You say Fiorella Mannoia and you think of the interpreter par excellence of Italian music, but also of social commitment and the fight for women's rights.
And her sixth participation in the Sanremo festival could only go in this direction, with the song Mariposa, written together with her husband Carlo Di Francesco (who also wrote the music with Federica Abbate and Mattia Cerri) and Cheope.
"It is a manifesto, which underlines the pride of being a woman, but without victimization. It is a hymn to the feminine that tells what we have been, what we are and what we will be", says the Roman singer who this year celebrates round sum and in April turns off70 candles, "but I really don't think about retiring."
Indeed, there will be a big live party with friends and colleagues.
The emotion of going on the Ariston stage, despite the experience, despite the many participations, explains that it is always the same.
"A haunted stage, curse and delight for us artists. It is the most important exam, and you always have something to lose: every time it is a challenge to get back into the game and you feel the responsibility".
Especially when you bring important messages to the stage, such as the one against gender violence that appears in Mariposa, with the verse that quotes Una senzacentomila, the event and the Foundation - of which Mannoia is president - for raising funds for anti-violence centres.
"The reference to the concerts on 4 and 5 May in Verona could not be missed: it is a commitment that is now part of my life".
A commitment that is part of what is already defined by many as the Sanremo of women.
"There are many of us and there is a good chance, regardless of me, that we could have a female-oriented podium. Even if I don't think that in the past there were any prejudices against female artists at the festival: numerically there were fewer of us, today there are many of us."
36 years after What Women Don't Say, Mariposa can be considered "a sort of evolution. There I sang 'we'll give you one more yes', today in my concerts I replace that yes with perhaps. Because men must learn that a knot from a woman is a no. It's a cultural and mentality change that we must all make together."
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