Sanremo: Allevi shivers, Travolta and the unlikely dance of qua qua. Mahmood still fifth

Chapter two, finally the show: the halved musical marathon rewards the show. The idea of the 15 singer-presenters is tasty, Giovanni Allevi's moment leaves an indelible mark, Giorgia perfect, also promoted as co-host, John Travolta plays along and dances - a little uncertainly - even the qua qua qua dance, it's a super dance hall with smooth musicians and dancers and it's a disco on the Costa Smeralda with Bob Sinclar . The surprise scene opens with Ruggero, the "grandfather" protagonist of Fiorello's Viva Rai2, who improvises a hilarious "Italodisco". Amadeus enters the theater, the evening can begin.

ALLEVI FROM THRILLS - The most powerful moment of the Festival is the testimony of Giovanni Allevi , welcomed by a very long applause, who returned to perform live after the stop due to the multiple myeloma that affected him. The story of the illness, and then the hymn to the beauty of life and solidarity, are a punch in the stomach: «Suddenly everything collapsed for me, I haven't played the piano in front of an audience for almost two years. In the last concert at the Konzerthaus in Vienna the pain in my back was so bad that during the final applause I couldn't get up from the stool. I didn't know I was sick yet: then the diagnosis came, which was very serious. I lost my job, my hair, but not my hope and desire to imagine. It was as if the pain gave me unexpected gifts. Before I paid attention to how large the audience was, today I don't know what I would do to go back to playing as before in front of 15 people. Numbers don't matter: each individual is unique, unrepeatable and infinite in his own way. I discovered gratitude towards the beauty of creation. The sunrises and sunsets I admired in those hospital rooms cannot be counted. Again, gratitude for the talent of the doctors, nurses, of all the hospital staff, for the scientific research, for the support I receive from my family. For the strength, affection and example I receive from other patients. When everything collapses and only the essential remains standing, the judgment we receive from the outside no longer counts." Then he quotes Kant, discovers his gray curls, which have grown back, and plays Tomorrow, a song written during his long hospitalizations. But first he warns: «No longer being able to rely on my body, I will play with all my soul». Everyone stood up for him, even the orchestra. «It is one of the most beautiful pages of the Sanremo festival», says Amadeus. «We are sure that he will return to the stage all over the world».

GIORGIA CONVINCES - Nothing scares Giorgia: she begins immediately with the birthday of "E poi" , which launched her thirty years ago, and receives her deserved triumph of applause, also greeting Baudo: «Pippo, we love you». The evening, for her, goes smoothly with the medley of her greatest hits. All in all, even the "cringe" scene on the cassette tapes is forgivable , incomprehensible given that the Sanremo audience - they keep telling us - is increasingly younger.

TRAVOLTA HERE HERE - John Travolta's guest appearance feels like a missed opportunity. The super international guest comes on stage welcomed by Giorgia in perfect English. Amadeus joins them: «Do you also know that this is my fifth Sanremo?». «In America we don't talk about anything else, in fact I know that now there are primaries to choose your replacement», he jokes. Let's get started: first Saturday Night Fever, then Grease and Pulp Fiction (with Amadeus taking off his shoes like in the iconic scene from Quentin Tarantino's film). «Darling, did you take my photo? - he asks his wife in the audience - And when will it happen again? Fiorello awaits them at the Aristonello outside the theater for an unlikely dance which, unfortunately, isn't funny.

THE COMPETITION - Alessandra Amoroso presents Mahmood, with a fluid tight look that reveals his shoulder: very in tune and as always centered. Ghali awkwardly introducing Fred De Palma, Renga and Nek are introduced by the La Sad trio, for the occasion in a black tuxedo and without a crest, with the face of Amadeus in the punk version behind them. Alfa in a t-shirt enters the scene with Morandi's broom, expected at the Ariston tomorrow. Diodato kicks off Dargen's performance who, after the appeal for the ceasefire in Gaza, specifies: «They called me "political" but I was simply guided by love and the feeling which are increasingly the things we have in common , and that's what I would like to focus on." Loredana Bertè rocks, Annalisa doesn't miss a beat, Emma has fun.

THE FIVE – Here is the top five established by televoting and the radio jury: Geolier, Irama, Annalisa, Loredana Bertè, Mahmood.