🇸🇲 Blast from the Past: San Marino 2012

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today: Valentina Monetta, who participated four times for San Marino. The song we take a closer look at is her first one: The Social Network Song (Oh oh – uh – Oh oh).

San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest

In 2008, San Marino debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest. However, the band Miodio did not reach the final. Fans had to wait until 2011, when Senhit (Senit back then) took part for the first time. Valentina Monetta did no less than four attempts. She, Senhit and Serhat were the three contestants for San Marino who managed to reach the final. Okay, and Flo Rida of course, who featured in Senhit’s song “Adrenalina”. With a 19th place, it was Serhat who had the best score for San Marino with his song “Say na na na”.

National selection

On 14 March 2012, during a press conference by SMRTV (San Marino Radio & Television) it was revealed that they had chosen Valentina Monetta as San Marino’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012. The decision came about after an SMRTV director stumbled upon Monetta’s performance one evening.

A dedicated program, aired on 16 March 2012, was organized at the SMRTV studio to unveil Monetta’s contest song. The song titled “Facebook Uh, Oh, Oh”, composed by Ralph Siegel and penned by Jose Santana Rodriguez and Timothy Touchton, was introduced as San Marino’s Eurovision entry. Notably, Siegel, having crafted 20 Eurovision songs for different nations, clarified that “Facebook Uh, Oh, Oh” was crafted for the contest, but not specifically for Monetta.

Facebook is a brand, uh, oh, oh

Already two days after the presentation of the song, EBU told SMRTV that the song was breaking one of the Eurovision rules: mentioning brands in a song is not allowed. And Facebook is a brand. The lyrics had to be changed, and the song was now called “The Social Network Song (Oh oh – uh – Oh oh)”. Valentina was not the first one who faced this. That honour goes to Lotta Engberg who sang “Fyra Bug och en Coca-Cola”. Bugg was a Norwegian chewing gum brand and Coca-Cola is…. well, is Coca-Cola. Two years later, Belarusian Teo had to change the lyrics of his song. “Google Maps” became “All the maps”.

 

Valentina Monetta

Valentina Monetta, born on March 1, 1975, in the picturesque microstate of San Marino, is an iconic name in the Eurovision Song Contest universe. With a passion for music evident from her youth, Valentina’s journey to becoming San Marino’s most recognized Eurovision participant is a testament to her talent and determination.

Starting her career in various jazz bands, Monetta’s versatile voice allowed her to experiment with different genres, including pop, jazz, and R&B. While she was making waves in the local music scene, it was her association with the Eurovision Song Contest that catapulted her to international fame.

In 2012, SMRTV, San Marino’s national broadcaster, announced that Valentina would represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest. She did not reach the final. However, this did not deter Valentina, and she returned to represent San Marino in 2013, 2014, and 2017.

Out of these participations, her 2014 entry, “Maybe,” holds a special place, as it secured San Marino’s first-ever spot in the Eurovision Grand Final. Beyond Eurovision, Valentina released several singles and albums, further establishing her prowess in the music industry.

Monetta’s relationship with Ralph Siegel, the renowned composer, further enriched her Eurovision experience. Siegel crafted multiple Eurovision entries for her, showcasing her versatility and range as a singer.

Over the years, Valentina Monetta has become synonymous with San Marino’s Eurovision history.

The Social Network Song (Oh oh – Uh – Oh oh)

Ralph Siegel, a veteran Eurovision composer, crafted the music of the song, while lyrics were penned by Jose Santana Rodriguez and Timothy Touchton.

The song’s lyrics delve into the digital age’s social media obsession, particularly highlighting the universal appeal and reach of platforms like Facebook. It’s a catchy, upbeat pop track with playful lyrics about online friendships, profile pictures, and virtual life.

While it received a mix of amusement and skepticism from Eurovision fans and did not qualify for the final, “The Social Network Song” nonetheless holds a distinctive spot in Eurovision history for its timely subject matter during the rise of social media.

Picture of Martijn

Martijn

See all contributions

Related news
History

🇦🇹 Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, part 1

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Austria. It was the 57th Austrian entry. Reason for us to go back to all the Austrian entries in history! For the first episode, we will look back at the time when the world was still in black and white. It is said that already in 1956, Austria wanted to take part. However, they were too late to sent an entry, so the Austrian debut was in 1957. 1957 – Bob Martin – “Wohin kleines Pony” Austria debuted at Eurovision in 1957, when Bob Martin performed “Wohin, kleines Pony?” (“Where to, Little Pony?”). In February 1957, five artists competed in a national selection for the ticket to Frankfurt am Main, and each sang two songs. Bob Martin (real name Leo Heppe) won. The song is a light‑hearted, jazzy Schlager about a man’s adventures with his pony. Kurt Svab composed the music, and Hans Werner wrote the lyrics. Bob Martin, a Vienna State Opera chorus singer, lent an operatic touch to the whimsical tune. Despite its charm, Austria’s debut earned only 3 points and finished 10th (last place) in 1957. 1958 – Liane Augustin – “Die ganze Welt braucht Liebe” In 1958, Liane Augustin represented Austria with “Die ganze Welt braucht Liebe” (“The Whole World Needs Love”). Austria selected her internally. GĂĽnther Leopold and Kurt Werner wrote this romantic ballad with a gentle, cabaret‑style melody. A German‑Austrian singer and actress, Augustin made her name in Vienna’s postwar nightclubs. With Willy Fantl conducting, her polished performance earned 8 points and finished 5th for Austria at the 1958 contest. 1959 – Ferry Graf – “Der K und K Kalypso aus Wien” Austria’s 1959 entry was the internally selected “Der K. und K. Kalypso aus Wien” (“The Imperial and Royal Calypso from Vienna”), performed by Ferry Graf. The song was a playful novelty Schlager that blended calypso rhythms with Viennese waltz melodies. It was composed by Norbert Pawlicki with lyrics by GĂĽnther Leopold. They created a lighthearted homage to Vienna, even referencing Johann Strauss tunes in the lyrics! Ferry Graf was an up-and-coming Austrian pop singer at the time. The cheerful “Kalypso” received 4 points and finished 9th out of 11 entries in the 1959 contest. 1960 – Harry Winter – “Du hasst mich so fasziniert” In 1960, Harry Winter (stage name of Horst Winter) sang Austria’s entry “Du hast mich so fasziniert” (“You Fascinated Me So Much”) in London. The song was composed by the famed Viennese operetta composer Robert Stolz with lyrics by Robert Gilbert, giving it a classic romantic waltz-ballad character. Harry Winter was a veteran German-Austrian singer and bandleader, known for his background in jazz and swing orchestras of the 1940s. His Eurovision performance earned 6 points and placed 7th out of 13 countries in 1960. 1961 – Jimmy Makulis – “Sehnsucht” The 1961 entry saw Greek-born pop singer Jimmy Makulis represent Austria with “Sehnsucht” (“Longing”). The song was a gentle, sentimental ballad composed (music and lyrics) by Leopold Andrejewitsch, echoing themes of yearning and devotion. Jimmy Makulis had been successful in the German pop music scene of the 1950s, bringing an international flair as the first Greek artist on an Eurovision stage. Despite his rich voice, “Sehnsucht” received only 1 point (from the UK jury) and tied for last place in 1961. Makulis later took part in the Cypriot final, in 1984. 1962 – Eleonore Schwarz – “Nur in der Wiener Luft” In 1962, Austria chose for a national final again. All submitted songs had to be in threequarter-time. In the end, 4 out of 5 songs had Vienna in their title. The 5th one had the Praterallee (indeed in Vienna) in its title. Austria selected an operetta‑style entry: “Nur in der Wiener Luft” (“Only in the Vienna Air”). Eleonore Schwarz performed it in Luxembourg. Bruno Uher composed and conducted this waltz‑infused operetta number that celebrates Vienna’s culture. The lyrics lovingly mention the city’s waltzes, Johann Strauss, and famous landmarks. An opera singer at the Vienna Volksoper in the 1960s, Schwarz suited this classically styled piece. However, the grand Viennese operetta did not resonate with the juries. It scored nul points and finished last. The Austrian entry was one of four entries to receive zero points at the 1962 contest.

Read More »
October 23, 2025 No Comments
History
Martijn

🇦🇹 Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, part 1

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Austria. It was the 57th Austrian entry. Reason for us to go back to all the Austrian entries in history! For the first episode, we will look back at the time when the world was still in black and white. It is said that already in 1956, Austria wanted to take part. However, they were too late to sent an entry, so the Austrian debut was in 1957. 1957 – Bob Martin – “Wohin kleines Pony” Austria debuted at Eurovision in 1957, when Bob Martin performed “Wohin, kleines Pony?” (“Where to, Little Pony?”). In February 1957, five artists competed in a national selection for the ticket to Frankfurt am Main, and each sang two songs. Bob Martin (real name Leo Heppe) won. The song is a light‑hearted, jazzy Schlager about a man’s adventures with his pony. Kurt Svab composed the music, and Hans Werner wrote the lyrics. Bob Martin, a Vienna State Opera chorus singer, lent an operatic touch to the whimsical tune. Despite its charm, Austria’s debut earned only 3 points and finished 10th (last place) in 1957. 1958 – Liane Augustin – “Die ganze Welt braucht Liebe” In 1958, Liane Augustin represented Austria with “Die ganze Welt braucht Liebe” (“The Whole World Needs Love”). Austria selected her internally. GĂĽnther Leopold and Kurt Werner wrote this romantic ballad with a gentle, cabaret‑style melody. A German‑Austrian singer and actress, Augustin made her name in Vienna’s postwar nightclubs. With Willy Fantl conducting, her polished performance earned 8 points and finished 5th for Austria at the 1958 contest. 1959 – Ferry Graf – “Der K und K Kalypso aus Wien” Austria’s 1959 entry was the internally selected “Der K. und K. Kalypso aus Wien” (“The Imperial and Royal Calypso from Vienna”), performed by Ferry Graf. The song was a playful novelty Schlager that blended calypso rhythms with Viennese waltz melodies. It was composed by Norbert Pawlicki with lyrics by GĂĽnther Leopold. They created a lighthearted homage to Vienna, even referencing Johann Strauss tunes in the lyrics! Ferry Graf was an up-and-coming Austrian pop singer at the time. The cheerful “Kalypso” received 4 points and finished 9th out of 11 entries in the 1959 contest. 1960 – Harry Winter – “Du hasst mich so fasziniert” In 1960, Harry Winter (stage name of Horst Winter) sang Austria’s entry “Du hast mich so fasziniert” (“You Fascinated Me So Much”) in London. The song was composed by the famed Viennese operetta composer Robert Stolz with lyrics by Robert Gilbert, giving it a classic romantic waltz-ballad character. Harry Winter was a veteran German-Austrian singer and bandleader, known for his background in jazz and swing orchestras of the 1940s. His Eurovision performance earned 6 points and placed 7th out of 13 countries in 1960. 1961 – Jimmy Makulis – “Sehnsucht” The 1961 entry saw Greek-born pop singer Jimmy Makulis represent Austria with “Sehnsucht” (“Longing”). The song was a gentle, sentimental ballad composed (music and lyrics) by Leopold Andrejewitsch, echoing themes of yearning and devotion. Jimmy Makulis had been successful in the German pop music scene of the 1950s, bringing an international flair as the first Greek artist on an Eurovision stage. Despite his rich voice, “Sehnsucht” received only 1 point (from the UK jury) and tied for last place in 1961. Makulis later took part in the Cypriot final, in 1984. 1962 – Eleonore Schwarz – “Nur in der Wiener Luft” In 1962, Austria chose for a national final again. All submitted songs had to be in threequarter-time. In the end, 4 out of 5 songs had Vienna in their title. The 5th one had the Praterallee (indeed in Vienna) in its title. Austria selected an operetta‑style entry: “Nur in der Wiener Luft” (“Only in the Vienna Air”). Eleonore Schwarz performed it in Luxembourg. Bruno Uher composed and conducted this waltz‑infused operetta number that celebrates Vienna’s culture. The lyrics lovingly mention the city’s waltzes, Johann Strauss, and famous landmarks. An opera singer at the Vienna Volksoper in the 1960s, Schwarz suited this classically styled piece. However, the grand Viennese operetta did not resonate with the juries. It scored nul points and finished last. The Austrian entry was one of four entries to receive zero points at the 1962 contest.

Read More »
October 23, 2025 No Comments
© 2019 – 2025 Eurovision Universe / eurovisionuniverse.com

Maintained in cooperation with IT-M.art

Follow Us: