There was a lot of expectation for Il Volo’s participation in the Eurovision 2022 semifinal, especially after the news of Gianluca’s positivity at Covid had spread, which forced him to return home immediately and leave Ignazio and Piero alone , who with the production team and technology, allowed everything to happen, with Ignazio and Piero on stage and Gianluca from home. The result was excellent, as can be seen from the video below.
Please click the photo below to play the video.
I would say it was a beautiful performance, they really found a solution to make the performance happen, the projection of Gianluca singing from home is remarkable and thanks to the technology and the production team everything was solved.
The new version of Grande Amore is excellent, it is not only sung in English, but also in Italian and this does not distort the original song, even the musical arrangement is a little more modern, but it is not alien to the first more classical version, in short , it seems to me an excellent result.
The voices of our Piero, Ignazio and Gianluca are always excellent, all at the top !! ❤❤❤
At the end of the performance Piero and Ignazio thank the Turin public and Ignazio greets Gianluca with …………. hello Gianlu !!!!
Demonstrating, as if there were the affection that always binds these three young men and heartening Gianluca that surely he will have been heartbroken by everything that had happened.
But let’s go back to the morning of May 11, when everything was still “normal”.
Piero Ignazio and Gianluca are on their way to Turin, where there will be rehearsals for all the artists and guests of the second evening of ESC.
Unaware of what was happening to them, the three headed to the Eurovision entrance where, to access, it is mandatory to take the test.
It is certainly not the first they do and they are calm because they are negative.
In fact, Ignazio and Piero are negative, but Gianluca is POSITIVE!!!! But he is fine, he has only a slight cold, everything seems impossible but it is so, unfortunately.
We can only imagine Gianluca’s desperation, certainly before leaving Montepagano, he had taken a test and it was negative and now he is POSITIVE.
Although there was certainly a lot of desperation, Gianluca could not do anything but lock himself in isolation in a room, waiting for a car to take him back to Montepagano, while Piero and Ignazio had nothing left but to find a solution together with their staff.
While the news was making the rounds of all the fans pages, the Il Volo team and the ESC production quickly thought of a solution.
Covid, has accustomed us to connections from home and therefore, it was immediately thought of being able to make a performance with Piero and Ignazio on stage and Gianluca from home.
Great thing, ESC could still have Il Volo!
The various interviews begin, naturally there are only Ignazio and Piero.
Naturally Ignazio and Piero try to play down the situation nicely, cheerfully answering the questions, but it is certain that their thoughts go to Gianluca and his misfortune of this case. ❤
Here is the news given by the RAI1 news program.
WOMAN = News of these hours, one of the components of Il Volo tested positive for Covid, he will perform anyway, he will do it digitally, our correspondent Leonardo Metalli met the other two.
LM = I seem to notice that Gianluca is missing, what happened?
IGNAZIO = Nothing, we couldn’t take it anymore and we got rid of it …😁😁
PIERO = We kicked him out, that’s enough!😁😁
LM = The truth!
PIERO = He tested positive at Covid, so he is in isolation, but fortunately in 2022 with technology, we will be able to tread the Eurovision stage in Italy.
MAN = The only version you haven’t made of Grande Amore, a little rock, a little symphonic …
IGNAZIO = Yes, a different version from the one before, in a slightly more rock style, naturally we will miss Gianluca on stage.❤
The voice will be there, that’s for sure.
We have it here Gianluca, in the little heart.❤
PIERO = He will watch us on TV, bye Gianluca ❤
This interview is also really nice, I translate for you.
WOMAN = IL VOLO!
PIERO = I often watch this program, it’s the one with the mirror …. hello Serena (she is the host)
COVID DOES NOT STOP THE MUSIC
MAN = The news of course: there is no Gianluca and so what will this performance be like for two?
IGNAZIO = We will have more space on stage for sure😁 …. no, well, we will miss him. ❤ This morning he tested positive and, as is done in these cases, immediately in isolation and we are already working with the production to be able to do the exhibition, certainly Gianluca’s voice will not be missing. It is an anomalous situation …
MAN = Has this ever happened to you before?
IGNAZIO = Yes, once.
PIERO = Yes, in Portugal, but we went on the air anyway, he is always the problem (Gianluca due to a heavy snowfall in Montepagano was unable to reach the others in Portugal).
We will clearly sing GRANDE AMORE. Returning to Eurovision, we wanted to do something different, we called our friend Enrico Melozzi who gave a rock key …..
MAN = He is also a friend of our program.
PIERO = Enrico, he is a great professional. He did a good job, we are very happy, we hope to surprise our audience, we will give our best.
IGNAZIO = See you this summer on tour, I take this opportunity to promote ….
PIERO = He is the promotion expert …
IGNAZIO = We will start on June 3rd and 4th from the Verona Arena …
MAN = A little thing ….
IGNAZIO = …. then there will be Taormina, and then we will do cities like Torre del Lago, Benevento, Ferrara, Agrigento, and therefore we can’t wait to return, after two and a half years.
MAN = Last thing, you have listened to the songs in the competition, who do you like?
IGNAZIO = I like England.
MAN = What a voice, Space Man.
IGNAZIO = I’ve been following him for two years on social media. His voice control is crazy.
PIERO = I like Portugal, it’s called Saudace, really beautiful, congratulations.
MAN = Thanks guys, good luck. I get in the way, I do the third, what do you say?
We greet Gianluca and Serena.
I + P = Hi, hi everyone.
And here is the comment by Enrico Melozzi published on his Facebook page:
Tonight the song #youaremyeverything that I arranged and produced for @ilvolomusic will be presented at the Eurovision Song Contest @eurovision. An explosive rock-symphonic version, which I’m sure you’ll love. I send a big hug to my dear friend @ gianginoble11 is a big good luck to dear friends @ignazioboschetto @barone_piero for tonight’s performance.
Of course our paths will meet soon, once again.
IL VOLOYOU ARE MY EVERYTHING(GRANDE AMORE)
While Gianluca returns to Montepagano in solitary confinement, Piero and Ignazio begin rehearsals.
Radio 102.5, has a nice interview with Piero and Ignazio in Turin and to Gianluca in Montepagano, here it is.
MAN = They are connected with us, in this moment Ignazio and Pietro (he gets the name wrong) of Il Volo, good morning.
WOMAN = Good morning Ignazio, good morning Piero, hello guys, Il Volo.
IGNAZIO = We are Peter and Paul. (Ignazio tries to point out to the man that Piero’s name is wrong)
WOMAN = Piero and Ignazio, Piero and Ignazio, good morning.
MAN = Ok, are you okay?
IGNAZIO = We are in an unpublished version.
MAN = You have become a duo, but be careful, because from Argentina (as if to say from afar) he is connected with us: Gianluca Ginoble. ❤
WOMAN = Hi Gianluca !!❤
GIANLUCA = From Argentina: mucho gusto !!
MAN = Mucho gusto: Carramba what a surprise. (they recall a very successful program that united people over great distances was called “Carramba what a surprise”)
WOMAN = First question, how are you Gianluca? I see you in great shape.
GIANLUCA = And less badly, if this is Covid, welcome to Covid.
WOMAN = (she and the man begin a sentence together) We can say, excuse a moment, (she turns to her man colleague), we can say one thing: what bad luck Gianluca !!
GIANLUCA = Okay, but look, apart from that I’m sorry to see this situation, then yesterday I ran away suddenly, now I’m at home, here in Abruzzo.
Having to leave the Eurovision stage and leave the boys (Piero and Ignazio) ….
WOMAN = No, oh well ….
GIANLUCA = We didn’t miss the train, the passage (on TV) is the most important thing, but not being able to live this life experience, this strong emotion, in front of 200 million people, is really frustrating. It will strengthen me, I must tell you.
WOMAN = Yes, it will certainly strengthen you, the period is what it is, I have to tell you, but you will be there in some way.
IGNAZIO = But not on stage …
MAN = You stay wider.
IGNAZIO = We are wider.
GIANLUCA = They will be IL VO–. 😁😁 ..
MAN = Actually there are 6 letters, (IL VOLO) so 2 + 2 + 2 -2 the account returns. 😁
But it is an opportunity, let’s say in bad luck as Federica said before…..
WOMAN = Let’s say things as they are!
MAN = ….. to experience augmented reality, correct?
IGNAZIO = Absolutely.
MAN = What did you invent, Ignazio?
IGNAZIO = Later I’ll tell you what we came up with. But also the good fortune of doing Eurovision sitting from the living room, is not for everyone !!
WOMAN = Got it ???
MAN = Gianluca’s luck you mean !!
GIANLUCA = It also happened in 2012, remember?
IGNAZIO = May I?
WOMAN = Go, go, let’s put order.
IGNAZIO = Thanks to the technology of 2022 we were able to make a video and send it behind us, I must say thanks to our production that did a great job and also all of Eurovision’s production.
WOMAN = First with some teenage boys, one of them said:
“Gianluca will be in DAD tonight” (DAD means Distance Learning, used in schools and at work, during Covid)
GIANLUCA = Exactly, I’ll be in DAD.
WOMAN = You do Eurovision in DAD.
GIANLUCA = Damn, it already happened in 2012, there was a very heavy snowfall here in Abruzzo, I remember, in 2012 we were guests of the “The Voice Portugal” program, shot in Portugal in Lisbon, and the boys left without me (I remember that Piero and Ignazio, they departed from Sicily), because due to the snow, I could not leave.
So this is the second time they sing without me!
IGNAZIO = The snowfall of 2012 was also unpredictable!
WOMAN = That’s it. Listen, can you tell me how things unfolded yesterday? Have you taken the control ordinance test?
GIANLUCA = I took the test before leaving, the day before yesterday, and it was negative.
I arrive in Turin, I take the flight from Rome, I land and we do the test as soon as we arrive at the sports hall and unfortunately they tell me that I was POSITIVE.
I had to run away, immediately and go home.
MAN = But we see you well, you are fine, and therefore apart from the slightly palled eye (tired), but I think that is more for the anger than for the Covid ….
GIANLUCA = Oh yes.
Pietro (the name is still wrong), we didn’t hear you.
PIERO = I listened.
IGNAZIO = Why do you call him Pietro, understood? He is Piero.
MAN = Oh, sorry, yes Piero sorry, but is it Piero as a first name or is it Pietro?
PIERO = I am Piero by baptism.
MAN = So I was really wrong (finally got it) sorry!
PIERO = I was interested in these moments, I’m happy to show how deep our relationship is.
When the (positive) news arrived, the common thought of all three was this:
“Guys, it doesn’t matter what is happening, the important thing is to bring this step home, bring this event home.” It could have happened to each of us three, we are in a rather delicate period and therefore, in this situation, yes ok , as Ignazio says technology in 2022, but if there is no common goal, that is to carry forward our name, IL VOLO, and bring home such an important passage, music, such an important message, we could not have done it. Yes, the technicians did a great job, but the priority there is our relationship, our common goal, which is our strength.
WOMAN = Exactly, this is very true and in any case it is news and tonight everyone will be waiting to see what you have invented and in the end you always have to look at the glass half full, see the positive side of things, as far as situations are concerned, clearly not like this in the specific, which in the end, as you can see, is resolved, but like the one that the world has experienced in these two years.
Listen, by the way you will bring the new version of Grande Amore.
PIERO = Yes, we contacted our friend Enrico Melozzi, you know we are always used to hearing the classic version of Grande Amore, it’s not easy to make another version, you know it’s really difficult to do a good job ….
WOMAN = Let’s do something, Piero, let’s hear it and then comment on it together, so let’s give a preview of what will happen tonight?
PIERO = Sure, go!
WOMAN = YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING, listen here, guitars instead of violins, what came out ….. (the new version of Grande Amore starts, but in the video you can hear only the beginning )
MAN = Standing ovation for Il Volo !!
WOMAN = Guys what a bomb !!
MAN = Strong, strong. Strong this version.
PIERO = I wanted to say that it is an important day today, because it is the birthday of our manager, Michele Torpedine.
MAN = Happy Birthday, hi Michele !!
WOMAN = Michele, greetings Mik.
IGNAZIO = Despite turning 170, he looks a little less.
WOMAN = That’s right, hi Mik, can we reveal that we once pretended on TV that we were husband and wife?
PIERO = Federica says you pretended to be husband and wife on social media.
TORPEDINE = It’s true, it’s true !!
WOMAN = Okay, these were the altars (little secrets) for an episode recorded one evening a few years ago.
Guys, this new version is cool.
PIERO = Enrico Melozzi did a really great job, because when we heard his idea, the rearranged song, we were surprised, and that’s what we were looking for, I really mean it. Well done.
WOMAN = Really beautiful!
GIANLUCA = And then from a charge, especially singing it on the Eurovision stage, we can’t wait to perform and we will give our best to try to surprise and excite people.😁
PIERO = This joke is beautiful Gianluca !!😁
MAN = Yes, this joke is beautiful! Fantastic. (laughter) 😁😁😁
Anyway you will be there and it will be exciting to listen to you again tonight.
PIERO = Let’s play down …
GIANLUCA = It will be wonderful guys !!
MAN = So, counting, Gianluca, if you tested positive yesterday, now for the next 10 days you will be out of order, so how are you planning for the start of the tour?
GIANLUCA = Actually, there was also a concert in Barcelona.
WOMAN = Yes, Sunday.
MAN = Indeed.
GIANLUCA = Oh yes, we have also postponed the concert in Barcelona, then in any case the tour starts in June from the Verona Arena, 3 and 4 June there are two concerts in the Arena, then at the Ancient Theater of Taormina, we will continue in July the concerts in Europe and then we will go to Japan, September and October the US and Canada and then Australia, so it will be a busy schedule.
PIERO = Besides Verona and Taormina we will do many other concerts in Italy, Torre del Lago, Agrigento …
WOMAN = At that point Gianluca will be immunized, he will have antibodies.
MAN = Only skip Barcelona, sorry for Spanish friends, but it will recover …
PIERO = It will be rescheduled anyway …
MAN = It will be reprogrammed and, as we have heard, you will still be our flag bearers.
GIANLUCA = We will come to see you in the studio very soon.
MAN = We look forward to seeing you
GIANLUCA = Not in these 10 days, obviously.😁
WOMAN = No, later, later.
MAN = Maybe even earlier, it depends a little on the contagion, but seeing yourself like this, you are very well, in my opinion already in a couple of days you negativize yourself.
WOMAN = Otherwise let’s put Gianluca’s augmented reality here in the studio too.
MAN = Okay, thanks guys, good evening for tonight.
We are sure it will be a great return for you to the Eurovision Song Contest stage. Thanks to Il Volo!
WOMAN = Bye guys, good luck.
MAN = Bye Piero, bye Ignazio, bye Gianluca, bye thanks.
After the performance of the evening, Gianluca from home wrote to Piero and Ignazio on Twitter:
Last night you were simply spectacular. ❤
The gift of ubiquity is the new symptom.I had proof of that at Eurovision tonight!Il Volo, you have triumphed!I was there with you!
And now let’s enjoy the beautiful photos of the evening.
It goes without saying that the video of Il Volo, published on the ESC Facebook page, had many shares and as many comments and all of people who remembered Il Volo 7 years earlier with great affection and remembered well the missed victory and the beautiful song.
Very beautiful and affectionate comments from all over Europe and beyond. ❤
Not everyone agrees with the new English version, there are those who prefer the Italian version, but Il Volo was great not to present only an English version, but a bilingual one !!
I’ll spare you some comments from the Italian press, some really bad, but by now we’re used to it, and others more benevolent like this one taken from ZON.it:
“The unexpected of the positivity of Gianluca Ginoble, the baritone of the trio, did not prevent Il Volo from unleashing a riot of applause at the Pala Alpitur in Turin. The world-acclaimed group made Europe vibrate with a version completely new to Grande Amore.
The choice to take the stage despite the unfortunate event was courageous. Two winning weapons: on the one hand the text contaminated by English, on the other the contemporary arrangement, a symphonic rock that bears the signature of the maestro Enrico Melozzi. Vote 9.
I want to conclude this participation in ESC 2022 with two short videos, shot in the audience, while Il Volo performed on stage, this testifying to the fans’ GRANDE AMORE for IL VOLO. ❤❤❤
Daniela
Credit to owners of all photos and videos.
I’m so sorry he has covid 19,I do too,I lost my best friend because of covid 19 last February
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your best friend, Jennifer.
I have been “out of commission” lately and missed a few posts but am catching up. When Eurovision was happening, I was unable to watch the guys due to being hospitalized but my heart with with them. So sad that Gianluca could not be there. The technology, from all appearances, was super and I must say that, tho’ the Italian version of Grande Amore will probably always be my favorite, the bilingual version is also exceptional. Positive thoughts to Gianluca and assume he is out of quarantine and feeling his normal, healthy self by now. I wonder if these three can even begin to imagine how much they are loved. They bring joy – and healing.
Daniela, I was happy to see the video of the crowd outside
singing along to Grande Amore. Technical problem were solved.
Flawless vocals. Gian visuals/vocals pefecto. I am not a fan of
pyrotechnics, but it seems that they add to the excitement and
even the back rows in that huge stadium can see them.
Thanks to you and Pat for getting this out so quickly.
You’re welcome, Martha!
Daniela and Pat thank you for this dedication to us and Il Volo. Ignazio probably had a heavy hand in getting Gianluca on the screen with them as he is always involved in their electronics. The new updated version of Grande is as good as it could be. Clever to be bilingual. Beautiful words and powerful background. I thought the balance was off a little as the bass slightly overpowers their voices. That being said they are never less than excellent. I will enjoy listening to it often. Thanks again for all you do for us and Il Volo.
You are most welcome, Kay!
Thank you very much for the translation of Gianluca’s twitter post. Unfortunately, Covid is now part of our daily life….
As Gianluca wrote “All for one, and one for all.” Il Tre Moschettieri!! Now and Forever!
Thank you both, especially for the translation of the interviews. I can pick out a few words of Italian but it’s certainly nicer to understand the whole interview. They did a great job technically with including Gian with the new Grande Amore. I know he was disappointed with not being able to be there in person but they really pulled it off fabulously. Thank you again for keeping us up to date with our favorite boys. I also caught the live stream with Gian and the photo shoot that came out today.
You’re welcome, Itene. 😊
Grazie mille, Daniela, for this grande post, so soon after the last one. What would we do without you–and Pat too? The guys looked like movie stars when they arrived (except Ignazio’s face was masked, a good idea, considering.) Also can’t help but be happy about Ukraine’s win on the final night!
Thanks for your appreciation, Judi!
Ukraine’s “win” was a very low point in Eurovision history. Do you really think it fair that all the other countries had no chance of winning because of politics and the sympathy votes? It is the Eurovision Song Contest, not the Eurovision Pity Contest.
Politics has always played a huge part in the Eurovision, and always will. I don’t know if you remember the Falklands conflict, but certain countries did not vote for the UK. Not doubt the UK didn’t vote for the same countries on principle either!
You can bet that if it isn’t politics, it will be something else. It is the way the world works. Personally I wouldn’t have voted for most of the songs I have heard bits of. The exception would be the Italian song. The beginning of it sounded decent enough, though I haven’t heard it in full. At the moment if it isn’t Il Volo, Il Divo, The Italian Tenors, Lesley Garrett, Max Boyce, Eric Bogle, Andre Rieu, or Maxwell Thorpe, I am not interested.
Roz
What does Eurovision achieve other than telling us which countries are currently in favour with the public, which countries are out of favour and which jury received the most stuffed brown envelope?
If it isn’t Il Volo, baroque or classical, I’m not interested.
Thanks again, Pat and Daniela, for another superb posting. Igna teased Gian by saying they were tired of him and he had to go, but, in the next breath they truthfully told how they missed him and wished him a speedy recovery, as we all do. They really are “all for one and one for all”. Our Italian musketeers!! Hugs, Dol
You’re welcome, Dolores!
That was soooo funny. Well my idea of an Il Volo fest tonight isn’t going to happen as DD and significant other are coming round. It could be after our hols before I get around to watching the two DVD’s. 🙁
Hugs Roz
By the way ROZ, I loved the voice of UK’s entry
Sam Ryder and a great song as well.
Oh! Noooo! Do I have to wait two weeks before you o.d. on our boys?? Can’t wait to hear your comments re the CDs and DVDs. Hug, Dol
Thank you Daniela and Pat for everything you do for us. New version of Grande Amore is great and the guys were excelent even if Gianluca couldn’t be on stage with his friends. Thanks again for translating the interview and keeping us update.
You’re very welcome, Jolanta!
Thanks to all of you for another great article Thought the performance and the guys were awesome as they always are. Can’t tell you enough times Daniela how much we appreciate yours and the others for all the hard work you guys do.
You’re welcome, Bev!!
Dear Daniela,
You make my heart happy! Your kindness and generosity of time keeps me in the Il Volo loop. My language skills are, at best, minimal and I would never know what the guys are doing. You help me feel included.
I stand amazed at your language skills. Thank you so much.
PS. I love this new version of Grande Amore.