Interviste | "Era stupendo": a "hymn" about coming back to roots
by eurosongitalia - Translation by RedRiver
Hi Paolo. Can you tell us how you became Switzerland representative at ESC 2008?
Since I was a child I was dreaming to become Swiss representative in this wonderful show. I still remember the nights with my mother, when we was wondering we'll be there... And the dream will become reality now! In Switzerland, as the rest of Europe, Eurosong is a very important show, his share is very high, so therefore to join in is a dream for every singer :-)
Vina del Mar, Sanremo, and now Eurosong. When you were starting, do you have thinked that someday it will be like that?
The first important stand, very important for me, has been that in Vina del Mar Festival, in 1996, that make me win the competition with the song "Aria". It has been a very important moment to make me known, first by southamerican public, and then european one... It has been very, very fast. I have leaved Switzerland with my producer Massimo Scolari, a little bag and the hope to meet with success... When we reached Chili, we realized that my song was having a big success, so we stamped gadgets like t-shirts, CD and postcards, and we make promotion by ourselves... and after that, we have had others important Festivals, like Festivalbar, and Sanremo Festival, where I join four times, the latest this year with song "Grande". This have changed, and, honestly, I started my career without having an idea of what will be!
We know you followed ESC. Wich are, in your opinion, the musically better nations in this competition?
I can never distinguish better nations or not, all national representatives send entries that come from theirs regions and their culture. A show like Eurosong helps to make Europe unite, abolishing every frontier in a powerfull way, like music is.
There is a song in Eurofestival that you like much, also because of particular memories?
How can I forget ABBA??? :-)
Why have you chosen "Era stupendo"?
Era Stupendo is a kind of "hymn" about coming back to his roots, to simple and little things of our life. And, finally, thinking right, these things make some moments of our life very special. I believe that this song have a positive message - usefull for all - that helps people to understand how fortunate we are, in spite of the problem of nowadays life.
This year also France, ever very proud of his mother tounge, will sing in english. Why do you chose to sing in italian?
To sing in italian is very important for me, that's not ever known that I've double nationality, I'm italian-swiss and I was born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland's italian part. So, italian is very important for me. Moreover to mix a romantic song with an italian text, I believe it's a successfull choice! To sing in one's mothertongue, that's a way to thanks my nation and her cultural background.
Do you know you are in the number of the possible winners of this ESC? Which range do you think you can reach?
I've already heard this voice, but finally I think all can be decided during the week in Beograd... I think the best way to introduce oneself in a show like ESC is to be natural (sé stessi) and to face the public with a lot of simplicity and humbleness. I hope people at home will feel this and appreciate this. I consider ESC an important achievement of my career that I want reach and I've reached! I'm always on the way for new professional incentives and face an international context as ESC can be, for me, another occasion to make me known in other unknown markets. I don't know how I will classify, but only to join this contest is already a big professional and personal achievement, an unique opportunity to make me known by european public... To win will be a further achievement, that's not bad!
Do you have programmed to release "Era Stupendo" single in Italy?
Commercial release of the single is not programmed in shops, but it's possible to buy the song on the iTunes multimedial library, via the Internet. Moreover you can find "Era stupendo" in my last CD "Corro via", released in every shop!
In the latest years (except 2005) Switzerland doesn't make good performances. In your opinion, that's because of the song, the voting system or both?
A song's success often dipends of reasons completely out of the voting dynamicses or the goodness of the song. Maybe a marvalous text or a beautiful voice, doesn't reach success. And every single situation shall be evalued separately, we can't generalize... maybe Switzerland has only always been unlucky.
Past year there has been a polemic on exchange-vote between Eastern countries, in particular ex-jugoslavian countries, that should have let Serbia to win. What's your opinion about?
That's a very good news to know that, in such international events, the public is the only who can decide a song's result... But that's also true that people shall not be influenced from where artist come, but only judging songs as to their qualities.
We know that you don't want to anticipate about your exibition in Beograd, but can you only tell us how your training goes on?
I notice you are well informed :-), well, it's true, I prefere to hidden the training of my esibition, I'll try to center all my performance on the song's text, for to take it in the foreground. Music must be in the center of the scene!!!!
About the rest, actually I'am promoting the release of "Corro via" in Switzerland and Italy and my press office will answer all european and not european promotional request as Eurosong fans clubs, radios and newspapers interested in my forthcoming exibition in Beograd. I must thanks all, for huge warmth and partecipation that they have. The best way for a good partecipation at Eurosong is to promote the much is possible one's song, hoping it will be appreciated from the public. And all with a lot of
humbleness.
We know also you haven't heard the others entries. Don't you want to know your opponents?
In reality, I've heard some songs, only because some international newspapers have asked my opinion on their singers... I want to discover my opponents only on the stand :-) I shall want to feel Eurosong as a Switzerland representative singer and as a watcher that see all the contest for the first time! I'm curious about it, but I prefere to wait until Beograd.
Ireland choose to send a puppet. Do you think this will diminish Eurosong?
No, if the puppet will have a marvalous voice, like Celine Dion... :-)))
After some years, we'll have two italian songs at Eurosong, and, also, for the first time San Marino will join, while RAI waits since 11 years ago. What do you think about?
It's really a pity that Italy doesn't join from such a time in Eurosong. I hope that one day I can see his return!!!
A good placement for your song can be usefull, in your opinion, to make
Italy join the ESC?
I've not such influence, but, if something will move, I'll be very happy for that!!!
If RAI will decide to return, do you shall want to represent it?
Yes, to represent Italy, my second country, will be a dream that come true, for the second time... and it's already a huge honour to represent Switzerland.
Can you appeal for "Italy at Eurosong" and, maybe, to make ESC broadcasted, at least on RAI 3?
PLEASE, BROADCAST EUROSONG, ITALY WANTS TO SEE IT!!!! Am I been convincing enough?
After Eurosong, what are your future programs?
After Sanremo, I've started promoting "Grande" single, and then the new CD. I've already planned a 2008 Tour in Italy and also an important international project just in planning in spanish that shall concern a part of USA and South America... but I don't want to anticipate more... If all will go as it is expected, that will be a surprise for all!
In wishing you "Good luck", can you greet all italian Eurosong fans?
Thanks to all for your precious support! I greet all italian Eurosong fans and, considering my double nationality, I'll dedicate my ESC partecipation to Switzerland, but also to Italy, country that have given very much to me!!!
If you want, you can write your impressions to me at io@paolomeneguzzi.it. I check every day my mail, and also if I can't answer to all, I appreciate a lot receiving your emails!
We thanks Paolo Meneguzzi and Marco Zorzetto for kindly contribution.
www.myspace.com/paolomeneguzziofficialmyspace