The 20th February 1996 special guest Bruce Springsteen opened the 46th Festival della Canzone Italiana, broadcast live by Eurovision and to Australia and USA as well, which takes place in Sanremo at Teatro Ariston. Pippo Baudo was the presenter (and factotum) of the show with his two beautiful assistants, the actress Sabrina Ferilli and the Argentinian top-model Valeria Mazza.

It was very difficult to forecast the winner this year, so there wasn't an announced front-runner. Al Bano, one of the favourites, impressed the crowd with his great vocal performance but, after the first voting day, wasn't well placed. Probably his song was too classical for the very young juries even if most critics appreciated it. However, after the first round of voting it seemed clear that the list of the favourites was shortened to six names:- Giorgia, the 1995 winner, who showed once more her great vocal skills; Ron, a songwriter performing a nice duet with the vocalist Tosca; Spagna, the dance-queen of the 80s, now singing in her native language; the winner of 1995 New singers' competition, the vocal group Neri Per Caso; the young songwriter Massimo Di Cataldo, loved by teen-agers and, to conclude, the funny band Elio e Le Storie Tese, winner of the critics prize.

Just before the final there were rumours of a possible bias of Giorgia (running at the top after the first voting). The show began with Massimo Di Cataldo, but it was Al Bano's performance that moved the audience to a standing ovation, preluding his recovery up to 7th place. After the performance of the guests, the Cranberries and Alanis Morissette, the results finally arrived.

The winner was Ron who, performing Vorrei incontrarti fra cent'anni together with the young vocalist Tosca, had also been awarded the prize for the best lyrics and best music (also written by himself) for this beautiful love song. This year the critics agree with the juries. His victory is the crown to a career begun in 1970 on the Festival stage when he was only 17. The second place was the surprise of the contest: Elio E Le Storie Tese, who had performed a lively song on the set phrases about Italy. Third was placed Giorgia with the other favourite, Spagna, 4th, but it's easy to forecast she will be one of the top sellers with her new album Lupi solitari (Lone wolves). As a matter of fact, to see who is the "real winner" we have to wait the response of the charts.

The New singers' competition was led by women. The first place went to Syria, 19 year old, and the second to the 14 year old Adriana Ruocco (the youngest entrant in the Festival history), both performing love songs. Marina Rei, 3rd for the juries, was awarded by critics for her bluesy voice and performance with a gospel choir. Moreover the "young final" was also characterized by the performance of Take That, and underlined by the presence of screaming teen-agers inside and outside the hall.

"Volare" prize for the best music: RON - Vorrei incontrarti fra cent'anni

"Volare" prize for the best lyrics: RON - Vorrei incontrarti fra cent'anni