They’re the tiny nation that has only managed to qualify for the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest on one occasion in eight attempts.
And following its third straight elimination this evening, San Marino has suggested that it won’t be returning to the contest.
“We are very happy for and proud of Valentina and Jimmie, but I think we are too small for this event,” SMRTV Director General Carlo Romeo said in a statement. “I am not sure that next year we will consider participating. It is very difficult now to think of taking part again. There is no place for micro-states in the Eurovision Song Contest.”
San Marino’s last qualification came in 2014, when Valentina Monetta made her third straight attempt at Eurovision.
She returned this year with the hope of repeating the magic in a duet with Jimmie Wilson, but sadly the song kept with Sanmarinese tradition and crashed out.
The little Republic nestled in the heart of Europe faces unique challenges when it comes to Eurovision. Owing to its small population it has at times recruited singers from abroad, including Serhat from Turkey in 2016 and Jimmie Wilson from the United States this year.
There are also financial issues.
The country made headlines in March when two Italian singers — Tony Maiello and Arisa — revealed that San Marino had asked them to represent the small nation upon payment of an amount between €300,000 and €500,000, stirring unwanted attention at the country’s state broadcaster, which immediately denied the allegations.
On March 7, San Marino RTV’s general manager Carlo Romeo spoke to Italian Eurovision source Eurofestival News about the matter: “It was a very complex year from this point of view”.
@Edeard Jones, et. al.: I’ll tell you why San Marino is considering abandoning the contest: Because of two reasons, the latter being more profound than the first: (1) Deep in their hearts they know full well that Ralph Siegel–and I dare say Valentina Monetta–are no longer the answer for them; and they don’t want to admit the sad and obvious truth in public. (2) Here, I paraphrase Isaiah Firebrace; hiring another songwriter/producer, or securing the rights to another writer’s song, won’t come easy, and it sure won’t come cheap, not with them, and they already knew that; which is why… Read more »
My bad! 🙁 That should have read ‘”@Edward Jones, et. al.”.
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Eurovision shouldn’t be a problem with a decent song. It’s the same bullcr*p we hear every year from the British tabloid press; you blame everything but the artist and the song. It seems inexplicable that SM invites Ralph Siegel (‘invites’ may be too strong a word- I’m not convinced he’s even paid for the honour- maybe he just turns up?) every year. In 1982? Perhaps. In 2017? It’s cringeworthy and démodé. I’m sure there are songwriters around Europe who would write songs for San Marino and only expect payment in royalties and be covered for expenses for travel; I’m sure… Read more »
Aye. I’ll say this: If Anita Simoncini and/or Michele Perniola try again, let’s hope that San Marino doesn’t go running to Ralph Siegel for a song. I would bet short money that “Spirit Of The Night” was written years ago (2? 5? 10? 20?!), but never recorded. Gah!
We can’t let this thread die without mentioning another dinosaur: Louis Walsh. The arrogance of him, thinking his boy-band playbook would still work, needs to be sent into retirement. Or did he not get the memo, that teen-aged girls are not the only ones voting and not the only ones in all of the juries? Obviously not. That’s why Ireland is now missing from the Grand Final for the 4th-straight year. 🙁 He’s done. Period. The epitome of stupidity would be to give him a say in next year’s selection, or any year thereafter! They need to clean house from… Read more »
I suggest no one should follow Switzerland’s lead. Of all countries, I have the least respect for Switzerland. Year after year they send mediocre songs. Other countries take risks; sometimes they pay off, sometimes they crash & burn. Meanwhile Switzerland sends nice, boring, white bread songs. They get the results they deserve.
Armenian diaspora and Russian trolls rule!
Shame. I want all the micro-states to compete.
Maybe they should start taking it more seriously and send actual good entries. Just saying.
How about sending a damn good song? I remember The Netherlands didn’t qualify for like 9 years… They were back with better songs and they made it. Same thing about Latvia, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Croatia…and so on… And now Portugal is back after one year break and some failures in the previous years… The qualification is possible if they send a good song…
San Marino should withdraw for a few years and come back refreshed! And Maybe Withdrawals from more countries like Serbia, FYR Macedonia, Albania (Europe never appreciates Albanian entries:( ), Iceland, or Ireland. Because maybe they should take a break like (Poland did when they withdrew in 2012 and 2013) and then returned in 2014 and is very successful. Bulgaria too (withdrew in 2014 and 2015 came back in 2016), Croatia (withdrew in 2014 and 2015 came back in 2016), Portugal (withdrew in 2016 came back in 2017), Armenia (withdrew in 2012 came back in 2013), Ukraine (withdrew in 2015 came… Read more »
Not if they go running back to Ralph Siegel or another dinosaur (and David Foster, unfortunately, is another one), looking for another song from them. That would be suicide, which I knew was the case the sooner I heard this song and saw who was involved.
LMAO!!! Did they really expect to qualify with that horrible song??? SERIOUSLY, San Marino??
Somebody over there did. Otherwise they wouldn’t have gone running to Ralph Siegel once again to get another one from him.
@Kostas: I have to agree with your very first comment. They have no excuse whatsoever. They are an example of the folly of doing the exact same thing and expecting a different result. (1) They continually relied on a dinosaur (Ralph Siegel) to write and/or produce their entries when they should have been looking for fresh, new or untested talent. (2) They continually relied on Valentina Monetta, when she should, by now, have taken over the position of director-general or general manager. Instead of being the one selected for this contest, she should be the one DOING the selection for… Read more »
Please who votes for Israel?
Only Jewish communities throughout Europe
This is why they qualify
Simple
I voted for Israel and as long as I know I am not jewish.
WTH!!?? I vote for Israel already second year in a row..
Israel failed to qualify from 2011 to 2015, 4 years in a row…
Racal 2011 to 2014 not 2015
I am from Romania and I gave my only vote in the 2nd semifinal to Israel because I like the song. I’ve liked it since I first heard it. Oh, and I’m not Jewish!
Jesus! Just pick a better act and you will be in the final. No need to blame it on anyone because you cannot succeed, that’s childish.
Israel is also very small country; and it have an amazing entires each year. (And actually won 3 times!) So sorry, but this is not an excuse.
How can you compare the humongous Jewish community with the tiny 30.000 citizens of San Marino?
Well maybe San Marino should open up for foreign singers, like Luxembourg used to do.
I mean I would even sing for San Marino, given the fact that unknown talent here in the Netherlands only gets noticed with the right connections, face or money..
I would love to sing for San Marino, and maybe it is time to really make a scene so that they notice me 🙂
Cuz I can tell many ways that would help San Marino even make it to the top 10
They had been represented by foreign singers. Senit, Serhat, Michele Perniola, Jimmie Wilson were all born abroad. Only Valentina, Anita Simoncini and a couple of guys in Miodio were actually Sammarinese.
Can’t blame them, although the song was terrible, they will never qualify ever again. I think countries like San Marino, Ireland, FYR Macedonia, need to leave. Eurovision is for a select few countries and it is the same countries every year. It seems a trend that when countries leave and come back after a few years, they do quite well (Italy, Austria, Poland, Cyprus, Croatia, Hungary, Portugal) so who knows? Take a few years out and come back and win. As for now, countries like San Marino, Ireland and FYRM will continue to be ignored. Ireland, Serbia and FYRM should… Read more »
I don’t agree because tables turn all the time in Eurovision. There’s a ton of “bad” countries who recently became very successful: the Netherlands (didn’t qualify during 9 years, but achieved three top 11 in recent years!), Belgium (missed 8 finals but scored two top 10, two years in a row), Austria (achieved nothing during 50 years, then won and made it to the final 4 years in a row) just to name a few. Similarly, successful countries always change. France and Luxembourg used to be big powerhouses (now France can hardly get out of the bottom 5 and Luxembourg… Read more »
I get you Racal, but it’s the same countries qualifying all of the time, regardless what they send. Like cmon what exactly is Armenia? She is barely even singing, it’s just a stage show, Romania? Cringe overload, Poland? Australia? The bias towards Australia is unreal, if Ireland sent Isiah with that song, they never would have qualified, and believe me, they have sent similar before! It’s the same countries every year, with 1 or 2 ‘surprises’, but even those ‘surprises’ are getting predictable. 70-80% of the qualifiers from Tuesday and Thursday wouldn’t even make it into a Top 10 chart… Read more »
Ireland should leave as well no one votes for them
Uk should leave Brexit so no one cares
Israel no in Europe
Russia political
Moldova
Estonia
Latvia
Bosnia
Serbia
Greece
Macedonia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Ukraine
Then no more semi finals
No more block voting
The way it used to be in the 80 and 90 when the competition was fair
They should withdraw, they do not even have a valid public vote.
And if they will have in some future a really good singer he should compete at San Remo and represent Italy – it is a much more feasible scenario for them.
I agree!
Get rid of Ralph Siegel.
Don’t give in to a small, but loud group that wants Valentina back every year.
Look for cooperation with San Remo.
And if that all fails, think again of withdrawing.
No country is too small for Eurovision. Honey, you need the right ingredients to make a tasty cake! All your songs so far were joke entries except for ‘Maybe’ (which actually qualified) and ‘Crisalde’. Just send good songs with good staging and you will more than qualify
Andorra and Monaco failed miserabily in Eurovision. Sometimes size really matters.
Monaco won once and Luxembourg won 5 times so it is possible for a small country to win.
If they just let Valentina do what she does best a Jazz song I think San Marino could get into final, I don’t want to lose my fix of the Queen of San Marino
If you send a good song there could be a place for them in Eurovision. Change the song writer for heaven’s sake. That aside, small countries such as Malta should be appreciated more for their efforts.
What will happen if Italy wins this year?
Will they still withdraw?
Now I want more than ever that Italy wins
I’d agree with the general consensus here. All we ask of San Marino is to update their 1970s-1990s era songs to something at least from the year 2000! We’d rather have a decent slightly-dated entry than a “joke” very-dated entry.
I had some hope in JESC with that “Mirror” song (which deserved a better result). But it was a step in the right direction. After all, if Luxembourg (basically a micro-state) can win 5? contests, why can’t Valentina bring it home for San Marino? 🙂
He’s not wrong. They don’t have the money to send an act that doesn’t buy their way in, and if for some miracle they won, they wouldn’t have a place or the budget to host the contest.
I would like it if they tried at least once crowdfunding Valentina Monetta so she can go at least one time with a good song in her actual style, representing San Marino. She deseres it.
I agree….. Why ENTER a competition you know you will never win?
It’s like being in an abusive relationship and paying to be in one.
If they wanna leave they should leave
Hopefully Macedonia follows.
It’s just not worth it
if they hire swedish song writer and swedish Creative director Jean-Baptiste. they will qualify to grand final maybe win .lol
and choose artist from ????? country (you know) .there were so million fans suport you for free. lol
Ireland had Swedish song writer this year
Null points
Hi guys. I’m new to the ESC, therefor have some questions: Does San Marino’s announcement justified? Is there a small country that actuallly won the ESC in the past? Is there a country without friendly voting neighbors that have ever won?
Well, Monaco won the contest in 1971, I think it’s the only micro state that ever managed to win, and it was in the 70’s after all, where there wasn’t really friendly voting
Luxembourg managed to win 5 times, including twice in a row. Although it’s been a while since
Luxembourg is small but it’s not a micro state. It’s more like Malta in terms of size.
The point is true not just for San Marino. The same countries struggle over and over – Czechia, Slovakia, Baltics, Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro etc. Andorra send quality entries, but never qualified. As if the audience did not recognise them. There is an outstanding music scene that noone seems to buy. Everyone is just fed with information, which countries are superior to others that makes them to vote for these countries. Why all the popular music is coming from the same sources all the time? Because there are just some players in the industry that dictate the game. Are you listening… Read more »
Brilliant point!!!
No offense, but if microstates don’t have a chance, how come that Malta finished second twice? The problem is that the songs are simply not good enough, or do you thunk that Monetta/Wilson ever stood a chance with that song?
Malta has a population about 15 times that of san marino
– Malta started participating in the 70s. After a hiatus, they returned in the early 90s and remained in the contest since then. It’s a “familiar face”. San Marino is relatively new, joined in 2008 (the last country to join the contest, actually). – Malta is more well known as a country, at least as a touristic destination. On the other hand, most people ignores there’s a tiny republic at the top of a mount and all surrounded by Italy, called San Marino. – San Marino has a population of only 32.000. Malta’s population is 423.000 (13 times the population… Read more »
The big 5 money should helps these micro states to participate. Every country deserves a chance to be fair competition in stage like people should have a government adsigned lawyer when they don’t have one. Sadly the mobey goes to the crao audio production this year. And Estonia entry had microphone issue last day.
I don’t get it: People say they like Eurovision because they love trashy pop songs: San Marino produces a perfectly good trashy pop song, and everyone hates on it? People are getting far to precious about ‘staging’ and things like that imho. If you really care deeply about quality music and art, then why on earth would you care about Eurovision to begin with? It makes no sense! I loved San Marino’s song this year, and Valentina Monetta is a legend in my eyes!
Exactly. What else should they send to appeal the biased public? They vote for neighbours or who they want to please. The latter usually happens to the Big 5 and Russia when small countries try to lick the Big countries’ asses. So far I have no clue how the UK’s song climb high if there are many other petter songs? San Marino’s song was much better TBH. That’s all. Stop this foolish game.
I like Valentina and Jimmie, but their song and performance were just lacking comparing to others. Sending an unappealing song cannot help. I don’t understand why SMTV hires Ralf Siegel every time. They need to change their approach if they want success. Giving up is the easiest, but not the best solution.
They don’t hire Ralph Siegel. Ralph Siegel hires them to be the vessel for his crappy songs in the contest. There’s a difference.
Yeah, San Marino should hire a composer who knows what state-of-the-art music is like. They would be singing a different tune (metaphorically)
People don’t love trashy pop songs, people love good pop songs. This wasn’t good by any standards. Whoever said we love trashy pop songs?
No we don’t expect art but we do expect good sounds. Also we do like art. Why do you think Portugal is so praised this year. Or Jamala last year? We don’t actively look for art songs but when a good one comes along we appreciate it.
Preach it. I think it’s rude to disparage all the artists in this contest as producing trashy pop music because that isn’t the case, maybe it was in the past but it’s changed and is producing much better music, many of these songs could even become popular in countries like the U.S. if they got promoted here. I’ve been watching the contest now for three years and I don’t think the majority of the songs have been trashy, many have been kind of generic, but most of them have a good sound and at least decent lyrics, maybe most are… Read more »
any smart broadcaster would’ve cooperated with san marinese broadcaster to keep them participating. free 24 points in the final, i reckon.
If you had a food product which said “best before 1974” in 2017 – would you buy it? The vast majority of tonights viewers wouldn’t ask it’d make them ill. This is the same concept in 3 minutes accompianed to *music (*apparently)
PLEASE SIGÑORI YOU ARE SO CLOSE NOT SMALL, SENDING THE SAME ALLWAYS 10 OR 20 TEARS IN THE PAST, I CAN BELIEVE WHY IF YOUARE IN THE HEARTH OF THE ITALIAN MUSIC HEARTH DON CONVENCE TO THE BIGG CONTENDER OF SAN MARINO LOST TO REPRESENT YOU IN EUROVISION, NEK, OR LUDOVICA CANT BE GREAT ON THIS BUT NO YOU GO OLDIES AND OLDIES THEME WITH A CANDLE IN YOUR HANDS. PLEASE OPEN YPUR MIND YOU HAVE THE BIG OPORTUNITY. OR CHOS DIRECTLY A BIG ITALIAN OR WORLD ARTIST AND WINNN. PAULINA RUBIO IS YOURS TKAE HER WITH A POP RANCHERA… Read more »
I think Armenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta and Georgia also need to leave the contest. Nobody really appreciates them. Let the big countries play their dirty games. We all don’t have to be there to entertain them.
How come Sweden gets one of the best positions? Why Armenia always gets bad positions? Now Artsvik sings 5th like their other famous singer Sirusho did.
They are just not happy to see these countries in the contest. And Latvia and Estonia managed to win once much because of the politics back then. Now Estonia is unexpectedly eliminated.
Armenia had the last position in 2016…
Yeah. And nobody performing last has won it for the last decade. Another proof how Armenia is mistreated.
Well the starting position doesn’t predict a winner. And honestly if you mention all these countries? Then you might aswell say all countries whi haven’t won the oast decade should withdraw cause there are a lot of countries whi haven’t done well in a few years. If they’d just send songs which are here to win and not only to qualify it would maybe work better for them aswell. i’m talking from a Swiss point of view, and you probably all know how much Switzerland has qualified, and you can’t just give up hope on any country who hasn’t done… Read more »
Steve. Italy performed as the last act 2015 and they won the telewotes. The last spot is an honor. The producers want to end whith something stunning!
I agree with you on the obvious Swedish-led Nordic bias, but I wouldn’t argue Armenia has been treated unfairly. Armenia has almost always sent great entries and has seen very positive results (several top 10 finishes as well!). I think a win is in their near future 🙂
There are strong voices in the Baltics that they should stop to participate at ESC at all. And regardless whether they qualify for the final or not, has 25th place or 5th. Array of reasons has been named. If there is a chance Nordics vote for Nordics, Greeks for Cyprus and vice versa, and yes Baltics vote for Baltics… Obviously, Russian diaspora votes for Russia, Turkish one for Turkey… And you can continue this list quite successfully with many more examples. It’s like some sport event – you support your ‘home’ team regardless how good or bad they are. Should… Read more »
Thank you guys for all your good points. I agree with you all. However, there is something obviously prevents mucrobstates from winning. You give the examples of Israel or Luxembourg, but don’t forget that these states partook gor almost 50 years and the number of participating countries was small. How can San Marion compete with Australia or the UK? They have huge market and large population. This means it’s easier to pick up a good quality performer and song easily. Let’s speak about Slovakia, Montenegro, Georgia, Armenia, San Marino… I watched this contest from 00s. Don’t remember that any micro… Read more »
They could do better if they sent a good song once in a while…
And I’m sure the songs selected have nothing to do with it?
Use Valentina if you want to but at least let her use her own material and get rid of Siegel. That might improve things. Or finding contemporary songs, not 70’s ripoffs.
Siegel funds it all, they can’t get rif of him.They tried to seduce other singers, but, as they had to pay part of the expenses of participation, they declined. That’s why Sammarinese TV had to call Siegel once again.
At the end of the day, the song was weak and it was apparent on first listen it was never going to make it in to the Grand Final. Surely they could have come up with a song better than this one. After several years in a row of weak songs, people just automatically expect that San Marino aren’t going to advance and that’s a shame. They need to start getting their act together for next year now if they wish to compete and be taken seriously.
They only have one issue: Ralph Siegel
They need Siegel to fund it.
They tried “just going to Italy and getting singers there” it didn’t work, because none of them wanted to hand over the cash.
I would normally say get rid off Siegel but then, who they have to send? Indeed, they are too small for the contest, local talent is simply poor
Send a better song. Pick up artists in Italy if you don’t have enough in San Marino.
FYR Macedonia doesn’t qualify since 2012, Portugal for 7 years, Ireland since 2013.
I’m sorry for Crisalide, but s**** happens.
It’s not that hard to get a better song. I can go to the nearest town with about the same population and I can find myself a couple of producers and great singers. Every small town, and in this case country, is filled with talent. If you honestly take your time to get yourself a good sounding song you believe in, you can make it to the finals. You just need the right spirit. My country failed to qualify for years in a row but then we realised we had to put more time, talent and effort in the song… Read more »
Cridalide was robbed, unfortunately this was expected.. ?
Banging my head against the desk with people saying “just send better songs/singers” The talent pool is very narrow in San Marino. Out of 30,000 people, there are not going to be many talent singers, bearing in mind many are children too young, or pensioners. Even when a talented singer is found, who is going to write the song, now we need to find a talented song writer, on top of that. Not to mention, we are a small country with a small GDP. GDP per capita, does not matter, I’m sure many people here earn more than 27,000 a… Read more »
Just send better songs! and do better live shows for ESC
BTW, is EBU membership strictly 1 state = 1 broadcaster = 1 entry? Can’t all the microstates band together to send one joint entry? 😛
I think they should get a Micro semi final, broadcast solely online.
The 4 (Monaco, Andorra, San Marino, Liechenstein) each perform their song live on stage, say on the Sunday, and then a focus group of people in each country (anyone a citizen in that country can come along) cast a vote, none for your own country.
They total up the votes (No 12 points, 10 points etc, just raw votes) and the winner gets a pass straight to the final on Saturday.
If San Marino withdraws from Eurovision next year, then Valentina Monetta should try representing Italy. :/
Maybe then they’ll give her something good to work with
The reason why San Marino struggles at Eurovision is not because of its small size. It’s because they always send awful songs. The only reason why they qualified in 2014 was because Valentina Monetta got a lot of sympathy votes from people who wanted to see her make the final. There are many small countries in Eurovision like Malta and Cyprus that do well because they do send good songs. I personally think San Marino should do what the other microstates in Europe did and withdraw and never come back. Besides, even if they win (which will never happen), they… Read more »
Malta and Cyprus may seem small, but in terms of population and Total GDP they are far far larger.
My hometown alone is 4x bigger than San Marino.