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Italy: Marco Mengoni picks "L’Essenziale"!

Today is the deadline where all entries must be send into the EBU and Italy is the last country to announce theirs. Thankfully, it will indeed be L’Essenziale - which he won Sanremo with a month ago.

It will all be official later but OGAE Italy confirmed that this will be his song for Malmo! A true masterpiece! I'm really pleased they opted for this one and not just an album filler. Later today, the Head of Delegation meeting will take place in Malmo where several more details on the contest are expected to be announced. It was also confirmed yesterday that the Moldovan entry will be sung in Romania and not English... Weird decision but surely a great one!

Here's Italy... ^^

http://eurovisionjack3.blogspot.it/2013/03/italy-marco-mengoni-picks-lessenziale.html

Itália: Marco Mengoni com "L'essenziale"

Após um grande mistério sobre o que Marco Mengoni interpretaria no Eurovision, a revelação foi feita hoje, durante a reunião das delegações. O vencedor do Sanremo levará a Malmö a canção que lhe deu o título do mais prestigioso festival musical de seu país: "L'essenziale". O tema virou um grande hit no país, estacionando no primeiro lugar do iTunes desde seu lançamento e conseguindo aproximadamente 7,5 milhões de visualizações no Youtube em apenas 1 mês. A canção de Marco foi composta pelo próprio cantor, em parceria com Roberto Casalino (autor de "Per sempre", de Nina Zilli) e Francesco De Benedittis.

http://www.janelaesc.com/2013/03/italia-marco-mengoni-com-lessenziale.html

MARCO MENGONI DOES ESSENTIAL ACOUSTIC VERSION

Marco mengoni visited popular Italian talk show Che tempo che fa and presented a rather fabulous acoustic arrangement of his Sanremo winner and Eurovision entry, multiplatinum Italian number one, L'essenziale.

http://ilkar.blogspot.fi/2013/03/marco-mengoni-does-essential-acoustic.html

MARCO MENGONI HITS DOUBLE #1

Italy will have a real local success representing it in Eurovision 2013 as Marco Mengoni's new album #prontoacorrere hits straight the #1 spot in the official charts, while his single L'Essenziale still remains as #1 and has sold already over 50.000 downloads. The single also made it #1 in iTunes while the video has been viewed almost 10 million times! Besides that his tour is selling out fast, and the first date (May 8 in Milan) is already sold out. On top of that he's (again) in the cover of Italian Vanity Fair... Will the success continue in Malmö 2013?

http://ilkar.blogspot.fi/2013/03/marco-mengoni-hits-double-1.html

http://www.eurovisioninconcert.nl/news/item/77-marco-and-hannah-confirmed-for-amsterdam

Marco and Hannah confirmed for Amsterdam!

The Italian representative Marco Mengoni and the Slovenian hopeful Hannah Mancini have confirmed their participation for Eurovision in Concert! Italy will make its debut in the Eurovision preview event, whilst Slovenia never missed any of the previous editions.


Until so far 22 countries have confirmed their participation, but some more are expected in the upcoming days. The current line up is as follows: Italy, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, France, Belgium, Malta, FYR Macedonia, Russia, Ukraine, Croatia, Finland, Romania, San Marino, Ukraine, Ireland, Latvia, Georgia, Austria, Greece and Switzerland.

Besides that the 1991 winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, Carola Häggkvist, will make a special guest appearance during Eurovision in Concert. Earlier in the day, Carola will welcome all delegations on behalf of this year’s Eurovision host country Sweden during the press program.

WORLD MUSIC AWARDS: 5 NOMINATIONS FOR MENGONI

Italian Eurovision entrants and Sanremo 2013 winner Marco Mengoni has picked up five nominations in the World Music Awards, the ones held in Monte Carlo with Prince Albert .
Mengoni is nominated as the best male artist, live act and entertainer of the year and L'Essenziale as the best song, #prontoacorrere as the best album. You can vote here (max 5 times a day, so it's easy; 5 votes, 5 nominations)
Other Eurovision related nominees are Euphoria as the best song, Céline Dion as the best female artist and live act, Dima Bilan and Emin both as the beest male artist, live act and entertainer of the year and Loreen as the female artist.

http://ilkar.blogspot.fi/2013/04/world-music-awards-5-nominations-for.html

Eurovision 2013: Who are the kings and queens of Twitter?

Who are the Eurovision queens and kings of Twitter this year? We did some research and made a few charts to visualize which artists have the most followers and who are the most active tweeters. Remember that the intention of this is not to ‘try to predict how they will succeed in Eurovision’.

We found 40 artists or groups on Twitter who will participate Eurovision this year. Some of them haven’t really started to use Twitter yet but do have their own profile and some have many profiles (Despina Olympiou and Hannah). Also, Serbian representatives from Moje 3 all have their own Twitter profiles.

Who has the most followers?

One can already guess that artists who have had longer careers and released international hits do have the most followers. Many artists and groups create their Twitter profiles only after they have won the local pre-selections and therefore have been on Twitter for only some weeks or months.

..............

One is clearly above all others with a massive amount of followers; some 330,000! We are speaking about Marco Mengoni who represents Italy and is very popular in his country after winning The X Factor a few years ago.



Who is the most active tweeter?

When considering who are the most active tweeters, the ranking looks totally different. We’ll start from the least active users and three artists haven’t tweeted at all. The following list shows the average number of tweets per day.



They are still rather lazy tweeters in comparison with the following artists who tweet many times a day. The most active are Mirna Radulovic from Moje 3 and the Finnish representative Krista Siegfrids. Also Alyona Lanskaya is right behind.

http://escwebs.net/2013/04/01/eurovision-2013-who-are-the-kings-and-queens-of-twitter/

Italy: Marco Mengoni's PRONTOACORRERE climbs to Numero Uno!

The latest album of the 2013 Italian representative Marco Mengoni is enjoying massive success in Italy and this week has reached the number one position on the Italian musical charts.

Marco Mengoni's # PRONTOACORRERE is currently enjoying great success and is the first in the ranking of best selling records in Italy. The album, released on March 19, debuted at first place in FIMI-Gfk, ousting Italian and international artists.

Ever since his triumph at the 2013 Sanremo Song Festival, Marco is reigning the Italian musical scene. The 2013 Sanrmemo winning entry and 2013 Italian Eurovision entry L'Essenziale is ranking at number 1 on Itunes and with more than 50,000 individual downloads, whilst the song has gone viral both on the radio and the internet. The offiicial videoclip of L'Esseziale has received, to date, more than ten million views.

The album, produced by Michele Canova, offers fifteen new songs Mengoni and composed and written by Mark Owen (composer of the title track with Marco # Prontoacorrere), Gianna Nannini (composed # Bellissimo with Pacific, the song with # L'Essseziale that competed in Sanremo 2013), Cesare Cremonini signing # La valle dei re and Ivano Fossati who, after his retirement, he wrote for Marco # Spari nel deserto.

Marco Mengoni's forthcoming concerts are alraeady sold out, his promotional tour will kick off in Milan on 8 May. Marco will be travelling throughout Italy in the coming weeks Turin (May 20), Genoa (May 21), Florence (May 23), Italy (24 May ), Naples (May 26), Ancona (May 27), Rome (May 29), Bologna (May 30), Trieste (June 1).

Last February RAI, the national Italian broadcaster announced that Marco Mengoni had been selected via an internal selection to represent Italy at the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest in May. Marco Mengoni won the 2013 edititon of the well known Italian Sanremo Song Festival. Marco will be defend his country in Malmoe with his Sanremo winning entryL'Essenziale.

L'Essenziale has been composed and written by Marco Mengoni, Roberto Casalino e Francesco De Benedittis.

Marco Mengoni has been enjoying much exposure and attention in the Italian media and television channels since his Sanremo victory last month. The Italian artist released his latest album on 19 March and is busy touring Italy promoting it and giving concerts as part of his tour. Marco has made headlines all over Italy and major Italian magazines have feautured him on their front covers, thus giving him extensive exposure and coverage.

Marco's new album contains 15 brand new tracks including Marco's Sanremo winning entry L'Esssenziale ( Italian Eurovision entry).All the tracks have been produced by Michele Canova and have been recorded in Los Angeles and Milan. # PRONTOACORRERE is also available in a deluxe version (CD + DVD), which includes an exclusive backstage video with images and behind the scene feautures showcasing Marco's Sanremo 2013 experience.

You can also pre-order the deluxe version (CD + DVD) with an exclusive autographed photo (Shipping by March 29), while on iTunes the album is available in the Special Edition of # PRONTOACORRERE , which includes 15 previously unreleased tracks the standard version and two new tracks: " My Heart Magnetic "the English version of Non Passerai, and Put The Light On , the English version of Prontoacorrere.

http://www.esctoday.com/49363/italy-marco-mengonis-prontoacorrere-climbs-to-numero-uno/#.UVq1eDs6so4.twitter

MARCO MENGONI MULTIPLATINUM

Marco Mengoni's new album #prontoacorrere debuted in the Italian charts at #1 and has already certified nultiplatinum. His Anteprima L'essenziale Tour has sold out already the dates in Milan and Rome, L'essenziale, his Eurovision 2013 entry sits firmly at #1 in the single's chart for the 6th week, and re-enters #1 in iTunes and is about to break previous records of staying on top of that chart of any song and the song remains on top in radio station charts as well. The video has been viewed over 10 million times... How essential is Eurovision success after all this?

http://ilkar.blogspot.fi/2013/04/marco-mengoni-multiplatinum.html

Marco's breaking records in Italy

Mengoni breaks records in Italy - The Sanremo winner and Italian representative at Eurovision, Marco Mengoni, breaks records with his new album and single The album has reached multiplatinum status and the song L'Essenziale has almost continuisly occupied the first position in the Italian charts and the iTunes download charts since he won the Sanremo festival.

http://12points.tv/e-daily/item/1741-e-daily-|-marcos-breaking-records-in-italy?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

BMG Songwriters Represented On Marco Mengoni’s Number One Album

Milano, 3 April 2013 – Italian artist Marco Mengoni debuted on Number One in the Italian charts with his new album #Prontoacorrere including three songs co-written by BMG songwriters Steve Robson, Toby Gad, Matthias Max, Amir Aly and David Fremberg.

LA-based songwriter Toby Gad co-wrote the song ‘Non Passerai’. Grammy-nominated Steve Robson has credits in ‘Evitiamoci (La Soluzione)’ and the writers David Fremberg, Amir Aly and Matthias Max (RoastingHouse Music) in ‘La Vita Non Ascolta’.

Mengoni and his team liked the songwriter’s original versions so much that one of them (‘Non Passerai’/'My Magnetic Heart’) was included in the album’s special edition for iTunes.

The artist will start his Italian tour in May – in the same month he will be participating in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Italy.

http://www.bmg.com/category/news/?n=it-bmg-songwriters-represented-on-marco-mengonis-number-one-album&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

THIS IS ESC 2013: ICELAND, CROATIA, ITALY

Italy - Marco Mengoni - L'Essenziale
Italy is sending the biggest thing in the country at the moment. Mengoni is topping the single, album, download, iTunes... all possible charts and half the nation's teenager girls are suffering from Mengonimania, shame they can't vote for him! But he has also a lot of fans abroad and like in those two previous cases, no matter what happens, Italy can be proud. It's the number one song in the country this spring, if Europe won't get it, it's Europe's fault, they will think. This said, he shouldn't worry. I think the juries will like this, and so will the televoters as this is exactly what we have been waiting from Italy; a real Italian Sanremo ballad with hint of drama thrown in, sung entirely in Italian by someone who looks and acts like we expect Italian stars to look and act. As there won't be a runaway winner this year (most likely), Italy might be closer to the victory than we think scoring high points from most every country and climbing the scoreboards steadily and end up.... How high? On top of it?

http://ilkar.blogspot.fi/2013/04/this-is-esc-2013-iceland-croatia-italy.html

"Pronto a correre" ("Put the light on") to be Mengoni's next single?

According to Facebook voices, italian singer Marco Mengoni's next single will be "Pronto a correre", the italian version to "Put the light on" written by Mark Owen. We remember clearly how big this news was both for Mengoni's fans and Owen's fans (expecially in Italy): Marco words warmed Mark's fans last month when the news came out, as Marco is a so loved and appreciated singer in Italy.
The Italian singer told everyone of how happy he was of this collaboration when he was asked about, even if he had to change the sense of the track Mark wrote for him.

For this last album (#PRONTOACORRERE) Marco Mengoni claims the collaboration with Steve Robson as well, who worked also with Take That and James Morrison.

http://markowendiary.blogfree.net/?t=4494417#entry17486322

http://ilkar.blogspot.fi/2013/04/marco-mengoni-reveals-new-single.html

MARCO MENGONI REVEALS NEW SINGLE
Marco Mengoni was in video chat this afternoon with RaiUno's TG1 and among other things revealed his next single will be the title track, Pronto a correre, from his new album. He said it was logical choice to have an up tempo song to follow a ballad. And guess what? it's written by Take That's Mark Owen and there's also the English demo version, Put the light on.
he also confessed being a big fan of The Beatles and surprisingly thinks he sshares a lot with Edith Piaf in character!
People in the chat asked mainly about the coming tour, and complimented him for the multiplatinum single and the album that was certified gold just today. The questions about Eurovision like when the 3 minute version will be released where passed quickly. After various TV-programmes he has been lately, as well as signing records all across Italy he will now concentrate on rehearsing the tour....
Hopefully he remembers he should be in Amsterdam this weekend and in Malmö 2013 in a month!

Eurovision : les tops et les flops dans les charts

Le 58e Concours Eurovision de la chanson aura lieu le samedi 18 mai. Juste avant, les 14 et 16 mai, deux demi-finales départageront les 33 pays participants pour n’en garder plus que 20, rejoints pour la finale par le Big 5 (Allemagne, Espagne, France, Italie, Royaume-Uni) et le gagnant de l’année dernière, la Suède, qui accueille cette année le concours à Malmö.

Nous vous avons présenté ces dernières semaines les candidats à cette compétition 2013 (à retrouver en fin d’article) et à cinq semaines du concours nous avons fait un point sur la popularité des différents artistes dans leurs pays et en Europe grâce à leurs classements dans les charts.

En termes de classements et de rayonnement européen, deux pays semblent actuellement se détacher des autres.

Tout d’abord l’Italie qui avec Marco Mengoni risque de marquer un grand coup. Le chanteur, gagnant de X Factor en 2009, vend des disques à la pelle dans son pays : deux albums n°1, plusieurs disques de platine et deux MTV Europe Music Awards. Grand gagnant du Festival de San Remo en février dernier, il est d’office sélectionné comme représentant pour l’Eurovision 2013 avec sa chanson "L’essenziale", déjà un énorme tube. N°1 depuis sept semaines en Italie, le single a atteint la 36e place en Suisse et a intégré l’airplay en Belgique. Son nouvel album #Prontoacorrere sorti fin mars est entré directement n°1 en Italie. Un sérieux candidat au podium du concours.

Continua: http://www.ptitblog.net/television/eurovision-les-tops-et-les-flops-dans-les-charts_art9176.html

ESC 2013 – Intervista a Marco Mengoni

On the day of the official recognition of the Italian song to the ESC, we have the honor of hosting on our site Marco Mengoni, who found the time to answer some of our questions. Of course we thank him and set him thank Francesca Casarino.

Let’s start from the experience of Sanremo. Trivial question, but how did you feel winning Sanremo?

Well, a great joy. It was a bit confirmation that the new project I worked on for so long, with so much energy and a whole new team, it was really appreciated.

You presented two songs, slightly different from your previous repertoire, especially “L’essenziale” How did you choose them?

I chose two songs very strong and very different from each other. Perhaps to give a broad view of a project that has many shades of color. Just the fact that Gianna Nannini and Pacifico have written a song for me really makes me happy, and “L’essenziale” is a ballad I wrote with Casalino, the song in which I find my deepest roots. It had better luck the second. But it was important for me, start with these two songs to publicize a very complex project, much more complex that represents my new “me” and the many collaborations that enrich this new job.

Do we find this change in the new album #PRONTOACORRERE? Is still there the mad king?

I do not know if I’ve ever been a king. It was also a game… What I can say is that #prontoacorrere represents completely my new artistic world. I love it and I am very satisfied.

Let’s talk again about Sanremo remembering that beautiful tribute to Luigi Tenco. Some time ago you also played a song by Giorgio Gaber. What inspires you to discover these artists?

I do not think that music has aged. A beautiful song is always exciting. If a song moves me, leaves a deep mark in me, then I like to try to do so. With the greatest respect I am capable of and trying to “Use only the voice” because that emotion arrivals. The compliments that publicly gave me the Tenco’s family and Gaber Foundation gave me pleasure, of course.

Let’s talk about Eurovision Song Contest now. How did you come the proposal and what it means for you to participate in the ESC?

This is my first important step towards foreign countries. I am very curious and I like to try to understand how it is perceived our music over our borders. When in Sanremo, the committee decided to give me this opportunity, I really felt honored.

Were you in the know of the recent return to competition in Italy? Did you follow Raphael Gualazzi and Nina Zilli in the two previous years?

I know the show, I saw the performance of Raphael and Nina and other international artists. It is a great opportunity to get known outside its territorial limits.

Did you get a sens of the show you will participate? What do you expect from this experience?

I’m looking at everything, I’m studying. It’s really an incredible show, international, unique. I look forward as always to learn so many things and maybe with a little luck to bring a little of our music over the border.

Did you heard some “rival”, apart from Spain?

Not yet, but just finished the record, I apply myself seriously.

Why did you choose the song L’essenziale and the language to proposed to the ESC?

I decided to bring L’essenzaiale because it’s the song that today represents me more probably. Back to origins, remaining firmly rooted to the ground, but never stop dreaming. I decided to sing it in Italian because I think it is the best interpretation of the meaning of words.

Who will be on stage with you? Can you tell us something about the performance that we will see in Malmö?

Obviously it will be a surprise, but let’s say … just the essential.

Thanks to your availability and good luck! Can you send a greeting to all eurofans?

Eurofans a virtual hug, I’ll see soooooon, grazieee!

http://eurofestivalit.altervista.org/interviste-e-articoli/esc-2013-intervista-a-marco-mengoni/

http://allesfreddyoderwas.blog.de/2013/04/13/10-songs-malmoe-2-song-l-essenziale-marco-mengoni-italien-15750392/

10 Songs für Malmö: 2. Song: "L'Essenziale" - Marco Mengoni für Italien

vonallesfreddyoderwasPro@13. Apr. 2013. – 15:00:00

1. Song: Marco Mengoni mit "L'Essenziale" für Italien

Song: L'Essenziale
Interpret: Marco Mengoni
Text und Musik: Francesco De Benedittis, Roberto Casalino, Marco Mengoni
Startplatz: Italien startet im Finale des Eurovision Song Contest 2013 am 18. Mai.

Land: Italien
Einwohner: 60.626.442
ESC-Teilnahmen: 39
Top 10 Platzierungen: 27
Siege: 2

Seit 2011 ist Italien wieder beim Eurovision Song Contest dabei und das ziemlich erfolgreich. Sowohl 2011 als auch 2012 konnte sich das Land jeweils einen Platz in den Top 10 ergattern. Diese Erfolgsserie soll nun Marco Mengoni fortsetzen. Das erste Mal seit 1998 schickt Italien den Siegersong vom Sanremo Festival zur Eurovision.

Kein Wunder, dass Marco Mengoni in Italien sehr bekannt ist. Er gewann in diesem Jahr das Sanremo Festival, eine Art italienischer Song Contest. Sein Song "L'essenziale" ist mittlerweile ein echter Verkaufsschlager in Italien geworden. Das gilt auch für sein Album "#prontoacorrere", welches Mitte März erschienen ist. Der Hashtag im Albumname ist gewollt. Damit wollte sich Marco bei seinen vielen Followern bei Twitter bedanken. Dieses Album kann übrigens ich nur wärmsten empfehlen! Es hat in Italien bereits Platinstatus erreicht. Nach dem Eurovision Song Contest geht er mit dem neuen Album in Italien auf Tour.

Marco Mengoni wurde aber nicht erst durch das Sanremo bekannt. Als er 2009 die italienische Ausgabe von X-Factor gewann, öffnete sich die musikalische Tür für ihn. Sein Siegertitel "Dove si vola" stürmte die Charts. Im Februar 2010 entschloss er sich am Sanremo Festival teilzunehmen. Mit dem Song "Credimi ancora" belegte er den 3. Platz. Nach der Teilnahme folgten zwei Platz-1-Alben und viele Auftritte. Im Mai wurde er schließlich von MTV als "Best European Act" und "Best Italian Act" ausgezeichnet. Dazu wurde er noch "Men of the Year".

Marco Mengoni wurde am 25.12.1988 im kleinen Örtchen Ronciglione bei Rom geboren.

Mit Marco Mengoni kommt ein erfahrender Künstler zum Eurovision Song Contest 2013 nach Malmö. Mit seiner exzentrischen Art und seinen Bewusstsein für modische Feinheiten wird er sicherlich auffallen. Mit seinem Song "L'essenziale" wird er nun auch den Rest Europas überzeugen. Einige Fans und Experten sagen bereits den Sieg von Mengoni in Malmö voraus. Auch wenn er nicht den Eurovision Song Contest gewinnen sollte, wird er durch seinen Auftritt in Mai wieder einmal Fans hinzugewinnen.

Mehr auf allesfreddyoderwas: http://allesfreddyoderwas.blog.de/2013/04/13/10-songs-malmoe-2-song-l-essenziale-marco-mengoni-italien-15750392/#ixzz2QLyTKFxf

MENGONI AND POJAVIS IN A AIRPLANE EMERGENCY

The Eurovision in concert 2013 in Amsteram didn't have an happiest ending for Italian Marco Mengoni and Lithuanian Andrius Pojavis who were abroad a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Milan. Soon after the plane had reached the flying height the smell of smoke was on the plane and the right engine on fire. The plane had to turn back and make an emergency landing in Schiphol airport. Pojavis reports to Lithuanian press there was some panic aboard but apparently all ended well and both singers are safe and ok.

UPD. It seems now that both have taken another flight back to Milan. This must have been a rather shaky experience for Mengoni who isn't so fond of flying!

UPD2: Mengoni and Pojavis are already in Milan after taking another plane. Otherwise the situation is getting more confusing; some reports claim the plane took fire BEFORE take off, not when on air?! Anyways, Mengoni himself has posted on FB everything's fine and they are safe and sane :-)

Stay tuned for updates.....

http://ilkar.blogspot.fi/2013/04/mengoni-and-pojavis-in-airplane.html

Eurovision Stars in Emergency Plane Landing!

Eurovision 2013 – It appears that the journey home from Amsterdam did not quite go to plan today for Andrius Pojavis (Lithuania) and Marco Mengoni (Italy), as their plane had to make an emergency landing! Andrius was heading back to Italy on the same plane as Marco, but the KLM flight had to return to Schipol airport and make an emergency landing when smoke appeared in the cabin! According to reports in http://www.lrytas.lt the plane took off, and had risen to flying height when smoke was recognised. Apparently a fire had started in the right engine. It returned to Amsterdam’s Schipol airport where it made an emergency landing, surrounded by emergency services, nearly finishing off the runway and on the grass. One person had to be taken to hospital due to a panic attack. Andrius said,

“Of course it was scary. People were worried, stewards had to calm them down.”

Andrius added that Marco had been scared too… and had wanted to smoke! We’re glad both of them are ok and have now made it home to Italy on a different plane.

Andrius and Marco land safely back at Milan today.

http://eurovisiontimes.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/eurovision-stars-in-emergency-plane-landing/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

EUROVISION IN CONCERT 2013: OUR FINAL REPORT & RATING

ITALY
audience reaction: warm reception
oikotimes reactions: ok, Marco is kinda hottie but besides that and his good voice there is nothing else to notice about. It might be the fact the song is not a tune for such a gig therefore everyone just applauded the artist and never paid attention to the song.

Qua trovate i giudizi su tutte le altre nazioni in gara: http://oikotimes.com/2013/04/15/eurovision-in-concert-2013-our-final-report-rating/

Road to Malmö: Marco Megoni – “L’essenziale” (Italy)

A rare thing now, a Big Five country with a decent run of success. Italy of course only have a short run of success, only returning to Eurovision two years ago after a 14-year absence. They came back with a bang though, with their 2011 entry “Madness of love” reaching a surprising 2nd place, and last year’s entry also making the top 10. However the TV ratings for the contest are still poor, and many seem to expect Italy to disappear again as soon as things turn sour.

If that’s the idea then they haven’t shown it, this year sending the winner of their massively popular San Remo music festival. I guess the hope is that interest in the winner of San Remo would transfer to Eurovision, which is sound enough logic.

Italy are a founding member of Eurovision, and despite their hiatus for the 00s and most of the 90s, they’ve had 39 entries in the contest, including two wins. With things as they are, it seems that Italy might get a third win sooner rather than later.

Marco Mengoni on the third season of Italian X-Factor, and went on to be a successful artist at home and in the surrounding region, even picking up some MTV Europe awards. It seems like he’s one of the big guns in this year’s contest, though I’m not entirely convinced by the song.

“L’essenziale” is a heartfelt plea of a ballad, and while the music doesn’t build up too much over the duration, he’s got a big job ahead of him to perform those big vocals. I think the performance will be what sells this one, it comes over as a very sober, dignified song, not far from a big Gary Barlow ballad (but in a good way).

As Italy is one of the big contributors to the EBU, they are spared the indignity of having to qualify for the final, and as far as the battle of the “Big Five” goes, it’ll be Italy or Germany coming out on top I think. While I’m still sceptical of Germany’s chances of winning, Italy I can very easily call a dark horse of this contest… definitely one to keep an eye on.

http://logictherapy.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/road-to-malmo-marco-megoni-lessenziale-italy/

Eurovision In Concert 2013 Review

(metto solo la parte che riguarda Marco)

Automatic Qualifiers

The performers from France and Italy injected a touch of class to proceedings. On this evidence both should be getting plenty of jury love in Malmo. Amandine Bourgeois’ live rendition of ‘L’Enfer et Moi’ really lifts the song and the brooding intensity she brings to it will be her USP in May.

But taking a lead from the organisers, I’ve left the best till last. I’d rather dismissed ‘L’essenziale’ as a standard Italian ballad, but it’s something more in the hands of Marco Mengoni who was outstanding last night. His controlled yet quirky performance had me reconsidering its potential in Malmo.

http://sofabet.com/2013/04/14/eurovision-in-concert-2013-review/

Melkweg ESC Concert 2013

(metto solo la parte che riguarda Marco)

If Nodi’s appeal resides with middle-aged women, then Italy’s Marco is definitely this year’s ultimate heartthrob (rubacuori ). His brooding Latin looks (la sua aria da tenebroso latino), the sideburns (le basette), the tailored Italian suit (il vestito italiano fatto su misura), the sullen charm (il fascino misterioso) with which he emotes this song… it is easy to see women of a certain bent drooling over this despite L’Essenziale being somewhat ponderous as a song.

http://www.entertainmentodds.com/eurovision-song-contest/melkweg-esc-concert-2013/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0070hvg/profiles/italy

Italy
Representing Italy is Marco Mengoni with L'Essenziale.

A native of Viterbo in Lazio, Marco Mengoni was born on Christmas Day in 1988. He became interested in music from an early age; “One day my parents heard me singing and decided to send me to lessons. Soon I found out that music was not as easy as I thought, I had a lot to learn… breathing techniques, facial exercises, musical scales, vocalisations of every kind to improve my voice.”
As a little kid, I discovered karaoke and I would sing when nobody was looking, as I was pretty shy
Marco Mengoni
Winner of the Italian X Factor in 2009 Marco’s first EP Dove Si Vola becomes a hit and months later he participates in the Sanremo Song Festival with the song Credimi Ancora and finishes third. In November 2010 he becomes the first Italian winner of the Best European Act at the MTV European Music Awards.
Earlier this year Marco returned to the Sanremo Festival, triumphantly taking 1st place with the song L'Essenziale, so he'll be hoping 2013 is also his year in Malmö.

Radio International

The first un-official rehearsal for the upcoming edition of the Eurovision Song Contest took place in the past couple of days as artists from all over the continent got together during the annual Eurovision In Concert held in The Netherlands. Final promotional tours are being held now as the date draws closer and as countries compete for what seems to be an extremely open edition of the international spectacle. We would like to invite you to the weekly Ultimate Eurovision Experience. Apart from the means of FM Radio in the Netherlands on FM 106.8 and the audio stream from the studio via www.radiointernational.tv and on Digital Cable 781 & Cable 8.1Mhz in the Netherlands, the show will also be web-televised via the Radio International TV Channel from the studio and linking up the many international Eurovision fans and friends and play your requests and read your messages out on air. The simulcast will be from 2000 – 2300 hours CET when fans can join in and chat amongst each other via the Chat Room and request their favourite Eurovision entry.

Marco Mengoni was one of the drawcards during the Eurovision In Concert and when he was relaxed, he definitely showed wearing tracksuits and baggy pants but nevertheless, always the gentleman, he dresses up for the occasions. We spoke to him about his victory during the Sanremo competition with L'Essenziale as well as his personal expectations of the international spectacle. Italy is one of the favourites in this years' competition and therefore, Marco whose album, #PRONTOACORRERE is currently number #1 in Italy will definitely be one of the artists to look out for during the forthnight.

http://escflashmalta.com/index.php/music-news/international-music-news/item/2841-radio-international-gianluca-shines-in-netherlands