The curtain falls on Sanremo 2025, "the most watched edition since 2000", exults Rai, with an average audience of 12.5 million viewers with a 67.1% share and an advertising revenue of 65 million 258 thousand euros.

The host, the peacemaker Carlo Conti, celebrates having surpassed the very high bar that Amadeus had left him as a legacy and confirms the consecutive encore, his fifth Sanremo overall : «I'm happy with the results, I think they're a problem for whoever will be there next year. Oh yes, that's me. Surely as artistic director, let's see if as host». The label of "normalizer" doesn't fit him, the one who silenced monologues and gossip and defused bad rappers, the mediator who without infamy and without praise has satisfied all of Italy: «For me "living life is child's play", I quote Lucio Corsi. I created a Festival in my own way, in my own style, with my defects and merits. Baudian, in the best sense of the word. Go round and round, it's a wonderful sung mass, a collective rite».

The protest and dissent against some important exclusions, in particular Giorgia and Achille Lauro, are out of place. «Along with the boos there were also roars and applause for the top five – replies Conti – I believe that protests are part of the Festival's DNA, I prefer this to silence or cheering for just one singer».

The protagonists then speak. The winner Olly, who still can't believe it: «Everything that's happened in these hours is crazy. I've never seen victory as an option». And in fact he doesn't even know if he'll participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, as he should: «I have to think about it, I need time». And Rai gives him a week. When he spoke to his father «he was taking the dogs out. He just told me he was shocked. I seem big but I hide a great shyness, perhaps also a bit of distrust as a Ligurian. I chose to make songs to invent reality, even when I don't like it».

Behind him was Lucio Corsi, 31, from Tuscany, the fashion-neutral outsider who showed off yellow shoulder pads stuffed with bags of chips: «Clothes for me are a tool to better tell a story». Topo Gigio? «A dream character but more real than many people». Always next to him was his friend and colleague Tommaso Ottomano: «The only guy I write songs with, we grew up together and I want him to be there when I have something nice to do».

Brunori, bronze medal, always ironic: «How beautiful, a podium of very young people, including me». «I came here without expectations – adds the Calabrian singer-songwriter, 47 years old – happy to introduce to the general public a song dedicated to the person who changed my life». His daughter, little Fiammetta.

On the absence of a singer in the top five (Fedez fourth, Cristicchi fifth): «I don't think this week will be enough to understand which song will be successful», says Olly. Corsi: «I trust in young people to make the world a fairer place». Brunori: «It struck me. As a consolation I can say that it's true that we are three men but it seems to me that this podium is not patriarchal».

Giorgia and Achille, Giorgia and Achille, the Ariston shouted yesterday. "Feeling that embrace goes beyond everything," the singer told Domenica In. On the tears that ran down her face as she held the only award, the Tim Award, "all the tension of the week came down. After thirty years, feeling the affection of the public is a tribute that cannot be taken for granted. I always start over, and my character was to come and reconfirm myself, with myself and singing."

Achille takes it philosophically, but the disappointment is palpable: «There is no greater recognition than the protests at the Ariston and in the press room. I am one of the people».

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