Interviste | At ESC we speak music language
by eurosongitalia - Translation by RedRiver
Can you tell us how do you became famous in Latvia?
I'm from Ardara, a small town near Sassari, in 2001 I graduate in foreign
literatures at Sassari University and I go to Riga by winning a Socrates grant, where I teach italian in a college. But my life radically change after only one year. I join TV program Fabrika, Amici's latvian version, and I attain the final match, I get big popularity in Latvia, I perform in various events and TV shows, I record some videos (in which there is "Il ballo del lettone", recorded in Sardinia between Villasimius' and Stintino's beautiful beaches, and Ardara's streets, adorned in this occasion!).
In 2006 I join the West Side Stories musical.
In 2007 I'm a "stars" of the latvian version of "Dancing with the stars", with the latvian blonde championess (and 13th in the world) Laura Kosite.
In 2008 I was chosen as anchor man of "Sapni Piepildas" (Dreams become true), every sunday at 19 on TV3, where I make latvian children's dreams become true.
In Italy you are famous only for ESC fans. Have you ever think about take a tour, or something else, in Italy?
In reality I performed since I was 4, and I joined various musical contests in Sardinia (as "Una voce per Sanremo", Voci Nuove...), but during that years it was like a hobby for me. My first target was getting graduated the much faster I can. I've been guest in Italy in some tv programs such Festa Italiana on RaiUno, and often on RadioDue, and also on some Sardinian Tvs.
I hope Eurovision can give this opportunity to me, this year.
Last year with Bonaparti.lv, this year with Pirates of the sea. Do you work permanently in Latvia or these are occasional collaborations?
During my first year in Riga, I teached italian, but since some years I work in the latvian and baltic showbusiness. I often perform also in Eesti and Latvia as singer, I present shows (like some italian Festivals with artists like Matia Bazar, Albano, Ricchi e Poveri...) and I work on TV. Italians, there, call me "Il Fiorello del Baltico".
Last year you join Eurofestival with Latvia. Can you talk about this experience?
That's a marvelous experience, a triumph of nations, artists and different musical cultures. Eurosong is an event that make all nations speak a single language, music language! A great opportunity to show what you can do to a huge crowd. I'm very happy to join also this year, in a very different way.
Why have you choosen to sing in italian?
Because the music fitted with our language. I don't know if someone here have ever heard latvian language... ancient language, interesting but not at all musical :) And then swedish composers have wanted to bring a bit of Italy in Eurosong, and I think that something is happened. This year we have even three songs in italian.
What do you think about the two songs (San Marino and Switzerland) and a half (Romania) in italian, altough Italy doesn't join the contest?
I think Italy is fundamental in this musical contest, and it's a pity that we discuss about stupid economic questions, forgetting the true spirit of the contest; I've made a lot of calling also last year in interviews,
ITALY, COME BACK!
A call for our return in 2009.
ITALY, ONLY YOU LACK!
Wolfes of the sea is a very involving song, and it is similar to italian taste. Have you think about promoting your song in Italy?
At the moment we are concentrating in Eurovision performance, we have already done some promo tour and the song is very popular everywhere we go!
According to me, that's a very beautiful song, when I've heard for the first time the song, I've been sitted no longer, and I started jumping like a crazy pirate :)
In ESC, often coreography is much important than the song. In your case, also, coreography and costumes are very showy. Do you think this fact can and, in some cases, is made intentionally to divert attention from the song?
I think there must be armony and balancement between song, costumes and coreography, for to not be excessve, too showy. The performance last only three minutes, and in this three minutes all must goes well to give the best result that one's can. So, in this days, we are working a lot on vocal part, trying to reach the right atmosphere of a joyfull pirates crowd.
ESC performance will be similar to what we have seen in the latvian national selection?
We have made some changes, thanks to a swidish coreographer that had worked with a lot of artists (such Carola and our "connational" Perrelli), we have new costumes, but we try in the same way to amuse and enjoy ourselves, that's a pirate promise!
And what about irish turkey?
That will be our lunch, before our performance!
Do you have heard the other contest song? Do you like some in particular?
Yeah, I think there were some pretty. Like Hero from Sweden, Qele qele from Armenia, Chiki Chiki seems to be "The" summer song and "Era stupendo" by Paolo Meneguzzi (not to befriend him, that's really good :) ).
An italian singer, to getting known abroad, must join Eurovisionrepresenting another nation. What do you think about?
Mmm... That's one way, I don't think that Laura Pausini or Tiziano Ferro have joined, but... A good artist became famous abroad if have the skills to sell also out of Italy.
But I'm sorry that in Italy there are singers like Giorgia, that doesn't get out, still. You need luck, besides skills.
And if Italy come back, do you'll want to represent her?
At present I'm representing in the best way latvians that voted for me, then, who knows?, I like risks, and I like to test myself. We'll see...
What are your favourite italian singers?
I like much Giorgia, Elisa, Biagio Antonacci, Tiziano Ferro and the bigs like Mina, Battisti and Celentano. In my Ipod there always is Alex Baroni.
In Beograd, you can help Nico and Vlad, romanians singers, in speaking their song better in italian?
That's a big test... I've already worked whit latvians last year with a kind of results... non really good... (they have a very hard "l"!). This year romanians will pass under the Eurovision "Accademia della Crusca"'s Test.
Can Eurovision help european integration?
Really a lot! Last year I link with various european artists and I've joined a lot of musical and cultural events all around Europe! Eurovision often is judged like a low thik event, stupid songs and showy costumes. But behind the scene there is an incredibile and rich world of marvalous persons. I will never forget laughes and the singsongs last year with Verka Serducka and the beautiful hollandese singer.
After ESC, what do you will do?
Let's see what about Eurovision... then, according to the result, I'll decide.
Can you give a greeting to all italian Eurosong fans?
Hi all, there, I hope you like latvian song and you can dance toghether with us on our pirates ship!!! Hey hey hoooo!
We thank Roberto Meloni for his kindness and Chiara, Ranma25783, RedRiver
and ISRAELFOREVER for the contribution.
http://www.myspace.com/robertomeloni