The Italian entry at the Eurovision Song Contest is usually sung by the winner of "Festival della Canzone Italiana" (Italian song Contest) also know as "Festival di Sanremo" (Sanremo's Festival). This contest is considered to be the "father" of the E.S.C. and in the past has had among its entrants some Italian Music important names, well known all over Europe, such as Umberto Tozzi (1987, 1991), Laura Pausini (1993-94), Eros Ramazzotti (1984-86) and Zucchero (1982-83, 1984-85). The final (broadcast to many European countries) is generally watched by about 20 million people in Italy.

Italy has won Eurovision twice thanks to Gigliola Cinquetti who sang "Non ho l'età " (1964) and Toto Cutugno who sang "Insieme 1992" (Together 1992) - in 1990. For the past two years Italy hasn't entered Eurovision and so far there isn't any news about the 1996 Competition. Actually, the E.S.C. is not well known in Italy, and RAI - the Public Television Broadcasting Corporation- usually only broadcasts it late in the evening.

The 46th Festival della Canzone Italiana will take place in Sanremo (Riviera Ligure) from the 20th to 24th February and will be broadcast live on RAIUNO (EUTELSAT "HOT BIRD 1" EST - 11.366 V) every day at about 20.30 CET (after the news). Pippo Baudo will be the presenter, together with Valeria Mazza and Sabrina Ferilli. The songs will be performed live accompanied by a full orchestra, each entrant with a nominated conductor. Foreign guests will be Tina Turner, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, Take That, East 17, Bon Jovi, Blur, Enya, Cher, Pat Metheny, Simply Red and Bruce Springsteen.

AL BANO - E' la mia vita (It's my life) - G. Marino/M. Fabrizio

He won the Festival in 1984 singing the song "Ci sarà " (There will be) 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 "Felicita" (Happiness). This will be the first time he enters alone since 1974.

After entering and winning the New Singers' competition in 1993 with the song "Non amarmi" (Don't love me) - sung with Francesca Alotta as female singing partner - this blind singer/songwriter won the year after Festival with "Passerà " (It will pass).

Following up his third place in 1988 singing "L'amore rubato" (The Stolen Love), he won the Festival in 1992 with the song "Portami a ballare" (Bring me to dance) dedicated to his mother. He also entered the Eurovision in 1988 singing "Ti scrivo" (I write you) and taking 12th place.

Umberto Bindi is a songwriter who had a big success in the 70s. His songs have been translated into many languages and one of his main hits is "Il Nostro Concerto" (Our Concert). This year he enters the Festival in duet with the New Trolls, a historical Italian band whose hits include "Quella Carezza Della Sera" (That Part of the Evening) and the English album "Concerto Grosso"

This humorous band, loved by more than just the youngsters, is entering for the first time.

Riccardo Fogli begin his career as part of the band "Pooh" in the late 60s. He embarked on a solo career with good success in the 80s. A habitual entrant to the festival, he won in 1982 with the song "Storie di tutti i giorni" (Every day's stories) which has been translated into many languages, and he entered the Eurovision in 1983 with "Per Lucia" (For Lucia) taking 11th place. One of his greatest hits is "Io ti prego di acoltare" (I pray you to listen) performed at Sanremo in 1991.

This young singer made her debut with her father's band "Io vorrei la pelle nora". She was the winner of the 1995 Festival with the song "Come saprei" (How I would know) also written by the megastar Eros Ramazzotti. She has a beautiful "black voice" and is considered to be the Italian Whitney Houston. She has also recorded a live CD in English, "Natural Woman", performing classic blues songs.

Quite unknown before his hit "Vita mia" (My life), this songwriter took 3rd place at the 1990 Festival with the song "Vattene amore" (Go away, love) performed in duet with Mietta, and followed up with a sold-out tour of Italian theatres.

This young group won the "New singers competition" last year with "Le ragazze" (Girls) and sold about 700,000 CDs in 1995. Their style is "a cappella", without any instrument. Before last year they had only recorded a cover of Zucchero's "Donne" (Women).

Ron's success came in the late 70s when the Italians discovered him thanks to his collaborations with Lucio Dalla and Francesco De Gregori. Hits such as "Il gigante e la bambina" (The giant and the child), "Il mondo avrà una grande anima" (The world will have a big soul) and, recently, "Non abbiam bisogno di parole" (We don't need any word) have established him as great songwriter.

This Neapolitan humourous singer is at his first Festival.

This blonde is one of the most famous Italian singers in the world thanks to hits such as "Easy Lady", "Call Me" and "Every Girl and Boy". She entered the Festival last year singing in Italian for the first time, taking 3rd place with "Gente come noi" (People like us) and selling about 400,000 CDs of her "Siamo in due" (We are in two) album.

In 1989 Paola Turci won the now superceded "Emergenti" category singing "Bambini" (Children). She is a songwriter who in the past has been likened to Suzanne Vega and is now pusuing a career in acting.

Paolo Vallesi is well known abroad, especially in Spain and Latin America where the Spanish versions of his songs have reached the top of the charts. He won the New Singers' competition in 1991 with "Le persone inutili" (The useless people) and took 3rd place at the 1992 Festival with the song "La forza della vita" (The strength of life). His latest album is "Non mi tradire" (Don't be unfaithful to me).

Winner of the New Singers' competition in 1987 performing "La notte dei pensieri" (The night of thoughts) this Roman songwriter ended up in 5th place in the 1994 "Big" competition with "Cinque giorni" (Five days), his greatest success.

Enrico Ruggeri is well known to the ESC thanks to his entrant in 1993 with "Sole d'Europa" (Europe's sun). He is one of the most appreciated and prolific Italian songwriters and has given his songs to important performers such as Fiorella Mannoia and Loredana Bertè. He won the Festival twice: in 1987 singing "Si può dare di più" (You can give more) with Gianni Morandi and Umberto Tozzi and in 1993 with the song "Mistero" (Mistery). He also won the prize given by the critics three times. This song is written by Ruggeri together with Luigi Schiavone who has been playing guitar with him since the early 80s. One of Ruggeri's other claims to fame is being a good football player (he is one of the main players of the Italian Singers National Team) and a big fan of Inter Milan.

Ornella Vanoni (who was formerly in the list) won't enter because the music of her song was already transmitted by a radio station. Her place has been taken by Enrico Ruggeri.