L'essenziale

"L'essenziale" was written by Mengoni, Roberto Casalino, and Francesco De Benedittis,{{Cite web |date=18 February 2013 |title=Marco Mengoni vince il Festival di Sanremo |url=http://www.siae.it/edicola.asp?view=4&open_menu=yes&id_news=12195 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222234742/http://www.siae.it/edicola.asp?view=4&open_menu=yes&id_news=12195 |archive-date=22 February 2014 |publisher=Italian Society of Authors and Publishers}} and was produced by Michele Canova.{{Cite web |date=21 February 2013 |title=Marco Mengoni, "L'essenziale" è già disco d'oro |url=http://www.ilvelino.it/it/article/marco-mengoni-lessenziale-e-gia-disco-doro/cfad7cec-897f-4285-bc43-7e1bca01f55f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226220754/http://www.ilvelino.it/it/article/2013/02/21/marco-mengoni-lessenziale-e-gia-disco-doro/cfad7cec-897f-4285-bc43-7e1bca01f55f/ |archive-date=26 February 2014 |access-date=22 February 2013 |publisher=Il Velino |language=it}} Casalino began composing the song in September 2011, in Fano of the Marche region of Italy. During a break in a writing session with other authors, Casalino started playing guitar and wrote a first version of the music and lyrics of the song.{{Cite web |last=Gagliardi |first=Claudia |date=14 February 2014 |title=L'essenziale di Marco Mengoni compie un anno: parla l'autore Roberto Casalino |url=https://www.optimagazine.com/2014/02/14/lessenziale-di-marco-mengoni-compie-un-anno-parla-lautore-roberto-casalino/135346 |access-date=6 May 2020 |work=Opti Magazine |language=it}} Benedittis later contributed to the song, and Casalino recorded a first demo of "L'essenziale". Early in 2012, after hearing Casalino's recording, Mengoni started considering the song for his then-upcoming album. In an interview released to TGCOM, Mengoni revealed that he was not impressed by the song at first. Nonetheless, he decided to try to perform it.{{Cite web |last=Conti |first=Andrea |date=11 February 2013 |title=Marco Mengoni: Lo confesso, sono sereno |url=http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/spettacolo/articoli/1080970/marco-mengoni-lo-confesso-sono-sereno.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222042334/http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/spettacolo/articoli/1080970/marco-mengoni-lo-confesso-sono-sereno.shtml |archive-date=22 February 2014 |access-date=19 May 2013 |website=TGCOM |publisher=Mediaset |language=it}} In October 2012, Mengoni met Casalino, and they rewrote part of the song's music and lyrics. During this session, Mengoni's idea of the song changed and, according to him, "it became a second skin, an obsession".{{Cite web |last=Mustara |first=Antonio |date=12 February 2014 |title=L'essenziale, un anno dopo: Roberto Casalino racconta com'è nata la canzone di Marco Mengoni |url=http://www.sorrisi.com/2014/02/12/essenziale-roberto-casalino-marco-mengoni/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222001309/http://www.sorrisi.com/2014/02/12/essenziale-roberto-casalino-marco-mengoni/ |archive-date=22 February 2014 |access-date=13 February 2014 |website=TV Sorrisi e Canzoni |publisher=Arnoldo Mondadori Editore}}

The concept of the song was initially inspired by Casalino's personal experience. He revealed that when he began writing the song, he was living a moment in which he had to make important decisions about his future, and had started thinking he should come back to the essential things of life, like the people he really loved and who really counted in his life. After writing down a note with the word "essenziale" (Italian for essential) on it, he composed the song. In an interview released to the Italian magazine TV Sorrisi e Canzoni, Mengoni described "L'essenziale" as "an Italian-style ballad in the tipping point between love and social issues".{{Cite web |date=3 February 2013 |title=Marco Mengoni a Sanremo 2013: La scheda e le foto |url=http://www.sorrisi.com/2013/02/03/marco-mengoni-sanremo-2013/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222001305/http://www.sorrisi.com/2013/02/03/marco-mengoni-sanremo-2013/ |archive-date=22 February 2014 |access-date=22 February 2013 |website=TV Sorrisi e Canzoni |language=it}} He later explained that the song refers to all kind of relations, and that it is "about the necessity to go back to essentiality, to open to new emotions and to overcome the difficulties of these days", with the expression of "the urgency to free people from the superstructures and the general crisis".{{Cite web |last=Jiandani |first=Sanjay |date=1 May 2013 |title=Marco Mengoni: L'essenziale brings a message of hope |url=http://www.esctoday.com/51714/marco-mengoni-lessenziale-brings-a-message-of-hope/ |access-date=26 May 2013 |publisher=ESCToday}} Casalino also claimed that the song's lyrics unwillingly reflect the problems of the Italian society during the 2010s, "without the aim to teach anything to its listeners".

The music video for "L'essenziale" was filmed in Milan and Brescia of Northern Italy, and was directed by Giuseppe La Spada.{{Cite web |date=17 February 2013 |title=Sanremo: Mengoni vince, ma ad esultare è La Spada |url=http://www.oggimilazzo.it/2013/02/17/sanremo-mengoni-vince-ma-ad-esultare-e-un-milazzese/ |access-date=22 February 2013 |publisher=Oggimilazzo.it |language=it}}{{Cite web |date=28 March 2013 |title=MARCO Mengoni/ L'essenziale, il backstage del video ufficiale |url=http://www.ilsussidiario.net/News/Musica-e-concerti/2013/3/28/MARCO-MENGONI-L-essenziale-il-backstage-del-video-ufficiale/378075/ |publisher=IlSussidiario.it |language=it |access-date=20 May 2013 |archive-date=20 May 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130520210314/http://www.ilsussidiario.net/News/Musica-e-concerti/2013/3/28/MARCO-MENGONI-L-essenziale-il-backstage-del-video-ufficiale/378075/ |url-status=dead }} La Spada also produced and edited the video for the song.{{Cite web |title=Giovane creativa IED si fa spazio a suon… di video |url=http://www.ied.it/blog/giovane-creativa-ied-si-fa-spazio-a-suon-di-video/4995 |access-date=27 May 2013 |publisher=Istituto Europeo di Design |language=it |archive-date=27 May 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130527204854/http://www.ied.it/blog/giovane-creativa-ied-si-fa-spazio-a-suon-di-video/4995 |url-status=dead }}

It was released to YouTube on 15 February 2013.{{Cite web |date=15 February 2013 |title=Marco Mengoni, guarda il video ufficiale di L'essenziale |url=http://www.sorrisi.com/2013/02/15/marco-mengoni-guarda-il-video-ufficiale-di-lessenziale/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219024357/http://www.sorrisi.com/2013/02/15/marco-mengoni-guarda-il-video-ufficiale-di-lessenziale/ |archive-date=19 February 2013 |access-date=23 March 2013 |website=TV Sorrisi e Canzoni |language=it}} In the first part of the video, Mengoni plays the song at home on a piano, while during the second half, he performs the song underwater.{{Cite web |last=Marra |first=Luca |date=19 February 2013 |title=Marco Mengoni, "L'essenziale" di successo. Oltre 1 milione di click per il videoclip |url=http://it.ibtimes.com/articles/43424/20130219/marco-mengoni-marco-mengoni-l-essenziale-l-essenziale-video-sanremo-sanremo-marco-mengoni.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224214734/http://it.ibtimes.com/articles/43424/20130219/marco-mengoni-marco-mengoni-l-essenziale-l-essenziale-video-sanremo-sanremo-marco-mengoni.htm |archive-date=24 February 2013 |access-date=25 May 2013 |website=International Business Times |language=it}} As explained by La Spada during an interview, the music video is a "sort of escape from the world we live in, a jailbreak made of pictures, musics at the piano, water. Because water is the fundamental element that leads us back to the principle of life."{{Cite web |last=Virga |first=Federica |date=20 February 2013 |title=Giuseppe La Spada, siciliano e art director di Mengoni |url=http://www.balarm.it/articoli/giuseppe-la-spada--siciliano-e-art-director-di-mengoni.asp#.UaPIGkCpXYs |access-date=27 May 2013 |publisher=Balarm.it |language=it}} A backstage "making-of" video was later released to Mengoni's YouTube channel on 28 March of that year.

While promoting the single and launching #prontoacorrere, Mengoni performed the song several times. After singing it during the Sanremo Music Festival 2013, he performed an acoustic version of it during Fabio Fazio's TV show, Che tempo che fa in March 2013.{{Cite web |date=25 March 2013 |title=Marco Mengoni ospite a Che Tempo Che Fa canta L'Essenziale in un'inedita versione acustica |url=http://www.leichic.it/eventi/musica/marco-mengoni-ospite-a-che-tempo-che-fa-canta-lessenziale-in-uninedita-versione-acustica-video-32764.html |access-date=25 May 2013 |publisher=LeiChic.it |language=it}} On 6 April of that year, Mengoni performed the song during the first episode of the talent show Amici di Maria De Filippi, for a duet with contestant Verdiana Zangaro.{{Cite web |date=7 April 2013 |title=AMICI 12/ Il serale, prima puntata: Chiara e Andrea eliminati. Verdiana canta con Mengoni (video) |url=http://www.ilsussidiario.net/News/Cinema-Televisione-e-Media/2013/4/7/AMICI-12-Il-serale-prima-puntata-Chiara-e-Andrea-eliminati-Verdiana-canta-con-Mengoni-video-/380616/ |access-date=25 May 2013 |publisher=IlSussidiario.net |language=it |archive-date=25 May 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130525133623/http://www.ilsussidiario.net/News/Cinema-Televisione-e-Media/2013/4/7/AMICI-12-Il-serale-prima-puntata-Chiara-e-Andrea-eliminati-Verdiana-canta-con-Mengoni-video-/380616/ |url-status=dead }} That same month, during the last episode of the TV comedy show Zelig, Mengoni also dueted with comedian Giovanni Vernia in a parody of "L'essenziale".{{Cite web |last=Mosconi |first=Barbara |date=2 April 2013 |title=Marco Mengoni ospite dell'ultima puntata di Zelig. Ecco come è nato il duetto con Giovanni Vernia |url=http://www.sorrisi.com/2013/04/02/marco-mengoni-giovanni-vernia-duetto-zelig/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515150546/http://www.sorrisi.com/2013/04/02/marco-mengoni-giovanni-vernia-duetto-zelig/ |archive-date=15 May 2013 |access-date=25 May 2013 |website=TV Sorrisi e Canzoni |language=it}}

"L'essenziale" was also featured as the last song on the set list for Mengoni's tour of the same name, preceding the encore.{{Cite web |last=Nicolello |first=Vincenzo |date=22 May 2013 |title=Concerti, Marco Mengoni: la recensione dello show di Torino |url=http://www.rockol.it/news-501629/Concerti,-Marco-Mengoni-la-recensione-dello-show-di-Torino |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610045512/http://www.rockol.it/news-501629/Concerti%2C-Marco-Mengoni-la-recensione-dello-show-di-Torino |archive-date=10 June 2013 |access-date=25 May 2013 |publisher=Rockol.it |language=it}} On 13 April 2013, he sang it during Eurovision in Concert, an event held in Amsterdam and preceding the Eurovision Song Contest 2013,{{Cite web |last=Scarpone |first=Cristian |title=Marco Mengoni parteciperà all'Eurovision in Concert ad Amsterdam |date=29 March 2013 |url=https://www.eurofestivalnews.com/2013/03/29/marco-mengoni-partecipera-alleurovision-in-concert-ad-amsterdam/ |access-date=25 May 2013 |publisher=Eurofestival.ws |language=it}} while on 11 May of that year, he performed it as part of Radio Italia Live, a concert featuring several Italian artists and organized by the broadcaster Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana in Piazza del Duomo, Milan.{{Cite web |date=11 May 2013 |title=Mengoni #Radioitalialive: qui in Duomo c'è molto di più dell'essenziale |url=https://www.radioitalia.it/news/marco_mengoni/radioitalialive_il_concerto/6041_mengoni_radioitalialive_qui_in_duomo_c_e_molto_di_piu_dell_essenziale.php |access-date=25 May 2013 |publisher=Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana}}

"L'essenziale" debuted at number one on the Italian FIMI Singles Chart during the week ending on 17 February 2013, four days after its release. It held the top spot of the chart until mid April 2013, spending eight consecutive weeks at number one in Italy, before falling outside the top ten three weeks later.{{Cite web |title=Italian Charts - Marco Mengoni - L'essenziale (song) |url=http://italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Marco+Mengoni&titel=L%27essenziale&cat=s |access-date=20 May 2013 |publisher=Italiancharts.com. Hung Medien}} On 21 February of that year, the single was certified gold by the Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana,{{Cite web |title=Dopo Sanremo, L'essenziale di Mengoni è già disco d'oro |url=http://www.radioitalia.it/news/nuova_uscita/5539_dopo_sanremo_l'essenziale_di_mengoni_%C3%A8_gi%C3%A0_disco_d'oro.php?from=hp |access-date=20 May 2013 |publisher=Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana |language=it}} while it went multi-platinum by 2 April 2013, denoting domestic downloads exceeding 60,000 units.{{Cite web |date=2 April 2013 |title=Mengoni, multiplatino per L'essenziale |url=http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/spettacolo/2013/04/02/Mengoni-multiplatino-essenziale-_8491320.html |publisher=Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata |language=it}} As of December 2014, the single has been certified quadruple platinum in Italy, denoting 120,000 shipments. "L'essenziale" later became the best selling-single in Italy during the first six months of 2013 and the third best-selling single of the year, behind "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams, and Avicii's "Wake Me Up".{{Cite web |title=Top 100 Single Digital - Classifica semestrale 2013 (dal 31 Dicembre 2012 al 30 Giugno 2013) |url=http://www.fimi.it/up/files/sito_fimi/Top%20100_I%20Sem%202013_Singoli_digital.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903072713/http://www.fimi.it/up/files/sito_fimi/Top%20100_I%20Sem%202013_Singoli_digital.pdf |archive-date=3 September 2013 |access-date=31 July 2013 |publisher=Federation of the Italian Music Industry |language=it}}{{Cite web |date=7 January 2014 |title=Gli album più venduti del 2013 sono di Ligabue, Modà e Jovanotti |url=http://www.radioitalia.it/news/evento/7448_gli_album_pi%C3%B9_venduti_del_2013_sono_di_ligabue_mod%C3%A0_e_jovanotti.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221180034/http://www.radioitalia.it/news/evento/7448_gli_album_pi%C3%B9_venduti_del_2013_sono_di_ligabue_mod%C3%A0_e_jovanotti.php |archive-date=21 February 2014 |access-date=13 February 2014 |publisher=Radio Italia Solo Musica Italiana |language=it}}

The song also reached the top spot of the Italian Nielsen Music airplay chart for two consecutive weeks.{{Cite web |date=8 March 2013 |title=Classifiche, Nielsen Music: in vetta Mengoni, bene Max Gazzè |url=http://www.rockol.it/news-477766/Classifiche,-Nielsen-Music-in-vetta-Mengoni,-bene-Max-Gazz%C3%A8 |access-date=20 May 2013 |publisher=Rockol.it |language=it}}{{Cite web |date=15 March 2013 |title=Classifiche, Nielsen Music: ancora in vetta Mengoni, entrano i Bastille |url=http://www.rockol.it/news-480037/Classifiche,-Nielsen-Music-ancora-in-vetta-Mengoni,-entrano-i-Bastille |access-date=20 May 2013 |publisher=Rockol.it |language=it}}

"L'essenziale" further charted within the top 40 in Switzerland, and it charted on the Belgian Ultratip charts for both Wallonia and Flanders. After being performed during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2013, it debuted at number 44 on the Spanish Singles Chart and number 69 on the Dutch Single Top 100. In February 2014, a Spanish-language version of the song, titled "Incomparable", was released as a digital single,{{Cite web |date=4 February 2014 |title=Incomparable di Marco Mengoni subito al primo posto su iTunes |url=http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/News/Spettacolo/Incomparable-di-Marco-Mengoni-subito-al-primo-posto-su-iTunes_321190324877.html |access-date=13 February 2014 |publisher=Adnkronos |language=it}} peaking at number 14 in Italy.

{{see also|Sanremo Music Festival 2013}}

File:Festival di Sanremo 16 febbraio 2013.JPG, venue of the 63rd Sanremo Music Festival during the final night of the competition.]]

"L'essenziale" was performed for the first time at the 63rd Sanremo Music Festival on 12 February 2013, as one of Mengoni's entries to the contest, together with "Bellissimo". On the first night of the contest, "L'essenziale" won against the latter as the song to be performed by Mengoni for the next stages of the competition, receiving a score of 52.17% based on televotes combined with preferences of a jury composed of music journalists.{{Cite web |date=12 February 2013 |title=Sanremo 2013: la canzone in gara di Marco Mengoni sarà... |url=http://www.rockol.it/news-469653/Sanremo-2013-la-canzone-in-gara-di-Marco-Mengoni-sar%C3%A0... |access-date=20 April 2013 |publisher=Rockol.it |language=it}} During Mengoni's performances, the Sanremo Festival Orchestra was directed by Fabio Gurian.{{Cite web |date=15 February 2013 |title=Il racconto della terza serata |url=http://www.rai.it/dl/portali/site/news/ContentItem-0877d868-a0b9-4fe3-9924-64e65527ba72.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522190212/http://www.rai.it/dl/portali/site/news/ContentItem-0877d868-a0b9-4fe3-9924-64e65527ba72.html |archive-date=22 May 2013 |access-date=2 June 2013 |publisher=RAI |language=it}}

On the final night of the song contest, held on 16 February 2013, "L'essenziale" finished in first place, receiving 36% of votes in the last round of the competition, beating the remaining entries within the top three: Elio e le Storie Tese's "La canzone mononota" and Modà's "Se si potesse non morire".{{Cite web |last=De Montis |first=Luisa |date=17 February 2013 |title=Sanremo, il televoto batte la giuria di qualità |url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/spettacoli/sanremo-televoto-batte-giuria-qualit-886991.html |access-date=22 February 2013 |website=Il Giornale |language=it}}{{Cite web |date=17 February 2013 |title=Sanremo, vince Mengoni |url=https://www.lastampa.it/spettacoli/musica/2013/02/17/news/sanremo-vince-mengoni-1.36121429 |access-date=22 February 2013 |website=La Stampa |language=it}} That same night, an internal jury also selected Mengoni among the other participants to the festival as the Italian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013.{{Cite web |title=Sanremo 2013: vince Marco Mengoni |url=http://www.rockol.it/news-471435/Sanremo-2013-vince-Marco-Mengoni |access-date=17 February 2013 |publisher=Rockol.it |language=it}} The artist selection was exclusive from the competition, the results of which were not directly related to Mengoni's selection; the song that he would sing would be determined at a later date.{{Cite web |last=Victor M. Escudiero |date=18 March 2013 |title=Italy to perform Sanremo winner in Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/italy-to-perform-sanremo-winner-in-eurovision |access-date=19 May 2013 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

{{see also|Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013}}

File:ESC2013 - Italy 04.jpg

In March 2013, "L'essenziale" was announced by RAI as the song to be performed by Mengoni during the Eurovision Song Contest 2013. This marked the first time that Italy was represented in the Eurovision Song Contest by the winning song of the Sanremo Music Festival since 1997, when Jalisse performed "Fiumi di parole". In choosing to perform the song in Italian, Mengoni stated that he wanted to "export an Italian DOC product".{{Cite web |last=Alicandri |first=Alessandro |date=20 April 2013 |title=Marco Mengoni a Verona, dietro le quinte del video Pronto a correre: intervista e gallery |url=http://www.sorrisi.com/2013/04/20/marco-mengoni-allo-stadio-di-verona-dietro-le-quinte-del-video-pronto-a-correre-intervista-e-gallery/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425061244/http://www.sorrisi.com/2013/04/20/marco-mengoni-allo-stadio-di-verona-dietro-le-quinte-del-video-pronto-a-correre-intervista-e-gallery/ |archive-date=25 April 2013 |access-date=19 May 2013 |website=TV Sorrisi e Canzoni}} In order to fulfill the rules of the contest, the version performed during the competition and included in the compilation of the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 was shortened to a length of three minutes and eleven seconds.{{Cite web |date=24 April 2013 |title=Marco Mengoni taglia 30 secondi della sua L'essenziale per l'Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://www.sorrisi.com/2013/04/24/marco-mengoni-taglia-30-secondi-della-sua-lessenziale-per-leurovision-song-contest/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501091554/http://www.sorrisi.com/2013/04/24/marco-mengoni-taglia-30-secondi-della-sua-lessenziale-per-leurovision-song-contest/ |archive-date=1 May 2013 |website=TV Sorrisi e Canzoni |language=it}} In particular, the Eurovision version does not include an instrumental part, as well as some lines of the last chorus.

Since Italy is part of the "Big Five", it automatically qualified for the final of the competition, held in Malmö, Sweden, on 18 May 2013.{{Cite web |last=Chignola |first=Francesco |date=14 May 2013 |title=Eurovision Song Contest, tutto quello che dovete sapere sull'edizione 2013 con Marco Mengoni |url=http://www.sorrisi.com/2013/05/14/eurovision-song-contest-tutto-quello-che-dovete-sapere-sulledizione-2013-con-marco-mengoni/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608021344/http://www.sorrisi.com/2013/05/14/eurovision-song-contest-tutto-quello-che-dovete-sapere-sulledizione-2013-con-marco-mengoni/ |archive-date=8 June 2013 |access-date=19 May 2013 |website=TV Sorrisi e Canzoni |language=it}} Mengoni's performance was scheduled as the 23rd of the night.{{Cite web |last=Storvik-Green |first=Simon |date=17 May 2013 |title=Running order for the Grand Final revealed |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/running-order-for-the-grand-final-revealed |access-date=19 May 2013 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union.}} While singing the song, he was alone on stage, performing with modest movements and colours, and wearing a suit designed for him by Salvatore Ferragamo's Massimiliano Giornetti.{{Cite web |date=13 May 2013 |title=Marco Mengoni e Ferragamo |url=http://www.vogue.it/uomo-vogue/ultimissime-di-moda/2013/05/marco-mengoni-veste-salvatore-ferragamo-eurovision |access-date=19 May 2013 |website=Vogue Italia |language=it |archive-date=19 May 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130519212217/http://www.vogue.it/uomo-vogue/ultimissime-di-moda/2013/05/marco-mengoni-veste-salvatore-ferragamo-eurovision |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=William Lee |date=18 May 2013 |title=Marco Mengoni: Italian Stallion Talks 'Vanity Fair' |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2013/05/18/marco-mengoni-italian-stallion-talks-vanity-fair/27040/ |access-date=6 May 2020 |publisher=Wiwibloggs}} While commenting on this choice, Mengoni explained: "For this song, which is called 'The Essential', me and my team decided to be just like that on stage. I think it also fits with the message of this Eurovision Song Contest, 'We Are One'. Music doesn't need the spending of a lot of money, you just need the air to hear it."{{Cite web |last=Omelyanchuk |first=Olena |date=15 May 2013 |title=Only his fantastic Italian voice counts |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/only-his-fantastic-italian-voice-counts |access-date=19 May 2013 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

The song finished seventh in a field of 26, receiving 126 points, including the top score from Spain, Switzerland, and Albania.{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest 2013 Grand Final |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-2013/grand-final |access-date=19 May 2013 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} This marked Italy's third top ten result in a row since its return to the contest in 2011.{{Cite web |date=19 May 2013 |title=Eurovision Song Contest, vince la Danimarca. Mengoni settimo: il video |url=http://www.rockol.it/news-500511/Eurovision-Song-Contest,-vince-la-Danimarca.-Mengoni-settimo-il-video |access-date=26 May 2013 |publisher=Rockol.it |language=it}}

• Digital downloadCitations regarding the digital release of "L'essenziale" by Marco Mengoni in various selected countries:
• {{Cite web |date=14 February 2013 |title="L'essenziale" by Marco Mengoni on Apple Music Germany |url=https://music.apple.com/de/album/lessenziale-single/599931159 |access-date=5 May 2020 |website=music.apple.com |publisher=Apple Music}}
• {{cite web |publisher=Apple Music |title="L'essenziale" by Marco Mengoni on Apple Music Greece |url=https://music.apple.com/gr/album/lessenziale-single/599931159 |website=music.apple.com |access-date=5 May 2020 |date=14 February 2013}}
• {{cite web |publisher=Apple Music |title="L'essenziale" by Marco Mengoni on Apple Music UK|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/lessenziale-single/599931159 |website=music.apple.com |access-date=5 May 2020 |date=14 February 2013}}

1. "L'essenziale" – 3:41

• Digital download (Spanish-language version)Citations regarding the digital release of "Incomparable" by Marco Mengoni in various selected countries:
• {{Cite web |date=4 February 2014 |title="Incomparable" by Marco Mengoni on Apple Music Italy |url=https://music.apple.com/it/album/incomparable-single/810097653 |access-date=5 May 2020 |website=music.apple.com |publisher=Apple Music}}
• {{cite web |publisher=Apple Music |title="Incomparable" by Marco Mengoni on Apple Music New Zealand|url=https://music.apple.com/nz/album/incomparable-single/809255205 |website=music.apple.com |access-date=5 May 2020 |date=4 February 2014}}
• {{cite web |publisher=Apple Music |title="Incomparable" by Marco Mengoni on Apple Music|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/incomparable-single/809255205 |website=music.apple.com |access-date=5 May 2020 |date=4 February 2014}}

1. "Incomparable" – 3:37

Credits adapted from #prontoacorrere's liner notes.{{Cite AV media notes |title=#prontoacorrere |others=Marco Mengoni |type=booklet |year=2013}}

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Musicians

• Roberto Casalino – composer
• Francesco De Benedettis – composer
• Larry Goldings – piano, Hammond organ, keyboards
• Raggie Hamilton – bass
• Michael Landau – guitars
• Marco Mengoni – composer, vocals
• Gary Novak – drums
• Luca Scarpa – piano, Hammond organ, keyboards
• Davide Tagliapietra – guitars

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Production

• Antonio Baglio – mastering
• Michele Canova – producer
• Csaba Petocz – engineer
• Pino "Pinaxa" Pischetola – mixing
• Davide Tagliapietra – engineer

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;Italian-language version

;Spanish-language version

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Marco Mengoni|title=L'essenziale|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|relyear=2013|certyear=2014|certweek=48|access-date=5 May 2020|refname="4xplat"}}

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{{Marco Mengoni}}

{{Sanremo Music Festival winners}}

{{Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2013}}

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Category:2013 singles

Category:Marco Mengoni songs

Category:Eurovision songs of 2013

Category:Eurovision songs of Italy

Category:Number-one singles in Italy

Category:Sanremo Music Festival songs of 2013

Category:Songs written by Roberto Casalino

Category:Pop ballads

Category:2013 songs

Category:Songs written by Marco Mengoni

Category:Sony Music singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Michele Canova

Category:2010s ballads

Category:Songs in Italian