8 Italo disco tracks at Sanremo Festival 1981 - 1985

Italo disco comes out of the club scene to blend with Italy's cradle of traditional pop music.

To the untrained ear (and eye), Sanremo might not scream “innovation” or “experimentation,” nor would it be associated with anything emerging from nightlife. Ever since its inception in 1951, it has been associated with a type of musica leggera that’s heavy on melodic flourishes –both vocal and instrumental– and seemingly plays it safe.

By the time the 1980s rolled around, however, Italo disco was no longer contained within clubs, and, thanks to variety shows like Fantastico, Discoring, and, subsequently, Premiatissima, it did not feel out of place on the quaint stage of the Ariston theater. Here is a list of our favorite italo-disco entries at the Sanremo Festival editions that took place between 1981 and 1985.

Passengers “Midnight” (1981)

This is perhaps the earliest proper Italo disco track to be included in the official Sanremo Festival selection. Sung in English (not an uncommon occurrence at the time), the track is played entirely on synths, with a complete absence of live instrum…