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Posted by: Ryan. Nov 25 2016, 09:35 PM

Posted by: Ryan. Nov 25 2016, 09:35 PM

Italy will once again be using Sanremo to select their entry, with the winner given the first opportunity to travel to Kyiv. Il Volo accepted in 2015 but of course we had the mini drama of Stadio refusing the offer this year, making way for (the much superior) Francesca Michielin! More details of the Sanremo dates are below (and in Adam's very own calendar!):

https://escxtra.com/2016/09/16/italy-confirm-participation-for-eurovision-2017/

One act that wants to take part is Italian 1997 representatives Jalisse, we shall see if they are in the final line-up which is due fairly soon I believe! I think I read a rumour that one Italian representative since their 2011 comeback is also going to return to Sanremo - if so it'll probably be a Nina Zilli or a Raphael Gualazzi.

Posted by: AdamAloud Nov 25 2016, 10:54 PM

'Fiumi di parole' is the best Italian entry I'm aware of so I would very much welcome a Jalisse return.

Posted by: Liаm Feb 10 2017, 03:53 AM

The 22 acts for the big artists section have been revealed, the only real interesting selections are Giusy Ferreri and Chiara. I'd assume the former has a big chance to win.

Al Bano
Elodie
Paola Turci
Samuel Umberto Romano
Fiorella Mannoia
Nesli feat. Alice Paba
Michele Bravi
Fabrizio Moro
Giusy Ferreri
Gigi D'Alessio
Raige feat. Giulia Luzi
Ron
Ermal Meta
Michele Zarrillo
Lodovica Comello
Sergio Sylvestre
Clementino
Alessio Bernabei
Chiara
Francesco Gabbani
Bianca Atzei
Marco Masini

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 10 2017, 01:46 PM

Giusy was bottom 3 in the vote of her "heat" on Tuesday when half performed their Sanremo songs so I presume she won't have a chance during the re-vote on Saturday. Apparently Fiorella is a clear favourite although I wonder if she would want to do Eurovision...

Posted by: LexC Feb 10 2017, 02:08 PM

Fiorella has tour dates throughout the Eurovision period including the dates of the final and both semis so if she does win it'll end up going to the runner up.

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 10 2017, 10:14 PM

Apparently she's said that she'd perhaps be interested still and could try and move tour dates around, I'm hoping not though as she's probably my least favourite of all the apparent contenders!

Posted by: Liаm Feb 10 2017, 10:46 PM

Ah I find Giusy's voice quite and miss so I'm glad she's not such a cert as I thought Fiorella is massive in Italy, I find her a bore though and nothing special and amusingly m'annoia means "bores me" in Italian so her name is at least fitting. I suppose it depends how practical her moving her tour dates around is and whether she prefers doing that or missing out on Eurovision but I wouldn't be fussed if she just toured instead

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 11 2017, 12:17 AM

Running Order
01 | Elodie - Tutta colpa mia
02 | Michele Zarrillo - Mani nelle mani
03 | Sergio Sylvestre - Con te
04 | Fiorella Mannoia - Che sia benedetta
05 | Fabrizio Moro - Portami via
06 | Alessio Bernabei - Nel mezzo di un applauso
07 | Marco Masini - Spostato di un secondo
08 | Paola Turci - Fatti bella per te
09 | Bianca Atzei - Ora esisti solo tu
10 | Francesco Gabbani - Occidentali's Karma
11 | Chiara - Nessun posto è casa mia
12 | Clementino - Ragazzi fuori
13 | Ermal Meta - Vietato morire
14 | Lodovica Comello - Il cielo non mi basta
15 | Samuel - Vedrai
16 | Michele Bravi - Il diario degli errori

Voting
The voting will consist of two rounds and both rounds will be determined by 40% televoting, 30% expert jury voting and 30% demoscopic poll voting. The latter is a sample of 300 music fans that will vote from home. The president of the expert jury will be Giorgio Moroder. The top three entries from the first round of voting will advance to the superfinal where the winner will then be chosen. It is important to remember that the winner receives the right to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest, but do not have to take up the offer if they don't wish to.

Furthermore, it is not mandatory that the song the artist performs in Sanremo goes on to become their Eurovision entry. Nevertheless, there are rumours that changes to the rules have been made (whether written or unwritten) and that the winning Sanremo song will automatically become the Eurovision entry. And if the winner declines, the runner-up will be asked first and so on in order of results. Based on last year, more details of the Eurovision entry should arise in the press conference that follows the conclusion of Sanremo.

The Favourites
Fiorella Mannoia is an absolute clear odds-on 4/5 favourite and it will be a massive surprise if she doesn't take victory tomorrow night. Acts who should be in contention for a top 3 finish, and beat Firoella in the event of a shock result, include Elodie, Ermal Meta, Fabrizio Moro, Francesco Gabbani and Sergio Silvestre. All of these are trading around the 8/1 and 10/1 mark.

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 11 2017, 12:19 AM

Giusy has been eliminated, and to many people's surprise so has Al Bano! He was 2nd favourite at the beginning of the week

This now looks to be the most likely winner/ESC representative if Fiorella doesn't go:



(He's gained hype just because he has a gorilla on stage...)

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 11 2017, 12:25 AM

After a couple of listens I can get on board with that actually, the studio version at least!

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 11 2017, 12:32 AM

Scrap that, after seeing the live performance I am TOTALLY on board!

http://www.raiplay.it/video/2017/02/Francesco-Gabbani---aposOccidentaliaposs-Karmaapos---Sanremo--Quarta-serata-e82dc0fc-5a51-4b2e-9713-3d2fe46a7254.html

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 11 2017, 12:48 AM

Fiorella would have to cancel/reschedule 8 tour dates to do Eurovision, she only has about 20-22 in total. Francesco has "no shows" on his website however!

Posted by: Liаm Feb 11 2017, 02:49 AM

Ooh I like that! That many dates is quite a lot for Fiorella to cancel tbf and in that event I'd be fine with that song. It's the sort of staging that could stand out and be a bit of a meme so could be a solid choice.

Posted by: Iz~ Feb 11 2017, 11:15 AM

Please give us Italian gorillas. I don't care what the competition is, that HAS to go.

Bit of a banging musical tune too.

Posted by: Hector Feb 11 2017, 12:46 PM

I prefer Wednesday's original performance when Francesco was wearing the orange jumper... I find him even more charming. And, I LOVE his sparkling eyes - very rare.
http://www.raiplay.it/video/2017/02/Francesco-Gabbani---Occidentaliaposs-Karma---Sanremo--556a6501-fbfd-4fb0-98fa-86359fc8ae2a.html

Posted by: LexC Feb 11 2017, 04:31 PM

Oh it's got to be the dancing gorilla, that's legit be in the top 5 Italian entries ever!

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 11 2017, 06:47 PM

Running order edited in above!

Posted by: buzz_person Feb 11 2017, 11:54 PM

Sigh. Francesco and the dancing gorilla to win of the final three remaining then (the only one like of the last 3). Samuel 10th 😕, Alessio 15th 😡.

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 11 2017, 11:56 PM

I imagine Fiorella will still win, hoping Francesco can beat Ermal to 2nd so he can go to Eurovision in the event Fiorella is busy touring. I do like Ermal's song too, but Francesco would be a perfect entry!

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 12 2017, 12:40 AM

In a major shock, Francesco Gabbani wins Sanremo 2017!

Posted by: buzz_person Feb 12 2017, 12:41 AM

Wow. Francesco also won Premio TIM, which is the most streamed Sanremo Campioni track??

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 12 2017, 12:47 AM

I presume he won't reject, what a fantastically uplifting song that is perfect for Eurovision! A little bit of novelty and fun with the staging but an insanely catchy and high quality song.

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 12 2017, 12:49 AM

Posted by: J▲hq Feb 12 2017, 12:57 AM

This is the most I've ever been on board with Italy *.*

Posted by: buzz_person Feb 12 2017, 01:00 AM

I'm happy he won as he was my favourite of the final three!!

Posted by: Qassändra Feb 12 2017, 01:04 AM

Good song but Christ I want to shoot him.

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 12 2017, 01:09 AM

He has accepted the Eurovision offer!

Posted by: Iz~ Feb 12 2017, 01:19 AM

Very glad he's confirmed, I was waiting for that.

Fantastic fun entry, I'm going to be really on board with this for the rest of the season I can tell.

Posted by: Ryan. Feb 12 2017, 01:36 AM

RAI have already confirmed on Twitter that Francesco won't be changing song and will be performing 'Occidentali's Karma' in Kyiv!

Posted by: Conderella Feb 12 2017, 07:54 AM

Poor Fiorella. But oh well when there is such a SUPER DEFINITE!!!1 winner, we are always in for a shock.

I think it could do ok in Kiev.

Posted by: gooddelta Feb 12 2017, 12:18 PM

This is very good, quite different for Italy, surprised such a contemporary song won Sanremo! It has shades of Chasing The Sun by The Wanted in places.

The performance looks like it will be a moment too

Posted by: AdamAloud Feb 12 2017, 12:38 PM

I don't know if I like it or not! Does the gorilla make sense in context of the lyrics?

Posted by: Iz~ Feb 12 2017, 12:43 PM

There's stuff in there about how the naked monkey dances (something something evolution) so I guess so.

I want it to make occidental as mainstream a word as oriental.

Posted by: ScottyEm Feb 12 2017, 03:20 PM

I was getting so bugged out with where I recognised the melody but yes it really does have a VERY similar melody. That said, I'm undecided. I think the fact Italy are sending something which is above 100bpm and not sung by a female could be blurring our opinions. I'm not hot on any of the entries yet and were already nearly a quarter of the way there

Posted by: Liаm Feb 12 2017, 03:32 PM

I think the gorilla might be to represent the sort of devolution or block in progressing as a species in Westerners that he's singing about, the lyrics seem to be bemoaning the fact that we're obsessed with selfies, celebrities and financial/material gain and we should learn from Buddhism, if what I can make out from my Italian is right He definitely says "evolution stumbles".


I'm definitely on board with this after a few listens, it's a very interesting concept as a song and catchy af <3

Posted by: Jonjo Feb 13 2017, 12:05 AM

What a charming and endearing performance and song!

Totally on board with this!

Posted by: Qassändra Feb 13 2017, 01:21 AM

I've decided I fucking hate it in part cos of all this. His mannerisms and his voice go right through me anyway, but adding in the horrendously tired "god isn't technology awful we should just talk to each other instead!!!" crap in the lyrics just makes it even WORSE (sample lyrics: "Intellectuals in coffee bars, internet experts, honorary associates in the anonymous meetings of selfie-addicted, intelligence is out-of-date" / "Each person is a know-it-all thanks to the web, community's cocaine, the poor people's opium". yes love, because the SUM ADDITION to human knowledge is DEFINITELY the downside of the internet )

What a PRIZE COCK all round. It's going to win, isn't it. UGH.

Posted by: Iz~ Feb 13 2017, 01:37 AM

I'd say there's going to be enough people who aren't into his voice, it's certainly not for everyone (although I'm saying that as someone who normally falls for this type of thing, I certainly didn't expect there to be as many fans of it as this), for it to fall short yet again for Italy. And I really wouldn't say a man in a gorilla suit is enough of a star-stopping gimmick to swing it the win.

And yeah, lyrically the message is a bit crap but at least he's dressed it up in a non-generic package so I can forgive him for that as long as it remains in Italian.

Posted by: Liаm Feb 13 2017, 01:53 AM

Yeah it would really marr it for me if it was in English Everything just sounds SO much better in a nice foreign language Italian. I don't think the gorilla will be enough to stand out as a winner either, it will obviously be a talking point on the night and maybe a bit of a meme though.

Posted by: Umi Feb 14 2017, 04:47 AM

This is majorly good, and the dancing gorilla is dumb as hell but has so much obvious potential to be memorable. I think Italy are comfortably doing the best out of the big 5 this year.

Posted by: pes Feb 15 2017, 11:27 AM

I can't believe my country song doing so good on you tube views and itunes european countries considering Gabbani is pretty new to the big scene..The melody is there also the gorilla routine although I m not a fan of his raspy voice, regarding the meaning of the song is more deep of what you can think

Posted by: Umi Feb 15 2017, 10:55 PM

Yeah I'm stunned at how well it's doing. Here's the Kworb numbers:

#1 Italy
#2 Malta
#13 Switzerland
#28 Luxembourg
#31 Sweden
#39 Spain
#161 Ireland
#162 Germany

This looks like hype to me.

Posted by: Jonjo Feb 17 2017, 12:10 AM

The video has 14 million views already!

THAT'S CRAZY!

Posted by: AdamAloud Mar 17 2017, 04:10 PM

3 minute ESC Version

Posted by: Conderella Mar 17 2017, 04:28 PM

Awkward second chorus. I guess they wanted to cram in as much of the chorus as possible as it's catchy as f*** *.*

I wouldn't mind this winning tbh

Posted by: Ryan. Mar 17 2017, 04:54 PM

I'm just so glad that they kept in the instrumental before the final chorus that I don't care what else they did to it, I think it's a great edit though!

Posted by: gooddelta Mar 17 2017, 05:02 PM

This song is the whole package, I don't see any other viable contender right now.

It's going to clean up on both the jury and televote, surely? Unless his gruff voice is a turnoff for people.

I can imagine it doing surprisingly well (for a foreign language song) on UK iTunes too, of course it won't be touched on streaming so will do nothing officially.

Posted by: LexC Mar 17 2017, 05:12 PM

I don't think this is locked on to be the jury winner at all. Televote's a different story but I can easily see this just being top 5 with the juries and something else grabbing the win.

Posted by: Liаm Mar 17 2017, 05:32 PM

I agree that this probably isn't locked on 100% jury winner but it'll definitely storm the televote and it won't bomb on the juries, so it has the biggest chance for sure atm. I've kept saying "something else will come along randomly" but I haven't got the feeling from anything else so unless Armenia really pulls it off I think it will be this. But then again at this point nobody would've said Conchita or The Common Linnets would have been contenders so this might just be one of those years like that where something comes up at the semi final stage and ends up winning. There's a lot of good songs this year but nothing bar this really feels like it could win. It's so infectious, whenever I hear the instrumental bit I just want to get up and do the dance no matter where I am

Posted by: Umi Mar 17 2017, 06:17 PM

The transition from the first chorus is awkward as hell but the song still functions and it's less catastrophic than last year's Italian revamp. As regards winning, I don't really feel like the change will make a difference either way. It's still either this or Sweden realistically.

Posted by: ♫ Boyan ♫ Mar 17 2017, 07:09 PM

Grande Amore won the televote in 2015 I don't see why this won't do the same.
Italy FTW!

Posted by: Jonjo Mar 17 2017, 09:13 PM

Agreed that the transition from the first chorus is awkward, but I think that might just be down to me familiarising myself with the original a bit too much!

It's a great edit though, coz it really does capitalise on the chorus, hook and energy of the song!

Posted by: Ryan. Mar 17 2017, 09:38 PM

I can't see Sweden being a contender, as Lex was saying to me the other day 'I Can't Go On' just doesn't have the heart, euphoria or emotional pull winners tend to have. It's so slick and professional that it does lose that emotion. Jamala obviously have TONS of emotion, Mans had his little cute stick figure, Conchita had her whole back story, Emmelie even had her confetti euphoric moment, Loreen's was even called Euphoria.

Liam sums it up perfectly by saying this has THE euphoria moment with the instrumental section, I can pinpoint such a moment in I Can't Go On. Out of the other favourites, Bulgaria falls into the Sweden category of very slick and professional but sacrificing emotion whereas Portugal definitely falls on the Italy side of having that emotional pull, although Salvador of course evokes much different emotion to Francesco.

Posted by: LexC Mar 17 2017, 10:05 PM

That's not QUITE what I was saying. What I said was that the winners/stuff that is in contention for the win have messages that work on an affective level. Jamala/Mans/Conchita all had the narrative of triumph through adversity, Emmelie (and basically every other peace ballad that's done well) was a "love love peace peace" moment, Sound of Silence was all about the struggle to connect in a disconnected world and Calm After The Storm was a will they/won't they about a couple that were breaking up. The basic thread that runs through all of them is that the message/narrative is about tugging people's heartstrings that is emphasised by things like the staging. The 'euphoric' instrumentals help in that regard but they aren't a guarantor of working in that emotional register alone or else Say Yay or countless other 'euphoric' dance songs would have done far better than they ended up doing.

And that is one of my biggest reasons why I'm having second thoughts about Italy at least being a runaway winner in the vein of Fairytale/Euphoria is that it just doesn't work on a similar kind of emotional level (and nor does Sweden either, in fairness). If you don't speak Italian, it is just a catchy pop song with the gimmick of a dancing gorilla (and even if you do 'modern culture is well bad lol' isn't on the same level as triumphing through great adversity) which if you decoupled it from the "this is the favourite" tag is on the same level as "that one with the yodeling" for instance.

Posted by: ScottyEm Mar 18 2017, 01:07 AM

This. I think we will have a similar outcome to 2016. Italy is likely to win the televote but not the jury. I think this is too kitsch (crap) to win the jury vote? A law of averages will win this, which leads me to thinking either Belgium or Sweden have this in the bag.

Posted by: Jonjo Mar 18 2017, 01:32 AM

The original video having 60m+ views already thoughhhhh!

Posted by: Conderella Mar 18 2017, 06:23 AM

The problem is that the majority of Europeans watching the show don't even speak English (although obviously it's changing now and fast), so I would place the actual message of the song without any special effects and tricks as less important than the clothes and make up. Thats why the staging and visual effects are essential. They will basically translate the song to people who don't understand or pay attention to the lyrics. Of course there's another thing as hype outside of the contest or commentators giving out information about the song prior to the performance etc. which could help with spreading the message but you would be surprised how few people actually listen to them and take it on board

Posted by: BillyH Mar 19 2017, 12:06 AM

Only just heard this for the first time - yeah, if this wins then well deserved for Italy, even without the "LOL dancing gorilla!!" gimmick it's an awesome pop track, and full credit that they've kept it in Italian as I do miss the old foreign-language winners that fizzled out (for obvious reasons) in the late 90s. One of my friends is part Ukrainian and part Italian, so she'd be over the moon if this won a year after Jamala!

Would finally give Italy a chance to rectify the hilarious chaos that was the 1991 contest too "MR NEFF!!"

Posted by: Liаm Mar 20 2017, 04:53 AM

This just keeps growing on me, it's one of those foreign language songs where I'm slowly learning all the words regardless (Italian is a bit easier than like Crimean Tatar with 1944 ofc but still) and the instrumental break has to be the best bit in any song this year <3

Also I kind of fancy him but I know I'll be alone on that one (http://www.tuttouomini.it/images/francesco-gabbani-nudo.jpg)

Posted by: Colm May 25 2020, 08:52 PM

I only really got back into Eurovision in 2018 after a few years away from it so I missed 2017. Going back to youtube coverage of reactions and predictions from various bloggers, there was an overwhelming prediction that this would be the run away winner like Eurphoria or Fairytale. What the hell happened? This is astounding. No City Lights though.

Posted by: Vülker May 26 2020, 11:23 AM

I think the problem there was the staging. It borders the line between weird and charming. In Sanremo it was simple and effective and it managed to charm Italy, however their staging in Eurovision just came across weird - too dark and the gorilla looked random. Shame as it's a very good track and surely deserved more than 6th place!

Posted by: Colm May 26 2020, 08:22 PM

It's hardly weird in Eurovision terms.

Posted by: J🐠hq May 27 2020, 08:40 AM

I think what Vülker says is definitely true and one factor in it. There's also something Lex was saying at the time, Sanremo is quite early on in the selection season so this was an early stand-out/favourite that people latched onto and then couldn't see past no matter what else was chosen. And on the night, there wasn't a shortage of fun entries near the top of the scoreboard with Moldova and Romania too - turns out the public were more here for the return of Epic sax guy.