Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011

{{main|Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{lang|it|Radiotelevisione italiana|i=no}} (RAI) was one of the seven broadcasters to take part in the first contest in {{escyr|1956}}. The Eurovision Song Contest was initially inspired by the Italian Sanremo Music Festival, held annually since 1951 in the city of Sanremo.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=273|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1956 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=17 December 2010|author=Staff}} Since its debut it has taken part 37 times representing Italy, and has won the contest twice – in {{esccnty|Italy|y=1964|t=1964}} with the song "{{lang|it|Non ho l'età|i=no}}" performed by Gigliola Cinquetti, and in {{esccnty|Italy|y=1990|t=1990}} with "{{lang|it|Insieme: 1992|i=no}}" perormed by Toto Cutugno. It has also come 2nd once – again with Gigliola Cinquetti and the song "{{lang|it|Sì|i=no}}" in {{esccnty|Italy|y=1974|t=1974}}, and 3rd four times – including the global hit song "{{lang|it|Nel blu, dipinto di blu|i=no}}", also known as "{{lang|it|Volare|i=no}}", performed by Domenico Modugno in {{esccnty|Italy|y=1958|t=1958}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-country/country?country=1|title=History by Country: Italy|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=17 December 2010|author=Staff}} RAI has also hosted the contest twice – in {{escyr|1965}} in Naples, and in {{escyr|1991}} in Rome.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=282|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1965 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=17 December 2010|author=Staff}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=307|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1991 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=17 December 2010|author=Staff}}

Since its debut RAI has withdrawn from the contest a number of times. The first occurrence was in {{escyr|1981}}, claiming that interest in the contest in Italy had diminished.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=297|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1981 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=17 December 2010|author=Staff}} It returned in {{escyr|1983}}, and withdrew again in {{escyr|1986}}, returning {{escyr|1987||the following year}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=299|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1983 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=17 December 2010|author=Staff}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=302|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1986 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=17 December 2010|author=Staff}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=303|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1987 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=17 December 2010|author=Staff}} In {{escyr|1994}} it withdrew again, before returning again in 1997.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=309|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1994 Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=17 December 2010|author=Staff}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=312|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1997 Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=17 December 2010|author=Staff}} After the 1997 contest, RAI withdrew again, and did not return until the 2011 contest.{{Cite web |date=2011-04-05 |title=Italy: the most expected comeback! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/italy-the-most-expected-comeback |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |language=en}}

Since their withdrawal in 1997, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had worked hard to bring Italy back to Eurovision. Since the {{escyr|2009||2009 Contest}} Italy's return – along with that of {{esccnty|Monaco}} and {{esccnty|Austria}} – was made a priority of the EBU.{{cite web|last=Floras|first=Stella|title=EBU working for Eurovision full house in 2010|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12899|publisher=ESCToday|access-date=17 December 2010|date=2009-01-13}}

In September 2010, it was announced by Massimo Liofredi, chairman of Rai 2, that the winner of the fourth series of the Italian version of The X Factor may represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, rather than compete in the Sanremo Music Festival as in previous years. This raised hopes that Italy would return to Eurovision after 14 years of absence.{{cite web|last=Hondal|first=Victor|title=Italy might return to Eurovision in 2011|url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/16102|publisher=ESCToday|access-date=18 December 2010|date=2010-09-06}} On 2 December 2010, the EBU announced on the official Eurovision website that RAI had applied for the 2011 contest, set to be held on 10, 12, and 14 May 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

{{Main|Sanremo Music Festival 2011}}

On 1 February 2011, RAI confirmed that the performer that would represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 would be selected by a special committee from the competing artists at the Sanremo Music Festival 2011.{{cite web|last=M. Escudero|first=Victor|date=2011-02-01|title=Italy will choose its comeback entry through Sanremo|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/newsid=24883&_t=italy_will_choose_its_comeback_entry_through_sanremo|access-date=1 February 2011|publisher=Eurovision.tv}} The committee consisted of Gianni Morandi, Mauro Mazza (Rai 1 director), Massimo Liofredi (Rai 2 director), Marco Simeon (director of international affairs), Maurizio Zoccarato (mayor of Sanremo) and Giorgio Giuffra (Sanremo's promotional board member).{{cite web|date=2011-02-19|title=Italy: Raphael Gualazzi to Düsseldorf|url=http://escdaily.com/articles/13295|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710201309/http://escdaily.com/articles/13295|archive-date=10 July 2011|access-date=19 February 2011|publisher=EscDaily.com}} The competition took place between 15–19 February 2011 with the winner being selected on the last day of the festival. The competing artists in the "Big Artists" and "Newcomers" category were:

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Al Bano
• Anna Oxa
• Anna Tatangelo
• Davide Van De Sfroos
• Giusy Ferreri
• La Crus
• Luca Barbarossa and Raquel del Rosario
• Luca Madonia and Franco Battiato
• Max Pezzali
• Modà feat. Emma
• Nathalie
• Patty Pravo
• Roberto Vecchioni
• Tricarico

{{div col end}}

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Anansi
• BTwins
• Gabriella Ferrone
• Marco Menichini
• Micaela
• Raphael Gualazzi
• Roberto Amadè
• Serena Abrami

{{div col end}}

During the final evening of the Sanremo Music Festival 2011, Raphael Gualazzi was announced as the artist that would represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. Roberto Vecchioni was selected as the winner with the song "Chiamami ancora amore".

The website Rockit.it, in July 2011, released an interview conducted in February of the same year during the days of the Sanremo Festival, in which a record executive from Sugar Music (Raphael Gualazzi’s record label) revealed that Marco Menichini had already been considered the winner among the newcomers category [https://www.rockit.it/intervista/cantautore-diva-20-07-2011]. The singer had already received widespread approval from the audience, but the article merely states that “some things happened”, leaving a question mark on the subject. To this day, nothing is known about what actually occurred.

On 11 March 2011, RAI confirmed that Raphael Gualazzi would perform a bilingual Italian and English version of his Sanremo Music Festival 2011 Newcomers category winning song "Follia d'amore", which would be titled "Madness of Love" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.{{Cite web|last=Jiandani|first=Sanjay (Sergio)|date=11 March 2011|title=Italy: Watch the videoclip|url=http://esctoday.com/16999/italy_watch_the_videoclip/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=27 December 2020|website=Esctoday}}

Italy automatically qualified for the grand final, on 14 May 2011; as part of the "Big Five", and would vote in the second semi-final. At the finals, the Italian entry performed 12th and in the voting, was placed second to the Azerbaijani entry Running Scared by Ell and Nikki with 189 points.{{cite web |title=Grand Final of Düsseldorf 2011 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/dusseldorf-2011/grand-final |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=30 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430073450/https://eurovision.tv/event/dusseldorf-2011/grand-final |archive-date=30 April 2021 |url-status=live}} The public awarded Italy 11th place with 99 points and the jury awarded 1st place with 251 points.{{cite web |last=Bakker |first=Sietse |title=EBU reveals split televoting and jury results |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=36713 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=30 April 2021 |date=26 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528173042/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=36713 |archive-date=28 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101219223544/http://www.sanremo.rai.it/dl/portali/site/articolo/ContentItem-4d8db6a2-759e-4f49-aaaf-06c4ca60a879.html Sanremo 2011 - Official site]

{{Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2011}}

2011

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011

Eurovision

Eurovision