The theme of Alketa Weiss's monologue in Sanremo was emigration. "I come from a small country like Albania and I wanted to share a story with you," she said at the outset.
"Once upon a time, it was a place where listening to [Claudio] Baglioni and [Adriano] Celentano was forbidden, being an enemy of the people, could cost you freedom. You could end up in jail. Once upon a time there was a place where they doubted if you were blonde because the blonde was Raffaella Carrà. Once upon a time, there was a place where Italian was taught by Rai broadcasts, where Sanremo was always Sanremo, even when we were forced to listen to it secretly, as we closed the doors and windows well, ?said Alketa.
Following the monologue, she said that today "may seem absurd", but at the time "were prices you had to pay if you lived in dictatorship." She thanked Italy for "keeping the dreams of Albanians alive".
"Thank you to Italy for keeping our dreams alive in that dark age. Because you never left us. You did not abandon us when we took the boats to reach the shore for a better opportunity to live. Thank you, Italy, for giving us so much, enlightening us with your culture, art, beauty and music. ?
In addition, Alketa also focused on the story of Ermal Meta, who won Sanremo in 2018.
"[...] a guy got off the boat and landed in Italy, where he did what seemed impossible, won Sanremo. That guy is a big name in Italian music today and his name is Ermal Meta, who with his victory in 2018 also raised the pride of Albanians. ?
The moderator also mentioned the strong connection that the Albanian people have with Italy, not only in music, but also in other fields, such as sport for example.
?We always cheer not only your music, but everything that belongs to you. When Italy scores in the World Cup, we enjoy as much as you do. ?
At the conclusion of the monologue, Weiss stated that "music erases boundaries and unites peoples and nations".
"As I'm talking to you, I remember that little girl asking my dad why they liked a Bobby Solo song, 'Una lacrima sul viso' so much." And my dad told me the song talks about the tear, which flows as the heart breaks and grows and becomes a sea. I said with the naivety of a child seeking to learn everything: 'Ah, this is why the tears are salty.'
The moderator then cited the tragedy of the Otranto Canal, in which "the hope of finding 'the Promised Land' on the opposite coast sank".
As he sang "Una lacrima sul viso", 74-year-old Italian artist Bobby Solo appeared on stage.
