Road to Liverpool: Italy

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Italy.

Marco Mengoni

Marco Mengoni won the Festival di Sanremo 2023. He became the first choice to go to Eurovision, and accepted it. However, it took him some time to decide that this would be with “Due vite”, his Sanremo song. He wrote the song together with Davide Petrella and Davide Simonetta.

Marco Mengoni won the X-Factor in 2009. His prize: participation in the Festival Di Sanremo 2010. He also scored his first hit “Dove si vola” with the X-Factor final song. In total, Marco released 7 studio albums and 4 live albums. In 2013 he won the Festival di Sanremo with the song “L’essenziale”. With this song, Marco went to the Eurovision Song Contest, were he got the 7th place. Mengoni reached the number 1 spot in the Italian charts several times: with “Dove si vola” and “L’essenziale”, but also “Guerriero” and “Ti ho voluto bene veramente“.

Eurovision vs Sanremo

Marco Mengoni was first choice for the Eurovision Song Contest because he won the Festival di Sanremo. He chose to do the job and represent his country. In Eurovision history, the contest and the Festival di Sanremo are closely connected. The idea for the Eurovision Song Contest came from Italian producers. They were enthousiast about Sanremo and wanted to implement it in Europe. The first years, until 1966, the winning song and singer automatically went to Eurovision. After that, sometimes the winner was the contestant, sometimes the winning song. And a few times, another participating song went to Eurovision. Only in the seventies and early eighthies, the festivals were not connected.

Most of the times, the winner also had the right to refuse a trip to Eurovision. That happened in 1990. Winning band I Pooh decided to reject the Eurovision offer. Runner up Toto Cutugno accepted it an won the contest.

Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest

That brings us to Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest. Toto Cutugno was one of the three winners. In 1964, young Gigliola Cinquetti reached the first place with a landslide. Quite recently, in 2021, the band Måneskin did it. Other Italian Eurovision entries became classics. Who doesn’t remember “Piove“, “I treni di tozeur” or “Gente di mare“. The 1958 Eurovision entry “Nel blu dipinto di blu“, later named “Volare”, was probably the most selling Eurovision Song ever.

Bookmakers

The bookmakers currently predict an 11th place for Marco Mengoni. That is probably not what the Italians expect from “Due vite”. Italy does score very well in Eurovision most of the time, so let’s hope for a high score for Marco.

The song

And of course, you can listen to the song here. Enjoy “Due vite”!

Share

Related news

Eurovision 2026

Vienna to Host Eurovision Song Contest 2026

pectetetecompeVienna is selected officially  as the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Austrian broadcaster ORF and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced today  that the 70th edition of the contest will take place in Austria’s capital. The live shows scheduled for at Vienna’s renowned Wiener Stadthalle. The contest is  held on 12, 14 and 16 May. This marks a return of Eurovision to Vienna after 11 years, as the city last hosted the event in 2015.  Austria earned the honor of hosting Eurovision 2026 thanks to the victory of singer JJ at the 2025 contest in Basel, Switzerland. JJ’s win brought the contest back to Austria, ensuring the country will host the Eurovision Song Contest for a third time. Udo Jürgens and Conchita Wurst won the contest before. The selection of Vienna comes after a competitive bidding process between Vienna and Innsbruck. ORF evaluated both bids, and the Austrian capital’s experience and facilities ultimately gave it the edge.  A Eurovision Homecoming for Vienna Vienna is no stranger to the Eurovision Song Contest. The city’s rich musical heritage, from classical composers to a vibrant modern music scene, makes it a fitting host for Europe’s biggest music event. Vienna previously hosted Eurovision in 1967 and again in 2015. The city earned praise for its organization and hospitality. The 2015 contest at Wiener Stadthalle was a resounding success. The contest drew tens of thousands of visitors and resulting in around 1.3 million overnight stays in the city during the event. The European Broadcasting Union gave highly positive feedback on Vienna’s hosting in 2015. As Austria’s capital and largest city, Vienna offers well-developed infrastructure ready for the influx of fans, artists, and media. The city boasts roughly 80,000 hotel beds to accommodate visitors. There is an extensive public transportation network. Vienna’s international airport also provides direct flights from over 65 countries, ensuring convenient access for all the participating delegations and fans traveling from abroad. Wiener Stadthalle: The Contest Stage Wiener Stadthalle will serve as the venue for all Eurovision 2026 shows. This iconic multi-purpose arena is Austria’s largest indoor venue. There is a seating capacity of around 16,000 spectators. Stadthalle has hosted countless major events and concerts, including the Eurovision Song Contest 2015, which makes it well suited for the contest’s complex staging requirements. By choosing an established venue, ORF can leverage Stadthalle’s existing infrastructure and experience. The arena requires no significant new construction to meet Eurovision’s needs. This allows preparations to get underway immediately. ORF’s production team will benefit from the prior experience of hosting Eurovision at this venue in 2015. They will use those lessons to make the 2026 edition even more spectacular. Looking Ahead to May 2026 With the host city now confirmed, excitement is building for a memorable Eurovision Song Contest in May 2026. The event will feature two semi-finals and a grand final over one week. Dozens of countries from across Europe, as well as guest nations,  will compete for the coveted Eurovision trophy. Viewers can anticipate elaborate stage performances, eclectic musical styles, and the celebratory spirit that Eurovision is known for. Host broadcaster ORF will now turn its focus to the detailed planning and creative aspects of Eurovision 2026. In the coming months, ORF and the EBU exto reveal the official theme and artwork for the contest. Apart from that, the show presenters and other production details will be known. The city of Vienna will also begin its preparations. That includes planning the official Eurovision Village fan zone and other public events to entertain visitors throughout the week. Tickets for the live shows are projected to go on sale in late 2025, once the arena seating plan is finalized. With under nine months to go, Vienna is already gearing up to welcome Europe for an unforgettable Eurovision experience in May 2026. Share

Share
Read More »
Eurovision 2026
Martijn

Vienna to Host Eurovision Song Contest 2026

pectetetecompeVienna is selected officially  as the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Austrian broadcaster ORF and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced today  that the 70th edition of the contest will take place in Austria’s capital. The live shows scheduled for at Vienna’s renowned Wiener Stadthalle. The contest is  held on 12, 14 and 16 May. This marks a return of Eurovision to Vienna after 11 years, as the city last hosted the event in 2015.  Austria earned the honor of hosting Eurovision 2026 thanks to the victory of singer JJ at the 2025 contest in Basel, Switzerland. JJ’s win brought the contest back to Austria, ensuring the country will host the Eurovision Song Contest for a third time. Udo Jürgens and Conchita Wurst won the contest before. The selection of Vienna comes after a competitive bidding process between Vienna and Innsbruck. ORF evaluated both bids, and the Austrian capital’s experience and facilities ultimately gave it the edge.  A Eurovision Homecoming for Vienna Vienna is no stranger to the Eurovision Song Contest. The city’s rich musical heritage, from classical composers to a vibrant modern music scene, makes it a fitting host for Europe’s biggest music event. Vienna previously hosted Eurovision in 1967 and again in 2015. The city earned praise for its organization and hospitality. The 2015 contest at Wiener Stadthalle was a resounding success. The contest drew tens of thousands of visitors and resulting in around 1.3 million overnight stays in the city during the event. The European Broadcasting Union gave highly positive feedback on Vienna’s hosting in 2015. As Austria’s capital and largest city, Vienna offers well-developed infrastructure ready for the influx of fans, artists, and media. The city boasts roughly 80,000 hotel beds to accommodate visitors. There is an extensive public transportation network. Vienna’s international airport also provides direct flights from over 65 countries, ensuring convenient access for all the participating delegations and fans traveling from abroad. Wiener Stadthalle: The Contest Stage Wiener Stadthalle will serve as the venue for all Eurovision 2026 shows. This iconic multi-purpose arena is Austria’s largest indoor venue. There is a seating capacity of around 16,000 spectators. Stadthalle has hosted countless major events and concerts, including the Eurovision Song Contest 2015, which makes it well suited for the contest’s complex staging requirements. By choosing an established venue, ORF can leverage Stadthalle’s existing infrastructure and experience. The arena requires no significant new construction to meet Eurovision’s needs. This allows preparations to get underway immediately. ORF’s production team will benefit from the prior experience of hosting Eurovision at this venue in 2015. They will use those lessons to make the 2026 edition even more spectacular. Looking Ahead to May 2026 With the host city now confirmed, excitement is building for a memorable Eurovision Song Contest in May 2026. The event will feature two semi-finals and a grand final over one week. Dozens of countries from across Europe, as well as guest nations,  will compete for the coveted Eurovision trophy. Viewers can anticipate elaborate stage performances, eclectic musical styles, and the celebratory spirit that Eurovision is known for. Host broadcaster ORF will now turn its focus to the detailed planning and creative aspects of Eurovision 2026. In the coming months, ORF and the EBU exto reveal the official theme and artwork for the contest. Apart from that, the show presenters and other production details will be known. The city of Vienna will also begin its preparations. That includes planning the official Eurovision Village fan zone and other public events to entertain visitors throughout the week. Tickets for the live shows are projected to go on sale in late 2025, once the arena seating plan is finalized. With under nine months to go, Vienna is already gearing up to welcome Europe for an unforgettable Eurovision experience in May 2026. Share

Share
Read More »