The Italian broadcatser RAI, which celebrates its 50th television anniversary, announced the songs and participants for the 55th Sanremo festival, which is considered as the “mother” of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Unlike previous years, there will be only one contest, a contest with both known and unknown artists. The following artists will participate in Sanremo 2004:
Morris Albert – Cuore (Heart)
André – Il nostro amore (Our love)
Bungaro – Guardastelle (Stars-keeper)
DB Boulevard – Basterà (It will be enough)
DJ Francesco – Era bellissimo (It was wonderful)
Daniele Groff – Sei un miracolo (You're a miracle)
Linda – Aria, sole, terra, mare (Air, sun, earth, sea)
Danny Losito – Single (Single)
Marco Masini – L'uomo volante (The flying man)
Paolo Meneguzzi – Guardami negli occhi (prego) (Look me in the eyes (please))
Andrea Mingardi – E' la musica (It's music)
Massimo Modugno – Quando l'aria mi sfiora (When air softly touches me)
Neffa – Le ore piccole (The hours of the night)
Pacifico – Solo un sogno (Just a dream)
Adriano Pappalardo – Nessun consiglio (No advices)
Omar Pedrini – Lavoro inutile (Useless work)
Stefano Picchi – Generale (Commander)
Er Piotta – Ladro di te (Thief of your aim)
Mario Rosini – Sei la mia vita (You're all my life)
Simone – E' stato tanto tempo fa (Long time ago)
Mario Venuti – Crudele (Cruel)
Veruska – Un angelo legato a un palo (An angel tied to a pole)
Each participant can invite an international or italian artist to sing the song with. Adriano Pappalardo will sing alone, Andrea Mingardi in duet with James Brown, Massimo Modugno with The gipsy kings and it seems almost sure that Neffa will be joined by The Manhattan transfer. Other names that are rumored are those of Natalie Cole and Skin.
On Friday night, there will be a celebration of the history of the festival. Known artists that aren't taking part in this years competition will participate in that.
The popular Italian music festival insipred the European Broadcasting Union to establish the Eurovision Song Contest.
