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Blogilkar exclusive: NICOLA CALIGIORE INTERVIEW


Blogilkar had the pleasure to interview the Italian Head of delegation Nicola Caligiore. How did he live those two last editions in Baku and Dusseldorf? Will Italy be back in 2013? Will there be an Eurovision night in Sanremo? What are his favorite Eurovision songs? What does he think of Italian fans behavior? Here is the interview in English version. The Italian original one is here.

Last year, Italy was back with, let's say general euphoria and welcomed with open arms by all in Dusseldorf. How were you received this year?
We were greeted very well, for me now all the event management and other heads of delegations are like one big family.
Last year, Italy was not among the favorites and finished second. This year, the Zilli was among the main contenders for victory and finished ninth. Why?
I can not tell exactly, it is a competition ... you can win, you can lose ... it's part of the game, moreover, to be ninth out of forty-two is not a bad result.
Have you discussed whether it was right to change the song?
The song "L'amore è femmina" was selected by Universal Music in agreement with Rai and artist management. The record company has invested and believed a lot in this project, I can only thank Universal Music for the great work.
Last year when Gualazzi slowly climbed the table almost hidden to the top, what was going through your head?
I answer with a song: ".. Euphoria! We're going up up up .. "
At the end you were happy and relieved, or maybe a little disappointed not to have won?
As I said before, it's a competition, you must want to win but we must also know how to lose .. second place for Raphael was a tremendous achievement and a great gesture of affection towards our country.
And in 2012, did you expect a better placement as you were a favorit?
I believe I already responded to this earlier.
However, 25 countries out of 41 voted Italy but only Malta had it in top-3. How do you explain that? (Also the fact that Finland did not vote for Italy! For the first time since 1978! ... Finland has voted Italy in the top-3 nine times out of 18 possible since 1974 with the voting system we have today). Fans talk about plots a la Jalisse in 1997 (I do not believe it, I want to clarify, Ed.note). That RAI has asked the juries not to vote for it in various countries. What do you think of these accusations?
Stupidities and absurdities, which degrade the grueling work and complex behind this event - Rai has decided not to have anything to do with other juries, not in any way - We chose independent professionals (striking example was the fact that they have not been able to help San Marino in the semifinale) and we kept out of any "games", just to protect the country's image, to avoid the easy stereotypes about Italians - I would like the fans appreciated these things rather than give credit to fantasy conspiracies.
It seems that fans in Italy instead of being happy that Italy has returned talk bad about RAI and anything is not good for them - a fact that has made you also react on FB (here). Do you think it served something or was it useless?
It was my mistake to try to communicate too much with the fans and I was a little naive in wasting time trying to hear the views of the most - I realize that in a spectacle like this everyone is expecting something, and believe they have the answers to all: reading the comments I realize, however, that 99% of them do not know at all what's behind it, but only the facade: the dynamics of the contest and the business, the dynamics of EBU-UER, the costs of participation, the problems and controversies with the record companies, and especially do not appreciate the fact that ESC is still at the moment a product considered marginal in Italy - Personally I believe in this product and have protected it as much as I can, I find that the fan should be a little more grateful to be back and Rai has represented our country for two years with great elegance and respect, the rest is useless nonsense.
The audience is up, many magazines and newspapers have dedicated space for the ESC, including TV Sorrisi e Canzoni with three pages and Twitter has made records and miracles. Do you think that the positive trend will continue?
Obviously I hope so! We tried to do a great job with the press this year, looking for as many co operations as possible, but certainly the controversy on Azerbaijan were difficult to contain.
Do you think enough RAI promotes the event? Personal opinion?
"Enough" is a relative term – I's rather compare to the previous year: Rai has promoted the event much more than in 2011: Nina has been a guest on numerous programs, the promo has gone inter-network (at almost no other programme is allowed this "privilege"), the radio has cooperated very well, all the TV.news did the launch and services, we animated the Facebook page and tweeted the final ..... I do not accept to be told that "RAI does no promotion at all," you can not expect that we speak as if Eurovision was the Football World Cup or Sanremo, one must have patience and appreciate the progress.
If you had a carte blanche to be able to do the national selection and promotion of the event in Italy, what would you do? (Again from Sanremo, a competition just for the national selection or internal selection ....)
Personally, and I repeat it is a personal opinion, I do not agree to a national selection with televoting - the formula of musical talent is in trouble in Italy, I'd much happier to be able to choose an artist whose recording career is not ad hoc Eurovision, who has a music career and a developed discography, thus avoiding the phenomena "One shot" that often characterize the event instead of good for music: we're back to the ESC also because we believe it's a platform to promote good Italian music in the world , as it had in the past, fulfilling a mission of public service as indicated in the service contract. I do not know what will happen in the future, we may also explore new formulas, but it is too early to tell.
A question on everyone's lips: Will Italy be back in 2013 and remain in the ESC?
The participation is decided by the General Direction. Obviously I hope so, but can't tell you anything for sure yet, especially in light of recent changes to corporate governance.
Sanremo 2013 will be back from where the artist will be chosen and / or song?
Still early to tell
And if you dedicate an evening of Sanremo for Eurovision? :-)
It seems a bit utopian, but ... never say never.
You were familiar with the ESC after years living in Spain. Now with these two years of experience as Head of Delegation are also a fan or is it just work for you?
Well, I do not deny that I was passionate about the festival, but I'm certainly here to work for my company. Obviously I try to perform my task with the utmost respect and passion
Do you have any favorite older songs and some from 2011-2012? (Excluding Italy of course)
There are several ... In the past I liked Rybak and Fairytale, and because of a story related to my personal life, I'm very fond of Comme comme, ca by Evridiki (Cyprus). This year I found very beautiful the songs of Germany and Hungary, very close to my musical taste.
How are relations with other delegations? With whom does Italy spend time with? (As the Finns often end up with the Icelanders and the Irish usually ....)
There is a very good relationship with everyone! As I said before, the spirit of the event is really that of a beautiful party, for logistics reasons including schedule and shared events, Big5 often end up spending lots of time together
Whose idea was that Nina screams "Clap Your Hands, Europe!"?
Absolutely spontaneous by Nina herself!
Thanks so much for the interview and hope to see in Sweden 2013!
Thank you!

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