The countdown is over! The 75th edition of the Festival di Sanremo, Italy’s most prestigious music competition, kicks off tonight at the Teatro Ariston. Twenty-nine of Italy’s biggest stars will take to the stage for the first night of the festival, vying for the chance to represent their country at the Eurovision Song Contest (should they choose to accept).
Tonight’s performances will be judged by a jury of television and web journalists. At the end of the evening, RAI will announce the top five acts, selected at random from the jury’s votes, adding an element of suspense to the proceedings. Initially, 30 artists were slated to compete, but Emis Killa withdrew, leaving 29 in the running.
Here’s the all-important running order for tonight’s performances:
- Gaia – “Chiamo io, chiami tu” (I call you, you call me)
- Francesco Gabbani – “Viva la vita” (Long live life)
- Rkomi – “Il ritmo delle cose” (The rhythm of things)
- Noemi – “Se ti innamori, muori” (If you fall in love, you’ll die)
- Irama – “Lentamente” (Slowly)
- Coma_Cose – “Cuoricini” (Little hearts)
- Simone Cristicchi – “Quando sarai piccola” (When you’ll be young)
- Marcella Bella – “Pelle diamante” (Diamond skin)
- Achille Lauro – “Incoscienti giovani” (Reckless young people)
- Giorgia – “La cura per me” (The cure for me)
- Willie Peyote – “Grazie, ma no grazie” (Thank you but no)
- Rose Villain – “Fuorilegge” (Outlaw)
- Olly – “Balorda nostalgia” (Stupid nostalgia)
- Elodie – “Dimenticarsi alle 7” (Forgetting at 7)
- Shablo ft. Guè, Joshua and Tormento – “La mia parola” (My word)
- Massimo Ranieri – “Tra le mani un cuore” (A heart between the hands)
- Tony Effe – “Damme ‘na mano” (Give me a hand)
- Serena Brancale – “Anema e core” (Heart and soul)
- Brunori SAS – “L’albero delle noci” (The walnut tree)
- Modà – “Non ti dimentico” (I don’t forget you)
- Clara – “Febbre” (Fever)
- Lucio Corsi – “Volevo essere un duro” (I wanted to be a tough guy)
- Fedez – “Battito” (Pulse)
- Bresh – “La tana del granchio” (The crab’s lair)
- Sarah Toscano – “Amarcord” (I remember)
- Joan Thiele – “Eco” (Echo)
- Rocco Hunt – “Mill vot ancor” (A thousand times again)
- Francesca Michielin – “Fango in paradiso” (Mud in heaven)
- The Kolors – “Tu con chi fai l’amore?” (Who are you making love to?)
The show will be hosted by Carlo Conti, with Antonella Clerici and Gerry Scotti joining him as co-hosts. Adding to the excitement, the evening will feature special guest appearances from Jovanotti, Raf, and 2009 Eurovision representatives Noa and Mira Awad, who will perform a cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine.”
Fans can tune in live from 20:40 CET on Rai 1, Radio Radio 2, and RaiPlay. International viewers can also catch the broadcast in Moldova on Moldova 1, Montenegro on TVCG 2, and Romania on TVR1.
Source: RAI
