For those of you who didn’t get a chance to see San Remo, I thought I’d add some more of the songs that were sung there. This time I’m concentrating on the women.
There’s still controversy surrounding Iva Zanicchi’s song entitled “Ti voglio senza amore” (I want you without love). I’m sure you can imagine what the lyrics were about. But, the controversy actually isn’t about the lyrics of the song. Instead it’s about what happened at the festival. I wasn’t watching at the time, but apparently Roberto Benigni was on and discussed her song (or rather joked about it) right before she sang it. She also claims that the host, Paolo Bonolis also joked about it and that that is the reason why she didn’t win. I’ll let you be the judge, but, lyrics aside, I just didn’t like the song.
I typically don’t pay much attention to what’s happening with singers and actors, but the last I heard she was talking about taking it to court to declare the results of the festival invalid. I don’t know if it’s gone any further or if it was just an idle threat. Not having seen the show when the whole thing occurred, I really can’t say whether she’s justified or not in saying that she was treated unfairly, but I don’t think the song would have won anyway.
Patty Pravo’s song, on the other hand, just disturbs me -- not necessarily the words, but the way she sings it and her movements and expressions. It’s called “E io verrò un giorno là” (And one day I will see there). To be honest, I disliked it so much that I didn’t even listen to the words.
Then there’s one of my favorite female singers, Dolcenera with “Il mio amore unico” (My only love). No heavy theme here, just a catchy tune that I liked.
And the winner among the new artists, Arisa with “Sincerità” (Sincerity) another song that I really enjoyed.
And finally, this one by Ania was the winner of the internet contest. It’s called “Buongiorno gente” (Hello people) and she says that it’s meant to be the world talking to its inhabitants.
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Mary, that’s not what I heard Zanicchi say. She is one of the few remaining “queens” of popular music in Italy and yet was eliminated the first night, even before songs that had nothing going for them or that were very counter to Italian tastes. Her daughter tried to reach her to tell her not to sing but couldn’t. I did hear Begnini and he really pulled her chain about being an older woman who wanted “just a **** and please don’t finish too fast.” I don’t sing, but were he to say that just before I walked out to croak my song I’d take a contract out on him. Over and over there was criticism about her being over 60 and singing about sex, from many mouths, including Bonolis who corrected the critics when he should have shut up.
Begnini is a well.known leftist, Zanicchi a well-known rightist. In a hundred different ways what he did was incorrect and even though I share his politics, I think he was WRONG. I think he would be wrong to joke about any song to be sung in the contest. I think he is CRAZY if he thinks women over 60 don’t think about sex.
I doubt Zanicchi thought she would win. Women over 60 don’t win anything in Italy. Gigi Alessio at 42 is called old. I do think she thought she would get a fair hearing of her song, and she didn’t. It was made to seem tawdry and inaprropriate before anyone heard it.
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Mary Reply:
February 27th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Like I said, I didn’t hear anything that was said or see the show that night. I do know that I don’t like the song, but it has nothing to do with the words, I just don’t like the melody. But, that’s my taste.
Considering all that you said happened, she has a point and it was not right what was said. Benigni was definitely in the wrong here.
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I am cursing him that his wife won’t think about sex after 60.
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Mary Reply:
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
That would teach him, wouldn’t it?
I guess it’s ok for men over 60 to think about sex, but not for women. But then, there are so many sexual stereotypes here that need to be overcome.
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The song was rubbish whichever way you look at it. I wouldn’t have liked it whether it had been sung by a 60 year old man, a 30 year old woman or a kangaroo. Even Pavarotti couldn’t have turned this music into a gem.
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Mary Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 9:53 am
That’s the way it seemed to me too. Words aside, it was the music I didn’t like.
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Thanks very much for posting these videos! San Remo is a great way for me to keep up (a little) with Italian music.
I’ve enjoyed reading your posts! So glad you posted the link on the ExPats in Italy site.
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Mary Reply:
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Thanks Carrie! I’m glad you enjoyed the music.
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