Back in April, the Sammarinese Secretariat of State for Tourism revealed that ‘Una voce per San Marino’ will select the San Marinese representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. In June, more details of the duration of the selection were released. Last month, San Marino RTV have released further details of the format of the selection.
However, one artist we know will not be competing is Sammarinese Eurovision veteran – the icon, the legend – Valentina Monetta.
Speaking on the latest episode The Euro Trip podcast, Valentina revealed that she declined an invitation to represent San Marino at Eurovision 2022.
When asked by presenter James Rowe if she would be attempting a five Eurovision appearance, she said the following:
This year they said “you can be part of the contest” but right now I don’t think it’s a moment for me to consider any of these requests. I was expecting to be part of a jury, not part of the contest. Because it doesn’t make any sense for me to take part in a national selection to be part of Eurovision again.
Valentina Monetta on Una voce per San Marino
However, she has not ruled out returning once again as an internally-selected candidate in the future:
Of course I have to be considered equally but I’m not feeling like it [right now]. After so much time since representing San Marino at the Eurovision Song Contest, I’m not feeling like I need to do a pre-selection. I’m never a diva but I would like special treatment.
Valentina Monetta on returning as an internal selection
While she has ruled out competing in Una voce per San Marino, she would be open to being involved in a different capacity.
I asked the delegation if they want me as a judge and to be a part of selecting the artist so for now I’m just supporting what they do. For now I’m not gonna take part in a pre-selection to be part of the Eurovision Song Contest, it’s not in my plan.
Valentina Monetta on Una voce per San Marino
About Una voce per San Marino
Una Voca Per San Marino will encourage entrants to compete in one of two categories: ‘emerging’ or ‘established’ acts. Established artists will be invited by festival organisers. However, emerging artists will compete via a series of preliminaries between 13 – 19 December 2021 and from 5 – 11 January 2022 at the Titano Theatre.
‘Further selections’ will also take place in February 2022, with no restrictions on citizenship or language. Each stage will be filmed for Aspettando il Festival – Una Voce per San Marino, however, it has not been stated if every stage will be broadcast live.
The Grand Final (scheduled for Saturday 19 February) will see 18 artists (9 established, 9 emerging) compete for the ticket to Eurovision 2022. A jury of experts has been confirmed, however, it is not known if there will be a televote component. Second and third place will also be awarded, similar to Albania’s Festivali i Këngës.
To date, San Marino has only held a national selection once before. Back in 2018, 1in360 was used to select both the nation’s representative and entry. It was open to singers from across the globe and culminated in a live final from Bratislava, Slovakia, eventually won by Jessika and Jenifer Brening with “Who We Are”.
Are you looking forward to ‘Una voce per San Marino’? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to follow us on Spotify and YouTube to see our reactions to the news in the run up to the 2022 national final season!
