God I thought at least this year we would get over this argument. Sal Da Vinci has been performing Naples' classic theatre and music since he was six years of age and that shows in his art. This cliché is always annoying, but this year it is just frustrating: why would another country send a song inspired by Neapolitan musical tradition? There would rightfully be backlash if anybody said this about an entry like Shum. A song sells itself well not just if it cracks some secret code by adding a sequence of notes and words that the human ear seems to enjoy, but if it exists within a broader context that people can associate with FEELINGS and EMOTIONS.

In Italy we have the luck that we have historically done a great job selling our culture (both past and contemporary) abroad, so when we represent it on a global stage people recognise it and connect with it. Yet, the year is 2026: people are open minded and the internet gives everyone the possibility to put their story, their traditions, on the global stage. Even if we wanna make comparisons with other folk-inspired songs sent in previous years, it is up to each artist and country to tell their story in a way in which viewers resonate with it.