There are some countries that seem to get Eurovision. The last three countries to win it mainly. We’re clearly in one in May, but there’s that boot-shaped country too, and you can never write them off.
Our friends in Italy have at times had a strained relationship with our favourite TV show. They have their own, coming from the resort of Sanremo, which seems to be the bigger thing. Nevertheless, many Italian stars have gone and done their stuff. Today’s birthday boy Luca Barbarossa won Sanremo in 1992, but four years earlier he’d gone to Dublin with a songs that might – just might – contain the only ever fade out of a Eurovision performance (unless you know differently). Luca came equal twelfth with his guitar-heavy song in which he apologises for writing to his love. But he was in good company, as a Swede shared his placing that year.
Luca is 63 today.
Buon compleanno, Luca!