Toe in the sore to Sanremo 2026 for the first time alone and with one of her unreleased songs, What a nuisance! which promises to make you dance from start to finish and which, during the pre-listenings in the press room, has already obtained very high approval with an average rating higher than all the others.
ditonellapiaga The press conference: the genesis of the song
During the press conference he explained the genesis of the song:
“It's a song that I would never have imagined seeing played with the orchestra, Carolina Bubbico has given it a new energy, and it's a song that was born from an outburst after a discussion with my record managers which, fortunately, led to a positive epilogue.
It deals with a sense of alienation, of constraint towards social rituals and formalities that sometimes are too restrictive for us. I think it's a self-deprecating song, most of the things I list I do too. Generally it's a song that I would like not to be taken with arrogance or malice because it's actually a nice song.”
Very high ratings from the press
How did you experience the very high ratings from the press?
“When I read the report cards I thought it was a short circuit, I thought it wasn't possible. When Carlo Conti announced it I thought he could be loved but also hated and that it could be divisive. I didn't think it would hit so hard and I thank those who understood it.
I am aware that expectations are high now, and I have done everything to avoid disappointing these expectations that have been created. In the end the first impression is not always true, I'm sure that many songs we don't understand immediately on the last evening we will sing them at the top of our lungs.”
Tony Pitony: a “Lady Gaga” choice
On Tony Pitony?
“My path in Sanremo is full of madness and theatricality, I couldn't imagine anyone else at my side. He's an actor, get ready because his voice is incredible. I wanted to do a multifaceted interpretation, which was in contrast with the dance song I'm performing and knowing him was really good for me because we found ourselves very complicit in dealing with things.
He has a lot of musical taste and a lot of vocal mastery and for me it was fundamental, he will put me in difficulty because he is really good and I needed this to improve myself.
The idea was born at dinner with my record executives on the evening of the announcement of participation. Seeing some videos on Youtube I thought I wanted to do something 'Lady Gaga-style', versatile and mega present in everything she does.
I wanted to compete with something like Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, The Lady Is A Tramp, and I said it would be cool to bring Tony Pitony. The next day, my manager heard from Tony's manager and immediately agreed, saying, without knowing, that it would be nice to do The Lady Is A Tramp. Everything perfect.”
On Eurovision instead?
“I don't think about finishing in the top five, I don't think about winning. I want to concentrate on Sanremo and my performance, I will think about it in due time, not now.”
The video interview with ditonellapiaga
Once the press conference was over, it was time for our exclusive interview and here other topics were explored in depth, going more specifically with the song in its orchestral composition and more.
sanremo 2026: ditonellapiaga's first solo festival
How are you for this first solo Sanremo?
“Happy, excited, I have no anxiety. The FLASH journey served to approach various genres and different styles, but sacrificing theatricality. I used a less ironic way of writing the lyrics, I had more disenchantment with life. The new Sanremo single and the entire album that will be released in April allowed me to recover everything I had lost.”
The choice of song: “Che Fastidio!” or “Yes I Know”?
Have you thought about sending the single you released a few weeks ago, Yes I knowdoes instead of What a nuisance!?
“I wanted to send that but, in reality, you don't decide on your own what to send. I hadn't seen all this potential for the Sanremo stage in Che Fastidio!, for me it was a very divisive piece, and instead I didn't understand anything.
I didn't think it was a song for Sanremo, I thought it was too annoying and biting that it wasn't the right proposal for that type of stage. The fact that it was makes us understand that the more we look for the perfect recipe, the more plastic things appear.”
“Minor” artists and the cast of Sanremo 2026
There isn't much attention towards you, you are considered 'minor' artists by the public.
“I think it's a question of fashion, people's attention shifts to something else at a certain point. After so many years, perhaps, people have less interest but, as far as the cast is concerned, I think that Sanremo should be that reality that the public needs to learn about new projects.
Think of Marie Antoinette and Colombre, years and years of career and they are seen as 'new', it doesn't work like that. Every year there is someone who says 'well who is this?' but I find the fact that this year there are fewer very strong names fairer and will make the festival more interesting and less predictable.
I think that as a spectator I would have enjoyed it more because I wouldn't have known what to expect, in this case I think that there are many people who want to make themselves known and who will take advantage of the opportunity.”
ditonellapiaga at Sanremo 2026: “The orchestra, Very Powerful”
How does the piece, which has a straight bass drum and high bpm, become with the orchestra?
“Very powerful. With the orchestra the impact was strong, it almost seems like a charge, there is an instrumental riff on the chorus which is taken up by all the instruments, especially the wind instruments. It gives me a lot of energy, the conductor didn't distort it but gave it a new look.
We had to stay faithful to the piece but it's a different thing. It is important that everyone plays and that the director has given everyone the opportunity to play in this piece.”
What would you like people to say after the festival?
“It would be nice if they said they had fun watching me, I would like my passage on stage to be a burst of energy, fun, five minutes of liveliness and freshness.”
