(ANSA) – ROME, 22 JAN – “I had a great desire to return here, where I was born, to get involved in the only event capable of uniting Italy. I thank Amadeus for having indulged my desire to end my career as a competitor in the race … for the rest we do not put limits on providence! “. Iva Zanicchi laughs heartily, and the make-up workers laugh next to her in a break from rehearsals at the Ariston. At the age of 82 she is ready for her eleventh Sanremo, the only woman with three victories at the festival, in 1967, 1969 and 1974: “Being here, looking at the sea widens my heart. But the agitation is there: that tension that I still feel, for example when I enter the stage at the theater, here in Sanremo becomes pure panic “. She was tickled by “the idea of competing with boys aged 17, 18: I will cheer for them, I have two grandchildren of 19 and 23 who call me a rock grandmother, I’m used to comparing myself with young people. And then I see that, at the Beyond the typical boldness of the age, they are very nice, respectful. The social audience? I am not worried by the millions of followers: I want to sing, and sing well, with my grit and the steely voice that God has kept me ” . With that voice that “has gotten darker, bluesy over the years” and should have “a little more care” (“if I have a concert I’ll have tea, give birth and sing”) will propose ‘I want to love you’, ” a love song that every woman could dedicate to her husband, a romantic text. I’ll put my heart into it and I’m sure you will like my performance: the arrangement is beautiful. The best compliment was my grandson: ‘grandmother, we listen to other genres, but if I had to slow dance with my girlfriend I’d choose your song ‘”. For the evening of the covers she will interpret, alone, ‘Canzone’ by Don Backy and Detto Mariano, in the version of Milva: “It will be a nice, exciting tribute”. His most beautiful festival, he has no doubts, “was 1969, the year of Gypsy, with Bobby Solo. The song won, it was so easy, popular, beautiful … The worst? That of the first victory, in 1967, with Don’t think about me, with Claudio Villa, the year of Tenco’s suicide …. But then the third victory arrived, in 1974 with Ciao dear how are you, third place with the great Sergio Endrigo with Noah’s Ark, I have participated in ten editions, what do I want from life? “. The “strength of character” allows her today to talk about “that horrible experience that was Covid. My brother Antonio died, alone, without a word of comfort. A horrible experience that I do not wish even for my worst enemy . A pain like this, which has happened to so many families, you never manage to elaborate, you never forget it… But I laugh, I joke, I throw myself into things, because it is right that an artist does not make his sorrows weigh “. And so Iva the force of nature does not stop: “After Sanremo my unreleased album will be released, I’m writing my fourth book and I’m preparing a tour in America. Go back to the festival? walk. Lead him? Maybe I would do the little valley: Mara Maionchi and I, do you think what would come out! “, he exclaims. Speaking of co-hosts, “they are all my life for Drusilla: she is a fantastic artist, she sings like few others, she does jazz, she has the gift of irony. Amadeus did very well to choose her”. Zanicchi does not want to hear about quotas: “I’m against: go ahead if you are worth it, otherwise stay at home. I have too much esteem for the potential of women to support the idea”. A woman at the Quirinale? “I don’t see today a female figure strong enough to lead the Republic”. And Berlusconi? “He would be a wonderful president: knowing him, he would give his life, he would put his head and heart into it. But for his good it is better that he stay out, although I’m sure he will take it for these words. I would rather like Mattarella, whom I respect, to remain. much”. “Enthusiastic” for the presence of the public at the Ariston (“Thank goodness, last year must have been very difficult”), he will focus on a very sober look, dominated by black, with precious fabrics. I entrusted myself to my friend Artemio Cabassi, who often signs costumes for opera. Just for the cover night I chose a tuxedo and I’ll wear my hair tied up. The other evenings I will have backcombed hair, 70s: I would like to revive the backcomb, will I succeed? “, He concludes with a laugh. (HANDLE).
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