The idea has been floating around 🇮🇹Italy this week that Toto Cutugno should perform Italy's last winning song at next year's #Eurovision2022.
Would be quite a moment, because it's about the 🇪🇺Maastricht Treaty which created the #EuropeanUnion.
A thread.
Would be quite a moment, because it's about the 🇪🇺Maastricht Treaty which created the #EuropeanUnion.
A thread.
#Insieme1992 (together in 1992, the year the Maastricht Treaty would take effect) is a remarkable reflection of the hope and optimism of the time, winning in 1990 just after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
It is hard to imagine a song like this winning now, or even being allowed.
It is hard to imagine a song like this winning now, or even being allowed.
#Eurovision doesn't allow political songs. This year #Belarus was disqualified because their entry mocked anti-government protests.
It says something that in 1990 a song about uniting Europe into a confederation was not deemed political or contentious. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insieme:_…
It says something that in 1990 a song about uniting Europe into a confederation was not deemed political or contentious. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insieme:_…
A bit of background:
The Maastricht Treaty transformed the European Community (a free trade bloc) into the European Union (a supranational union or confederation with one currency and free movement).
It also envisioned expansion to the East.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maastrich…
The Maastricht Treaty transformed the European Community (a free trade bloc) into the European Union (a supranational union or confederation with one currency and free movement).
It also envisioned expansion to the East.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maastrich…
Looking at the lyrics of this #Eurovision winning song, the celebration of European federalism is undeniable:
🎶🎶🎶
Together: unite, unite Europe
For you, a woman without borders
With you, under the same flags
You and I, under the same sky
Together, unite, unite, Europe
🎶🎶🎶
🎶🎶🎶
Together: unite, unite Europe
For you, a woman without borders
With you, under the same flags
You and I, under the same sky
Together, unite, unite, Europe
🎶🎶🎶
🎶🎶🎶
We’re more and more free
It’s no longer a dream and you’re no longer alone
Give me your hand, so that we can fly
Europe is not far away
This is an Italian song for you
For us, love without borders
You and I, having the same ideals
Our stars, one single flag
🎶🎶🎶
We’re more and more free
It’s no longer a dream and you’re no longer alone
Give me your hand, so that we can fly
Europe is not far away
This is an Italian song for you
For us, love without borders
You and I, having the same ideals
Our stars, one single flag
🎶🎶🎶
The Italian celebration of EU unity is all the more striking when viewed in hindsight.
Italy hosted ESC the next year in 1991, and then in 1994 pulled out of #Eurovision for almost 2 decades (for various reasons including Berlusconi's private interests).
Italy hosted ESC the next year in 1991, and then in 1994 pulled out of #Eurovision for almost 2 decades (for various reasons including Berlusconi's private interests).
So much has happened since 1990. European unification has become much more contentious. Those heady days of ambition and optimism are long gone on this continent.
Would RAI feel staging this song now would be too political? And if so, what does that say about the past 30 years?
Would RAI feel staging this song now would be too political? And if so, what does that say about the past 30 years?
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