Ditonellapiaga and Tony Pitony won the cover night with their musical-style interpretations of “The lady is a tramp” and “Ba ba baciami piccina” (rewriting some verses in which they mention the Costa Smeralda and 35 euro pizzas).
The evening of duets starts off with enthusiasm , after some satisfaction from the ratings, and makes the inconclusiveness of Alessandro Siani, the Mister X who was not needed, and the minimal space reserved for Bianca Balti pardonable.
Laura Pausini kicks off—dressed in black leather, rhinestone-studded sunglasses, and fuchsia gloves—to the rousing strains of Umberto Tozzi's "Immensamente," Riccardo Cocciante's "Io Canto," and Biagio Antonacci's "Ritorno ad Amare," from her new album "Io Canto 2." Then comes Bianca Balti, returning from 2025: "But it feels like a day ago. And you can tell by my hair!" smiles the supermodel, who went bald last year after chemotherapy for cancer.
Then it's on to the duets. Elettra Lamborghini and Las Ketchup make a (too) furious show with "Aserejé," which tormented us in 2002. Fabrizio Moro and Eddie Brock scream, but Mara Sattei and rapper Mecna don't impress (though we hope to see him among the Bigs next year). Patty Pravo greets Ornella Vanoni with the tune of "Ti lascio una canzone," a timeless song by Gino Paoli, alongside La Scala principal dancer Timofej Andrijashenko. Levante and Gaia show girl power with "I Maschi" by Gianna Nannini, complete with a passionate kiss while the shot "coincidentally" widens to the point of watering it down. But nothing escapes social media.
Malika Ayane makes Claudio Santamaria sing (badly), while Cristina D'Avena's "Occhi di Gatto" with the Bambole di Pezza finally brings real rock to the Ariston. Dargen D'Amico's stratospheric cover transforms Pupo's "Su di noi" into an anti-militarist song, featuring Fabrizio Bosso on trumpet. One flaw is Pupo's undeniable ties to Russia. Tommaso Paradiso and Stadio are reminiscent of the great Lucio Dalla, while Fiorella Mannoia's "Domani è un Altro Giorno" with Michele Bravi is less incisive. And then the real Mister X, a dramatic turn of events: Gianni Morandi on stage with Tredici Pietro for "Vita." Beautiful. Although Alessandro Gassman, who said a few days ago that he couldn't be at the Ariston to promote the series "Guerrieri" because his son Leo was competing, doesn't entirely agree : "Ah... so it wasn't true that when a singer competes at Sanremo, a relative can't attend the festival, and I totally agree, it's a senseless rule." And again: "Rules NOT the same for everyone."
Among the best are Maria Antonietta & Colombre with Brunori Sas, Francesca Fagnani plays with Fulminacci in "Parole parole": "What a beast you are." What a bomb is Tullio De Piscopo, master of LDA & Aka 7even in "Andamento lento." Raf with The Kolors is unforgettable, and the Milan we love is the one celebrated by J-Ax with Ligera County Fam aka Cochi, Paolo Rossi, Paolo Jannacci and Ale and Franz in "E la vita, la vita": "Ciao Renato."
Enrico Nigiotti and Alfa performed "En e Xanax" (En and Xanax), but they weren't very exciting on a night when we wanted to sing Serena Brancale with Gregory Porter and Delia for "Besame mucho." Sayf, who brings his mother on stage, with Alex Britti and Mario Biondi, is a bit like "everyone wants to do jazz." Italian Bowie with Francesco Renga and Giusy Ferreri is moving, while Arisa sings "Mimì and feminism" with the Coro Teatro Regio di Parma. Technical difficulties arose for Samurai Jay, which hosted (but why?) Belén Rodríguez with Roy Paci, paying homage to an innocent Zucchero, and then Sal Da Vinci with Michele Zarrillo, Fedez & Masini with Stjepan Hauser, Ermal Meta with Dardust, Nayt with Joan Thiele, remembering De Andrè, Chiello with pianist Saverio Cigarini (and Morgan?), and finally Leo Gassmann with Aiello. Luchè with Gianluca Grignani who takes a dig at Laura Pausini, mindful of the recent controversy over her covers: "Is Laura Pausini's number in the flowers so I can call her?"
The final ranking
1. Totonellapiaga with Tony Pitony
2. Sayf with Alex Britti and Mario Biondi
3. Arisa with the Choir of the Teatro Regio of Parma
4. Rag Dolls with Cristina D'Avena
5. Thirteen Peters with Gianni Morandi, Galeffi, Fudasca & Band
6. Sal da Vinci with Michele Zarrillo
7. LDA & AKA 7even with Tullio De Piscopo
8. Nayt with Joan Thiele
9. Dargen D'Amico with Pupo and Fabrizio Bosso
10. Luché with Gianluca Grignani
After the storm, the about-face, and his reappointment, Vincenzo Schettini finally takes the stage to discuss youth addictions. The Apulian influencer and physics teacher had been the subject of controversy in recent days for his unorthodox methods. This is why RAI confirmed his appointment: "Schettini himself has been at the center of a controversy in recent days related to his teaching work and his social media activity."
The sporting moment is all about the regattas. The America's Cup Partnership announced that it has awarded RAI the exclusive free-to-air media rights for the 38th Louis Vuitton America's Cup in Italy. And Max Sirena, a Cagliari native and member of the Luna Rossa team, explains that "watching the regattas on RAI channels will be a great opportunity to bring sailing enthusiasts closer to the sport. The regattas will take place between Cagliari and Naples. Thanks to RAI and to everyone who worked on this important moment in 2027. Fair winds to everyone ."