The third night of the Sanremo Festival doesn't take off, but it does learn from some mistakes. It was clear from Wednesday's ratings: the music was good with Eros and Alicia Keys, the show was good, but the audience, as the ratings spike with Lillo demonstrated, wanted to have fun. So here's Ubaldo Pantani/Lapo Elkann, taking the right amount of space and keeping the pace, even at the cost of overshadowing a top model like Irina Shayk.
The Newcomers final kicks off, with Gianluca Gazzoli taking the stage once again, stealing the "fake young" crown from Alessandro Cattelan. Nicolò Filippucci wins with "Laguna," beating Angelica Bove with "Mattone." Born in Perugia just 19 years ago, a former member of Maria De Filippi's Amici, he's speechless with the trophy in hand: "Thank you all, it's a dream, truly." Bove from Rome wins the Mia Martini Critics' Award and the Lucio Dalla Press Room Award. And for Laura Pausini, it's yet another opportunity to show us the exact point where Pippo Baudo guided her when he won in 1993 with "La Solitudine."
Mogol, just months shy of turning 90, received a standing ovation from the Ariston Theatre. "A welcome like that moved me," he commented, recalling that he "registered 1,776 songs with SIAE and sold 523 million records worldwide, even if no one believes it, not even me." His favorite song, however, is "Dormi amore," written with Gianni Bella and performed by Adriano Celentano in 2007: "I dedicated it to my wife, who is many years younger than me. I talk about what her life will be like and what mine will be like when it's no longer my life, but our love survives."
A great classic of the Conte festival: children. Laura Pausini sings Michael Jackson's "Heal the World," surrounded by the little ones of the Antoniano Choir and the Caivano Choir, dressed in white. A Christmas card: "We all want a world without war." As if that weren't enough, the Zecchino d'Oro karaoke kicks off, from "Tagliatelle di Nonna Pina" to "44 Gatti."
Irina Shayk, the silent diva: first in a long dress, with lace and sheer details, and a rhinestone between her teeth, then in overalls, the Russian top model is visibly struggling because she doesn't speak Italian. "I'm here for you," she manages to say to Conti, though. Otherwise, with understandably glassy eyes, she can't follow any of the exchanges on stage and struggles to even read the cards.
The comedy portion is entrusted to Ubaldo Pantani, who appears in the tricolor suit of one of his most successful parodies, Lapo Elkann, and confuses Sanremo with Fazio's "Che tempo che fa" on Nove. "Rai9 is part of the great Sky bouquet, an Italian excellence." Ubaldo delivers one imitation after another. Ten years after the Festival of a Thousand Imitations, Virginia Raffaele returns to the Ariston with Fabio De Luigi to commemorate the release of their film, "Un bel giorno," and improvise as musicians. Finally, even Pausini lets loose with her double, the impersonator Vincenzo De Lucia.
Pippo Baudo once again: "Ladies and gentlemen, he comes from all over the world because he's a globetrotter, Eros Ramazzotti." The hero of over 70-80 million records sang "Adesso Tu," forty years after his victory at Sanremo, before being joined by Alicia Keys, who recalled her Sicilian roots. Together, they performed a world-exclusive Italian rendition of "L'Aurora," despite some technical difficulties. Acclaimed by the audience, the 17-time Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter and musician delivered a version of "Empire State of Mind," swapping "New York" for "Sanremo."
At the Ariston, the plea of Paolo Sarullo, the young man from Albenga who was attacked by four teenagers, fell to the ground, and has been a quadriplegic ever since, resounds loudly. He explains that Olly is his favorite singer, performs "Balorda Nostalgia," and when Carlo Conti urges him not to give up, he replies: "You don't give up a damn..."
The competition: brilliant Maria Antonietta & Colombre, flowers and plunging necklines for Leo Gassmann, Caribbean rhythms from Malika and Faraone, all on their feet for a moved Sal Da Vinci, effective Tredici Pietro, Michele Bravi, Sayf, and then veterans Raf, Renga, and Arisa, a very emotional Brancale. Belen Rodriguez lends her vocals to a segment of Samurai Jay's song and tonight she'll duet with Jay and Roy Paci on Zucchero's "Baila Morena." Meanwhile, Adriano Celentano congratulates Ermal Meta. The "random" five-man lineup includes Arisa, Sayf, Luchè, Serena Brancale, and Sal Da Vinci.