Why Italy's eternal runner-up became a global icon of melody and European unity
In short: Toto Cutugno sold over 100 million records, yet he is best remembered as the eternal second of the Sanremo Music Festival. Beyond his six silver medals, he crafted the definitive anthem of Italian identity and won Eurovision with a ballad that captured the spirit of a changing continent.
Born in 1943, Salvatore "Toto" Cutugno began his career as a drummer before evolving into one of Italy's most prolific songwriters. His influence spanned borders, as he penned hits for international stars like Joe Dassin and Dalida. By the 1980s, he had cemented his status as a symbol of Italian melody, though his path to stardom was marked by a peculiar relationship with the Sanremo Music Festival. He participated a record 15 times, finishing as the runner-up on six separate occasions, a streak that earned him the nickname "l'eterno secondo."
His most famous composition, "L'Italiano," was originally intended for Adriano Celentano. Celentano declined the song because he felt uncomfortable singing the refrain "I am a true Italian." When Cutugno performed it himself at the 1983 Sanremo festival, it finished only fifth, yet it became a massive international hit that resonated deeply with Italian expatriates. The song's success solidified his reputation as a global performer, with his popularity extending across Europe, Russia, and beyond.
Cutugno’s career reached a new peak in 1990 when he won the Eurovision Song Contest with "Insieme: 1992." The song, which celebrated European political integration, made him the oldest winner of the contest at the time, a record he held for a decade. His later years were defined by both professional resilience and personal struggle, including a battle with prostate cancer that began in 2007. Despite controversies, such as political pushback regarding his performances in Russia, he remained an active figure in music and television until his death in 2023 at age 80.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Toto Cutugno
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