The appointment is at 2:30 p.m. in a Roman hotel. Outside, the rain is trying to slow down the heat. amadeus it has the sound bright from those who have learned to navigate storms, have a coffee and break the silence. He answers all questions without avoiding them, he helps himself with gestures to repeat the points that are most important to him.
Last night, Affari Tuoi (produced by Endemol Shine Italy) welcomed the Rai1 audience. Surprising plays, in some episodes more than 5 million and a share of almost 28%. Did he expect that?
“No, I would be presumptuous. I’ve always liked Your Business. When it was entrusted to me this year, I told Endemol and Rai that I would like to change it, they trusted me. We changed the package and added the paper shredder that I had already thought of in the past. I watched the original version of Your Business because I liked that it was more of a quiz and less of a popular party. I was inspired by the American and Dutch editions. When we started recording, I told myself that there are two things: either the program will be “revived” or it will die forever. Luckily it went well.
The Fortunata region has arrived. Need that final twist?
“I love looking at formats from all over the world, I love adapting them. Legacy was an Argentinian afternoon program but I liked the idea of the circular studio, we added the guillotine. At Soliti Ignoti we included the game Mysterious Relative. We need a twist at the end, a twist. When the competitor at Affari Tuoi reached the last stage of the game with all blue packages, the game was over fifteen minutes earlier. Talking about this with author Pasquale Romano, we came up with the idea that the Fortunata region should offer a chance to win and connect with the public.”
I Soliti Ignoti has been a leader in prime time access for years. is this your favorite band
“For me, it’s like hosting every day during prime time. I love doing a daily program, early evening and access is sort of my comfort zone. I feel good there, I’m fine. I would never give up a daily schedule to spend some early evenings.”
Will the two titles come back with a season?
“We’re going to talk to Marcello Ciannamea (Prime Time Entertainment Director, ed.) about it. The company will decide in September which program to use for the restart. It’s irrelevant to me because I love them both equally.”
His neighbor on the plan is Bruno Vespa, the neighbor Antonio Ricci.
“Relationships with Bruno are excellent, we’ve known each other for years and he’s really nice to me, even during his evening performances. Antonio is part of TV history, I have a lot of respect for him. Before I signed on, I said, “Woe to anyone who touches me, Striscia.” I’ve been a fan since I was a boy, I have a personal fondness for the program and for those who work on it.”
Will he return to prime time with Arena Suzuki?
“In September on Rai1, with a novelty: the 2000s are coming”.
Fiorello throws “Bombette” at seven in the morning …
“I almost always see them live, I wake up early and watch them, sometimes I don’t, usually on a Friday and I regret it. He knows it and goes wild” (laughs, editor’s note).
Viva Rai2 is this season’s revelation program: from 1 to 20%.
“A phenomenon that needs to be investigated. It’s a 7am prime time show. He’s brilliant, he manages to do and say things that only he can do.”
What is not known about your friendship?
“In friendship, like in love, relationships happen by chance. We’ve known each other since the 80’s, at the same time we also got on Radio Deejay. This thing bound us for what we lived together. I could always count on him and he on me. It was always there when I needed it.
Can you think of a specific episode?
“At the end of the 90s I arrived at the Festa di Classe with Freccero on Rai2. They expected a 20% stake, the first thing I did was 14%. Big alert. I called Fiorello and asked him for help. I had left Italia1 and Rai bet on me. “I’m asking you to come,” he didn’t have to repeat it twice. The bet achieved odds of 28%, a resounding success. Fiorello gave visibility, the impetus. Since then it has not fallen below 20%. He did something small but important for me. One of many”.
Amadeus, let’s get this straight. Are you the conductor and artistic director of Sanremo 2024?
“Yes, I am”. (laughs, editor’s note)
At first there were hypotheses about his departure from the scene, the arrival of Morgan or Pino Insegno, then there was talk of halving his role. How did he experience all this?
“With calm, with character. Some indiscretions, if I must say, with amusement too. In general, there is a very long list of artists who will do Sanremo after me. And that’s true.”
He got involved in politics.
“It had never happened before but I know it’s part of the game, that’s how it works for Sanremo.”
What is your relationship to politics?
“I’m not in a relationship. It annoys me when they say I’m doing a political Sanremo because that’s not the case. I’m like a striker whose career is all about results: if I score I play, if I underperform I bench. I’ve never taken political sides, I’ve never asked a singer or a guest who they choose, I’ve never chosen a song based on a political current. I don’t care and I don’t need to know.
It’s news time at Rai: Carlo Fuortes out, Roberto Sergio new CEO. Are you afraid of changes in your work?
“I thank Carlo Fuortes and Stefano Coletta for these years together, for their freedom and trust. I have excellent relationships with Roberto Sergio, a manager who knows the company well, comes from radio and understands the importance of music and the need to reflect breaking record news. Really no problem. We talked and I had the certainty that I could go about my work unhindered. May I add something else?”
Certainly.
“When Salini was manager, Teresa De Santis fought for me and really wanted me to come to Sanremo. Reazione a Catena was entrusted to me by Giancarlo Leone, I Soliti Ignoti by Andrea Fabiano. With Angelo Teodoli, I returned to prime time with Ora o mai più. As I said, I worked very well with Coletta. I’ve known Marcello Ciannamea for years, previously at Distribution. In short, I’ve worked with everyone, with leaders from all sides, and no one has asked me what my political vision is, only what TV projects I want to make.”
Sanremo 2023 made history with the presence of Sergio Mattarella at Ariston.
“In 2022 I had received a call from him at a press conference. Having him at the Ariston was very exciting, it was a dream. I wondered why the President of the Republic had never attended such an important event. Mattarella did not care about my festival, but about Italian singing, about the entire music industry, made up of thousands of people. He celebrated this world of professionals and hard workers. It is something that will remain in the history of the festival, I also thank Roberto Benigni for his exceptional participation.”
Fimi, Spotify, Radio. Sanremo clears all rankings and is back in the spotlight. What’s the secret?
“I listen to every song, from the first to the last, hundreds of times, day and night. Without prejudice: The musical decision is entirely up to me and I don’t let anyone influence me. I have two very good collaborators: the author Massimo Martelli and Lavinia Iannarilli, a historical figure at the festival. They help me organizationally, but don’t know who I’m going to vote for. I don’t have an office, I go to the record labels, the majors and meet the independents.”
A little Baudo method.
“In any case, and today I thank Pippo. I met him twice in a restaurant in Rome. “Come here, sit down” (mimics his voice, editor’s note). He told me: “You have to know the songs by heart and choose them, nobody else.” If you take responsibility for everything, including the color of the barriers, you know the car perfectly and can answer any question. “When you delegate, others can make mistakes, but the blame is always yours.”
Did it work exactly?
“When they asked me to do Sanremo, I was in Spain, nowhere to be found. When I’m on vacation, I unplug my phone. I love my job but it’s not my life. I have a family, a wife, my children, my friends, my hobbies. Since I dedicate myself fully to work, I disappear when I’m on vacation. I found fifty calls from different executives in three days, where I thought: “Either they give me Sanremo, or they throw me out.” They gave me the festival and at first I thought: “What now?” How is Sanremo organized ?’ Meeting Pippo enlightened me.”
What has changed?
“I also made unpopular choices, I wanted to personalize it. I’ll be honest, the first time there was no line. Lesser-known singers have always been associated with better-known ones. For example Diodatus. I called him: “You are in competition”, he repeated: “Who should I sing with?”. He performed the song himself and I wanted him to sing it himself. He’s a great talent. The real change came with the pandemic and the maneskins. I presented a list, I still remember Coletta’s face: ‘Do you know them?’ I only know three.’ Stefano trusted. It’s easier today.
Did you immediately understand that Mengoni would win?
“I never think about the winner, I certainly thought he could be among the front runners. Marco is very good, a talent, loved and had a strong song. I always ask the singers never to present just one song, I listen to more than one and then I choose.”
I’ve seen them at Lazza’s, Elodie’s and others’ concerts.
“If I were a few years younger I would go to more concerts, I’m a bit like artistic kids. I also think of Tananai from Sanremo Giovani, who was in last place last year until the success of Tango.”
Did the song originally have a different title?
“Yes, it should say ‘Monday’.”
Colapesce and Di Martino ended up in Korea, Mr. Rain had ruled out several times.
“It’s true, he was disfellowshipped several times before he was selected. I liked it, but it wasn’t the right song. I made a few suggested changes. i like to do it Usually none of the singers complain. On the contrary… I advised Diodato, for example, to open his arms during his Fai Rumore, a hug from the audience while his song explodes. It’s trivial, but I think it’s important.
He was subpoenaed by Digos for the Blanco case. Submission was requested after the hearing.
“I’ve only told the truth from the start. That wasn’t intentional, you think everything is always organized on television. Even more so in Sanremo. I am following all the evidence that I was absent from Blanco because I was summoned to Zelenskyy by the Ukrainian ambassador. When I came back I asked if everything was ok. They told me that he would kick some roses at the end of the performance. It didn’t work that way live. He explained that he hadn’t heard anything, that he was wrong, that he was sorry and that he apologized. I found some comments exaggerated, such as the statement that I had been in prison for years. We have real problems in our country and, like many things after Sanremo, that seemed too exaggerated to me. I’m glad it ended like this. I congratulate him on the song with Mina and remind everyone that he wrote it.
Controversy and filing also for the Fedez and Rosa Chemical case. In recent days there has been talk of emissaries being present at the selections to avoid similar cases.
“No emissary (laughs, editor’s note). But how are they dressed? Who am I? Where are they going that the ordinance didn’t even exist when they wrote it?”
However, she witnessed the alleged dispute between Chiara Ferragni and Fedez.
“I refer to a proverb: The finger should not be placed between a man and a woman.” (laughs, editor’s note)
How did Chiara Ferragni fare in Ariston?
“I was fine, it wasn’t easy. She had no television experience, she went to Sanremo from scratch. She trusted me and the festival. She prepared with great professionalism, humility and precision. We often talked, we confronted each other. For me she was very good.
His Instagram profile has caused a lot of discussion.
“They wrote a lot of untrue things and said that I would make a lot of money thanks to the followers I gained with Sanremo (1.8 million, ed.). That’s obviously not the case, just look at it. There is no advertising. Should I decide to use it in the future, as many do, I would speak to Rai Pubblicità about it.”
Ferragni is the icon of social media.
“She is not a journalist, singer or actress, she is the queen of Instagram. We also chose it for its social role. The Festival has used its power on social networks to attract a “new” part of the audience, Chiara has used Sanremo to reach those who do not follow her online. It is two powerful worlds that have come together.”
Average 63%, 50 million ads, music records. Did you know it’s almost impossible to do better in 2024?
“I swear there’s no challenge for myself. I’m not obsessed with beating previous records. Sanremo has its strength today, everything starts with the songs in competition, I just hope to listen to many and spoiled for choice. We’re working on the scenography and I’ve started listening a little bit, everything starts in June/July.
Last year there were 28 big names, six came from Sanremo Giovani. Maybe too many, think about a reduction?
“I still don’t know, I haven’t decided yet. The beauty of the songs will determine the numbers of the competition.”
Fiorello said he would pick you up last night. Is doing it with him a way of closing the loop?
“Ciuri, I will wait for you!”
He says we shouldn’t trust him. Will this really be his last festival?
“I’m going to say it officially: This is my last festival. Five in a row is a lot. It’s an honor to be equal to Pippo Baudo and Mike Bongiorno. If I was asked in a few years if I could return, yes in the future, but now I have to stop. Even Morandi brought him to me at the age of 78.
Have you already thought about who will be by your side?
“Not yet, I always start with the songs. I’ll start thinking about it in September.”
Rotating scheme or could you focus on a permanent cast this time?
“I want to change something this year, I’m trying to think rationally to find something I haven’t done in the past.”
He went to dinner with Chiara Ferragni and they said he will be there again, even for five nights.
“I don’t think he would come for five nights, he already had an excellent run last year.”
Is there a dream name?
“I have a few dreams, I won’t share them. I am working on it, in both cases I hope that the idea is valid, that this is my last festival and that therefore my wishes can come true.”
From midfielder to top player, he has clear ideas and is not a Christian Democrat.
“I feel free to express myself. Freedom is the truth of who you are.
Closes one year after King Midas. Is that the high point of your career?
“It’s certainly a good moment, the last ten years have been artistically important. I was lucky enough to be able to do a lot of training, I live everything with great serenity and normality. It’s not the dates that change my mood. I’m happy when I earn 25%, but I don’t like making boastful claims. It’s a way of flexing muscles, but the viewer who chooses you doesn’t care if 5 million or 6 million saw you. It’s nice to meet people on the street and feel the love they show me. He’ll never find an episode where I’m yelling at the viewership boom or claiming spikes in viewership. Just thank you, because I am grateful to those who follow us.”
Which kid was it?
“I dreamed a lot. And I’m still doing it now.
Sitting on the sofa with mum and dad and watching Sanremo?
“Sanremo, Rischiatutto, Canzonissima. I didn’t miss anything. While my friends were out on the streets at night, I ran home, they thought I was crazy. I also watched TV with my grandparents and imagined that I was there, in that magical place. I taught my kids to dream big.”
Which father is he?
“I spoil them and give my children the freedom to choose. They have to do what they want. I think it’s helpful to look in the mirror and say “Fine” or “You screwed it up” just because you chose to. When I’ve allowed others to influence me, I’ve made a few turns. I got mad at myself for listening.
Do you often get angry?
“The untruth makes me angry. When I realize that someone is lying to me or making fun of me, I have a hard time getting over it. I think that’s a lack of respect.”
what moves you
“People in difficulty, whether they are adults, the elderly or children. When I see someone in trouble, wronged, or unable to rebel, I am touched.”
Do you believe in God?
“Yes very much”.
He celebrates twenty years of love with Giovanna Civitillo.
“My wife is the anchor of my life, the only person who knows me better than myself. Channel my impulsiveness a little.”
gun to his temple. Will Inter win the Champions League or will Sanremo set new records in 2024?
“It’s very bad. With the Champions League just around the corner, I’ll say Inter wins. If it happens, I’ll fight to the death to set another record and bring both home” (laughs, ed. ed.).