Fabrizio Moro, who finished fifth in Eurovision 2018, harshly criticizes the Sanremo Festival, through which Italy’s representative for Eurovision 2025 is expected to be chosen this year.
Fabrizio Moro, who represented Italy at Eurovision 2018 in Lisbon alongside Ermal Meta and finished fifth with the song “Non mi avete fatto niente,” shares his criticism and thoughts regarding the Sanremo Festival 2025 in an interview ahead of the concert he will participate in, “Per la pace” (translated: “Life Against War”).
Criticism of the Sanremo Festival
The Sanremo Festival 2025, set to take place this coming February, is expected to choose Italy’s representative and song for Eurovision 2025 in Basel. Fabrizio was selected in the same way with his duo partner Ermal Meta when they won the Sanremo Festival 2018 and were sent to Portugal to represent Italy, where they finished fifth. Now, six years later, he expresses sharp criticism of the Sanremo Festival, particularly during its management by Amadeus from 2020 to 2024, for failing to distinguish between experienced artists and “rappers with chains around their necks,” meaning novice and amateur singers.
“Every year my name comes up,” Fabrizio says in the interview regarding participation in the Sanremo Festival, “and I never present myself. It’s a moment in my life where I don’t want too much pressure on my shoulders; I can’t bear it. I want to enjoy what I have managed to create and build over a twenty-year career. I don’t like standing in line.”
Concerns About Emerging Artists
Fabrizio continued to criticize the Sanremo Festival under Amadeus’s management, especially the most recent one held in 2024: “I don’t feel like sitting in a waiting room with a bunch of kids who have released a single or a bit more. The Sanremo Festival is a light that has illuminated my path, and I have immense respect for it, but no, I won’t be there. What I want to do is fill the space with my music, but I don’t want to do anything else because I suffer from it. Before COVID, there was more balance between those who had careers and inexperienced rappers with chains around their necks who are strong on social media. I can’t stand it.”
Streaming Platforms and Their Impact
Fabrizio went on to criticize various streaming platforms, claiming that this system rewards very young artists with little experience and usually no chance of future success. “The real damage is done by streaming platforms. There are no filters. In the past, you had to deal with the artistic director who would tell you if what you were doing was right or wrong; today, that’s not the case.”
It’s worth noting that this year the host and artistic director of the Sanremo Festival for the past five years, Amadeus, has been replaced by Carlo Conti. The Sanremo Festival is an important Italian event that plays a significant role in Italy’s culture, art, and music. Long before it serves as a pre-selection for Eurovision, it acts as a significant platform for songwriters, singers, and musicians in the Italian music industry. Its role as a show selecting Italy’s representative and song for Eurovision is secondary for Italians; the winner does not necessarily represent Italy in the European competition (though they have the right to do so and can refuse).
Italy in Eurovision 2024
“La noia” is the song performed by singer Angelina Mango in the grand final of Eurovision 2024. The song was selected at the Italian Sanremo Festival 2024. In the Eurovision final, the song placed 7th with 268 points. Italy has successfully ranked in the top 10 for eight consecutive years.
Source: Dee Jay
Eurovision 2025: This will be Italy’s 50th participation in Eurovision. Italy joined the contest in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won three times over the years. Italy’s most recent victory was at Eurovision 2021 with the song “Zitti e buoni” performed by the band Måneskin.
