Sanremo Festival Winner Olly Will Not Attend Eurovision Song Contest 2025

"Some will say that I am giving up a dream. But I think I am simply choosing to live it in my own time," wrote Sanremo Festival winner Olly. The 23-year-old is currently on a sold-out tour in Italy. He needs to process what is happening to him right now "before I look further ahead" and wants to focus on his tour for now.

Eurovision Song Contest 2025: Sanremo Runner-Up Lucio Corsi Steps In

The public broadcaster Rai announced after the withdrawal that Lucio Corsi (31), as the runner-up of Sanremo, will instead perform as Italy's candidate at the ESC. With his song "Volevo essere un duro" ("I Wanted to Be a Tough Guy"), he narrowly finished behind Olly with his ballad "Balorda Nostalgia" ("Silly Longing") on the final night of the music festival a week ago.

Corsi was considered one of the top favorites to win the singing competition during the five nights of Sanremo, but he finished very close behind Olly. After his first performance on the stage of the Teatro Ariston, where the legendary music festival has been held for decades in Italy, he won the hearts of fans on social media.

Reflective Ballad About Personal Weaknesses

Visually, Corsi's performances at Sanremo were reminiscent of a young David Bowie: He was dressed in a costume with oversized and decorated shoulder pads, and his face was painted white. In his song "Volevo essere un duro," Corsi deals with confronting one's own weaknesses and how important it is to accept oneself as one truly is. Traditionally, the winner of the Sanremo Festival represents Italy at the ESC. For example, in 2022, the rock band Måneskin won at Sanremo and subsequently also brought the ESC victory to Italy.

(APA/Red)

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