Vienna 2015, 60th ESC 40 For 40: Il Volo "Grande Amore"

The road to the 60th ESC in Vienna in a few weeks continues. Up next, a review of the trio Il Volo (pictured) with "Grande Amore" (Italy).

"Grande Amore" happens to be one of the best ballads of this year's ESC, with a good buildup and sound. I like this song. However, this is a grand final-only song on May 23, as this is the only time during this year's event where they will perform. As much as this is a good song, I think they will finish within the bottom seven in voting. We will see on that night. Until then, good luck.

Up next: Aminata Savadogo "Love Injected"

Copenhagen 2014 Reviews: Emma Marrone "La Mia Citta"

It seems that Italy is once again back on track in the ESC. Punker Emma Marrone (pictured) will represent the country in Copenhagen next month with "La Mia Citta."

"La Mia Citta" is a catchy, punk track that is very good, with good rhythm and good vocals. Not to mention, it is an alternative track that is worthwhile all the way. Be warned to the faux 'Eurofans' who hate such music. Since Italy is among the 'big six,' she will perform only on grand final Saturday, the 10th of May. I predict she will finish somewhere in the 11-15 range.

When it comes to Italy in ESC, only two songs come to mind: Wess & Dori Ghezzi "Era" (1975) and Nina Zilli "L'amore E Femmina" (2012). Those two are the best Italian ESC entries of all time (in my opinion). "L'Essenziale" by Marco Mengioni (2013) isn't among them. Sorry. So once again, you are witnessing yet another Italian ESC entry that is worth listening to.

Up next: Aarzemnieki "Cake to Bake."

Sochi 2014: The Countdown Series: Italy

70 days remaining until the opening ceremonies (69 until the first day of competition) of Sochi 2014. Up next on the countdown: Italy.

Italy made their winter Olympics debut at Chamonix 1924, and has sent athletes to every winter games ever since. The Italian contingent won 106 medals in the winter Olympics including 37 gold medals.

When it comes to Italy in the winter Olympics, the one name most synonymous with these games is the performance of Alberto Tomba, who won three gold medals in these winter games. He won two in the giant slalom at Calgary 1988 and Albertville 1992, and in the slalom at Calgary 1988. He along with Deborah Compagnoni are the only three time winter Olympic gold medalists for Italy. Compagnoni won three gold medals herself, and just like Tomba, she did it on the hills as well. Her first gold was in the super G at Albertville 1992, and followed it up with two giant slalom gold wins at Lillehammer 1994 and Nagano 1998.

Eight Italians have won two gold medals each in the winter Olympics. One of the most recent is speed skater Enrico Fabris (pictured), who won twice--in the 1500m and as a member of the 8 lap team pursuit--at Turin 2006. He joins seven others in achieving that feat:

• Luciano de Paolis, bobsleigh, men, two and four member, Grenoble 1968
• Eugenio Monti, bobsleigh, men, two and four member, Grenoble 1968
• Paul Hildgartner, luge, men, mixed singles, Sapporo 1972 & men's singles, Sarajevo 1984
• Stefania Belmondo, cross country, women, 30km, Albertville 1992 & 15km, Salt Lake City 2002
• Manuela di Lenta, cross country, women, 15km & 30km, Lillehammer 1994
• Armin Zoggeler, luge, men, singles, Salt Lake City 2002 & Turin 2006
• Giorgio di Centa, cross country, men, 30km & 4x10km relay team member, Turin 2006

As of now, 14 quota spots for Sochi available, including in biathlon, speed skating and short track speed skating.

Italy was the host country for two winter Olympics games: the first at Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 and the most recent at Turin 2006.

Up next: Jamaica

Malmo 2013 39 For 39: Marco Mengoni "L'essenziale"

Back with a grand final 'big six,' with a review of "L'essenziale" by Marco Mengoni.

Mengoni is a product of manufactured pop. In 2009, he won season three of some Italian show based upon the UK show of the same name. In "L'essenziale," he demonstrates that this is not the typical manufactured pop that is heard on those types of television shows. This is a simple ballad. Take a listen:

It is a good song, but I don't think it's a winner. He won't have to go through the semifinal phase since he is guaranteed only for the grand final May 18.

I also don't think this is a better tune than "L'amore e Femmina" by Nina Zilli, which represented Italy last year in Baku. 'L'amore' was a better tune, but this is good. Hope for the best.

Up next, a reveiw of PeR "Here We Go."

Champions of Europe!

The Spanish men's senior national team became the first program in the history of the UEFA EURO Championships to go three-peating after their 4-0 blowout of Italy Sunday in Kiev.

No other program has done that feat in the history of that tournament. Congrats.

Another Football (Soccer) Death.

Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini collapsed in a match against Pescara in Serie B Saturday afternoon.

After going into cardiac arrest, he passed away hours later.

London 2012: The Countdown Series: Italy

134 days to go until the first day of the London Olympics. Up next on the parade of nations: Italy (ITA).

They have participated in the summer Olympics since the first modern Olympics of 1896. 549 medals have been won by Italian athletes, including 203 gold medals.

Individually, two Italian athletes have won six gold medals in their Olympic careers-both fencers-Edoardo Mangiarotti and Nedo Nadi. Nadi (pictured) won three individual medals and three team medals. He won gold in the individual foil at Stockholm 1912 and Antwerp 1920, and the individual sabre at Antwerp 1920. Also at Antwerp 1920, he won three team golds-in the team foil, epee and sabre. Mangiarotti won only one individual medal, in the individual epee at Helsinki 1952, and five team medals-in the team epee at Berlin 1936, Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956 and Rome 1960, as well as the team foil at Melbourne 1956.

Valentina Vezzali (pictured) won five gold medals in her Olympic fencing career. She won three individual gold and two team gold medals. Individually, she won in the individual foil at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, and in the team foil at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.

Five Italians have won four golds in the summer games:

• Giorgio Zampori (gymnastics)
• Orsete Puliti (fencing)
• Giuseppe Delfino (fencing)
• Carlo Pavesi (fencing)
• Giovanna Trillini (fencing)

Fifteen Italians have won three golds in the summer games:

• Enrico Bruna (rowing)
• Giorgio Cesana (rowing)
• Emilio Fontanella (rowing)
• Francesco Verri (cycling)
• Alberto Braglin (gymnastics)
• Luigi Maiocca (gymnastics)
• Aldo Nadi (Fencing)
• Ugo Frigerio (athletics)
• Giulio Gaudini (fencing)
• Giancarlo Cornaggia Medici (fencing)
• Franco Riccardi (fencing)
• Romeo Neri (gymnastics)
• Klaus Dibiasi (diving)
• Agostino Abbagnale (rowing)
• Antonio Rossi (canoeing)

45 Italians have won two gold medals in their summer Olympics career.

Their most recent summer Olympic gold medalist of notariety is Federica Pellegrini. Pellegrini (pictured), who has had some great swims at the FINA World Championships the past couple of years, won gold in the women's 200m freestyle at Beijing 2008.

At the team level, the men's football (soccer) team won gold at Berlin 1936, while men's water polo won three gold medals-at London 1948, Rome 1960, and most recently at Barcelona 1992. The women's water polo team won gold at Athens 2004.

As of now, 173 Italian athletes will head to London and compete in 14 events including various athletics and swimming events, as well as boxing, cycling, modern pentathlon, taekwondo, and will also send a women's volleyball and men's water polo team there as well.

Italy was the host country for the 1960 summer Olympics (Rome).

Up next: Jamaica

Shanghai 2011: A Review.

It has been over a week since the closing of the worlds, but the two weeks have been interesting. No US medals in the first week that is made up of diving and synchronised swimming. However that changed in the final week. More in a moment.

But first, the water polo. Congrats to this year's champions. Italy defeated multi-time world champs Serbia in the gold medal match. Croatia won third place. Greece defeated China in front of their home crowd to win gold on the women's side. We'll see how they'll do in London in a year.

Now back to the final week of action. The swimming. First USA medal was an open water 10k gold. And then it was on from there. USA swimming piled them up, resulting in the USA's move to 2nd in the medals race behind China (the host country).

And it also shocks me that only a couple world records fell in the swimming-in the hands of Ryan Lochte and Sun Yang, who broke the old record in the 1500m set by Grant Hackett.

What we learned from this? A whole lot. Remember swimming is usually in the second week of the Summer Olympics (if you include the midweek soccer kickoff, which is three weeks altogether), and who knows what's gonna happen in that week of swimming next year at this time in London.