04.02.2010 0

Italian Riviera: France’s first lady causes uproar across the border as she cancels appearance in Italy’s biggest music festival

Carla Bruni withdraws from San Remo Festival

As final preparations get underway for Italy’s most prestigious music festival, which runs from 16 to 21 February in San Remo’s Ariston Hotel, news comes that Carla Bruni will not attend as planned.

France’s first lady was to have sung a song with Gino Paoli on the Thursday evening of the festival but reports suggest the Elysée Palace has vetoed her appearance because of a song entitled Meno male being sung by another singer, Simone Cristicchi, festival winner in 2007.

The lyrics are mildly critical of Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy (“she says what Carla Bruni?” and “How is she dressed Carla Bruni?” and “What does she think?”) suggesting the former model has become a mere beauty icon.

Although it is a staunchly Italian affair, the San Remo Festival has no trouble in attracting big international stars like Kylie Minogue to attend as special guests, such is the standing of this event which started in 1951. The fact that it dominates Italy’s main Rai Uno TV channel which organises the festival may also explain why stars are happy to participate.

To find out more (if you can read Italian) go to www.sanremo.rai.it

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