5 iconic Sanremo moments you might not remember From Loredana Bertè's fake pregnancy to Belen's buttefly tattoo
More than a music festival, Sanremo is the celebration of Italian pop culture. As the years go by, the catchy tunes of the songs performed on the Ariston stage are forgotten, while the same cannot be said for gaffes and scandals, which instead resurface every February on everyone’s lips: «But do you remember that time when Pippo Baudo…?». No one can predict what will happen at next week’s event, so for now we will simply bring back nostalgic images of Sanremo that perhaps today would no longer cause quite such a stir.
1. Bertè’s Baby Bump (1986)
To the notes of Re, Loredana Bertè amazed the Italian audience with a Versace-designed look that still feels modern today: a mini leather jumpsuit, wide studded shoulder pads, and Texan-style ankle boots. The real scandal, however, was the accessory she wore under the outfit: a fake baby bump. By mimicking pregnancy together with the dancers accompanying the performance, Loredana Bertè’s debut on the Ariston stage cost her her record contract, yet in an Instagram post the singer still stands by that day, explaining: «I wanted to show that a woman, when pregnant, is not sick but even stronger!»
2. Carrà Defends Eminem (2001)
Italy didn’t need Eminem to prove Carrà’s genius, but apparently Italy needed Carrà to prove the genius of Eminem. In 2001, the American rapper stopped in Sanremo to promote his LP The Marshall Mathers. The night before his performance, many opposed his appearance, complaining that his lyrics were unsuitable for the Sanremo audience. It was Raffaella Carrà who defended Eminem and reconfirmed the invitation during a press conference, stating: «I see him as a young man who has an extreme need for affection. I will meet him before his performance. If he tells me he wants no one on stage and no questions, I will respect that. I don’t want to put pressure on any artist.»
3. Marcella Bella Sings Uomo Bastardo (2005)
Marcella Bella appeared on the Ariston stage in 2005 to perform her song Uomo Bastardo, wearing a black mermaid-style dress featuring a huge glittery inscription on her backside displaying the song’s title. Despite wearing one of the ugliest outfits in Sanremo’s history, thanks to over a decade of popular support she reached the final, only to be defeated in her category by Toto Cutugno.
4. Belen’s Little Butterfly (2012)
It was 2012, and Gianni Morandi hosted the 62nd edition of the Festival alongside Elisabetta Canalis and Belen Rodriguez. These were the years of Facebook’s boom, when for the first time anyone could share their opinion live with all of Italy, straight from their living-room couch. The scandal at Sanremo and on social media that year was sparked by the Argentine showgirl’s little butterfly, a groin tattoo revealed to the audience by a two-tone dress with a daringly high slit that went viral online within minutes.
5. The Fight Between Bugo and Morgan (2020)
«Bad intentions and bad manners / your bad showing last night.» These were the words sung by Morgan that prompted Bugo to leave the stage during their performance, disqualifying their song Sincero during the fourth night of Sanremo. In a year when the audience was absent and all of Italy was at home watching the Festival, the image of Morgan at the piano asking «What’s happening, where is Bugo?» became the most meme-ed image of the year. The dispute, born from several arguments between the two singers, was later settled in court with Bugo’s victory, as the live modification of the lyrics was deemed unlawful.
