Italian HoD invokes the fans

Nicola Caligiore, the Italian HoD for Eurovision 2011 and 2012 has felt necessary to react on the complains and whining of the Italian fans on Facebook. I was about to write, or rather complain about the Italian fans myself yesterday but didn't quite know how to formulate my post. And then all of sudden I saw the post by Caligiore himself. But before we go to the post he wrote, I must say I don't understand the Italian fans. I thought I had learned to know how Italians work but this has gone way beyond. Now that Italy is back - after they had been complaining and whining for 13 years why Italy is not taking part - nothing is good enough. I don't even start about the criticism last year for choosing Raphael Gualazzi - before the results of course - but now they complain about Nina, her change of song, her too many words in English in the Eurovision version. Or even her English pronunciation which is rather ridiculous when knowing how an average Italian speaks English but that's another story. And after poor Nina dared to joke about Eurovision on a comedy radio show some were already ready to withdraw and never come back. Or at least Nina should shut up, resign and never be heard again. (And do we want to talk what they are saying and how they are treating Sammarinese Valentina Monetta?) In conclusion I think some people are taking this all a bit too seriously. A bit like Finns pre-Lordi days I would say. And did that do any good to us? No.

Anyways, here is what Caligiore wrote yesterday and I totally agree and thank him for his interference! Italians, relax and enjoy the show and stop complaining! (And no, neither I or Caligiore is accusing every fan I believe. All is generalized and there are exceptions.

"As Head of Delegation RAI and as a fan of the festival it seems I'm reviewing our (Italian) politics in a small (with which I'm already fighting enough at work every day) .. All evil speaking, arguing, making absurd and sometimes arrogant comments with words like "disgusting", "Italy sinks" etc.. etc. ....

You do not have the slightest idea of the battles that we are doing internally to carry out this project, you do not know in most cases the contingencies that lead to certain choices, compromises we have to do, budgetary difficulties for a project that, alas, does not passionate Italians and thus is considered, understandably, marginal.

In two years, while being in charge mainly in RAI of other things, I worked that Italy would be represented with dignity, style and with respect for our traditional music, and the only thing I read in most of the hard core fan blogs is complaints .....

For goodness sake, everyone is and should remain free to express their opinions, and I certainly did not arrogantly think that what we can please everyone, but I confess that I envy my colleagues, head of the delegations of other countries because the type of support they get from fans is anything but ....

Instead of standing to complain if the song has a verse in English in more or less, if you liked Per sempre more and with this another song Italy will go to hell, please support Nina, even if she at times gives interviews that may not be to your liking. ESC needs time to be understood, and to be overwhelmed by his magic .... Try to do what fans are supposed to do: support a project, sustain a TV that invests in an idea despite the difficulties, support the many professionals, stay above the gossips. They are not there by chance and they choices have reasons that they don't need to share with non-professionals.

Sorry for the outburst, I hope you don't take it bad , but it was really hard to keep quiet."

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