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Sanremo 1997

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Mike Bongiorno (The Italian King of the Quiz) and Piero Chiambretti will present Sanremo 1997 which takes place at the Teatro Ariston from the 18th to the 22nd February 1997. Special guest presenter will be the actress Valeria Marini. The late-night show Dopofestival will be hosted by the journalist Bruno Vespa, mostly known thanks to his political reports and interviews. This year’s entrants have been chosen by a triumvirate formed by big names of the Italian music: Giorgio Moroder, Pino Donaggio and Carla Vistarini. Despite this, the Premier League of Italian pop/rock is once again out of the contest, since megastars such as Zucchero, Eros Ramazzotti and the main songwriters do not need the Festival stage to be promoted. Good tidings are that the winner will possibly perform the Italian entry at Dublin 1997. As a matter of fact for the past three years Italy hasn't entered Eurovision, but will participate in the 1997 contest.

The 47th Festival della Canzone Italiana will be broadcast live on RAIUNO (EUTELSAT "HOT BIRD 1" EST - 11.366 V) every competition day at about 20.40 CET (after the news). The songs will be performed live accompanied by a full orchestra, each entrant with a nominated conductor. Foreign guests will be Julio Iglesias, Natalie Cole, Bee Gees, The Fugees, Kula Shaker, Al Jarreau, Jamiroquai and finally David Bowie!

Entrants:

Here is this year’s line-up:

    Albano - Verso il Sole (Towards the Sun) A. Carrisi/V. Cidda

    He won the Festival in 1984 singing the song Ci sarà (There will be) - the same year Eros Ramazzotti won the New Singers’ Competition - together with his wife Romina Power (Tyrone Power's daughter) and entered the Eurovision the year after with the song Magic Oh Magic taking 7th place. They have won many golden discs on the Continent, mainly in Germany, Austria and Spain and among their biggest hits is Felicità (Happiness). Last year he entered the competition with E' la mia vita (It’s my life) taking 7th place.

    Francesco Baccini - Senza Tu (Without You) F. Baccini/G. Conte

    Coming from Genoa, Francesco (36) is an Italian songwriter of funny lyrics, and his songs are characterized by themes half serious, half amusing. His major album is Cartoon including the big hit Le donne di Modena (Women from Modena). He is the goal-keeper of the Italian Singers National Football Team. His latest album is Baccini a Colori (Coloured Baccini).

    Loredana Bertè - Luna (Moon) M. Piccoli/L. Berté

    The sister of the unforgettable Mia Martini (whose real name was Domenica Bertè), Loredana (46) is one of the few Italian female rock singers together with Gianna Nannini, who was first successful in the late 70s thanks to big hits such as Non sono una Signora (I’m Not A Lady), Per I Tuoi Occhi (For Your Eyes) and Il Mare d'Inverno (The Winter Sea). In the past Enrico Ruggeri (ESC 1993) has been one of the writers of her songs, but now she likes composing them by herself. She was married to the former Tennis champion Bjorn Borg.

    Cattivi Pensieri - Quello Che Sento (What I feel) C. Carolfi/D. De Marinis/N. Fragile/D. Bosio

    The major hit of this young pop band is Emozione (Emotion), a song which enjoyed extensive air-play during Summer 1996. The leading voice is Cinzia (28), a blonde girl writing also some of her band's songs. Their latest album is Un'incredibile storia (An Incredible Story) and you can find more news about them at http://www.cattivipensieri.it

    Toto Cutugno - Faccia Pulita (Open Countenance) S. Cutugno

    Toto Cutugno is one of the most prolific Italian songwriters having written hundreds of songs for many singers. His most successful songs were performed by Adriano Celentano, Fausto Leali, Fiordaliso, and many others. Despite of his success he's not really loved by Italian critics who accuse him of not writing deep songs. As a matter of fact his records sell better abroad than in Italy. He won Sanremo 1980 performing Solo Noi (Only Us), but that was his only victory. He's also called the eternal second since he has not been able to win another edition of the contest, taking 2nd place several times to date. His greatest hit is L'Italiano (The Italian Man), recorded in 1983 and translated into many languages. In 1990 he entered and won the ESC performing Insieme 1992 (Together 1992). That year he took 2nd place at Sanremo with Gli Amori (The Loves), but was allowed to enter the Eurovision because the band POOH (Sanremo winner with Uomini Soli) declined. In 1991 he presented the ESC final which took place in Rome. Last year he entered Sanremo with Voglio Andare a Vivere in Campagna (I want to go to live in the country), a Gypsy Kings-like catchy song which sold well in some European countries, most notably in Greece.

    Dirotta su Cuba - Ho Voglia di Te (I want You) Cheope/De Donato/Bencini/Ravasini/Gentili/D’Emilio

    This funky band (female singer plus two male musicians) were first successful in 1995 with the song Gelosia (Jealousy). Their music, built on a strong use of horns, seems to be fairly appreciated, but they still have to prove themselves to be stars.

    Fausto Leali - Non Ami Che Te (You Love Nobody But Youself) R. Pacco

    Since the late 60s Fausto Leali (52) has been The Italian black voice, performing great songs and enjoying a good success through the years. His greatest hits are A Chi (To Whom), Io Amo (I Love), Mi Manchi (I Miss You) and Ti Lascerò (I’ll Allow You) performed with Anna Oxa at Sanremo 1989 taking 1st place. He entered the ESC the same year with Avrei Voluto (I’d have wanted) again with Anna Oxa. This year he will perform accompanied by a band of important American musicians.

    Nek - Laura Non C'è (Laura Is Not Here) A. De Sanctis/Nek/M. Varini

    One of the new Italian singers, Nek's greatest success is the 1996 album Lei, Gli Amici e Tutto il Resto, winner of a golden disc, including Dimmi Di No (Tell Me No). His style is pop/rock. He is one of the rising stars of our music firmament, and the Festival could be his springboard. Girls love him because of his good looks and he could be one of the Festival surprises.

    New Trolls feauturing Greta - Alianti Liberi (Free Gliders) Eliop/M. Cattapani/V. De Scalzi/N. Di Palo/S. Labate

    The New Trolls were one of the most successful 70s bands thanks to albums such as Concerto Grosso (recorded in English) and songs like Quella Carezza Della Sera (That Part Of The Evening). Last year they entered Sanremo without fortune, and hope to do better this year.

    Anna Oxa - Storie (Stories) Depsa/M. Marati/S. Monetti/A. Valsiglio/F. Zanotti

    Anna Oxa (35) is one of the favourite of the ESC fans thanks to her performance in 1989 with Avrei Voluto (I’d have wanted). She began her career at Sanremo 1978 performing Un'emozione da Poco (A Small Emotion) when she was just 18! Since then she's has been one of the best Italian singers showing great voice, personality and sex-appeal. In 1989 she won Sanremo with Ti Lascerò (I'll Allow You) duetting with Fausto Leali. Twice married, she has two kids: Francesca and Quazim. Her latest appearance at Sanremo was in 1990 with Donna Con Te (Woman With You).

    Patty Pravo - E Dimmi Che Non Vuoi Morire (And Tell Me That You Don't Want to Die) V. Rossi/G. Curreri

    Patty Pravo (48), one of the legends of the 60s, comes back to the Festival with a song written by the rockstar Vasco Rossi. Patty is known in several countries thanks to hits such as La Bambola (The Doll) and Pazza Idea (Crazy Idea), and her fame can be paralleled to that of Mina, another (or possibly the) big Italian Voice. A strong contender with great class.

    Pitura Freska - Papa Nero (Black Papa) Skardy/M. Forieri/C. Verardo/V. Silvestri/F. Duse

    A nonconformist reggae band, mostly known in the Italian North- East. They sing in the dialect of Veneto and could be as much of a surprise as Elio e le Storie Tese were in 1996. Their greatest hit is Pin Floi and the band leader is Sir Oliver Skardy (37)

    Ragazzi Italiani - Vero Amore (True Love) M.G. Fontana/A. Baroni/A. Galbiati/C. Palmas

    The Italian answer to Take That...

    Massimo Ranieri - Ti Parlerò d'Amore (I'll Talk To You About Love) G. Morra/G. Togni

    Actor, singer, presenter Massimo Ranieri (45), from Naples, is an eclectic artist who began his career many years ago when he was a teenager. Great voice, he was triumphant at Sanremo 1988 with Perdere l'Amore (Losing the Love). In 1973 he represented Italy at the ESC with Chi Sarà Con Te (Who will be with you) and taking the 13th place.

    Syria - Sei Tu Che Mi Manchi (It's you missing to me) C. Mattone/A. Salerno

    Young (19), nice, pleasant voice. She won the 1996 New Singer's Competition, but her album was not a big success. What about 1997?

    Tosca - Il Respiro Più Grande (The Largest Breath) S. Tamaro/Ron

    She featured on the 1996 winning song Vorrei Incontrarti Tra Cent’ Anni (I would like meeting you in 100 years) performed by Ron. Pleasant voice, but not particularly powerful, she performs a song written by the novelist Susanna Tamaro and Ron.

The other 4 entrants will be chosen the first competition day from the finalists of the 1996 New Singers’ Competition who are:

Leandro Barsotti - Fragolina (Little Strawberry)
Camilla - Come ti tradirei (How I will betray you)
Carmen Consoli - Confusa e felice (Confused and Happy)
Alessandro Errico - E penserò al tuo viso (And I will think to your face)
Jalisse - Fiumi di Parole (Rivers of Words)
Maurizio Lauzi - Il Capo dei Giocattoli (The chief of the Toys)
Petra Magoni - Voglio un Dio (I want a God)
Olivia - Quando viene sera (When the evening comes)
Alessandro Mara - Attimi (Instants)
O.R.O. - Padre Nostro (Our Father)
Marina Rei - Dentro me (Inside me)
Adriana Ruocco - Uguali, uguali (Identical, identical)
Silvia Salemi - A Casa Di Lucia - (At Lucia's home)

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