Sanremo: the social festival and the look report cards
And here we are again. Once more to sum up a Sanremo marathon that has involved millions of viewers, ready to listen, judge, criticise. Because yes, say what you will, Sanremo week remains one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year. The Sanremo Festival is music, entertainment, fashion, history: a mirror of society and contemporary culture. With the humility of being one small voice among many, here is my personal recap of this important event, now come to an end.
Opening the stage are two very elegant hosts, Amadeus and Morandi: ironic, charismatic, professional. Top marks for their always impeccable looks and for the verve with which they presented every night of the Festival. I admit I started out prejudiced about Amadeus’s direction years ago but, today, changing my mind seems simply inevitable, and the numbers speak for themselves. I appreciate his management, his choices, his dedication. In Morandi I loved the respect he showed for that stage, which is a fundamental part of his career.
Sanremo goes social
As a Millennial who fully lives the digital age, I can only appreciate the fact that a Festival born and raised on a medium like television increasingly reaches into the social world and becomes part of young people’s reality. This year more than ever, thanks to the presence of the undisputed queen of the social world, Chiara Ferragni. Witty, sunny, charismatic: she handled the emotions brilliantly and gave us plenty more. Yet another moral slap in the face for those who think she doesn’t deserve the success she has. TV and Instagram united through live streams, lots of selfies and then the magic: in less than 10 minutes more than 400k followers on Ama’s new profile, and in just five nights it reaches almost 2 million users.
Everyone’s crazy about Fantasanremo
Another fundamental piece to which goes the credit for making the Sanremo Festival ever more social is the now very famous FantaSanremo, the fantasy game based on organising and managing virtual teams made up of five of the competing artists, one of whom is a captain. Points are accumulated on the basis of actions and events that happen during the five nights. The edition just ended boasts half a million registered teams. Many of the competing artists happily joined in the game, which even went so far as to involve the host/artistic director. Last year the artist who gave players the most points was Emma Marrone. This year, it seems to be Sethu, followed by Marco Mengoni. While we wait for the final result, to be followed, as it happens, on social media.
Sanremo Fashion Week: the Ariston catwalk
Chiara Ferragni brought into the festival not only her world as a digital entrepreneur, but also that of fashion. Not sequins and glitter, but statement dresses, dresses that tell a story, dresses that send strong messages. Because fashion is also this: expression and denunciation of society. Together with the maisons Dior and Schiaparelli she gave a voice to the figure and the freedom of women, still too often caged today by gender stereotypes.
The report card of the worst looks of this Sanremo and the vest-gate
Well, the song certainly didn’t enjoy the success she hoped for, but of one thing we are all sure: Anna Oxa did make it onto a podium all the same, winning the prize for worst look at the Sanremo Festival. A shared opinion among us young people, by now used to the most eccentric looks of the fashion system, but also among those who lived through the golden years of an artist of Oxa’s calibre, known for her eclectic, shape-shifting style. So why? Let the soul speak, not appearances, just as her song celebrates. A deliberate choice, then? Yes. Questionable? That too.
Anna Oxa mark: 4
I grew up singing Amici come prima, Vamos a bailar, A modo mio. OK. A comeback we were all curious to see, me first of all. And with FURORE we waited and made our debut. Sure that the Wednesday effect will hit Paola and Chiara too and that the dance will go viral in no time, I’m sorry to fail their nod to the 2000s and the Vampire Skin make-up trend.
Paola & Chiara mark: 5
Let’s move briefly on to the famous vest-gate, whose protagonist is Leo Gassmann. On the third night, the artist came on stage wearing a white vest. In a post, the stylist explicitly distanced herself, saying the look was meant to include a Givenchy jacket which, however, violated the network’s policy because the brand was clearly visible, and so it was not authorised to go on stage. Mistakes like this honestly leave me perplexed, but who am I to judge? And as a simple spectator, I can only give a pass to the handsome and talented Gassmann all the same, who looked more than fine even in a vest. After all, good blood doesn’t lie, and as his father tweeted, “a family trademark”.
Leo Gassmann mark: 7
The best looks of Sanremo 2023
I have to say that this year I really liked the looks of almost all the competing artists, so my compliments go first of all to those who work behind the scenes in the industry: hair stylists, MUAs, stylists. Everything works better when there is teamwork behind it.
With the right preamble made, undisputed queen this year too is Elodie, who over the four nights takes the stage wearing brands such as Valentino, Gucci, Versace and The Attico. Simply divine.
Top marks also for Levante, who wears Etro pieces every night.
I might seem biased, but my wholly positive vote, outfit included, goes to Tananai, who wears Gucci: elegant, classic, retro.
Mengoni’s path to victory is accompanied by the maison Versace: the winner chose to bring to the stage a look inspired by the collections of the ’90s. A revival that decidedly won us over.
The victory of music
On the first night, Benigni, in his monologue, quotes Fellini: Music is dangerous because it gets inside you. Yes indeed, despite tastes, preferences, rankings and prizes, Sanremo is a precious treasure chest holding part of the heritage of Italian music. I think the greatest victory is this mix of talents able to move us through notes and words. A unique occasion: like being on a merry-go-round where you see the pillars of Italian music climb aboard alongside the new generations who still have so much to give. Confidence and mastery on one side, insecurity and fear on the other, and again those who have already walked the Ariston and those who cross it on tiptoe for fear of not being up to it. I think every song presented on that stage left us something and had something to say, so THANK YOU.