Sanremo 2025 approaches with themes aligned with love and family, steering away from politically charged content. This year, artistic director Carlo Conti has aimed to create a festival brimming with positivity, eschewing the biting commentary often expected from Italy's most prominent music event.
The festival is set to run from February 11 to 15, 2025, at the iconic Ariston Theatre. The full disclosure of song lyrics has confirmed observers' expectations, hinting at heartfelt narratives focusing more on personal sentiments rather than societal concerns.
Fedez, for example, dives deep with his track "Battito", painting vivid imagery of mental struggles with lines like, "La mente è schiva/Vaga nel buio più buio che c'è/ Sento un pugno nello stomaco/Le paranoie hanno bisogno di troppe attenzioni". His choice reflects both vulnerability and strength, sure to resonate with many fans but devoid of overt political messages.
Similarly, Tony Effe’s song "Damme 'na mano" showcases complex emotions of love wrapped within personal struggle, mentioning the ancestral charm of Rome as the backdrop for his reflections. Lines like, "A te piace sbagliare farmi del male/Mi alzi le mani/Poi ti vuoi scusare" reveal the depth of themes being explored this year.
Academic insight from Lorenzo Coveri, professor of Italian Linguistics at the University of Genoa, provides additional depth. He notes the shift to contemporary, informal language within these songs, relative to both modern speech and the absence of literary traditions. Coveri emphasizes the mundane nature of this year's lyrics—a stark departure from past festivals which often included socially charged content. Notably, both the usage of swear words and rhetorical figures are limited, contributing to what some may deem as artistic caution.
This year, lyric analysis has also revealed interesting statistical trends. Across the 29 tracks expected at the festival, the lyrics comprise approximately 9422 words. Rocco Hunt holds the record for the longest lyrical composition with "Mille vote ancora" at 529 words, whereas Marcella Bella's "Pelle diamante" is the briefest, clocking in at just 216 words.
The prevalent themes identified point to romantic affections, with the word "amor" occurring singificantly, surfacing 46 times throughout the lyrics, which indicates the Italian sentimentality toward love. Coveri's analysis also highlights the increasing use of familiar terms and colloquialisms, noting the inclusion of the vezzeggiativo "Cuoricini" by Coma_Cose, marking the first time this term has graced the festival's stage.
Further linguistic dissection reveals the most commonly used verbs within the festival's lyrical framework, positioning "chiamare" (call) at the forefront with 68 mentions, primarily attributed to Gaia’s "Chiamo io chiami tu". Following closely are "volere" and "fare", with notable occurrences enhancing the narrative of desire and action.
Geographic references litter the lyrics, with mentions spanning from Rio de Janeiro to Las Vegas, painting the musical backdrop with vibrant cultural imagery. Artists like Tony Effe and Lucio Corsi highlight local landscapes, with references to cities like Bologna and Rome, enhancing the personalization of their storytelling presented at the festival.
Butterfly words and various colloquial phrases play significant roles amid the lyrical simplicity. While swearing is not overly rampant, explicit language crops up, often marking emotional peaks—for example, Rkomi's use of “merda” and Marcella Bella’s repetitive use of “stronza” adds unexpected flair to the otherwise restrained thematic delivery.
Overall, this year's Sanremo festival appears to be leaning heavily on emotional exploration and personal narrative, with artists presenting thoughts and feelings anchored deeply within familiar terrains. While the festival may stray from previous times' call to social engagement—languishing instead amid the thorns of love and introspection—the anticipation surrounding these entries suggests listeners may find personal resonance within the seemingly tender textile of words and melodies.
Sanremo 2025 invites listeners to discover if these lyrical depictions will capture their hearts beyond the superficiality of gossip, fostering meaningful connection through music's timeless stories.