Weekly blog #117: The Italian representation

Italy is currently under the spell of the most important election of the year: who will be the new Italian representative? Throughout this week, there will be several rounds of voting, and this Saturday, the Italians will finally know who is officially representing them. If you’ve been following the news a bit in recent days, you probably now think “But Anne, you’re so behind as the new president of Italy was already officially elected last weekend!” And that’s true. On Saturday, they announced that the eighty-year-old Sicilian Sergio Mattarella will start a second term as President of Italy. However, there is another election that is keeping every single Italian news outlet, from north to south, busy these days. Of course, I’m talking about the one and only Sanremo Festival. 

Ah, Berlusconi, who hasn’t heard of him?

Like the average Italian, I follow this contest – which will determine who will represent Italy in terms of music – with more interest than the presidential elections. There was a bit of a stir there, too, when it turned out that former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had put himself forward as a candidate. Ah, Berlusconi, who hasn’t heard of him? The former politician who is weighed down by scandals both in Italy and abroad, of which his extravagant bunga bunga parties are the most infamous without a single doubt. He himself doesn’t seem to be bothered too much by his actions, witness the fact that he candidated for Italy’s most important position without blinking an eye. The whole of Italy ánd Europe breathed a sigh of relief when he decided to withdraw himself after all. In the weeks that followed, not a single candidate was found across the country that the various parties could agree on. This has now led to the elderly Mattarella, who had previously shared that he was not particularly interested in a second mandate, postponing his retirement out of a sense of duty and subsequently cancelling his recently found flat in Rome. 

The four young Romans managed to surprise every single Italian at Sanremo last March

Now that this has been sorted, the Italians can focus again on what’s really the most important election of the year: who will win the Sanremo Festival? Then we will finally discover who is going to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest. The winner doesn’t have to travel very far however, as it’s the city of Turin that has the honour of hosting the world’s biggest music festival this year, thanks to Måneskin’s victory in Rotterdam. The four young Romans managed to surprise every single Italian at Sanremo last March. It was the very first time in the 71-year history of the festival that a rock song won. It also meant that, for the first time, the Italians sent a rock act to Eurovision, something about which opinions were divided. Those initial doubts held by some turned out to be completely unnecessary as we all know what happened next. 

Italy conservative and traditional? Think again!

Less than a year on, it has already become clear that Måneskin has done more for the image of Italy than any president could ever have in their entire seven-year term. Where Italian music has always been associated with the romantic, sometimes tormented expressions of love, this band presented a very different sound. But even more than that, Måneskin showed a different picture of Italy than had always been portrayed up until then. Italy conservative and traditional? Think again! Only a few days ago, the band has arrived in Sanremo, where lead singer Damiano was photographed in a jumper with a very clear message about some of the serious issues Italy still has to deal with too: “NO Homophobia, NO Transphobia, NO Sexism, NO Violence, NO Abuse of Power”. And with their style – the guys wearing make-up and nail polish and Damiano being spotted in skirts and corsets, hung with pearl necklaces and carrying handbags – they proclaim an unprecedented and much needed message of inclusiveness.

And for all those who would still dismiss the spectacle – which is broadcaster every year on TV with lots of glitter, glamour, drama and fuss – as mere popular entertainment: thanks to Mäneskin, we’ve seen what a musical act can truly mean for a country and her inhabitants

And although it seems nearly impossible to match the huge success of Måneskin, Italy will choose their successor this week. From Tuesday the first of February to Saturday the fifth of February there will be live shows every night, in which 24 lucky candidates will perform their song no less than three times. In different rounds of voting and with different juries, they will work towards the top three who will perform their song one last time on Saturday well after midnight. And then finally, the big winner of Sanremo 2022 will be announced. And for all those who would still dismiss the spectacle – which is broadcaster every year on TV with lots of glitter, glamour, drama and fuss – as mere popular entertainment: thanks to Mäneskin, we’ve seen what a musical act can truly mean for a country and her inhabitants. In any case, I have blocked my agenda every single night this week.

P.S. Unfortunately, I do not (yet!) have a photo in front of the big studio in Sanremo, so I decided to go with this photo in front of the Presidential Palace in Rome, which is going to stay President Mattarella’s home for a little more…