The 2008 entry from Switzerland, Paolo Meneguzzi, is currently in Chile to celebrate his first twenty years of music. The Swiss-Italian singer is halfway through his 11-date tour in the Latin American country that gave him the first international exposure.

At the beginning of his career, Paolo Meneguzzi tried to enter the San Remo Festival in 1996, but his song was rejected. Therefore he submitted his title Aria’ ario’ to the Viña del Mar Festival, where he won the international competition representing Italy.

Italy – Latin America – Europe

Debuting at San Remo in 2001, Paolo has known international success in Latin America collecting awards in Mexico, Argentina, Peru and Uruguay, among other countries. But it wasn’t until 2008, when he competed for Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest with the title Era stupendo, that he made himself a name in Europe.

Unlucky entry of the second semi-final, Paolo Meneguzzi ranked thirteenth out of 19 songs missing out the pass for the Grand Final. Nonetheless, his song arrived second in the 2008 OGAE contest, coming second to Sweden’s Charlotte Perrelli, with the song Hero.

A great celebration for a great anniversary

Over twenty years after his first appearance in Chile, Paolo Meneguzzi is back in South America with his latest album 20, containing a mix of new titles and acoustic versions of his most successful songs. The tour will end on the fourth of November in La Serena and so far it has confirmed the large popularity of this former Eurovision contestant in the country.

Tour dates

• 12/10/17: Rancagua
• 13/10/17: Arica
• 14/10/17: Iquique
• 19/10/17: Copiapó
• 20/10/17: Temuco
• 21/10/17: Valdivia
• 26/10/17: Antofagasta
• 27/10/17: Pto. Varas
• 28/10/17: Punta Arenas
• 31/10/17: Los Ángeles
• 04/11/17: La Serena Coquimbo

Watch again the performance of Paolo Meneguzzi at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest here: