San Marino: Valentina Monetta & Jimmie Wilson To Eurovision 2017

San Marino are to be represented by Valentina Monetta & Jimmie Wilson at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 in Kyiv, Ukraine with "Spirit Of The Night".

San Marino has this evening revealed that they are to be represented by Valentina Monetta & Jimmie Wilson with the song "Spirit Of The Night" at the 62nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, Ukraine. The two singers have been internally selected to represent the country by San Marino RTV are are one of two duets to be competing at this years Eurovision Song Contest.

Valentina Monetta is returning to the Eurovision Song Contest for a fourth time having last participated in the contest in 2014. She is to date the only singer from the country to have taken them to a Eurovision final. Jimmie Wilson is an American born singer currently living in Germany. The song has been composed by Ralph Seigel, with the lyrics by Steven Barnacle and Jutta Staudenmayer.

About the Artists:

Valentina Monetta first represented San Marino in 2012 with the Social Network Song, returning in 2013 and 2014, only qualifying to the final once on her final attempt - the first time that San Marino had ever qualified to the final since debuting at the contest in 2008. In 2008 on San Marino's first attempt, Valentina did attempt to represent the country but did not get selected. Valentina is one of only four artists to enter the contest on three consecutive occasions.

Jimmie Wilson has appeared in multiple musicals and shows, including a role playing Barack Obama in 'Hope'. Jimmie is an American artist currently living in Germany.

Earlier this Week:

Earlier this week Eurovision's smallest nation was dealt a blow by the European Broadcasting Union, who rejected their proposal to introduce a "televote" for the country. The broadcaster had complained that the newly introduced voting method leaves San Marino having a televote made up of an unknown number of other countries votes. They instead proposed an online platform in which a specific number of San Marinese citizens would vote via during the live shows.

Source: San Marino RTV

San Marino at the Eurovision Song Contest:

San Marino debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 alongside Azerbaijan. On their debut they were represented by Miodio and the song “Complice”, they finished last in their semi final with just 5 points. San Marino withdrew from the contest before returning again in 2011. Since then the country has participated annually and in 2014 qualified for their first final. Valentina Monetta represented San Marino for a third consecutive year in 2014, at the contest in Copenhagen she performed “Maybe” and went on to finish 24th in the final scoring 14 points.