Perché Sanremo è Sanremo! After weeks of anxious waiting, on February 5 Sanremo Music Festival has finally kicked off.
A glamorous atmosphere, tons of glitter and sequins, a bombastic dynamic scenography. The most loved and talked-about Italian program of the year delivered another amazing — even if endless — show. But it’s always worth it to watch!
Rivedi tutta l’esibizione di @ARISA_OFFICIAL su @RaiPlay ? https://t.co/efK56WWYV1#MiSentoBene #Sanremo2019 pic.twitter.com/7zfs8NsxVr
— Festival di Sanremo (@SanremoRai) February 5, 2019
During the first episode, we enjoyed special guest appearances from Italian popera singer Andrea Bocelli — who sang his Sanremo 1994 entry “Il mare calmo della sera” and the duet “Fall on me” together with his son Matteo, from the album “Sì” which reached No.1 in the UK and USA — and Giorgia.
She performed her signature song “Come saprei”, her latest singles “Le tasche piene di sassi” and “Una storia importante”, and a rendition of “I will always love you” by Whitney Houston. Actors Pierfrancesco Favino and Claudio Santamaria also took the stage.
Anyway, all of our attention has been focused on the main event for Eurovision fans: the original numbers, heard by the public for the very first time, as required by sanremese tradition! After four hours of songs, the results were revealed in random order.
Rivedi tutta l’esibizione de @ilvolo su @RaiPlay ? https://t.co/A5galrUsyG#MusicaCheResta #Sanremo2019 pic.twitter.com/T4vfwWZCMr
— Festival di Sanremo (@SanremoRai) February 5, 2019
Sanremo’s first night
Top-ranked entries
- Loredana Bertè – Cosa ti aspetti da me
- Simone Cristicchi – Abbi cura di me
- Il Volo – Musica che resta
- Irama – La ragazza con il cuore di latta
- Nek – Mi farò trovare pronto
- Francesco Renga – Aspetto che torni
- Daniele Silvestri – Argento vivo
- Ultimo – I tuoi particolari
Middle-ranked entries
- Arisa – Mi sento bene
- Boomdabash – Per un milione
- Federica Carta e Shade – Senza farlo apposta
- Negrita – I ragazzi stanno bene
- Enrico Nigiotti – Nonno Hollywood
- Patty Pravo con Briga – Un po’ come la vita
- Anna Tatangelo – Le nostre anime di notte
- Paola Turci – L’ultimo ostacolo
Bottom-ranked entries
- Achille Lauro – Rolls Royce
- Einar – Parole nuove
- Ex-Otago – Solo una canzone
- Ghemon – Rose viola
- Mahmood – Soldi
- Motta – Dov’è l’Italia
- Nino D’Angelo e Livio Cori – Un’altra luce
- The Zen Circus – L’amore è una dittatura
Rivedi tutta l’esibizione di @IRAMAPLUME su @RaiPlay ? https://t.co/w3ftsSpo4b#LaRagazzaConIlCuoreDiLatta #Sanremo2019 pic.twitter.com/Uz1GlTpjpI
— Festival di Sanremo (@SanremoRai) February 6, 2019
If you’re cheering for the results, we must warn you: this is not the definitive ranking of the first night. To keep us in suspense until Saturday, the organisers decided to show us just the results of ONE voting jury — and will reveal results from a different jury each night.
A bit messy indeed… but this is how it works! That said, for the first night it was the turn of the demoscopic poll. Tomorrow night 12 of the 24 artists will sing their entries for a second time.
Rivedi tutta l’esibizione di @LoredanaBerte su @RaiPlay ?? https://t.co/ArkvvrecVk #CosaTiAspettiDaMe #Sanremo2019 pic.twitter.com/MOhI9X6mYj
— Festival di Sanremo (@SanremoRai) February 5, 2019
How will the Sanremo winner be picked?
Voting during the five evenings will occur through different combinations of four methods:
- Public televoting, carried out via landline, mobile phone, the contest’s official mobile app, and online voting.
- Press jury voting, expressed by accredited journalists that followed the competition from the Roof Hall at the Ariston Theatre.
- A demoscopic poll, composed of a sample of 300 music fans, which voted from their homes via an electronic voting system managed by Ipsos.
- Expert jury voting, resulting from points assigned by eight personalities from the world of music, entertainment and culture.
The three voting systems will have a percentage weight so distributed:
- First, Second and Third Evening: 40% public televoting; 30% demoscopic poll; 30% press jury voting
- Fourth and Fifth Evening: 50% public televoting; 30% press jury voting; 20% expert jury voting
In the final part of the fifth evening, a new rank indicating the first three acts — determined by the percentage of votes obtained in this evening’s vote and those obtained in previous evenings — will be drawn up.
What do you think of the songs of Sanremo 2019? Who are you most excited for? Share your thoughts below!
I also like to mention that I love the hosts of the festival. They keep on talking over each other for long minutes as if it’s very normal for them. Or maybe it’s just an Italian thing. Anyway, If Italy gets to win soon, I wish to see any of them host Eurovision too.
I’d love to see our amazing Virginia Raffaele hosting Eurovision; she’s also a great performer with a lot of sense of humour. Michelle Hunziker also could be a great choice, maybe together! 🙂
Very surprised there is no mention of Ghemon with Rose Viola. Think it is a really lovely song and he has a great ‘bluesy’ voice -have played it a few times which is always a good sign!
When I saw Loredana’s pic, I thought Big Ang was back from the dead and singing at Sanremo for a split second. Ah well.
Ok, I just heard the studio cuts, and I’m pretty fine with Irama winning it all. He would be a great act to represent Italy in Tel-Aviv.
I thought the same after listening to the studio cuts! Definitely one of the strongest songs!
Loredana for the win!
Jeez
All of them were the same (except for the shouting woman). None of them gave me a top 10 feeling.
I think Irama and Simone were a lot better than Ultimo,
He got a lot of support just because he is more famous.
Simone Cristicchi please.
Loredana Berté has the most powerfull song in the entire competition, i love her energy on the stage and the up-tempo sounds, which is really italian actually. Il Volo made me disappointed, i know that Europe want the three guys one more time but let’s be onest: that song it’s not even compare to “Grande amore”. Irama has a power ballad with a deep and strong message, which could be very appreciate by the jury and the televote as well.
Anyway, i really appreciated the stage and the lights that made Sanremo as a little Eurovision 🙂
Nek and Ultimo have grabbed my attention, though I’ve just listened a few songs from the top ranked.
Loredana for the win! Gurl can belt!
Loredena Berthe and Irama were very good… but i fear that Il volo will win…i don’t like it so much..
Il Volo is a big NO for me.. I don’t like their song
me to
I always see Sanremo’s festival (because I’m Italian tbh) My personal top 5 Is 5 Il Volo-Musica che resta: wonderful voices, I have goosebumps when I listen to them. The song unfortunately lacks of originality(I don’t see them winning and go to Eurovision) 4 Achille Lauro-Rolls Royce: very different song from the kind of music he does, but I like it. (He won’t win because old people don’t like him) 3 Irama-la ragazza dal cuore di latta:The lyrics are beautiful and I love the instrumental and the gospel choir(I think he or ultimo will win, even if I hate Ultimo)… Read more »
Just to point out even if Il Volo wins San Remo 2019, I doubt in my own opinion they will go to Tel Aviv. Reason being they have several concerts across Japan from the 13th to 22nd May 2019. There is no way an established group like Il Volo would cancel everything and go to Eurovision instead. They are making a fortune selling out concerts in Japan, and good on them as this is what one would do with a successful career. I think everyone should look into another song/act which will go to Tel Aviv.
They already said that they will postpone their concert in Japan if they chosen to represent Italy at Eurovision this year
https://www.eurofestivalnews.com/2019/01/29/il-volo-per-leurovision-pronti-a-spostare-la-data-del-18-maggio-in-giappone/
They wanna go back. They and Arisa have both made it clear they wanna go.
I watched the entire show and the only stand out was IL Volo. There performance and outstanding vocals out shone every other performance.
My favourite selection kicked-off, finally! I’m rooting for Irama, he caught my attention yesterday, but there are many good entries this year, wish my country’s music festival was at least 20% as classy as Sanremo is. Nearly forgot about learning Italian as a by-product of watching Festival di Sanremo 😀
Italy have always sent captivating songs since their return, whether it be the power of Grande Amore or the emotion behind Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente, the music stops you, makes you listen and respect the song. Each italian song may not have been my favourite but I respect them. I feel this years Sanremo has at least two songs of similair stature: Ultimos’ Song and Iramas’ Song. Both these songs are very emotional emphatic songs which I think could do very well at eurovision and which I like a lot!
Shade and Federica are so underrated. Happy about Loredana though <3
I am rooting so hard for NEK and Il Volo.
All the songs are very generic and no competitive but Italy will be overrated one year again xd
My fan girl self wants Il Volo again at ESC hehe.. honestly I’m impressed with the modern sounding entries this year. Arisa’s song took me by surprise starting of all LaLaLand then turning into a pop rock song. Hope Italy chooses well.
I think Ultimo or Irama will win but I would love to see Loredana at ESC. I love her song and I don’t know why but it stands out a lot in Sanremo2019
she’s been getting raving reviews left and right, maybe she’ll end up as a surprise winner? i mean sanremo is always very unpredictable, and her song is actually good
Yeah, that’s true. You either really like her voice or you don’t and you can’t get into the song. I really hope that you’re right and that she can come out as the surprise winner (not that Ultimo and Irama would be bad choices, it’s just that I was expecting stronger entries for them, especially Ultimo).
irama would be the best choice. ultimo’s song is quite the stereotypical italian ballad + he smokes too much and you can tell from his voice, it’s gotten much worse in just a year.
povia already did the ‘bu’ thing in 2005, and better, on his 19-week #1 hit.
electric chair to them for putting arisa in the yellow area, it’s such an uplifting song, my fave.
irama surprised me, i can’t stand him and his homophobic girlfriend but the song is objectively great.
ultimo lost his voice to excessive smoking, il volo’s song is a pop version of grande amore… i’d send irama to eurovision even tho i really despise him as a person.
My exact thought ?my favourite is actually my dear Einar?but I perfectly know he doesn’t stand a chance?
Sadly he has fully booked concerts on the same days as eurovision, I highly doubt he chooses to cancel/postpone them. Sure Il volo said they would postpone Japan, but I doubt Ultimo will do the same.
Irama should win!
Nek was my fave last night.
Looks like Ultimo is the best of a mediocre bunch. Not the contest it was two years ago.
Il Volo is the only standout for Eurovision here. The song + their showmanship are a YES. Francesco Renga is great but not for Eurovision. My ranking:
12. IL VOLO
10. F. RENGA
…
I don’t get the hype with Ultimo. Disappointed by Nek, Arisa, and Anna Tatangelo, but the first two are listenable.
Can people just stop with Il Volo please ? You can hear the lows and highs that mostly match 2015, but this one is much cheaper and powerless in comparison
Lorena & Boomdabash winners tbh
I skimmed through all the performances and the one that caught my attention was Irama, so I am glad seems to have a shot at winning.
Admittedly, I first jumped at the performance of Il Volo, but my brain inevitably compared their song with „Grande Amore“ and to me, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the latter. I still like it though and interestingly enough, it already meets the three-minute-maximum.
I LOVE TOO THE IRAMA S SONG
I wan IL VOLO to go to tel aviv. Their song is great, dark, melodical and very different from grande amore which is good.
Italian is so sexy as hell!
Not just the looks, class, charisma
sex appeal, Ohhh baby ohhh
san remo my saviour!
IL VOLO
Loredana
Ultimo
Arisa
Irama
My winners are IL VOLO OMG
Many spoken verses this year, I missed more melodic entries. My highlights, in order of appearance: Il Volo – solid ballad, amazing vocals and harmonies as usual, but I fear this one is less televote-friendly than “Grande amore”; Silvestri – probably too bold for Sanremo, Eurovision and my own taste, but the lyrics are very thought-provoking; Ultimo – nice and accessible, but I feel the same way as Lourdes: my expectations were high and this is far from his best effort; Cristicchi – maybe more suited for a poetry slam than a song contest, but the lyrics are marvelous; Irama… Read more »
Irama was good , but the lyrics of the song, i think it is too heavy for eurovision. He and ultimo almost the same.
Some say il volo are too cheesy …but i think
il volo did good. No need to compare the two songs. I just more into il volo. I think they are the best choice to win this.
Considering most will not understand the lyrics, I do not think it is too heavy. He portrays the emotion and that is what counts.
I know. But this time i watched them without knowing about the lyrics.
When I watched Irama perform it for the first time, I wasn’t understanding the lyrics, but it already made an impact on me. My initial thought was that he was “the broken one”, when it’s actually the opposite. Though being in love with someone who’s broken will make anyone a little broken by proxy. Let’s say it’s a beautiful tragedy with some sort of happy ending. It sounds great and it can lead to some beautiful staging too. Don’t know how Eurovision’s televote would react to it, but I guess the juries would love it. About Il Volo’s song, Shabi,… Read more »
Only heard Il Volo so far. I dunno…while I want to hear the other songs before I make a judgment call, I am very much unopposed to sending them to Eurovision again. Lots of shades of Grande Amore there, but man is it good.
Why were Einar and Mahmood at the bottom? They were good.
Because they came from Sanremo giovani, and in the last few days there was a lot of attention about supposed fraud during that competition, so I suspect they will be purposely underrated
Can RAI not remove all their Sanremo videos from their Youtube channel after the competition ends? It’s been frustrating trying to find some of the older performance videos from their recent editions so soon.
I have to be honest here
I only listened to the 8 songs that had been rated highly and of those, the one that I liked was by Francesco Renga.
Maybe his vocals weren’t 100% but I thought it had a good melodic quality.
For vocals, Il Volo can’t be beat but the song is no Grande Amore
Of the rest?……i could take them or leave tbh.
Hopefully they will grow on me because I love San Remo as a contest……..??
My favorite was Loredana by far. I want some Italian Rock again after 2014. Ultimo and Irama sounded too similar to their last years entry for me. About Il Volo… for me this song is s bit better than grande amore but I’m just not a big fan of their style…
I can say that I’m slightly disappointed from this year’s Sanremo. Very very few songs stood out in my opinion, unlike other years. That said, the ones that I liked the most were Enrico Nigiotti ( the only one that had me in tears and definitely one with the most touching lyrics), Il Volo and Irama (even though he wasn’t that strong vocally and I’m not sure if the song really suits his voice). I’m a bit disappointed by Ultimo as I had high expectations and I’d say the song is ok, but it definitely lacks some of the magic… Read more »
Il Volo’s “Musica Che Resta” was superior to any other song tonight. And, of course, their voices were magical as always. Buona fortuna, ragazzi!
Making my way through them now but Ultimo seems to be a little bit better than the rest. Can see why people are saying this is a bit of a down year, especially considering how good last year was.
Arisa is absolutely the standout for me.
I love how I got downvote for simply saying what my favourite song was.
So many good songs this year, im in love with San Remo, my favs Nek and Irama, but to be honest almost all songs are amazing, i love you Italy:)))
Lol are you for real ? Have u watched the previous san remo s ? This one was the worst of the last decade . Almost every song was a boring ballad that we have listened before. Everyone was complaining in YouTube about the quality of this year san remo
Please remember that everyone is entitled to their own musical opinion. Thank you.
lol no, i didn’t watch last year or previous years, so i don’t know what are you talking about… haha!
but when i saw Nek and heard his velvet voice my heart melted immediately, i adore him since forever, so for me San Remo is amazing this year! LMAO
Oh come on mahmood song was the worst of the night by far
Possibly the worst san remo of the last 10 years. So many boring ballads. I don’t understand the hype for ultimo. His song is so similar to the song that moda group who participated in 2013. Irama is overrated as well too . Il volo were the best today and Eurovision needs them back. But i think ultimo or irama is going to win cause all the 10-16 old kids will vote like crazy for them. Whatever
Where do I start? I have about 10 favourites! Il Volo – Insanely good vocals. A solid song. This might be good enough. Irama – This is a song about a young woman who was abused by her father as a child, and the singer wants her to know that she is not alone. The lyrics alone deserve an award. What’s special about the performance is the accuracy of the timing verses the internal emotions; it’s a sure jury winner. Loredana Bertè – This is okay, but it is a bit old-hat for Eurovision. Not one of my favourites; Too… Read more »
For future reference: This is why I am merciless when it comes to uninspired songs with awful and meaningless lyrics. I don’t even speak Italian so I didn’t know what Irama was singing about yet I instantly fell for it. It’s just so obvious to me if a song has actual meaning or if the singer has to fake feelings because the song is soulless (hello Sweden). The Italian entry usually doesn’t have to fake feelings and Irama would be an awesome choice.
I just replied to your comment, but Mr. Filter took it yet again.
LOL. I guess it prefers coffee beans to vanilla beans. 😛
Coffee beans and vanilla beans can blend very well together, though. 😉
Was Loredana’s song written by the same team as last year’s Italian ESC entry? And can someone please stop putting razor blades in her morning espresso? 😛