"In 2001 he took part in the Sanremo Festival in the Young Musicians section, where his 'Ed Io Non Ci Sto Piu' came seventh".

The Spin


Paolo Meneguzzi, the star of recent San Remo Festivals is thirty on 6 December; over the last decade he has become one of the most highly acclaimed singers on the Italian music scene. His music is inspired by a variety of performers: ranging from Madonna and Michael Jackson with their slick American pop to stalwarts of Italian pop music, such as Battisti and Ramazzotti.
It was in South America though that Paolo first hit the limelight. In 1996 in Chile - still unknown back home - with the song ARIA which won the Viña del Mar Festival.
In 2001 he took part in the Sanremo Festival in the Young Musicians section, where his Ed Io Non Ci Sto Piu came seventh. He then released the album "Un sogno delle mani". His first Italian hit arrived the following year with his single In Nome Dell'amore, recorded at the Olympic studio and Metropolis studio in London (the same recording studios used by Craig David and Madonna). In just a few weeks this track raced up the charts and remained there for over five months staying at the top of the singles charts for over two months.
In April 2003, his second single Verofalso was released; it took just three weeks for it to reach the top five in the Music Control charts. In October of the same year his third single Lei E, an R&B ballad dedicated to his mother was released. The album of the same name, released in October went double platinum, selling more than 200,000 copies.
In March of 2004 he took part in the 54th Sanremo Festival with the song Guardami Negli Occhi (Prego) which came fourth. The track immediately received plenty of airplay and charted at number one in the music control charts.
On 4 June his new single Baciami was released; it was one of the songs with most airplay in Italy. He then embarked on a tour, taking in the most important venues in Italy, winning plaudits from the public and taking part in every stage of the Festivalbar event. In September his new single Una Regola D'amore debuted, the sixth taken from his hugely successful "Lei è 2004": another sure-fire hit.
In the autumn of 2004 Paolo Meneguzzi debuted in France with In Nome Dell'amore (Au Nom De L'amour), a duet with Ophelie, who had just won the French edition of Pop Idol. The track broke into the top 10 in France and after not much more than a month had already sold 100,000 copies.
In 2005 Paolo starred at the 55th Sanremo Festival with his song Non Capiva Che L'amavo, which reached the top 10. His album "Favola", released in March then went platinum. In July Sara came out, one of the most played songs in the radio charts. In September with heavy radio airplay Lui E Lei was released, a third single taken from the successful "Favola" album.
In 2007 he came sixth at the 57th Sanremo Festival with the song MUSICA, defined by Pippo Baudo, the long-time presenter, as the manifesto of the Sanremo Festival. The single went straight to number one in Italy and stayed there for six weeks.
At the end of November 2007 his live "Musica Tour", CD and DVD were released; the show was filmed by TSI last 21 April using high-definition cameras. An intense two-hour show, masterfully directed with beautiful lighting effects, choreography, dancing and above all Paolo Meneguzzi's great many radio hits, juxtaposed with tracks taken from his latest album.

The Singer
 

The Past
  
The inaugural champions as represented by a Cypriot, the Swiss have never been afraid of looking abroad to develop their interests in European light entertainment. In the days of yore when ballards ruled the Eurosong firmament, Switzerland was a power to behold, and had many a strong performance. Lys Assia was the acceptable face of Swiss Eurosong, when compared to their other victory in '88. Beelzebub sent a minion to Earth in a puff ball skirt that year, who has since gone on to suck souls from millions of demented folk the world over, the type of people who thought Princess Diana was a "true angel". Yes, Canadian Dion was the last "success" for Switzerland, and I argue that the nil points that they secured in the semi final in 2004 was an artistic failure of similar merit.
They have never sent anything worth listening to...but it's Switzerland were talking about here...I'm not surprised in the least.

The Song

Breakdancing isn't the best fit for a ballard. As Dustin should have said, let's forget the Swiss.

Overall

My predictions below were cobbled together before the rehearsals which has prved that Mr Meneguzzi may have a chronic stage fright condiiton. Not good when you're supposedly due to perform in front of millions of Europeans, and a handful of Azeris. As such, he has now been discounted by those on the fornt line, and I've no reason to not belive them. So ignore the 9th place I've got him down for, it's gash.

   
 
 
   
   
 
 

Era Stupendo

C'? una parte di me
Che tacere non sa
Quando guardo l'odio che c'e
Il dolore, la poverta
Mi rivedo bambino io
Che correvo nel blu

Era stupendo volare via
Sfidare il vento, la fantasia
La tua mano e la mia
Nella stessa poesia
Era stupendo

Ma una notte vedrai
Dal destino usciro, lo giuro
Se la vita ci aspettera
Torneremo laggiu

Sara stupendo volare via
Sfidare ancora la fantasia
E poi la tua mano e la mia
Nella stessa poesia
Era stupendo
Era stupendo

Perche non c'e pace, finche...
Tutti pensano a se

Era stupendo volare via
Sfidare il vento, la fantasia
La tua mano e la mia
Nella stessa poesia
Era stupendo
Era stupendo

It Was Amazing

There is a part of me
Tthat can't be quiet
When I see the hatred there is
The pain, the poverty
I see myself as kid
When I was running in the blue

It was amazing to fly away
Challenge the wind, the fantasy
Your hand and mine
In the same poetry
It was amazing

But one night you'll see
I'll escape from the destiny, I swear
If life will wait for us
We'll return there

It will be amazing to fly away
To again challenge the fantasy
And then your hand and mine
In the same poetry
It was amazing

Because there is no peace, as long...
As all think about themselves

It was amazing to fly away
Challenge the wind, the fantasy
Your hand and mine
In the same poetry
It was amazing
It was amazing

Prediction Semi Final 2 5th
Final 9th