Mengoni, 34, from Ronciglione north of Rome, is representing Italy with his Sanremo winner Due Vite, just certified triple platinum, 10 years after he came seventh with L’Essenziale.
“I would have liked to go to Kyiv: it would have meant that the war was over,” the Italian singer, whose found fame in 2009 when he won the third season of Italian X-Factor, said.
“Music in its own way is a message of peace and love and being united here means sending a message of peace, in any case. I’m against any war happening in the world now."
Mengoni, who will step onto the stage of the Liverpool Arena for the first semi-final Tuesday ahead of the grand finale of the annual extravaganza of kitsch, op and rock Saturday night, said “I’m enjoying myself more than I did 10 years ago.
“I’m living it better, with less pressure and more desire to just enjoy it.
“I’m more experienced now and I’m better able to manage my emotions.”
Mengoni is hoping to emulate Roman rockers Maneskin who won the contest with Zuitti e buoni two years ago before finding world fame.
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra were last year’s runaway winners amid a wave of solidarity for Kyiv, and the country’s representative this time around, Heart of Steel performed by Tvorchi, is among the favourites again.
Italy will also be present in Liverpool with Mahmood, who came second in 2019 with Soldi, as a guest on Saturday, and by San Marino’s Tuscan group Piques Jacks and Norway’s Savona-born entry Alessandra Mele.
Australia is again participating in Eurovision with the song Promise performed by WA Voyager, a five-piece band, fusing '80s-style vocals with New Romantic synth flourishes, metal-tinged guitar, bombastic drums and groovy basslines.
ANSA
