The 66th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was won by the interpreters of “Stefania”
In a final where politics breaks through the songs, l’Eurovision Song Contest Ukraine takes it home. But yeah before the verdict the war scenarios had covered the music of the Esc: Zelensky who with a video invites the Kalush Orchestra to vote, the pro-Russian hackers who threaten a cyber attack to prevent their victory, the opening theme with Rockin1000 playing «Give Peace a Chance ». So during the competition the same Ukrainian band who launches an appeal worldwide: «Help the Ukrainian people, help Mariupol». Applause and a standing ovation.
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Folklore and rap, flute solos and breakdance, traditional Carpathian costumes and streetwear: their song “Stefania” is dedicated to the mother of the group leader, Oleg Psiuk, but with the noise of the missiles it has taken on a wider and more universal meaning that has reached everyone. A historic victory, a slap in the face of the European peoples in Putin: the wind of solidarity and empathy pushed Ukraine to the top of the ranking. The votes of the national juries had instead put the United Kingdom (second in the end), Sweden (third) and Spain in competition, with Ukraine only fifth, but the televoting was decisive. “Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers Europe,” President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel. The EU leaders, on the other hand, greeted the victory on Twitter as follows: «Tonight your song won our hearts. We celebrate your victory around the world. The EU is with you, ”wrote the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. “The hope is that next year’s Eurovision can be hosted in Kiev in a free and united Ukraine”, added the President of the European Council Charles Michel, also citing some lines of the winning song, “Stefania”: “I will find always the way home, even if all the roads are destroyed ». A congratulatory message also came from the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell: «Long live music! Long live Europe! Glory to Ukraine! ».
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Disappointment for Mahmood and Blanco who have always floated at the top of the ranking but never gave the feeling of having the right gear: in the end a sixth place without infamy and without praise.
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At the start it had been Laura Pausini to open the show
with a medley of 5 songs: «Welcome», «The solitude», «The things you live», «I sing» and «Box», each with a different color outfit and lightning-fast changes of clothes that I miss Brachetti. Then the show format takes the stage and the race starts, a train with 25 stops that does not allow breaks.
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Waiting to understand if Ukraine will be able to host in a year Eurovision Zelensky declared, again via Telegram: «Next year Ukraine will host Eurovision for the third time in history. We will do everything possible so that Mariupol can be the host city ». The balance says that the ratings (net of the final) were excellent, with a hard core of five and a half million spectators who were passionate about the rehearsals of unknown singers. This is thanks to a slim format, which runs fast within an overly rigid lineup, which leaves no room for digression. The weak side is in the conduction but it is difficult to find a better solution. The official presenters (Mika, Cattelan, Pausini) deal with the international version, even if in every country they are “obscured” by the voices of the off-screen commentators used by every local television. And so in the end they seem a bit wasted, prominent figures that surround them.
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The Rai1 version was entrusted to the Malgioglio trio, Corsi and Di Domenico: too many three items also because the spaces for intervention are very limited (and it was Carolina Di Domenico who paid for it). If Gabriele Corsi is a bit too much an accountant (but he is also obliged to explain what happens), Cristiano Malgioglio has taken the stage, both with the comments to the songs (always centered, beyond his personal taste on which one can to object), both with out-of-space and out-of-time digressions about her boyfriends, about who was “handsome” and who was not. A social-style comment, the most correct way to go since the second screen (I watch TV and judge live) has now entered the habits of the public.
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Responsible for the project for nine years in a row of the Sanremo Festival (but next year there will be no news), Claudio Fasulo, deputy director of prime time Rai entertainment and executive producer of Eurovision 2022 together with Simona Martorelli sums up: “Rai, with his excellences, he brilliantly won the test of a mega show like Eurovision ».
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May 15, 2022 (change May 15, 2022 | 02:06)
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