"What did they force me to do before collecting the award": Sanremo 2025, Iva Zanicchi's complaint

"Before going on stage at Sanremo I was very excited, but then it all passed. A strange thing that happened was that my whole life flashed before my eyes, a bit like when you drown. My daughter scolded me because I said 'Better to be awarded alive than dead'": Iva Zanicchi said this in Silvia Toffanin's studio at Verissimo on Canale 5, speaking about the lifetime achievement award that was given to her on the Ariston stage during the festival. The artist, in fact, was the female singer who won the most years of the musical event: first she triumphed with "Non pensare a me" in 1967; then with "Zingara" in 1969; and finally with "Ciao cara come stai?" in 1974.

Zanicchi revealed that "for this lifetime achievement award, many colleagues called me and the first was Ornella Vanoni who reminded me that, a few years ago, she had been given this recognition. I want to tell Ornella that she is a dear friend of mine, that I have a lot of respect for her and that I hope to live to her age like her". Then she added: "I dedicate the award to two people: to my mother because she was a special person, what she did for me was fundamental, she always wanted me to sing, she did everything. I also dedicate it to my Pippi (Fausto Pinna, a partner who passed away some time ago, ed.), because when I entered the stage they made me take off the watch that was hers and I looked at the sky and said 'If you were here, you would be so proud of me'. In any case, I know that she is always with me".

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When asked who she was rooting for at Sanremo, she replied: "I'm a rock woman, I love young people because they entertain me, they give me energy. At the Festival, I rooted for everyone but especially for the kids and I met Lucio Corsi, I adore him, I'd like to sing with him". Finally she announced: "In any case, I have future projects, including an album... Will it be the last one? I don't know, but in the meantime it's being planned and Cristiano Malgioglio will also be there".