Blogilkar exclusive: VALENTINA MONETTA INTERVIEW

The Sammarinese entrant Valentina Monetta sat down to talk about this and that with Blogilkar. Here in the exclusive interview she tells us how she ended in Eurovision, Ralph Siegel and the song title controversy. Tomorrow in the second part she speaks about the reactions, the Eurovision fans, plans for Baku and life post-Baku. Stay tuned!

Ciao Valentina and thank you for acccepting this interview. How are you?

Thank you, Blogilkar.! All is fine, I'm very content. Finally I have an occasion to sing abroad and to take part in such an important event as Eurovision. I can't wait!

So, who is Valentina Monetta?

I'm a girl who forgets she's a woman very often. I sing since I was 5 years old and music has always been a part of my life. My father plays music and my mothers sings a little. In our household there has always been music. I first started to learn singing by myself listening to pop, black music and soul and later on I discovered jazz. During my last school years I started singing in clubs and when I realized it's what I want to do I started studying more seriously music and vocal technics. So in short, after many years of various experiences and learning and doing the hard work it is paying off with various splendid opportunities. Most of all this very beautiful experience of participating in the Eurovision song contest 2012.

We have read about your fairytale like situation ending up in Eurovision. Did it really happen like that? Tell us a bit more....

Oh yeah! It all happened in few hours really. All was ready for them but then there were problems and Carmen Lasorella, the director of RTV San Marino had to find another singer to represent the country. I happened to be in the right place at the right time! That night I had a gig with my jazz trio in a club in Riccione. A perfect setting for an audition. Even if we had several technical and health problems that night Carmen liked what she saw and heard, my passion and my voice were there. Carmen sent me off to Munich right away to record the song. I liked the song and made it my own easily and I'm literally in the seventh heaven. But the fever rises and then the polemics and trouble but I made myself strong as a little country and just when everything seemed already lost I found again my Cinderella shoe and we are back on track. And now I'm stronger than ever and here we go! You know the rest!

And then came the change of the title....

We never thought mentioning such a famous social network name would cause any problem, as it is as famous as Coca-Cola, to the Reference group of ESC. Luckily the problem has been solved even if for a moment I thought it was over, I can't participate after all but now The socialnetwork song (oh oh uh oh oh) is back in the game!

How did you meet Ralph Siegel and did you know who he is?

I met this magnificient person and great professional in Munich. I didn't know him beforehand but he made me feel at my ease at once I entered his house. We had a great feeling from the start and we were in harmony with his artistic soul and in a moment I was already in the recording studio to do the song.

Already back in 2008 you tried to get to represent San Marino in Eurovision, right? Are you a fan or did you just see a good professional opportunity?

Yes I did. I sent in my own song as I'm also writing songs since some years besides performing those written by the others. I follow every music contest and festival that comes my way and of course Eurovision as well!

You have favourite Eurovision songs? Or some performances that you remember well for a reason or another?

I adore Raphael Gualazzi! An artist I follow already some time, not only because he comes from around here but because he's a great musician and I like his style. Last year I was so pleasantly surprised for his placing! Really happy!

Stay tuned for the second part tomorrow. Right here.

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