Italy's Eurovision representative
Marco Mengoni said Monday he hoped this year's contest being
held in Liverpool in lieu of last year's winner Ukraine would
send out a message of peace for the wartorn country roiled by
the Russian invasion.
Mengoni, 34, from Ronciglione north of Rome, is representing
Italy with his Sanremo winner Due Vite, just certified triple
platinum, 10 years after he came seventh with L'Essenziale.
"I would have liked to go to Kyiv: it would have meant that the
war was over," said the Italian singer, whose found fame in 2009
when he won the third season of Italian X.-Factor.
"Music in its own way is a message of peace and love and being
united here means sending a message of peace, in any case. I'm
against any war happening in the world now".
Mengoni, who will step onto the stage of the Liverpool Arena for
the first semi-final Tuesday ahead of the grand finale of the
annual extravaganza of kitsch, op and rock Saturday night, said
"I'm enjoying myself more than I did 10 years ago. I'm living it
better, with less pressure and more desire to just enjoy it. I'm
more experienced now and I'm better able to manage my emotions."
Mengoni is hoping to emulate Roman rockers Maneskin who won the
contest with Zuitti e buoni two years ago before finding world
fame.
Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra were last year's runaway winners amid
a wave of solidarity for Kyiv, and the country's representative
this time around, Heart of Steel performed by Tvorchi, is among
the favourites again.
Italy will also be present in Liverpool with Mahmood, who came
second in 2019 with Soldi, as a guest on Saturday, and by San
Marino's Tuscan group Piques Jacks and Norway's Savona-born
entry Alessandra Mele.
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