Time for me to review the Sammarinese entry this year
Michele Perniola & Anita Simoncini - Chain Of Lights
Status: yaass, I love it
Song: Ok, like I said in one of my previous posts here, it seems like I'm officially a Ralph Siegel fan since I truly appreciated the entries he composed from 2009 to 2014, and this year I love it too! After Valentina's departure, I didn't know what to expect from San Marino. Tbh I didn't think Ralph Siegel would still be around and I was afraid they would end up coming up with a meh entry ("Stand By"-style). When they announced the names of their representatives, I became even less confident since I was expecting a childish piece of trash, but then Ralph Siegel's name appeared once again in the thread, so I eventually believed it wouldn't be that bad. Tbh I don't take all the people's opinions for granted as far as Ralph Siegel and San Marino are concerned because I always found their recent entries much more interesting musically than many other songs. "Chain Of lights" is indeed a creative piece of music imo, it starts in a rather dramatic way, the first verse is intriguing at first listen because it's difficult to know where this is going. Finally, it leads to a chorus that has a fairytale feel to it (not Rybak's one
), I like the use of minor chords there. Then it builds up to another verse with a dark mood imo I don't know how to describe it. Then the bridge comes, the succession of voices and variations of the melody remind me of some 80's slow songs, but I like it a lot actually, it adds to the musicality of the composition and appears to be quite catchy actually. There is even an "anthemic part" sung by Michele (a la "We Will Rock You" like in the final part of "A Million Voice") and a rap part from Anita (which is quite funny actually
). Call me biased if you like but I'm much more moved by the lyrics of this song - with the use of a metaphor about candles that may turn night into day if we are enough people to light them, basically darkness may be overcome if we all choose the bright side of life - than other peace songs like the Russian or the Hungarian one, but each to their own I guess.
Voice: I like the voices of these two singers, they don't have amazing voices by any means but it works as far as that song is concerned of course. Performance-Wise, it wasn't a very good performance unfortunately, I remember Anita singing off-key but still I enjoyed it.
Staging: the background screen was on point with all the lights that started illuminating the world. Apart from that, I felt like they were kind of lost on stage. Because it's a duet, I think they would have benefited from a choreography, not a dance routine but some kind of moving/gesture script would have helped visually imo.
Outcome: Well, the bad slot wasn't in their favor obviously. I didn't expect them to qualify but after last year, one never knows afterall. To me the song was different and strong enough to get through, they were Worth it to me. For all of you who predicted they would finish dead last, you were wrong! Siegel's recent entries never finished dead last and I was sure this one wouldn't either. In my personal ranking this year, San Marino is safely in my top 10 for the fourth time since 2012, I like "Chain Of Lights" very much, yes it's dated arrangement-Wise but who isn't aware of that by now? It's creative and nice. Good job San Marino, I'm looking forward to your next entry, whether Valentina comes back or not, and if Ralph is still the place, then lucky me I guess
"A Million Voices" gets completely snubbed 
San Marino, please send your two kids again next year