BLOGILKAR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: MARCO MENGONI

Blogilkar's Bicyckling reporter Robert had a chance to interview the essential Italian Marco Mengoni. In his press conference he said Europe needs more to unite it than coins: music. And music needs place to breath: Eurovision. He's also happy Italy has returned to the contest after the absence of 14 years and thinks it's a shame they missed all those years as it's so great! What did he talk about in this joint interview in more private settings? Find out here:

Thank you Marco for your time. Italian broadcaster RAI chose you for Eurovision. Was it also your wish beforehand?

It was some years that I heard again about Eurovision since we returned in 2011, and yes of course I wanted to do this fantastic event. It was a dream. But I was feeling a bit inmature for such a big international stage, not knowing languages, being so young.... I'm living a wonderful experience here and I hope this will be a big brick in the wall of my career, so to speak.

When and why did you decide on L'Essenziale?

There were many options really. This project started in Sanremo, after many years in making. Last year I changed all my staff and it was like a new beginning for me. I don't want to talk about the song's success in Italy, because it's a bit... Anyways, it made feel like Italians approve the choice. We chose this also because of the lyrics. It's a song written by 3 Italians including me, a typical Italian ballad talking about hope, in this historic and difficult moment we are living it felt like a right thing to do. I'm here to represent Italy and this felt right song to do it with. I hope it's a starting point for me and my album abroad as well.

Sanremo is the biggest music festival in Italy, but what is your favorite Italian Eurovision song?

First of all I'm very young man... but I remember one. Volare. But I remember another one, Jalisse's Fiumi di parole! It's my first Eurovision memory. It was huge, all over this year.

Italy has sent some big names to Eurovision like Anna Oxa and Alice... Would you like duet with them, or someone else?

Boh, I don't know. I think I would go for some more recent names.... I could do a duet with Raphael Gualazzi, we share the same backgroud in soul and jazz. But I don't know... Other? Hmm... Toto Cutugno? Gianni Morandi did Eurovision, right? Him.

Many Italian artists are popular abroad like Laura Pausini and sell a lot of CDs. Are you also going to release internationally?

Yes, we are thinking about that and there are plans. We have recorded half of the album in English, and we have done demos in Spanish and the album is available on iTunes and Amazon wordlwide... I was very happy to sing in Big5 concert last night the English version of Pronto a correre, written by Take That's Marc Owen. Maybe you didn't understand a word I was singing but I assure you the studio version is almost perfect! Ha ha!

Now some personal question. You are going to wear Ferragamo in the final. What about the shoes? The beard?

Ha ha ha.... I will have elegant shoes.... :-) Black shoes with Swarovski chrystals.... just to be essential... ha ha ha! The beard... should I shave? I don't know yet! We'll see how I feel Saturday morning! Depends on the weather, ha ha!

Italians are known with their close relationship with mother. Are you a mammone?

I run away from home when I was 17 exactly for that reason! ha ha!

Have you seen your mother since?

She almost died when I said I'm leaving, my father didn't. I spoke to her last night on Skype. No one from my family is coming here...

Are you feeling alone?

Absolutely not! Ha ha ha! 200 rompicoglioni (pain in the ass, Ed.note) around all the time..... ;-) No, really, I'm joking. I believe a part of my Esercito (means Army aka his fans, Ed.note) will come here on Saturday. They are coming, be aware. You won't miss them!

I will stay away from them then.....

Just show them a picture with Marco and they will love you, too, ha ha ha!

Ok... When you need to rest, where do you go in Italy?

I never rest! Ha ha. I go back to my parents... mamma! Near Rome. There's mountains, a lake, nothing to do..... ! I return to the origins, like in the song. The song is about that really.

You started your concert tour just before coming here. How do you psyche up to sing only one song, 3 minutes?

In a way I'm happy it's only a few minutes. In a concert you may fall and rise, so to speak. Here you have 3 minutes, you really have to do it like your life depended on it. I do it like if it was my last day... my last interview.... like I do everything in my life, ha ha. I love the hard things. The concentration of those 3 minutes gives me a lot of adrenalin. I like it.

Did you receive any advice and help from Nina Zilli or Raphael Gualazzi?

No, I didn't. They should have told me, how crazy this is going to be! Ha ha! All these crazy journalists and all....

As we know Eurovision isn't that well known in Italy. How much your participation will help with that?

I don't know. A lot I hope! We'll find out later, but I know already that the rates of the First semifinal on Tuesday doubled in Italy, that's a good sign. It's my Army! :-) They are fantastic! Their virtual power is amazing and most of all, I want to thank them all! Tuesday in Twitter #esercito was top-2 trend in the world, they destroy everything!

If you were to do a cover version of any of this year's songs, what would it be? And why?

Marry me..... No!... that Ding Dong Team was all over the place in Amsterdam! Really, they are really sweet but.... Believe in me! No.... I don't know which song but I'd love to collaborate with the Greek band! They are full of energy. Birds might fit me too, beautiful... oh and they have an airbag in vocals, too! ha ha ha.... Oh, now we have to go, we are late. Of course.....

Ok, ciao Marco!

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