It’s twenty years since Jalisse won the Sanremo Music Festival, but the Italian duo could be ready to make a comeback.
Back in 1997, the Spice Girls had just released their second single, Madeline Albright had just become the USA’s first woman secretary of state and Princess Diana was campaigning for an interational ban on landmines. And Jalisse made their own bit of history by winning the prestigious Sanremo Music Festival with their song, Fiume di parole.
The band, which is made up of real-life couple Alessandra Drusian and Fabio Ricci, went on to represent Italy at that year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin. And even though they finished in a respectable 4th place, it would be Italy’s last appearance in the competition until 2011.
Now it’s 2017. The Spice Girls haven’t released any music for nine years, the USA might soon get its first woman President, landmines are still a problem in 60 countries across the globe…and Jalisse are ready to take on the Sanremo Music Festival once more. And they’ve already submitted potential songs to Italian broadcaster, RAI.
We’ve sent in draft versions of two very intense songs, Fabio explained to journalists. The two songs are very different. Being back in Sanremo would be an amazing thing for us – two artists who have persevered and worked hard. We’ve even raised a family without quitting music or the stage.
Indeed, since competing at Eurovision in 1997, Jalisse have recorded and released music steadily, they’ve toured, starred in films and spoken out on behalf of several human rights organisations.
The Sanremo Music Festival 2017 will be held next February at the city’s Teatro Arena. Songs have to be submitted to RAI by this coming 3rd December. The winner of the competition will have the right to represent Italy at next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv.
