You could pose the same question about Luxembourg and Monaco in 60s and 70s. Technically 99% of their representatives were foreigners, but without them we wouldn’t have got such classics as “Poupee de cire…”, “Apres toi”, “Tu te reconnaitras”, “L’amour est bleu”, “Un banc, un arbre…”, “L’amour s’en va”, “Papa Pingouin”… OK, maybe the last one wasn’t a good example.
That’s valid…but mentioning those songs only invites comparison to Say Na Na Na, and San Marino can not win that fight. 🙂 I don’t know how Monaco & Luxembourg chose their entries, but I imagine they approached the artists and songwriters, rather than the other way around – it had a little more dignity/integrity it seems to me, and I doubt it was based on how much $$$ the act could stump up.
Used to be that France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Monaco all had the same pool of songs and singers to choose from. Siegel’s songs, on the other hand, I’m 100% convinced were thanks to his money. And Say Na Na Na slaps, don’t @ me.
Ralph Siegel: getting himself up in everyone’s business since 1974! Also, even bigger countries regularly sent people from other places. Look at ’63: two Israelis, one representing Switzerland and the other representing Austria, plus a French woman (Francoise Hardy!) representing Monaco and a Greek representing Luxembourg. Austria later sent Karel Gott, one of the most famous Czech singers ever, while Germany fielded singers from places like the UK, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark (and lord knows Germany isn’t short on people). And need I even mention Switzerland winning with the one and only Celine Dion? Eurovision would be a lot worse… Read more »
Ralph Siegel has written half of all San Marino’s entries. Is it really so bad that I wish they could do it differently? I have absolutely no problem with people representing a country other than their own – I just don’t want it to become the norm, year after year.
You think I want him sending his dated schlager to Eurovision? You think I don’t know how three out of five of the entries he wrote for them stunk? I wish there was another way, believe me. But he also has a capacity for good. He at least proved that with Germany (Dschinghis Khan, Theater, Johnny Blue, Ein bisschen frieden, Lass die sonne in dein herz, Lied fur einen freund, Wir geben ‘ne party…all stone-cold Eurovision classics, no argument from me), and he proved that with Valentina’s second and third entries. It’s when he goes for cheese, at least in… Read more »
The one and only Francoise Hardy, one of the most talented singers in Eurovision history. She’s one of my favourite artists overall (I’m a sucker for old French songs), I even got one of her albums at home! But 1963 was an unusually strong year, so I guess 5th place was good enough.
I am here for this, someone tweet this at Senhit maybe shes already in the pipe to be sent!
Look, as long as they don’t even entertain the possibility of the Human Ken Doll, I’ll support whoever San Marino sends, even if they have no chance. I did it for Jessika and Jenifer, I did it and it worked for Serhat, and I’ll do it again.
Hey, I’d be down! Stand By was a good song and she’s only gotten better. And hey, it seems San Marino has decent success nowadays with just bringing people back. If she came correct, we’ve got some consecutive qualifications in the air.
Also, that comment Andy Abraham made on Instagram made my eyes roll out of my sockets. Dude, I didn’t think you deserved that last place, you were objectively better than most of the acts that year (including the winner), but don’t go trotting out those stupid talking points again about how nobody will vote for the UK because of Brexit, it’s all neighbors voting for neighbors, blah blah blah…Terry’s bitterness clearly rubbed off on you, dude.
He didn’t even deserve to be the entry – it should’ve been Michelle Gayle!!
People should only go to Eurovision if they’ve got a good attitude about it. Side note: next time someone says “this year is gonna be the worst ever!”, show them 2008 and ask them how they could even compare. We have advanced lightyears from then. (You know who was also robbed in 2008? San Ma-fricking-rino. Last place with five points in their semi while Russia won the whole thing is a load of bullsh*t. It is interesting looking back on it as the rare time when San Marino was looked at as the big exciting newcomer since it was as… Read more »
He did deserve last place. It was an awful entry. Dull. He was only there because he was the X Factor runner up. It should have gotten the number 2 slot by design if it hadn’t by chance. If even 12 years later he feels cheated, then he is seriously deluded.
I’ll grant you that I listened to it obsessively for a while and was convinced it was robbed, but when I tried watching it again recently I couldn’t get through it, so you might be on to something. (Still better than No Angels, though).
Not better than no angles – at least our song was good
I2 years is a very long time to hold a grudge, makes me wonder what he is up to these days. He looks so old now.
he sounds like a typical mouthbreather who doesn’t look at the facts and sprouts the same tired old Woganisms. Michael Rice’s granddad is another one. Low intelligence. Repeating parrot-fashion bs they read in the Sun. I’d give my right arm to represent my country at Eurovision, enjoy every minute and consider it an honour no matter what the outcome.
San Marino has their own musicians. For example MC Irol. I still dont understand, why he was not choosen and they search foreign singers like Serhat etc.
Because unfortunately, despite being one of the wealthiest countries per capita in the world (look it up!), that money flow doesn’t really trickle down to San Marino’s station. They need people who can finance the participation, and that’s how we’ve ever been able to get Sammarinese acts on the Eurovision stage (all of Valentina’s entries and the JESC veterans’ duet happened because Ralph Siegel’s got mad pockets). Unless Irol MC had a solid financial backer, his chances wouldn’t be great, sad to say. I wish they had the money to alway send local talent as well. There’s more than you’d… Read more »
He probably would’ve elevated it, but then again, we also would’ve missed out on “it’s me, Jenny B.”
We could have got “Hey y’all, it’s Irol!”.
Nah, his verse was in Italian. Which make sense, since that’s the language he speaks, but still. (Plus, we already know he’d introduce himself as “Irol MC, your fav-o-rite rapper!” It’s funny watching the dress rehearsal and hearing some Swedish lady stand in for him. I didn’t know even the point announcements were scripted, but this very white Swedish lady calling herself “Irol MC, your favorite rapper” was very funny. Still less cringy than the Finnish guy from 2014.)
Can’t say I do. Saddest part was the fact that the best option was neither the local act nor the act they actually picked. Sara de Blue would’ve qualified, no doubt.
I’m not as sure as you are, but “Out of the Twilight” was by far the best that San Marino could offer in 2018. And the jury put her in 3rd place! Oh well, the robots were cute so I can’t really blame them.
OK, maybe not. I don’t know.
Can’t say I Blame him, it made my ears hurt. What Sara De Blu must have thought them sending that utter dog’s dinner instead of her brilliant song.
Me tana/ Elvana Gjata for San Marino 2020!
I’d call it odd for San Marino to send a song in Albanian, but Serhat sang a bit in Turkish, so who even cares? (Also: they’d qualify, they’d probably qualify over Albania, and what’s more, Albania would probably give them twelve points and nobody would complain).
Oh please not. I want “Ringo Starr” or “Viceversa” to represent San Marino after they got fooled at Sanremo. That would be just fair.
If PTN turned around and represented San Marino I would be over the moon with joy. I wanted them to win so badly since I know that kind of song would do amazingly well at Eurovision. They’d have the same national language, almost certainly qualify, and heck, probably even make the top ten!
That would be an awesome idea, they’d make the final for sure with a memorable performance like that, but because it’s San Marino, they’ll send something cheesy.
Hope springs eternal.
Yes yes or the SR song Dov’e , his sign language guy was a legend. what a head of steam he got up at Ssan Remo. Or Andromeda.
I’d rather not tbh, they’re on such a strong epic meme-entry dynamic with ‘Say Na Na Na’ that it would be a shame to drop it for a middle-of-road electronic track. If they really want to go for a legit local artist, Il Strego would be their best bet, but I’m really hoping they manage to surprise us again with something brilliantly unexpected and entertaining again like last year. I really want them to keep going higher and higher.
Does Wiwibloggs have some scalding tea here?
I‘m here for her. She‘s less embarrassing than Serhat and Valentina.
Look, I’ve had to deal with enough Serhat haters, and I at least understand their reasoning. But don’t you go talking smack about Queen Valentina. Spirit of the Night was not her goddamn fault and she can come back anytime she likes.