The Wiwi Jury reveals their favourites in Italy’s Sanremo Music Festival 2019

Tonight Italy will decide the winner of the 69th edition of the Sanremo Music Festival. The winner of Sanremo will also have first refusal to be Italy act for Eurovision 2019. But which of the 24 acts deserve a shot? The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — has been listening to all the entries and has picked our favourites. Read on to see what we thought!

Cristian

1. Mahmood – “Soldi”

This song is not only my solid number one this edition (and already one of my favourites in the history of the contest), but also the only entry that really makes me think of Eurovision. I want my own nation to show a modern and contemporary side. “Soldi” is the perfect emblem of what Italy is today, musically and socially. It’s about mixing cultures that enrich us and it shows a mix of sounds from the alternative music scene that is influencing charts and big artists. One of the most courageous and unique tracks ever performed at the Ariston Theatre.

2. Loredana Bertè – “Cosa ti aspetti da me”
3. Arisa – “Mi sento bene”
4. Irama – “La ragazza col cuore di latta”
5. Ultimo – “I tuoi particolari”

Florian

1. Loredana Bertè – “Cosa ti aspetti da me”

Loredana Bertè’s performance brings something really special with it. I love the richness of her voice and the track is effortless yet delivers a captivating live show. Out of the masses of entries at Eurovision, this not only stands out but also raises the bar in terms of quality. Overall, this would surely bring home another great result for Italy!

2. Il Volo – “Musica che resta”
3. Irama – “La ragazza col cuore di latta”
4. Nek – “Mi farò trovare pronto”
5. Ultimo – “I tuoi particolari”

Josh

1. Il Volo – “Musica che resta”

Il Volo’s “Musica que resta” is my top pick for San Remo because it shows that the Il Volo guys have continued their growth as artists and vocalists. Five years on from “Grand Amore” , their voices blend with every bit the same emotion and passion that they had before, but it takes a special group with special voices to be able to punch through an orchestration that some may say isn’t as rich as “Grande amore” and is a slower burn. The naysayers might be valid in those concerns — but “Musica che resta” puts their voices more front and centre, and the payoff at the end is every bit as beautiful and emotional as it was five years ago.

2. Simone Cristicchi – “Abbi cura di me”
3. Federica Carta & Shade – “Senza farlo apposta”
4. Ultimo – “I tuoi particolari”
5. Loredana Bertè – “Cosa ti aspetti da me”

Luis

1. Enrico Nigiotti – “Nonno Hollywood”

“Nonno Hollywood” is among this year’s most typical Italian songs. Enrico doesn’t bring a modern twist like other entries in Sanremo 2019, but there’s no need to. The strength of this entry is how deeply those lyrics touch, how roughly sincere and melancholic they are. Enrico’s harsh voice cuts through and conveys all the emotion of the child who has lost his grandfather, and has then had the guts of transcribing such a painful experience into a song. There’s nothing particularly new or original in this entry, but that’s the least important thing when an artist transmits the way Enrico does.

2. Irama – “La ragazza con il cuore di latta”
3. Nek – “Mi farò trovare pronto”
4. Zen Circus – “L’amore è una dittadura”
5. Mahmood – “Soldi”

Marek

1. Loredana Bertè – “Cosa ti aspetti da me”

I don’t judge Sanremo based on singing skills, as clearly there’s an untold rule in the show: the older the performer, the less f*cks given. “Cosa ti aspetti da me” is something that feels really fresh to Sanremo. It’s neither a boring ballad nor a joke song, but it’s something that feels both modern and good. I might have had trouble placing some of the songs in my top five, but Loredana’s song was always guaranteed its place at the top. Well, we know she’s obviously not winning the show — as this spot is already taken by Ultimo — but it would be really nice seeing her the in top three and not seeing Il Volo take one of top spots. (I’m pretty sure while creating “Musica che resta” they opened “Grande amore” in a music app and clicked the “Randomise and make it more cliche” button.) So let’s just enjoy the unique energy that Loredana brings to the contest tonight, because the next few months will be all about Ultimo.

2. Ultimo – “I tuoi particolari”
3. Arisa – “Mi sento bene”
4. Paola Turci – “L’ultimo ostacolo”
5. Irama – “La ragazza col cuore di latta”

Pablo

1. Mahmood – “Soldi”

When assessing Sanremo, you must ask yourself two questions: “Is it the best overall?” and “Would it work in Eurovision?”. I’m pleased to say “Soldi” is a big yes on both questions. Decidedly urban and young, but still possessing that Italian class, Mahmood elevates his Arabic-tinged single to new heights that would be daring but exquisite for both Italy and the Tel Aviv atmosphere. Mahmood may be an outsider Newcomer in a sea of established artists, but what he brings to the table is more than worth to send to the Eurovision stage.

2. Loredana Bertè – “Cosa ti aspetti da me”
3. Il Volo – “Musica che resta”
4. Daniele Silvestri – “Argentovivo”
5. Nek – “Mi farò trovare pronto”

Renske

1. Arisa – “Mi sento bene”

I wasn’t able to watch the first night of Sanremo, but when I was watching back the performances, one song stood out to me and that was Arisa’s. A stunning woman with an equally stunning voice combined with an uplifting track is totally a class apart in a Sanremo filled with whispery male ballads and crossover rap. I don’t want to cry, I don’t want to mourn, I want to dance and shout around “mi sento bene”!

2. Ultimo – “I tuoi particolari”
3. Loredana Bertè – “Cosa ti aspetti da me”
4. Irama – “La ragazza col cuore di latta”
5. Il Volo – “Musica che resta”

Robyn

1. Daniele Silvestri – “Argentovivo”

Lyrically, “Argentovivo” is like the dark side of same subject covered by Daz Sampson’s “Teenage Life” — the realisation that it’s hard out here for a teen — but done so much better. Daniele Silvestri performs in that classic Italian style of half singing, half chanting, which perfectly complements the lively rap of MC Rancore. There are more opposites in the music, with the menace of the orchestral horns and strings underscored by the hip hop percussion. “Argentovivo” is waaay too long for Eurovision — and perhaps it wouldn’t survive a Eurovision edit. But it at least deserves to win Sanremo 2019.

2. Mahmood – “Soldi”
3. Motta – “Dov’è l’Italia”
4. Arisa – “Mi sento bene”
5. Ultimo – “I tuoi particolari”

What do you think? Who is your favourite to win Sanremo 2019? Who should get the ticket to Tel Aviv? Tell us your thoughts below!

Read more Sanremo Eurovision news here