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Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Country	Italy
National selection
Selection process	Sanremo Music Festival 2011
Selection date(s)	Artist: 19 February 2011 Song: 11 March 2011
Selected artist(s)	Raphael Gualazzi
Selected song	"Madness of Love"
Selected songwriter(s)	Raphael Gualazzi
Finals performance
Final result	2nd, 189 points
Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1997 • 2011 • 2012►

On 2 December 2010, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced that Italy would compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, set to be held in Düsseldorf, Germany. Italy returned to the contest after a 13-year absence, having last competed in the 1997 contest. The entry was organised by Italian broadcaster Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI) and finished second after the winning song from Azerbaijan.

Background

Italy was one of the seven participating countries to take part in the first contest in 1956. The Eurovision Song Contest was initially inspired by the Italian Sanremo Music Festival, held annually since 1951 in the city of Sanremo. Since their debut Italy has taken part 37 times, and has won the contest twice - in 1964 with the song "Non ho l'età" (I'm not old enough) performed by Gigliola Cinquetti, and in 1990 with "Insieme: 1992" (Together: 1992) performed by Toto Cutugno. Italy has also come 2nd once - again with Gigliola Cinquetti and the song "Sì", and 3rd four times - including the global hit song "Nel blu, dipinto di blu", also known as "Volare", performed by Domenico Modugno in 1958. Italy has also hosted the contest twice - in 1965 in Naples, and in 1991 in Rome.

Since their debut Italy has withdrawn from the contest a number of times. The first occurrence was in 1981, claiming that interest in the contest in Italy had diminished. Italy returned in 1983, and withdrew again in 1986, returning the following year. In 1994 Italy withdrew again, before returning again in 1997. After the 1997 contest Italy withdrew again, and did not return until the 2011 contest.

Return to Eurovision

Since their withdrawal in 1997 the EBU, the organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest, had worked hard to bring Italy back to Eurovision. Since the 2009 Contest the country's return - along with that of Monaco and Austria - was made a priority of the EBU.

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. On 2 December 2010 the EBU announced on the official Eurovision website that Italy had applied for the 2011 Contest, set to be held on 10, 12 and 14 May 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Before Eurovision

Artist selection

On 1 February 2011, Italian broadcaster RAI confirmed that the performer that would represent Italy at the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest would be selected by a special committee from the competing artists at the Sanremo Music Festival 2011. 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). 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:

"Big Artists" Category

• 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

"Newcomers" Category

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

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".

Song selection

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.

At Eurovision

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. The public awarded Italy 11th place with 99 points and the jury awarded 1st place with 251 points.

Voting

Points awarded to Italy

Points awarded to Italy (Final)

Score	Country
12 points	Albania  Latvia  San Marino  Spain
10 points	Greece  Lithuania  Malta  Poland  Portugal
8 points	France
7 points	Georgia  United Kingdom
6 points	Armenia  Austria  Belgium  Bosnia and Herzegovina  Estonia  Romania
5 points	Ireland
4 points	Hungary   Switzerland
3 points	Belarus  Finland  Germany  Iceland  Slovenia
2 points	Serbia
1 point	Azerbaijan  Cyprus  Macedonia

Points awarded by Italy

Points awarded by Italy (Semi-final 2) Score Country 12 points  Romania 10 points  Bulgaria 8 points  Cyprus 7 points  Moldova 6 points  Ukraine 5 points  Austria 4 points  Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 points  Sweden 2 points  Belgium 1 point  Israel

Points awarded by Italy (Final) Score Country 12 points  Romania 10 points  United Kingdom 8 points  Moldova 7 points  Ukraine 6 points  Germany 5 points  Iceland 4 points  Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 points  Serbia 2 points  Greece 1 point  France

References

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2. ^ Jiandani, Sanjay (2 December 2010). "Italy returns to the Eurovision Song Contest!". ESCToday. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
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4. Staff. "History by Country: Italy". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
5. Staff. "Eurovision Song Contest 1965 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
6. Staff. "Eurovision Song Contest 1991 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
7. Staff. "Eurovision Song Contest 1981 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
8. Staff. "Eurovision Song Contest 1983 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
9. Staff. "Eurovision Song Contest 1986 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
10. Staff. "Eurovision Song Contest 1987 – Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
11. Staff. "Eurovision Song Contest 1994 Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
12. Staff. "Eurovision Song Contest 1997 Year page – Eurovision Song Contest - Oslo 2010". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
13. "Italy: the most expected comeback!". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
14. Floras, Stella (13 January 2009). "EBU working for Eurovision full house in 2010". ESCToday. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
15. Hondal, Victor (6 September 2010). "Italy might return to Eurovision in 2011". ESCToday. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
16. M. Escudero, Victor (1 February 2011). "Italy will choose its comeback entry through Sanremo". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
17. ^ "Italy: Raphael Gualazzi to Düsseldorf". EscDaily.com. 19 February 2011. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
18. Jiandani, Sanjay (Sergio) (11 March 2011). "Italy: Watch the videoclip". Esctoday. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
19. "Grand Final of Düsseldorf 2011". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
20. Bakker, Sietse (26 May 2011). "EBU reveals split televoting and jury results". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 28 May 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
21. ^ "Results of the Grand Final of Düsseldorf 2011". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
22. "Results of the Second Semi-Final of Düsseldorf 2011". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.

External links

• Sanremo 2011 - Official site

• Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest
• Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
• 2011 in Italian music
• 2011 in Italian television