08:45 PM – The second night of Festival di Sanremo begins with signor Ruggiero (?) singing Annalisa’s Mon amour and The Kolors’ Italodisco...
08:49 PM – Amadeus explains that tonight only 15 out of 30 contestants will perform, with the other 15 introducing them onstage… wondering what the presenters are paid for, then. Anyway, from today people from home can cast their votes, and also radio journalists. His co-presenter for the night is Giorgia (NOT ME)…
08:55 PM – Ghali arrives onstage to introduce the first contestant: Fred De Palma, singing Il cielo non ci vuole. I only understand half of the words of the song, perhaps I'm not in target with this kind of music, I don't know… at the end he waves hello to his parents, who are in the audience of Teatro Ariston. Aww.
09.01 PM – La Sad, in white tie (but with a portrait of Punk Amadeus on their back), introduce RENGANEK, singing Pazzo di te. Can't stand Renga, sorry for Nek. Next?
09:07 PM – Did you know that in 2026 the Winter Olympics will be held in Milano-Cortina? If you didn't know, now you do. Amadeus introduces Giovanni Malagò, president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and a kid, Federico, a student from the school who created the official mascots of the Winter Olympics, Tina e Milo:
09:18 PM – Tonight’s co-presenter, Giorgia (NOT ME), in white tie and shorts, gets onstage and sings one of her most successful songs, E poi., which turns 30 this year.
09:27 PM – Mr.Rain (who seems a really shy guy, bless him) introduces Alfa, entering holding Gianni Morandi’s broom (+18 Fantasanremo points), who will be singing Vai! — a mashup between Oasis’ Wonderwall and KT Tunstall’s Black horse and the cherry tree…
09:33 PM – Diodato introduces Dargen D’Amico, thanking him for having called for a CEASE FIRE last night. He sings Onda alta, a song about migrants, especially children, crossing the sea and risking their lives to escape wars and poverty. At the end, he states that he's not being political, he's just talking from his heart. 💕
09:47 PM – Rose Villain, wearing a horrible dress that looks like a steel scourer, introduces Il Volo on stage, they'll be singing Capolavoro, a tremendously soppy song. One of the three gives his flowers to his mum. Aww.
09:53 PM – Giorgia (still NOT ME) and Amadeus talk about music tapes…
09:58 PM – Bnkr44 introduce Gazzelle, singing Tutto qui, a love ballad Noel Gallagher could've written if he was born in Roma Nord instead of Manchester:
«...Vorrei guardare il passato con te Addosso al muro col proiettore Viverlo insieme un minuto anche tre Scappare per un po’ da Roma Nord...»
10:05 PM – pianist Giovanni Allevi (guest) is affected by myeloma, and has not played his piano in public for a long time, so he tells his story and expresses gratitude for everything… then plays one of his compositions: Tomorrow.
10:27 PM – the sofa makers (sponsors of the festival) are at it again… 😑
10:30 PM – Orchestra Casadei and Nuova Orchestra Santa Balera play Romagna mia, celebrating this famous ballroom dancing song’s 70th anniversary…
10:38 PM – Santi Francesi, dressed as circus acrobats, introduce Emma, singing Apnea. Everyone is in total black. The song is about a rocky love story: “chiamo l’avvocato” reminds me of something…
10:44 PM – Rosa Chemical (guest) on the external stage sings their song from last year’s Sanremo: Made in Italy. Could've done without that, thank you very much.
10:55 PM – Alessandra Amoroso introduces Mahmood, singing Tuta gold. The song is about Mahmood’s life as a kid living in the outskirts of Milan…
11:01 PM – Giorgia (NOT ME) talks about her career… 😴
MARCO MENGONI TORNA! Ci manchi! Du’ palle stasera…
11:04 PM – Il Tre introduces BigMama, singing La rabbia non ti basta. The lyrics are sort of a letter to herself as a child, and to all the people discriminated against because of their appearance, of their status, to all minorities. At the end she dedicates the song to the queer community: love is love. 💕
11:09 PM – John Travolta is tonight's international guest… 🕺Giorgia (NOT ME) introduces him then leaves him to Amadeus’ care. Some small talking, then they “dance” over You never can tell…
’O frìdd’ ‘nguóll’, as Geolier would say…
11:19 PM – Staying alive plays and John Travolta with Amadeus go outside to meet with Fiorello to dance IL BALLO DEL QUA QUA…
(I'm off to wash my teeth and change into my PJ's…)
11:34 PM – Bob Sinclar “plays” his usual UNZ UNZ UNZ very truzzy music from Costa Smeralda (the cruise ship, not the Sardinian coastline…).
11:37 PM – Angelina Mango introduces The Kolors, singing Un ragazzo una ragazza. The song is a funky bop about a boy and a girl (well, d’uh…) meeting for the first time and trying to get to know each other and wondering what will happen next…
11:48 PM – Giorgia (NOT ME) sings a medley of her songs.
Giorgia (ME) is yawning.
00:01 AM – Fiorella Mannoia introduces Geolier, singing I p’me, tu p’te — a song the meaning of which is “if you love somebody set them free”, as Sting would've said (albeit not in Neapolitan…).
00:08 AM – the cast of Mare Fuori read the definitions of a series of words for a new lexicon against gender-based violence. Then they sing the theme song of their show:
Nun te preoccupa' guaglio’, ce sta ’o mar for', Ce sta ’o mar for', ce sta ’o mar for’, Arèt’ ’e sbarre, sott’o cielo ce sta ’o mar for’, Ce sta ’o mar for', ce sta ’o mar for’…
00:18 AM – Sangiovanni introduces my favourite: Loredana Bertè, singing Pazza, a song with which she declares love and appreciation for herself, after having experienced self-hate for decades, having been labelled as “crazy” by everyone. I want to give her a hug.
00:24 AM – scenographer Gaetano Castelli receives a lifetime achievement award, for having designed twenty-two sets for Sanremo over the decades.
00.35 AM – Maninni introduces Annalisa, singing Sinceramente.
00:42 AM – Ricchi e Poveri introduce Irama, singing Tu no. Earlier today I discovered he's got really devoted fans who are really disgruntled with the journalists from the Sanremo press room because last night they didn't include him in the list of their favourite five songs…
00:53 AM – Negramaro introduce Clara, singing Diamanti grezzi.
(and this is when I fell asleep, again, sorry…)
Woke up at 1:25 AM, just in time to catch up with the top five songs from radio journalists and home votes:
Well, at least this time Irama’s angry mob fans will be happy…
Alright, I'm off to Bedfordshire, g’nite! 😴
Ho avuto il sospetto che Nasadeus c'abbia provato, con Malagò, a candidarsi come presentatore per le Olimpiadi.
Another stoic effort Giorgia! (I only lasted until 22:00 CET). Kitchen scourers and aluminium foil, fashion is telling us that a woman's place ... is in the kitchen? 😂