On a day that opened with the news of the Israel-US attack on Iran, the last evening of a Festival was staged that made no fuss, was anesthetized at times, without infamy or glory.
Finally the winning song of the event will be announced. May the best song win.
Bennato sang “they're just songs” and in the order of the world, never a sentence seemed more true.
REPORT CARDS AND COMMENTS
27 – DARGEN D'AMICO “AI AI”
Old school of rap, abandoning the musicality of decidedly higher waves. Dargen presents himself with a song that needs multiple listens to be chewed up. Straight voice, which makes the words clear and understandable, demonstrating that he knows how to do it well.
Rating: 6
26 – MARA SATTEI “The things you don't know about me”
Mara Sattei's participation in this Festival went unnoticed a bit like “The things you don't know about me”. An at times pompous piece, even a little trombone-like, with a request for large, unnecessary vocal warbles.
Rating: 4
25 – THIRTEEN PETER “Man falling”
First Sanremo for Morandi's son, who attempts the route with a classy-flow. Tight bars and then explode on a certainly effective refrain. The song isn't bad, but what remains in the ears of this “Falling Man” is very little. Well done eh, but more could be given.
Rating: 4
24 – LUCHÈ “Labyrinth”
Nothing here either, nothing convinces me. A text bordering on an elementary theme with forced rhymes, a refrain that is an asystolic path. Luchè could have done better, he had to – somehow – do better. He tries to raise his feathers on this last evening, with poor results.
Rating: 3.00
23 – LIGHTNING “Stupid luck”
It may be his arrogant appearance, it may be that he has decidedly more incisive songs in his repertoire, but this “Stupid fortune” is an indie that winks at pop, that winks at indie. The result is a catchy song that will be sung on Monday morning on the ring road in Milan, in the middle of traffic.
Rating: 5.00
22 – MICHELE BRAVI “Sooner or later”
I still remember that little masterpiece of “The diary of errors”, here “Sooner or later” doesn't get it right. A piece that is structurally theatrical to the point of bordering on melodramatic. Michele certainly removes some superstructure in the interpretation of the final. Introspective enough, poignant more than enough.
Rating: 4.50
21 – SAMURAI JAY “Obsession”
Nothing, nothing about this song bothers me. It will certainly break through as a hit in the group dance schools with Mrs. Pina in the front row moving her prosthetic hip. Ephemeral and partially useless. Did we still need these Regaetton and Latin mixes? : I thought we had left the worst of the 2000s behind us…. Instead.
Rating: 3.00
20 – FEDEZ & MASINI “Necessary evil”
The not so strange duo had already taught us last year during the cover evening of their ability to merge. They return to the competition with “Necessary Evil”, a mash up of their respective stories which, in some way, had similar pain. It may seem like a staged musical operation, yet the alchemy on stage is quite evident. The piece holds up well both for Masini's very recognizable voice and for Federico's bars, which he still knows how to do as a pen.
Rating: 6.50
19 – LEVANTE “It's you”
Claudia writes, everyone knows this. Claudia is an excellent singer, which is known to many. He returns to the Festival with “Sei tu” which is certainly less powerful than previous Sanremo productions. Yet the airy opening of the chorus is surprisingly tear-jerking in wonderment. All things considered, Levante did his part, he wrote and sang a good song with an excellent interpretation.
Vote. 6.50
18 – SAYF “I like you a lot”
I like to be wrong, I underestimated “I like you a lot”. A diesel tune that needs to be chewed on somehow. Light-hearted enough, a photograph of the Italy that was but also what is. Rating: 7.00
ARISA “Magical fairy tale”
A great return for Rosalba. “Magica Favola” is a great classic, a tailor-made song that fits perfectly with the Festival. The account of his life, with background strings leading into the chorus. Not very radio friendly and little emotional appeal aside, it certainly highlights all of Arisa's vocal qualities.
Rating: 6.50
16 – NAYT “Before”
After two listens you start to appreciate it, by the third you instinctively move to the flow of “Prima che”. Nayt is striking for his ability to always be in focus, without frills or collateral fantasy. Definitely a little gem. Won't win but a good starting point.
Vote. 6.50
15 – TONELLAPLIAGA “How annoying!”
Definitely my limit, but a few listens weren't enough to make me digest “Che Annoyance!” . Definitely a good groove, but it seems like the result of a collective hallucination. Irreverent and provocative text but here too, the festival of banalities that are a little annoying.
Rating: 5.00
14 – ERMAL META “Stella Stellina”
Perhaps one of the best texts of the Festival, perhaps today more than ever it would be useful to remember, see, hear. Leaving aside the emotional impact, “Stella stellina” features an Arab-like arrangement which, although coherent with the theme, does not fully enhance it, detonating its power. The references to the (Arab) Spring could certainly have been less evocative, with the burdens and honors that derive from it. Rating: 7.00
13 – ELETTRA LAMBORGHINI “Voilà”
Elettra got people talking more for the “bilateral” parties than for the competing song. There is actually little to say about the song: ephemeral, evanescent, not even the reference to Carrà managed to save “Voilà”. It comes and goes “Voilà” thank you and for goodness sake.
Rating: 3
12 – SAL DA VINCI “Forever yes”
Booked for the next ceremonies between now and next year's New Year, Geolier is pushing his Naples to vote. The song musically recalls at times the theme song of the TV program “The Boss of Ceremonies” (in fact one might say). Will the popular national team win? A neomelodic, after all, is almost forever. However, for those who have to write about it, the piece is quite insipid.
Rating: 4.00
11 – PATTY PRAVO “Opera”
Pompous piece, heavy like the clothes Patty was made to wear during the Festival evenings, all embalmed around a single word and the prerogative of constructed singing of this: opera, precisely. Caccamo we remembered knowing how to write better than that, Patty Pravo is Patty Pravo and she is a professional. She's iconic, but the song isn't.
Rating: 5.00
10 – SERENA BRANCALE “Here with me”
Before the Festival she was the very favorite. Definitely an intimate, emotional and evocative song. A different song from “Baccalà” and “Anema e core”. A chorus with a good sonic impact, in which Serena's voice takes flight. What can be defined as a Sanremo song done and finished.
Rating: 6.50
09 – LDA & AKA 7EVEN “Clandestine poems”
A compendium of vacuous uselessness in a neomelodic key with a Latin rhythm. An “Anema e Core” turned out very badly. Here a single listen would have been enough and yet, unfortunately, eliminations have not been foreseen at the Festival for some time.
Rating: 3.00
08 – J-AX “Italy starter pack”
An Avicii in a country key, yet apart from the classic banalizations about our beautiful country with images that are not too innovative. Surely “Italia starter pack” is a light-hearted, irreverent song, at least different from the mass of classics dished out by the Festival this year… and in any case it's true Ax always needs a bit of ass.
Rating: 5.50
07 – TOMMASO PARADISO “The romantics”
Tommaso does Paradiso, certainly a far cry from the performance of “l'Ultima luna” of the cover evening. A song that is the banal copy and paste of other songs in his repertoire that focus everything on an easy to memorize refrain, “I hope that sweet music will come to you”… a hit slogan that winks at the radio. Without infamy and without praise.
Rating: 6.00
06 – MALIKA AYANE “Nocturnal animals”
I'm sorry, I have deep respect for Malika, yet “Nocturnal Animals” is a clear example of a wrong song, not worthy of the artist who has to perform it. Vocally not his best performance these evenings. It never fully convinces.
Rating: 5.00
05 – LEO GASSMANN “Natural”
Subdued song for Leo, rather banal lyrics despite the four signatures. “Natural”, unfortunately, is a little more boring with each listen. There's little to say, I think it was all wrong for Leo Gassman.
Rating 4.00
04 – RAG DOLLS “Stay with me”
Rag Dolls – “Stay with me”. One of the few songs that won me over from the first listen. Let's not call it a rock song for goodness sake, Bambole di Pezza have written much more disturbing songs. “Stay with me” is a beautiful pop song, with a crescendo that explodes in the sing-along chorus: “stay with me in these times of hate” never more true than on this last evening. Definitely the underdogs of the Festival.
Rating: 7.50
03 – RAF “Now and Forever”
Was I expecting more, something different? No. Raf is Raf. It won't be a catchphrase like “What will remain of these 80s”, but times are different. The song in the competition, on the third listen, would seem like the same reheated soup that is no good now and forever. However, credit goes to the airy opening of the chorus which sticks well to you, making you sing. A shy song, completely in his comfort zone.
Rating 6.00
02 – CHIELLO “I always think of you”
Sounds that recall the first indie bands, I haven't yet understood if Rocco is a Lauro who didn't make it. The song itself, after three evenings, is pleasantly saccharine, however the taste it leaves in the mouth has little more than semolina.
Rating 5.00
01 – FRANCESCO RENGA “The best of me”
Francesco Renga – “The best of me”. After three listens we can conclude that the song brought to the competition by Renga, as well as being a test of vocality, leaves little room for something new. Certainly not the best that Francesco has accustomed the public to, just think of the Tracce album. A heavy piece both in the harmonic sequence and in the search for virtuosity.
Rating 4.00
28 – ENRICO NIGIOTTI “Every time I don't know how to fly”
29 – MARIA ANTONIETTA & COLOMBRE -“Happiness and that's it”
30 – EDDIE BROCK “Vultures”
THE VOTE
33% PRESS ROOM, TV and WEB, 33% RADIO and 34% TELEVOTING)
GUESTS
ANDREA BOCELLI – “The calm sea of the evening” – “I will leave with you”
Suzuki Stage: POOH – “Lonely Men”
Nino FRASSICA
Tuscan Coast: MAX PEZZALI – “How come”/“No regrets”
Gino Cecchettin
