After five nights of thrilling performances and fierce competition, Olly has triumphed at the Sanremo Music Festival 2025 with his song "Balorda nostalgia." The festival, held at the iconic Teatro Ariston, saw 29 competing acts showcase their talents, but it was Olly who captured the coveted Golden Lion, securing the right to potentially represent Italy at this year's Eurovision Song Contest set to take place in Basel, Switzerland, this May.
During the festival, all 29 songs were performed once again on the final night as votes from the previous nights were tallied. This year's top five included seasoned performers: Fedez with "Battito," Simone Cristicchi with "Quando sarai piccola," Brunori Sas with "L’albero delle noci," Lucio Corsi with "Volevo essere un duro," and of course, Olly with "Balorda nostalgia." Notably, fan favorites Giorgia and Achille Lauro finished 6th and 7th, leaving many from the studio audience visibly upset at this unexpected turn of events.
The final results were revealed through multiple voting rounds, incorporating both jury votes and the public's input. The 'superfinal' voting system featured contributions from the press jury, which held 33% influence, the radio jury at another 33%, and the public televote contributing the majority 34%. With so much at stake, tension hung heavy as each artist awaited their fate. The results revealed Olly firmly atop the leaderboard, followed by Lucio Corsi and Brunori Sas.
"Balorda nostalgia" not only delighted audiences live but has also seen immense success on streaming platforms, becoming #1 on Spotify's Top 50 Italy with 6.7 million streams and reaching 1.6 million views on YouTube for his live performance. This level of popularity played no small part in his decisive victory.
While Olly has the right to perform for Italy at Eurovision, it's worth noting the precedent set when previous winners, such as Stadio, chose not to participate. With Olly set to confirm his Eurovision intentions at a press conference slated for tomorrow, all eyes remain glued to his decision.
Once again, Carlo Conti took the helm as host, joined by guest presenters Alessia Marcuzzi and Alessandro Cattelan, recognizable for his co-hosting role in Eurovision 2022. The performances included notable guest acts such as Gabry Ponte and Mahmood, along with special live contributions from Tedua and Planet Funk.
A range of awards also peppered the event leading to the big reveal. The Lifetime Achievement award was presented to the legendary Antonello Venditti, who graced the stage with his performance, much to the delight of the audience. Additional accolades included Best Lyrics awarded to Brunori Sas and Best Musical Composition to Simone Cristicchi. Notably, Giorgia clinched the Tim Award for the most significant social media engagement throughout the live shows.
Italy will move forward to the Grand Final at Eurovision on May 17, as part of the Big Five. They will also participate by voting during the first semi-final scheduled for May 13.
What are your thoughts on Olly’s win with "Balorda nostalgia"? The conversations are heating up across social media platforms, inviting fans to share their opinions on this year's results.
With 2025 marking another landmark competition, especially with the twists of this festival, Sanremo continues to define the Italian music scene and generate excitement for its representative at Eurovision. Stay tuned for more updates about Olly and his potential path at the international stage.