Country Italy Selected entrant Ricchi e Poveri Final result 12th, 53 points | Selection process Internal Selection Selected song "Questo amore" 1978 • 1979► | |
Italy was represented by quartet Ricchi e Poveri, with the song '"Questo amore", at the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 22 April in Paris. Broadcaster RAI chose the song and performers internally.
At Eurovision
On the night of the final Ricchi e Poveri performed third in the running order, following Norway and preceding Finland. Prior to the contest observers had rated "Questo amore" as one of the better songs in what was considered an exceptionally weak line-up. However, on the night the group gave a very mediocre vocal performance, not helped by the fact that throughout the song the sound balance seemed to be well out of true, giving the already indifferent vocals a harsh, exposed quality. At the close of voting "Questo amore" had picked up 53 points, placing Italy 12th of the 20 entries. Oddly, for the third consecutive year Italy received its highest mark (10 in this case) from Ireland. The Italian jury awarded its 12 points to Luxembourg.