It’s that time of the year again, y’all! Sanremo season has officially started tonight with the announcement of the first twelve confirmed acts.

Twenty four singers will compete at the Ariston Theatre from 5 to 9 February 2019 to gain access to the Eurovision 2019 stage in Tel Aviv, Israel.

For the first time since 2004 there will be only one category on stage, following the cancellation of the traditional distinction between Big and Newcomers.

A novelty strongly desired by the artistic director and host Claudio Baglioni, who created a separate festival — named Sanremo Giovani, with the first of two shows aired tonight — for the emerging acts. The two winners will compete together with twenty two well established artists.

Let’s find out who slayed the first night conquering the honor of competing at the Sanremo Music Festival 2019!

SANREMO GIOVANI’S FIRST NIGHT

Einar Ortiz with “Centomila volte” is the first winner of Sanremo Giovani. A name that is not surprising, as he took part in the latest edition of the talent show Amici di Maria De Filippi reaching 3rd place.

After the televised experience he released the self-titled album “Einar” and the singles “Chi ama non dimentica“, “Salutalo da parte mia” and “Notte d’agosto“.

He will took the stage of Sanremo 2019 with a new song, not the one he won the competition with.

This is the final ranking of the first show:

Einar – Centomila volte Federica Abbate – Finalmente Deschema – Cristallo Andrea Biagioni – Alba piena Giulia Mutti – Almeno tre Ros – Incendio Marte Marasco – Nella mia testa Fosco17 – Dicembre Wepro – Stop/Replay Fedrix & Flaw – L’impresa Diego Conti – Tre gradi Symo – Paura di amare

Rai, in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has developed a prestigious project.

Six competitors of Sanremo Giovani — the first three classified of each evening — will go on a world tour in the spring of 2019, that will take place in Tunis, Tokyo, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Toronto, Barcelona and Brussels.

SANREMO 2019 PARTICIPANTS

Here is the first half of the official participants. The other half will be revealed tomorrow night, during the second and final show of Sanremo Giovani.

Loredana Bertè – “Cosa ti aspetti da me”

One of the most famous and multifaceted artists, known as “The Queen of Italian rock”. Eccentric clothing, rough voice, evergreen hits. Forty years since the beginning of her career and she still slays the pack. Her “Non ti dico no” is the most-airplayed song of 2018 in Italy. Loredana is the sister of the unforgettable Mia Martini, star of Eurovision 1977 and 1992.

Simone Cristicchi – “Abbi cura di me”

Singer, actor and writer on the scene for twenty years. He made his debut in Sanremo, among the Newcomers, in 2006 with “Che bella gente“. A year later he triumphed in the main category with the poignant “Ti regalerò una rosa” — a sad tale of a man exiled due to his mental illness who struggles being away from the woman he loves.

Ghemon – “Rose viola”

Ghemon, pseudonym of Giovanni Luca Picariello, is the best known name in Italy of the so-called “conscious hip hop”. Active since 1996, he has released five albums and two mix tapes. Many collaborations too in his career. “Rambla” with Elodie is the most recent one.

Il Volo – “Musica che resta”

There is little to say about them, y’all know this operatic pop trio formed by Gianluca Ginoble, Piero Barone and Ignazio Boschetto. In 2015 they won Sanremo with “Grande amore“. Later that year they reached 3rd place at the Eurovision in Vienna, but managed to secure a solid first-place victory in the televoting with 366 points.

Irama – “La ragazza col cuore di latta”

Filippo Maria Fanti, aka Irama, is a rapper who participated among Newcomers in 2016 with “Cosa resterà“. He sadly didn’t reach the final. The success came this year winning the 17th edition of Amici di Maria De Filippi. He then collected five platinum and four gold certifications in a few months.

Motta – “Dov’è l’Italia”

Francesco Motta is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter little-known by the general public but very prolific. He won two prestigious Tenco Prizes, awarded every year by Italian journalists and music critics. One of his songs that got attention recently is titled “La fine dei vent’anni“, like his debut album.

Nek – “Mi farò trovare pronto”

Filippo “Nek” Neviani is popular in Italy and throughout the Spanish-speaking world, selling over 10 million records. He first gained success in 1997, when he took part in Sanremo with “Laura non c’è” (“Laura no está“) went on to become his international breakthrough as it became a major hit in Europe and Latin America that year. He also reached 2nd place in 2015 with “Fatti avanti amore“.

Anna Tatangelo – “Le nostre anime di notte”

At just 31 she already has six participations at Sanremo. Anna made her debut when she was only 15 winning the Newcomers section of the Festival with “Doppiamente fragili“. She reached 2nd place in 2009 with “Il mio amico“, 3rd place in 2005 with “Ragazza di periferia“. Tatangelo also won the Women category in 2006 with “Essere una donna“.

Paola Turci – “L’ultimo ostacolo”

Inseparable from her guitar, the songwriter Paola Turci returns for the eleventh time. She won the Newcomers’ category and the Critics’ Prize in 1989 with “Bambini“. Her last participation dates back to 2017 when she placed 5th with the beautiful rock anthem “Fatti bella per te“.

The Zen Circus – “L’amore è una dittatura”

There is always space in Sanremo for indie projects ready to jump in the mainstream scene. This year it’s up to this rock band founded in 1994. They published ten albums, three of which reached the top ten. Their most successful song is called “Andate tutti a fanculo” (F ** k y’all)

Ultimo – “I tuoi particolari”

His presence is quite obvious. Niccolò “Ultimo” Moriconi won the Newcomers category in 2018 with “Il ballo delle incertezze“. Most important, the Roman singer-songwriter is the breakthrough artist of this year, exceeding the 350,000 certified copies, between albums and singles, since February.

Last May Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro managed to reach 5th place in the grand final with their heartfelt rendition of “Non mi avete fatto niente”. Do you think any of these first twelve Sanremo 2019’s acts can finally give Italy their third victory? Let us know in the comments box below!