Sanremo, triumph of the Eighties with Duran Duran. September wins for New Proposals

Forever Wild Boys. The Eighties come back with Duran Duran who, with half an hour of pure entertainment, shake up a dull third evening 40 years after their first show at the Ariston, when Pippo Baudo welcomed them on stage. Edoardo Bennato warms up the atmosphere with his songs at the opening, and luckily Katia Follesa is there for the rest. Settembre wins the New Proposals challenge.

8:45 p.m., off we go: Bennato for the first time in Sanremo sings the 1980 song that hasn't lost its shine for 45 years now. On February 19, Rai1 will air the documentary on the life and career of the Neapolitan artist.

The first co-host to enter the scene is Miriam Leone: excited, she is welcomed by Conti who hosted the competition when the Sicilian actress was crowned Miss Italy in 2008. Remembering the traditional pathos of those moments, they repeat the fateful announcement: "Miriam Leone, for tea the Sanremo festival begins". One of the most classic showgirls, she doesn't seem to want to ruin Carlo Conti's rigid schedule. And she won't.

Then Lamborghini in white, "to show off your tan, Carlo". She too is a showgirl and a bit awkward, she stays in the background and doesn't shine even when dressed as a child at the playground.

It will be up to Follesa to stir things up. The comedian (with a Sardinian father, a chef from Villacidro) shows up with a snow bob, threatening to use it to go down the dreaded stairs of the Ariston. "I wanted to say hello to all the women who, like me, want to achieve goals," she said. "I won't sing, I won't dance and, above all, I won't donate my fee to charity." She waves her bare arms and shows off her "wings," the result - she says - of a long work of getting back in shape. Then the ironies about Chiara Ferragni's experience at Sanremo: she enters the stage with a lectern in her hand. "What are you doing?" asks Conti. "A monologue," she announces. "No, not a monologue this year," the host reiterates. "Come on, at least a nice letter to me as a child, to me as a grandmother, to me as a chihuahua, trust me! It works!"

Duran Duran are finally here. After 40 years, they return to the Ariston stage with a medley of their hits and the Ariston goes wild. The notes and nostalgia of the 80s resonate in ''Invisible, Nootorius”, “Ordinary World”, “Girls on film”. The signs of time are evident, but the nostalgia effect carries everyone away. Victoria De Angelis, bassist of Maneskin on break, joins them for the unexpected cover of “Psycho killer” by Talking Heads.

Crazy unleashed, she shows up in a wedding dress and a sign with the legendary writing “I will marry Simon Le Bon” by number one fan Clizia Gurrado. “I can’t marry you, my wife will kill me,” Le Bon replies. Then he surprises her with a kiss on the lips. Then the bouquet is thrown.

Zecchino d'oro Corner: after Borghi's nephew and the child with perfect pitch, tonight it's the turn of the boy who knows everything about the history of the Festival, Samuele Parodi, 11 years old. Conti questions him, he knows everything, from the first Sanremo to the Ariston, to the most disparate podiums. A prodigy.

With Iva Zanicchi the karaone starts: the eagle of Ligonchio celebrates 60 years of career and three victories. Here all her great successes, ovation even when the voice is missing.

The strength of Teatro Patologico bursts into the Ariston, the inclusion that breaks down barriers, art therapy as a cure for physical and mental disabilities. "We are a magical place - says the founder, the actor and director Dario D'Ambrosi - because we help and save so many kids and thus we give hope to millions of families, because when a disabled kid is well, moms, dads, siblings, grandparents, condominiums, neighborhoods are well. This is where we must start to improve our society".

On stage the other 14 Big, subjected (as in the second evening) to the judgment of Televoting (with a weight of 50%) and Radio Jury (50%). Clara starts, ethereal, but still hasn't broken through. Brunori in smooth blue velvet is more sure of himself. Sarah Toscano is still immature, Massimo Ranieri powerful. Coma_Cose invade the stage with little hearts, screamed pop with Modà. Tony Effe, after the controversy over the cleaning operation, takes out his tattoos again. Among the first five not in order of placement: Coma_Cose, Brunori, Irama, Olly, Francesco Gabbani.