San Marino confirm Eurovision 2022 participation with Una voce per San Marino national selection show

Eurovision 2021 is yet to grace our screens, but already one country has confirmed its participation in next year’s contest. Earlier this week, SMRTV confirmed San Marino’s participation at Eurovision 2022. And what’s more, they’re launching a brand new national final format. The show Una voce per San Marino will be used to help find the country’s next song contest superstar.

San Marino: SMRTV announces Eurovision 2022 national final Una voce per San Marino

The Sammarinese broadcaster announced Una voce per San Marino (A voice for San Marino) as part of its 2021-2022 tourism events calendar. Local government hopes a richer selection of music and entertainment events will attract tourists to the micronation once coronavirus pandemic restrictions are eased.

Federico Pedini Amati, Secretary of State for Tourism, said,  “It will not be an easy year. Unfortunately, the pandemic forces us to keep some projects pending, but at the same time we are firmly convinced that tourism will restart and that events can help us.  The programming will kick off in June, run all year round and include at least one major event each month.”

This marks only the second time San Marino will use a national final format to select its Eurovision entry. In 2018, SMRTV hosted its first-ever national final 1in360. The final hosted in Bratislava, Slovakia saw a 50/50 split of jury votes from a panel of music professionals and online votes from the public determine San Marino’s act for Lisbon 2018. Eventually, San Marino chose to send Maltese singer Jessika and German rapper Jenifer Brening to Portugal with their ever-iconic track “Who We Are”.

Exact details about the format of Una voce per San Marino will be announced at a later date.

San Marino at Eurovision 2021

This year, Italian-born superstar Senhit will represent San Marino for a third time at Eurovision. In 2011, she sang “Stand By” in Düsseldorf, but failed to progress from the semi-finals. In 2020, she was set to get “Freaky!” in Rotterdam, but the song contest was cancelled soon after the song’s release. At Eurovision 2021, Senhit will sing “Adrenalina” for San Marino in Rotterdam — with a special appearance from international rap sensation Flo Rida, all conditions permitting.

What do you think? Are you excited to watch Una voce per San Marino? Who do you want to see compete? Let us know in the comments below.

Read more San Marino Eurovision 2021 news here

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Iván el Conquistador
Iván el Conquistador
3 years ago

I want to see Nanowar of Steel competing in this. They once said they wanted to represent Spain but given how their members are from Italy and San Marino, perhaps San Marino is the most sensible option for them.

cheska
cheska
3 years ago

I wish Luxembourg/Monaco were as enthusiastic about Eurovision as San Marino. 🙁

Henry
Henry
3 years ago

Send IROL, Anita, Michele or some Italian artists who couldn’t win Sanremo but still want to go to Eurovision

Euro Fan
Euro Fan
3 years ago

Happy to see San Marino! But I hope Albania and Slovenia to withdraw in 2022.

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago
Reply to  Euro Fan

hahah lol why is that?

Euro Fan
Euro Fan
3 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

Well, sometimes national finals happen without Eurovision. Albania might have financial difficulties as well as Slovenia. As EMA skipped in 1994 and 2000. They might skip 2022 due to financial problems.

Bryn Collins
Bryn Collins
3 years ago
Reply to  Euro Fan

Why

Euro Fan
Euro Fan
3 years ago
Reply to  Bryn Collins

Albania needs to take a break for a chance. Festivali I Kenges sometimes happens without Eurovision. And Slovenia’s national final EMA didn’t happen in 1994 and 2000 either. I don’t think EMA will happen in 2022 as well.

Micky
Micky
3 years ago
Reply to  Euro Fan

Bruh if Albania withdraws I’ll be sad and mad

Euro Fan
Euro Fan
3 years ago
Reply to  Micky

Me too. Especially Slovenia. I will be sad and mad as well 🙁

Iván el Conquistador
Iván el Conquistador
3 years ago

On paper, it sounds good. But until it’s done, we won’t know how it actually is.
I hope San Marino can be a country that sends quality material to the contest.

Chris
Chris
3 years ago

Why are they in such a rush? We still have more than a month for this year’s Eurovision!

Joe
Joe
3 years ago

The most important takeaway here is that this is clearly something the government/tourism board is helping fund. This is HUGE for local talent in San Marino. The reason people complain so much about San Marino is that they so often seem to rely on foreign singers to help them out, but the simple fact is that unlike most Eurovision participants, which have the budget to mostly keep it local, San Marino NEEDS outside help to finance their participation. They’re a rich country, sure, but that money doesn’t necessarily trickle down to the TV station. The reason local Sammarinese talent has… Read more »

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Very good point. This is indeed a significant shift in attitude from San Marino authorities towards the Eurovision Song Contest compared to where they appeared to be around 5-6 years ago. I don’t know what changed their minds, but I am glad it has happened.

Alex
Alex
3 years ago

1in360  was a disaster, please don’t do something like that again. It was set up from the start to have the Maltese singer in Eurovision even though Sara de Blue was the favourite act.

I HOPE San Marino is producing the show and the artists are Italians (most of them at least) and not random people from all over the world. I hope it is hosted in San Marino and not Slovakia or another random country. Also, let locals vote for the song…

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Right off the jump, I think this is going to be all- or majority-Sammarinese. 1in360 was clearly prioritizing it as a show where the winner went to Eurovision, and San Marino was the lucky little guy that reaped the rewards(?) but nothing about it was by and for Sammarinese people save for one reserved spot among the contestants. Just the fact that it’s called “Una voce per SAN MARINO” should tell you that it’s all about repping for the country itself. The government is promoting it, for chrissake.

Alex
Alex
3 years ago

Sounds good IF they’re still making music.

Rottendam
Rottendam
3 years ago

I think SMRTV should collaborate with RAI and send the runner-up of Sanremo if they accept it of course. Italy is the closest country to San Marino both culturally and physically, so it would only make sense!

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago
Reply to  Rottendam

omg yes don’t know why you have so many dislikes because this is literally the best idea.

Last edited 3 years ago by Erasmus
tomtomtom
tomtomtom
3 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

It receives dislikes because San Marino wouldn’t want to select someone else’s runner up, even though it is a small country. It would be classified as second tier Italy when that’s not even necessary. Small countries can do better than big neighbors. This year’s song for example could easily do better than Italy.

Last edited 3 years ago by tomtomtom
Alex
Alex
3 years ago
Reply to  Rottendam

This is the best idea, i’ve been saying this for years. What’s the point of sending foreigners like Serhat to represent you with English songs? Just send someone local or Italian and promote Italian music.

I am sure there are lots of San Remo acts who would be interested doing Eurovision after the success of Il Volo and Mahmood.

Didn’t Arisa say that she wants to do it but San Marino asked her to pay for all of her expenses?

Ziv
Ziv
3 years ago
Reply to  Rottendam

I don’t know what to think. Your idea seems to be a good one in the way that we at least would get an entry with quality from San Marino, but what would Italy think if San Marino gets a better result than they do. Plus, I agree that it would not make a good impression that San Marino is second tier Italy.

Jack
Jack
3 years ago

I was thinking this, I want them to send their previous acts that didn’t qualify originally and get them in the final.

Dani
Dani
3 years ago

Aly Ryan

notyourtoy
notyourtoy
3 years ago

If San Marino wins, they MUST have Valentina Monetta host the contest at any cost. Even if the contest will not be held in her backyard lol

Ifty
Ifty
3 years ago

Can people stop with the “I hope the broadcaster will focus on SM local talents” stuff? It’s a country of 33k people.

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago
Reply to  Ifty

finally someone said it. It’s not like San Marino is buzzing of talent.

Aeria
Aeria
3 years ago
Reply to  Ifty

Hate to sound rude, but why are they even competing in Eurovision then? Almost every country in the competition sends artists with at least a connection to the country they represent. San Marino’s just been more of a gate towards outsiders to get a ticket in. And what Erasmus says, if the Sammarinese aren’t buzzing of talent, why are they there?

ERUS
ERUS
3 years ago
Reply to  Aeria

Does it matter? It’s just a song contest. If it was the Olympics, maybe I would agree that San Marino shouldn’t compete since they borrow other artists, but it’s literally just a song contest. San Marino obviously gains recognition through ESC which benefits the tourism sector, so let them be.

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago
Reply to  ERUS

Just a song contest…okay…society has obviously misinformed you that sport is more important than music. This might be just a song contest, but the Olympics are just people running around in circles. Your comment makes no sense.

Fabio
Fabio
3 years ago
Reply to  Aeria

Well, Luxembourg and Monaco were represented mostly by foreign artists (usually French) when they participated in the contest. That fact didn’t seem to bother anybody then.

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago
Reply to  Ifty

I do agree with that though! I’d be nice if Senhit sang in Italian, I think it suits her smoky voice much better

Alex
Alex
3 years ago
Reply to  Ifty

lol so sending a Turkish presenter is a good alternative to you?

Lollipopmonster ESC
Lollipopmonster ESC
3 years ago

I want Kamilla Ismailova to represent her country in the ESC. She already represented SM in JESC 2015.

Yudhistira Mahasena
3 years ago

Who wouldn’t want to? After all, Kamilla had turned 16 last year, reaching the minimum age to be in regular Eurovision. I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing Kamilla representing San Marino next year.

kir
kir
3 years ago

Her countries are Azerbaijan and Russia, cause she’s a native Azeri and reside in Moscow. Thouh I have nothing against her representing any country, Sammarinese flag was just an easy option to enter the JESC.

Last edited 3 years ago by kir
Alex
Alex
3 years ago

her country=San Marino? lol she’s not from San marino. I am sure she/her family/label paid San marino’s expenses for this. I am sorry but i don’t want foreigners who are not connected to San Marino to take part.

Lorenzo Celli
Lorenzo Celli
3 years ago

It’d be interesting to see Sammarinese artists taking part!

Azaad
Azaad
3 years ago

If it’s a national final aimed to improve tourism…I’d hope they would showcase local talent. Although I wouldn’t mind an X factor Malta type of scenario where you get San Marinese talent to compete to win a contest where a prize is singing a song at ESC

Fast Food Music Lover
Fast Food Music Lover
3 years ago

This is awesome. San Marino is fast becoming my favourite Eurovision country!

Ziv
Ziv
3 years ago

If Senhit wins this year, the San Marino government will be busy adding one more event to their tourism calendar next May.

Ben
Ben
3 years ago

Do you mean Senhit or Serhat? Or is that a shipname?

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
3 years ago

I hope they don’t sell out their NF to a father-daughter vanity project, no matter how much money they put upfront.

Amadeus
Amadeus
3 years ago

No! 1in360 was a disaster. Just do an internal selection. Let Sammarinese artists have their moment. Let Irol, Anita Simoncini or someone else from San Marino go!

Fabio
Fabio
3 years ago
Reply to  Amadeus

Hahaha, Anita Simoncini can’t sing.

Jake
Jake
3 years ago

Mark this post–cause I will tell you that if Senhit gives San Marino it’s best placement–she will automatically get invited again by SMRTV

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Jake

Didn’t happen for Valentina or Serhat though. They both quit while they were ahead (or, at least, Valentina ALMOST did).

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

All three of the Sammarinese comeback stories had to do with unfinished business. If Senhit gets a good placing, she’ll probably be satisfied.

EurovisionBenny_AUT
EurovisionBenny_AUT
3 years ago

I hope that the San Marinese broadcaster will put focus on allowing artists and songwriters who are actually from San Marino to enter. People from abroad should try for their own countries. I am sure that there are several creative musicians in this country who would like to share their work with hundreds of millions of people. It would probably motivate more San Marinese people to work on possible future Eurovision entries.

euroboy
euroboy
3 years ago

Do you know how many people live in San Marino? 33k. There are probably 10 composers maximum and not everyone wants to participate. Even if there were, they can’t send the same composers all over again

Last edited 3 years ago by euroboy
Eugenie
Eugenie
3 years ago
Reply to  euroboy

Well, the same Swedish composers write entries for a half of contestants. So why can’t small country like San Marino bring the same composers?

EurovisionBenny_AUT
EurovisionBenny_AUT
3 years ago

I hope that the San Marinese broadcaster will put focus on allowing artists and songwriters who are actually from San Marino to enter. People from abroad should try for their own countries. I am sure that there are several creative musicians in this country who would like to share their work with hundreds of millions of people. It would probably also motivate San Marinese people to work on possible future Eurovision entries.

Darren
Darren
3 years ago

Love how their getting so into this!
San Marino, the tiny country that could.

I hope it paved the way for a lot of micro states to return/debut

Looking at you Lichtenstein, Monaco, Luxembourg, Andorra

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Andorra appear to be planning a comeback for 2022. And why Monaco? What would Monaco contribute that France couldn’t? Their ’00s comeback didn’t really answer that question.

Erasmus
Erasmus
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

well I’m pretty sure Andorra also won’t always be picking their artists.

Darren
Darren
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Well…why not? They’re an extremely wealthy country, they could well afford to participate, there’s also a minor monagesque language their too that could be utilised. I mean Romania and Moldova, UK and Ireland, Greece abd Cyprus, Germany and Austria, Switzerland and France, Switzerland speak the same language and they all participate in ESC, so why not Monaco?

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Here’s the thing, though: it’s not about speaking the same language. Most of those countries you mentioned have carved out their own unique niches at the contest and have specific cultural elements they can fall back on (not that they always do, but that’s a different story). You can tell a Romanian entry from a Moldovan entry and a British entry from an Irish entry. If you go back to a year like 1973, showed a random person the French, Luxembourgish, and Monegasque entries back to back, and asked them to guess which represented which country, they probably couldn’t do… Read more »

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

This could even apply to a modern contest. I bet you anything if you showed someone 2005 that hadn’t seen it before, they wouldn’t be able to tell which song represented France and which represented Monaco, but they’d immediately know which represented Ireland and which represented the UK.

Fabio
Fabio
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

That’s all relative. In current times, there’s nothing really unique in the Swedish entries. For example, “I Can’t Go On”, “Dance You Off” or even “Move”. They could be from Sweden, the USA, the UK or anywhere else. What does Sweden contribute to the contest, then? There’s nothing specific in their entries, who tend to be commercial, radio-friendly pop songs in English. And most fans never complain about that.

Darren
Darren
3 years ago
Reply to  Joe

I don’t really see that as an excuse to keep them out of the contest, they have an identity completely separate to France, they are a European country just as much as any of the others.

Jonas
Jonas
3 years ago

I hope it’s a contest to find the song, not just the singer.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

So do I.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
3 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

I think a contest for only the singer is more smart. The chance a good song gets applied to the san marinese selection in november is very small and it would mostly attract ralf siegel and some melodifestivalen rejects. If you find a good singer in November you have like 5 months left to find a quality song.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Didn’t say anything about the songwriters also being local.