ROME, ITALY – Italian singer Arisa, who is competing in this year’s Sanremo Festival, says she does not want to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. Italian broadcaster RAI offers the Sanremo winner an opportunity to represent the country at Eurovision, although they can turn it down.
With her song “Guardando Il Cielo”, Arisa has been tipped as the favourite at this year’s Sanremo. However, the singer says she is not up for the commitment and does not want to take too much on all at the same time.
If the Sanremo winner turns down the opportunity to represent Italy at Eurovision, RAI chooses a singer internally. The Sanremo festival begins tomorrow.
DID YOU KNOW?
Arisa won the 2014 Sanremo Festival with the song “Controvento”. However, for the first time since Italy returned to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011, the Sanremo Music Festival was not used as a selection for the Italian entry at the European contest.