Our favourite Italian Music Festival is back for the 69th time and the 5-evenings show kicks off tomorrow. Let’s get to know the 24 participants to this year’s edition of the show and see who Italy’s potential representatives for Tel Aviv are !
Achille Lauro
Number of previous Sanremo participations: None (debutant)
Title of Sanremo 2019 entry: “Rolls Royce”
Achille Lauro (real name Lauro De Marinis) is a 28-year-old rapper from Rome and is set to make his Sanremo debut. He began his music career in 2012 when he produced a mixtape titled “Barabba“. The following year, he produced another Mixtape, “Harvard“, this time with the collective Quarto Blocco. His work with Quarto Blocco obtained high praise and he consequently signed with the label company Roccia Music in early 2014. Later, in December of the same year he released the free download album “Achille Idol Immortale”, achieving great success. Following the success of his album, in 2015 he released the EP “Young Crazy EP” and a new album titled “Dio c’è”. In mid-2016 he parted ways with Roccia Music and founded his own label company called No Face. On the same year he also released his third album titled “Ragazzi Madre” who went on to become gold certified. In October 2017 he then signed with Sony Music and released the 1 Year Anniversary of his album “Ragazzi Madre”. He released yet another album in 2018, titled “Pour Amour”. Furthermore, he also made a duet with fellow participants Anna Tatangelo with the song “Ragazza di Periferia”.
Though a rapper, he considers himself distant from Italian rap music. Instead, he cites Travis Scott, Kurt Curbain, 6LACK and Young Thug as his musical inspirations.
Anna Tatangelo
Number of previous Sanremo participations:7 (most recently in 2015)
Title of Sanremo 2019 entry: “Le nostre anime di notte” (Our souls at night)
Anna Tatangelo is a known face in the Italian music industry and Sanremo. In fact, this will be her 8th appearance at the show, having appeared in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2015. Born in 1987 in Sora, she began taking part to music competitions in 1994, often achieving podium finishes. A breakthrough occurred for her in 2001 when RAI selected her for the show “Girofestival” where she presented her first single “Dov’è il coraggio”. Following that, she signed to her first label company. In 2002, she then participated and won the Giovani category of Sanremo with her song “Doppiamente fragili”, which earned her automatic qualification for the 2003 edition. The following year she returned as part of a duet with Federico Stragà with the song “Volere Volare”. Despite a disappointing 17th place, in August of 2003 she released her first album.
In 2004 she collaborated with popular Italian singer Gigi D’Alessio (who later became her partner) for the soundtrack of the cartoon Aladdin with “Il Mondo è Mio”. She returned to Sanremo in 2005 with a piece written by Gigi D’Alessio titled “Ragazza di Periferia” and also released her second album. In 2006 she made yet another appearance at Sanremo with another Gigi D’Alessio penned piece called “ Essere Una Donna”, earning 3rd place. The same year, she began to achieve success in Brazil and Latin America as well. Afterwards, in 2007, she released another album “Mai dire Mai” and in 2008 she improved her 2007 placing in Sanremo finishing second with “Il Mio Amico”.
In 2010, she became a judge in the Italian version of X Factor, mentoring the girls’ group. After a 3 year break, she returned to Sanremo in 2011 with “Bastardo” finishing 9th. That year, she also released her next album “Progetto B”.
In 2014, she participated to the Roman Summer festival “Muchacha” and in December she released her album “Libera”. Title of the song of her Sanremo 2015 entry. Her last appearance at Sanremo ended with a non-qualification for the final night. Afterwards, she also became a TV host and starred in a Christmas movie. In 2018, she competed and triumphed at Celebrity Masterchef and also released a remake of “Ragazza di Periferia” with fellow Sanremo contestant Achille Lauro. She also continued her touring around Italy, also performing in Germany and Canada. She has also appeared internationally at Gigi D’Alessio’s concerts, including in Mexico and Australia.
