123-671: Filippo Neviani (born 6 January 1972), known by his stage name Nek , is an Italian singer-songwriter and musician. Nek is popular in Italy and throughout the Spanish-speaking world, and has performed and released most of his albums in both Italian and Spanish. Nek first gained international success in 1997, when he took part in the Sanremo Music Festival in the Big Artists section, and although he didn't win,
246-637: A Swiss person which was in use during the 16th to 19th centuries, and land . The English adjective Swiss is a loanword from French Suisse , also in use since the 16th century. The name Switzer is from the Alemannic Schwiizer , in origin an inhabitant of Schwyz and its associated territory , one of the Waldstätte cantons which formed the nucleus of the Old Swiss Confederacy . The Swiss began to adopt
369-681: A lower house (the National Council , with representatives elected from across the country). Referendums were made mandatory for any amendments. This new constitution ended the legal power of nobility in Switzerland . A single system of weights and measures was introduced, and in 1850 the Swiss franc became the Swiss single currency , complemented by the WIR franc in 1934. Article 11 of
492-676: A national personification of the Swiss confederacy in the 17th century in a 1672 play by Johann Caspar Weissenbach. The state of Switzerland took its present form with the adoption of the Swiss Federal Constitution in 1848. Switzerland's precursors established a defensive alliance in 1291, forming a loose confederation that persisted for centuries. The oldest traces of hominid existence in Switzerland date to about 150,000 years ago. The oldest known farming settlements in Switzerland, which were found at Gächlingen , date to around 5300 BC. The earliest known tribes formed
615-517: A change of policy following threats from Germany. Over 100 Allied bombers and their crews were interned. Between 1940 and 1945, Switzerland was bombed by the Allies , causing fatalities and property damage. Among the cities and towns bombed were Basel , Brusio , Chiasso , Cornol , Geneva, Koblenz , Niederweningen , Rafz , Renens , Samedan , Schaffhausen , Stein am Rhein , Tägerwilen , Thayngen , Vals , and Zurich. Allied forces maintained that
738-472: A daughter, Beatrice Maria, born 12 September 2010. He is a practising Catholic . Sanremo Music Festival The Sanremo Music Festival ( Italian : Festival di Sanremo [ˈfɛstival di sanˈrɛːmo, festiˈval -] ), officially the Italian Song Festival (Italian: Festival della canzone italiana ), is the most popular Italian song contest and awards ceremony, held annually in
861-804: A duet with Sergio Dalma . In 2014, Nek received the Lunezia award in the "Pop Rock" category for the album due to musical-literary value. On 11 May, Nek performed at the RadioItalia Live concert in Piazza Duomo , Milan . In June performed at the charity concert "Nel nome del cuore" at Assisi, in July performed at Foro Italico in Rome, and at Reventon Music Festival, at the sold-out Staples Center in Los Angeles . On 23 September, he performed at
984-583: A major international artist arrived when the album was published throughout Latin America , including Brazil , Argentina , where the single "Laura no está" became a hit song and both it and the album were certified Gold, Peru , Colombia , and the album 100,000 copies sold in Mexico in its Spanish version. In Spain he was nominated for the Premio Amigo in the "Best New Artist/Revelation" category, while
1107-535: A national tour in autumn. The album, as well the two singles, were certified Platinum by FIMI. In 2016, Nek was a coach in the 15th edition of the talent show Amici di Maria De Filippi . In May was released single "Uno di questi giorni" which was certified Gold by FIMI. In July performed at Reventon, festival dedicated to the Latin American music, at Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles , while in October at
1230-648: A re-release of her song named "Eclissi del cuore", the Italian version of the 80's power ballad " Total Eclipse of the Heart " by Bonnie Tyler . It was released as a single in October 2011, reaching number five on the Italian Singles Chart, and was certified Platinum by FIMI. In July, Nek performed at the humanitarian concert at piazza of Basilica of San Francesco , in Assisi . On 25 July 2012, performed at
1353-690: A remarkable size, while hundreds of agricultural estates ( Villae rusticae ) were established in the countryside. Around 260 AD, the fall of the Agri Decumates territory north of the Rhine transformed today's Switzerland into a frontier land of the Empire. Repeated raids by the Alamanni tribes provoked the ruin of the Roman towns and economy, forcing the population to shelter near Roman fortresses, like
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#17327754724131476-536: A sign of support. In September 2020, a referendum calling for a vote to end the pact that allowed a free movement of people from the European Union was introduced by the Swiss People's Party (SVP). However, voters rejected the attempt to retake control of immigration, defeating the motion by a roughly 63%–37% margin. On 9 February 2014, 50.3% of Swiss voters approved a ballot initiative launched by
1599-405: A significant impact on the psychology and society of Switzerland. The war convinced most Swiss of the need for unity and strength. Swiss from all strata of society, whether Catholic or Protestant, from the liberal or conservative current, realised that the cantons would profit more from merging their economic and religious interests. Thus, while the rest of Europe saw revolutionary uprisings ,
1722-556: A whole rather than being modified one amendment at a time. This need soon proved itself when the rise in population and the Industrial Revolution that followed led to calls to modify the constitution accordingly. The population rejected an early draft in 1872, but modifications led to its acceptance in 1874. It introduced the facultative referendum for laws at the federal level. It also established federal responsibility for defence, trade, and legal matters. In 1891,
1845-772: Is a competition for new songs, not an award to previous successes (like the Premio regia televisiva [ it ] for television, the Premio Ubu [ it ] for stage performances, and the Premio David di Donatello for motion pictures). The first edition of the Sanremo Music Festival, held between 29 and 31 January 1951, was broadcast by RAI's radio station Rete Rossa , and its only three participants were Nilla Pizzi , Achille Togliani , and Duo Fasano . Starting from 1955, all editions of
1968-701: Is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland is geographically divided among the Swiss Plateau , the Alps and the Jura ; the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, whereas most of the country's population of 9 million are concentrated on the plateau, which hosts its largest cities and economic centres, including Zurich , Geneva , and Basel . Switzerland originates from
2091-468: Is considered the confederacy's founding document, even though similar alliances likely existed decades earlier. The document was agreed among the rural communes of Uri , Schwyz , and Unterwalden . By 1353, the three original cantons had joined with the cantons of Glarus and Zug and the Lucerne , Zurich and Bern city-states to form the "Old Confederacy" of eight states that obtained through
2214-419: Is fairly cohesive, being rooted in a common historical background, shared values such as federalism and direct democracy , and Alpine symbolism. Swiss identity transcends language, ethnicity, and religion, leading to Switzerland being described as a Willensnation ("nation of volition") rather than a nation state . The English name Switzerland is a portmanteau of Switzer , an obsolete term for
2337-659: Is the highest, although the Matterhorn (4,478 m or 14,692 ft) is the best known. Both are located within the Pennine Alps in the canton of Valais , on the border with Italy. The section of the Bernese Alps above the deep glacial Lauterbrunnen valley, containing 72 waterfalls, is well known for the Jungfrau (4,158 m or 13,642 ft) Eiger and Mönch peaks, and its many picturesque valleys. In
2460-542: The Axis and Allied powers. Switzerland's trade was blockaded by both the Allies and the Axis. Economic cooperation and extension of credit to Nazi Germany varied according to the perceived likelihood of invasion and the availability of other trading partners. Concessions reached a peak after a crucial rail link through Vichy France was severed in 1942, leaving Switzerland (together with Liechtenstein ) entirely isolated from
2583-541: The Castrocaro Music Festival , which at the time represented a major promotional opportunity for emerging artists. His stage name Nek dates back to 1992 when his first album was released with the name Nek , released by the at the time famous record label Fonit Cetra . In 1993 he finished in third placebin the Newcomers section of the Sanremo Music Festival , with the song "In te", that dealt with
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#17327754724132706-628: The Castrum Rauracense near Augusta Raurica. The Empire built another line of defence at the north border (the so-called Donau-Iller-Rhine-Limes). At the end of the fourth century, the increased Germanic pressure forced the Romans to abandon the linear defence concept. The Swiss Plateau was finally open to Germanic tribes . In the Early Middle Ages , from the end of the fourth century, the western extent of modern-day Switzerland
2829-558: The Congress of Vienna fully re-established Swiss independence, and the European powers recognised permanent Swiss neutrality. Swiss troops served foreign governments until 1860 when they fought in the siege of Gaeta . The treaty allowed Switzerland to increase its territory, with the admission of the cantons of Valais , Neuchâtel and Geneva . Switzerland's borders saw only minor adjustments thereafter. The restoration of power to
2952-484: The European Award as best young Italian pop artist. After having signed a recording contract with WEA, which has remained his label to date (now Warner Music Group ), in 1996 was released his fourth studio album Lei, gli amici e tutto il resto , with average success. In 1997 he took part in the Sanremo Music Festival in the Big Artists section, with the song " Laura non c'è " which although it failed to win
3075-866: The European Union (EU), the European Economic Area , or the eurozone ; however, it participates in the European single market and the Schengen Area . Switzerland is a federal republic composed of 26 cantons , with federal authorities based in Bern . Switzerland is one of the world's most developed countries having the highest nominal wealth per adult , and the eighth-highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita . Switzerland performs highly on several international metrics , including economic competitiveness and democratic governance . Cities such as Zurich, Geneva and Basel rank among
3198-818: The Eurovision Song Contest 2019 , topping the charts in Greece, Israel, and Lithuania, and reaching the top ten in five more countries. " Zitti e buoni " by Måneskin won both the Sanremo Festival and the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021, topping the charts in several European countries. It peaked at number seventeen on the UK Singles Chart and reached top ten on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart. In 1966, Adriano Celentano sang " Il ragazzo della via Gluck " at
3321-618: The Federal Palace in 1902 and after 1948 used in the official seal (e.g., the ISO banking code "CHF" for the Swiss franc , the Swiss postage stamps ('HELVETIA') and the country top-level domain ".ch", are both taken from the state's Latin name). Helvetica is derived from the Helvetii , a Gaulish tribe living on the Swiss Plateau before the Roman era . Helvetia appeared as
3444-677: The First War of Villmergen , in 1656, and the Toggenburg War (or Second War of Villmergen), in 1712. In 1798, the revolutionary French government invaded Switzerland and imposed a new unified constitution. This centralised the government of the country, effectively abolishing the cantons: moreover, Mülhausen left Switzerland and the Valtellina valley became part of the Cisalpine Republic . The new regime, known as
3567-577: The Hallstatt and La Tène cultures , named after the archaeological site of La Tène on the north side of Lake Neuchâtel . La Tène culture developed and flourished during the late Iron Age from around 450 BC, possibly influenced by Greek and Etruscan civilisations. One of the most prominent La Tène tribes were the Helvetii , who primarily occupied the Swiss Plateau , alongside the Rhaetians in
3690-615: The Holy Roman Empire around 1000 AD. In the 10th century, as the rule of the Carolingians waned, Magyars destroyed Basel in 917 and St. Gallen in 926. In response, Henry the Fowler , the then ruler of East Francia, decreed the fortification of key settlements to defend against these invasions. Large villages and towns, including strategic locations like Zurich and St.Gallen, were fortified. This initiative led to
3813-524: The La Mercè Festival in Barcelona . On 3 October, Nek's European Tour was cancelled because of health issues with vocal cords, for which in order to avoid surgery was not allowed to sing for two months. In 2014, Nek received the "Tributo ad Augusto," award given every year to the artist who is distinguished by his artistic and social activity. On 28 March, as honorary president, Nek presented
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3936-593: The League of Nations , which was based in Geneva , after it was exempted from military requirements. During World War II , detailed invasion plans were drawn up by the Germans, but Switzerland was never attacked. Switzerland was able to remain independent through a combination of military deterrence, concessions to Germany, and good fortune, as larger events during the war intervened. General Henri Guisan , appointed
4059-660: The Live 8 benefit concert, and in November started the arena tour to promote the new album debuted at the Milan Forum with a sold-out show, and went on to match the same achievement in every major Italian city. The album also included the hit single "Lascia che io sia...", with which Nek won that year's edition of Festivalbar . The single peaked at number two on the charts, ranked in the Top 8 for 15 weeks, and being certified Platinum
4182-656: The Old Swiss Confederacy established in the Late Middle Ages , following a series of military successes against Austria and Burgundy ; the Federal Charter of 1291 is considered the country's founding document. Swiss independence from the Holy Roman Empire was formally recognised in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. Switzerland has maintained a policy of armed neutrality since the 16th century and has not fought an international war since 1815 . It joined
4305-526: The Swiss Alps to the south, the Swiss Plateau or Central Plateau, and the Jura mountains on the west. The Alps are a mountain range running across the central and south of the country, constituting about 60% of the country's area. The majority of the population live on the Swiss Plateau. The Swiss Alps host many glaciers, covering 1,063 square kilometres (410 sq mi). From these originate
4428-613: The Swiss economy . During the Cold War , Swiss authorities considered the construction of a Swiss nuclear bomb . Leading nuclear physicists at the Federal Institute of Technology Zurich such as Paul Scherrer made this a realistic possibility. In 1988, the Paul Scherrer Institute was founded in his name to explore the therapeutic uses of neutron scattering technologies. Financial problems with
4551-407: The Wind Music Awards , in Via della Conciliazione , Rome . In 2008 Nek recorded a duet of " Walking Away " with Craig David , which was included in the Greatest Hits of the British artist. On 30 January 2009 Nek released Un'altra direzione , his tenth album which contains 12 new originals plus "Walking Away", and preceded by the single "La voglia che non-vorrei", is his first album to top
4674-473: The best-selling singles of all time . " Non ho l'età " by Gigliola Cinquetti (1964), " Sarà perché ti amo " by Ricchi e Poveri (1981), " Maledetta primavera " by Loretta Goggi (1981), " Felicità " by Al Bano and Romina Power (1982), " L'Italiano " by Toto Cutugno (1983), " Adesso tu " by Eros Ramazzotti (1986), " La solitudine " by Laura Pausini (1993), and " Il mare calmo della sera " by Andrea Bocelli (1994) also became international hits. In 1994,
4797-405: The commander-in-chief for the duration of the war ordered a general mobilisation of the armed forces. The Swiss military strategy changed from static defence at the borders to organised long-term attrition and withdrawal to strong, well-stockpiled positions high in the Alps, known as the Reduit . Switzerland was an important base for espionage by both sides and often mediated communications between
4920-432: The " Football for Peace " in Rome organized by Pope Francis . On 14 October was released his thirteenth studio album Unici . It will be followed by nationwide tour in the spring and summer of 2017, as well on 21 May 2017 with his first concert at Verona Arena . Nek competed in the Sanremo Music Festival 2024 alongside Francesco Renga with "Pazzo di te". On 2 September 2006 Nek married Patrizia Vacondio. They have
5043-448: The 17th Magna Grecia Awards, exhibition dedicated to the beauty, culture and art inspired by Magna Grecia which takes place every year in Apulia . On 1 September, performed live at the humanitary football match "Partita Interreligiosa per la Pace", at Stadio Olimpico , Rome. In February 2015, Nek participated at the 65th Sanremo Music Festival , where with the song "Fatti avanti amore" he finished in second place. Although he didn't win
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5166-400: The 1982 Sanremo Festival, "Storie di tutti i giorni" by Riccardo Fogli , was sung by Dutch singer Marco Borsato , with the title "Dromen zijn deception"; his version became one of the most successful Dutch-language singles of all time. It remained at number one in the Dutch Top 40 for twelve weeks. The song " Quando quando quando " by Tony Renis competed in the Sanremo Festival in 1962 and
5289-428: The Bold of Burgundy during the 1470s, and the success of the Swiss mercenaries . The Swiss victory in the Swabian War against the Swabian League of Emperor Maximilian I in 1499 amounted to de facto independence within the Holy Roman Empire . In 1501, Basel and Schaffhausen joined the Old Swiss Confederacy. The Confederacy acquired a reputation of invincibility during these earlier wars, but expansion of
5412-448: The Critics Award of the Italian Song Festival and, more informally, simply the Critics Award, is a recognition given to the best song, selected by music experts (journalists and music critics) at the Sanremo Music Festival. The prize was created in 1982 specifically to award Mia Martini 's interpretation of her song "E non finisce mica il cielo". Since 1996, the award has been named after Mia Martini, following her sudden death. A petition
5535-560: The EU was attained that eliminated quotas on EU citizens, but still allowed favourable treatment of Swiss-based job applicants. On 27 September 2020, 62% of Swiss voters rejected the anti-free movement referendum by SVP. Extending across the north and south side of the Alps in west -central Europe, Switzerland encompasses diverse landscapes and climates across its 41,285 square kilometres (15,940 sq mi). Switzerland lies between latitudes 45° and 48° N , and longitudes 5° and 11° E . It contains three basic topographical areas:
5658-400: The Festival, it became that year's edition's greatest hit. The huge success of "Laura non c'è" boosted sales of the album Lei, gli amici e tutto il resto (re-released), which went 6 times platinum, selling over 600,000 copies in Italy alone. That same year Nek also took part in the Festivalbar with the song "Sei grande", and debuted on the European market; The rush-released Spanish version of
5781-416: The French in the name of the Helvetic Republic. In 1803 Napoleon organised a meeting of the leading Swiss politicians from both sides in Paris. The Act of Mediation was the result, which largely restored Swiss autonomy and introduced a Confederation of 19 cantons. Henceforth, much of Swiss politics would concern balancing the cantons' tradition of self-rule with the need for a central government. In 1815
5904-519: The Helvetic Republic, was highly unpopular. An invading foreign army had imposed and destroyed centuries of tradition, making Switzerland nothing more than a French satellite state . The fierce French suppression of the Nidwalden Revolt in September 1798 was an example of the oppressive presence of the French Army and the local population's resistance to the occupation. When war broke out between France and its rivals, Russian and Austrian forces invaded Switzerland. The Swiss refused to fight alongside
6027-472: The Helvetii were forced by Caesar to return to their original lands, where they were subjected to stringent restrictions on their autonomy and movements. In 15 BC, Tiberius (later the second Roman emperor) and his brother Drusus conquered the Alps, integrating them into the Roman Empire . The area occupied by the Helvetii first became part of Rome's Gallia Belgica province and then of its Germania Superior province. The eastern portion of modern Switzerland
6150-403: The Holy Roman Empire and its neutrality . During the Early Modern period of Swiss history, the growing authoritarianism of the patriciate families combined with a financial crisis in the wake of the Thirty Years' War led to the Swiss peasant war of 1653 . In the background to this struggle, the conflict between Catholic and Protestant cantons persisted, erupting in further violence at
6273-417: The Italian market, including Louis Armstrong , Ray Charles , Stevie Wonder , Cher , Gloria Gaynor , Dionne Warwick , Jose Feliciano , Roberto Carlos , Paul Anka , Miriam Makeba , Bonnie Tyler , Shirley Bassey , Mungo Jerry , Kiss , Laura Branigan , Alla Pugacheva , and many others. In the aftermath of World War II , one of the proposals to revitalize the economy and the reputation of Sanremo
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#17327754724136396-443: The Italian radio charts. On 23 November 2006, Nek released his ninth album Nella stanza 26 (in Spanish : En el cuarto 26 ) peaked at number five in Italy and Switzerland, and again sold over 200,000 copies. It included the hit single "Instabile", which peaked at number three, and ranked in the Top 5 for 6 weeks. In 2007, for the song "Nella stanza 26" Nek received the prestigious Lunezia " Poesia del Rock " award, and performed at
6519-436: The Newcomers section at the Sanremo Festival in 1992. It became an international hit, being covered as " No Me Ames " by American singers Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony . The song peaked at number one in the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart. It received a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo/Group with Vocals. At the Billboard Latin Music Awards of 2000, the song received an award for Hot Latin Track of
6642-411: The Sanremo Festival. American singer Verdelle Smith sang an English version of the song, titled "Tar and Cement", which made it to number one in Australia and became one of the year's biggest sellers. The song also reached number 32 in Canada. In the US, it peaked at number 38. In Sweden, Anna-Lena Löfgren sang it with Swedish lyrics as "Lyckliga gatan", making the biggest hit of her career. The song
6765-440: The Swiss Alps. 90% of Switzerland's 65,000-kilometre-long network of rivers and streams have been straightened, dammed, canalized or channeled underground, in an effort to prevent natural disasters such as flooding, landslides, and avalanches. 80% of all Swiss drinking water comes from groundwater sources. Forty-eight mountains are 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) or higher in height. At 4,634 m (15,203 ft), Monte Rosa
6888-407: The Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) to restrict immigration . This initiative was mostly backed by rural (57.6% approval) and suburban groups (51.2% approval), and isolated towns (51.3% approval) as well as by a strong majority (69.2% approval) in Ticino, while metropolitan centres (58.5% rejection) and the French-speaking part (58.5% rejection) rejected it. In December 2016, a political compromise with
7011-442: The Swiss drew up a constitution that provided for a federal layout , much of it inspired by the American example . This constitution provided central authority while leaving the cantons the right to self-government on local issues. Giving credit to those who favoured the power of the cantons (the Sonderbund Kantone), the national assembly was divided between an upper house (the Council of States , two representatives per canton) and
7134-400: The US Billboard Hot 100 in August and September 1958 and subsequently became Billboard 's number-one single for the year. In 1959, at the inaugural Grammy Awards , "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" became the first-ever Grammy winner for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year . The song "Io che non vivo (senza te)", sung at the fifteenth edition of the Sanremo Festival by Pino Donaggio ,
7257-420: The United Nations only in 2002 but pursues an active foreign policy that includes frequent involvement in peace building . Switzerland is the birthplace of the Red Cross and hosts the headquarters or offices of most major international institutions including the WTO , the WHO , the ILO , FIFA , the WEF , and the UN. It is a founding member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), but not part of
7380-423: The Year by a Vocal Duo and two nominations for Tropical/Salsa Track of the Year and Hot Latin Track of the Year. The song " Che sarà " was sung by Ricchi e Poveri and José Feliciano at the Sanremo Festival in 1971. Feliciano's recorded version was successful in Europe, the Middle East, Japan, and Latin America. The Spanish version of "Che sarà" peaked at number one in Spain and Latin America. The winning song of
7503-413: The administrator of the Sanremo Casino, Piero Bussetti, and the conductor of the RAI orchestra, Giulio Razzi, rediscussed the idea, deciding to launch a competition among previously unreleased songs. Officially titled Festival della Canzone Italiana (literally "Festival of the Italian song"), the first edition of the show was held at the Sanremo Casino on 29, 30, and 31 January 1951. The final round of
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#17327754724137626-482: The album at the Billboard Latin Music Awards in 1999 for the "Rock Album of the Year" award. Nek commented how his previous inexperience and the search for musical identity, and when switched labels, the change of musical style from traditional Italian pop to more Anglo pop rock sound, resulted in his sudden success. Nek's fifth album In due was released in June 1998, simultaneously in Europe, Latin America and Japan. The single "Se io non-avessi te" immediately topped
7749-433: The album charts. It was certified Platinum, with over 70,000 copies sold. The Spanish-language version of the single called "El deseo que ya no puede ser" was released two months later followed by the album Nuevas direcciones . Nek also participated as part of the supergroup Artisti Uniti on the charity single " Domani 21/04.09 " in support for the victims of the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake . Greatest Hits 1992–2010: E da qui
7872-487: The album was released in May, while complete in September; according to WEA Italy Nek sold 300,000 albums in Spain and 100,000 in France , with additional 250,000 copies of "Laura non c'è" in France. In August 1998, Nek officially received the IFPI award for the album having sold more than a million copies in Europe. The single and album have also successfully charted in Switzerland , Belgium , Austria , Portugal , Sweden , Finland and Germany . Nek's confirmation as
7995-445: The area of forest that was burned and cleared to build. The name was extended to the area dominated by the canton, and after the Swabian War of 1499 gradually came to be used for the entire Confederation. The Swiss German name of the country, Schwiiz , is homophonous to that of the canton and the settlement, but distinguished by the use of the definite article ( d'Schwiiz for the Confederation, but simply Schwyz for
8118-448: The big humanitarian concert at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara , Bologna . On 16 April 2013, his eleventh studio album was released under the title Filippo Neviani and went on to peak at number two in the music charts. All the tracks on the album were played by Nek. The album followed on from the hit single "Congiunzione Astrale", on 22 March 2013. The following single "La metà di niente" was also re-recorded in Spanish as "La Mitad de Nada" in
8241-438: The bombings, which violated the 96th Article of War , resulted from navigation errors, equipment failure, weather conditions, and pilot errors. The Swiss expressed fear and concern that the bombings were intended to put pressure on Switzerland to end economic cooperation and neutrality with Nazi Germany. Court-martial proceedings took place in England. The US paid SFR 62M for reparations. Switzerland's attitude towards refugees
8364-460: The canton and the town). The long [iː] of Swiss German is historically and still often today spelled ⟨y⟩ rather than ⟨ii⟩ , preserving the original identity of the two names even in writing. The Latin name Confoederatio Helvetica was neologised and introduced gradually after the formation of the federal state in 1848, harking back to the Napoleonic Helvetic Republic . It appeared on coins from 1879, inscribed on
8487-415: The charts in Italy, and seventh in Switzerland, selling over 360,000 copies in both languages. Two years later, on 24 May 2002, his seventh album Le cose da difendere was released, once again worldwide, and it peaked at number four on the charts in Italy, and stayed in the Top 5 for 4 weeks, being certified Platinum in Italy, and Gold in Switzerland. On 10 October 2003, his first greatest hits compilation
8610-436: The citizens, the membership application was withdrawn. Nonetheless, Swiss law is gradually changing to conform with that of the EU, and the government signed bilateral agreements with the European Union. Switzerland, together with Liechtenstein, has been surrounded by the EU since Austria's entry in 1995. On 5 June 2005, Swiss voters agreed by a 55% majority to join the Schengen treaty , a result that EU commentators regarded as
8733-399: The city of Sanremo , Liguria, organized and broadcast by Italian public broadcaster RAI . It is the longest-running annual TV music competition in the world on a national level (making it one of the world's longest-running television programmes ) and it is also the basis and inspiration for the annual Eurovision Song Contest . Unlike other awards in Italy, the Sanremo Music Festival
8856-406: The competition was broadcast by Rete Rossa , the second most important RAI radio station. Twenty songs took part in the competition, performed by three artists only– Nilla Pizzi , Duo Fasano, and Achille Togliani . Starting from the third edition of the festival, held in 1953, each song was performed by two different artists with different orchestras and arrangements. Two years later, in 1955,
8979-525: The confederation suffered a setback in 1515 with the Swiss defeat in the Battle of Marignano . This ended the so-called "heroic" epoch of Swiss history. The success of Zwingli 's Reformation in some cantons led to inter-cantonal religious conflicts in 1529 and 1531 ( Wars of Kappel ). It was not until more than one hundred years after these internal wars that, in 1648, under the Peace of Westphalia , European countries recognised Switzerland's independence from
9102-526: The constitution forbade sending troops to serve abroad, marking the end of foreign service. It came with the expectation of serving the Holy See , and the Swiss were still obliged to serve Francis II of the Two Sicilies with Swiss Guards present at the siege of Gaeta in 1860 . An important clause of the constitution was that it could be entirely rewritten, if necessary, thus enabling it to evolve as
9225-561: The constitution was revised with uncommonly strong elements of direct democracy , which remain unique today. Switzerland was not invaded during either of the world wars. During World War I , Switzerland was home to the revolutionary and founder of the Soviet Union Vladimir Illych Ulyanov ( Vladimir Lenin ) who remained there until 1917. Swiss neutrality was seriously questioned by the short-lived Grimm–Hoffmann affair in 1917. In 1920, Switzerland joined
9348-439: The contest. In 1982, accredited music journalists decided to create an award to recognise the best song competing in the festival. Starting from 1983, the prize was officially awarded during the event. The critics' prize was later named after Mia Martini , who was the first artist receiving it in 1982 for her entry "E non finisce mica il cielo". Moreover, starting from 1984, the separation between newcomers and established artists
9471-526: The controversial issue of abortion. It was also the title of Nek's second album, which included a version of his song "Figli di chi", also entered in the Sanremo Festival 1993 and performed by Mietta . In the summer of 1994 he released Calore umano , his third album, and came second at the Festival Italiano, hosted by Mike Bongiorno , with the song "Angeli nel ghetto". Also in 1994 he received his first major acknowledgement, together with Giorgia
9594-610: The defence budget and ethical considerations prevented the substantial funds from being allocated, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968 was seen as a valid alternative. Plans for building nuclear weapons were dropped by 1988. Switzerland joined the Council of Europe in 1963. Switzerland was the last Western republic (the Principality of Liechtenstein followed in 1984) to grant women
9717-541: The development of what were essentially early urban strongholds and city governments in Eastern Switzerland. By 1200, the Swiss Plateau comprised the dominions of the houses of Savoy , Zähringer , Habsburg , and Kyburg . Some regions ( Uri , Schwyz , Unterwalden , later known as Waldstätten ) were accorded the Imperial immediacy to grant the empire direct control over the mountain passes. With
9840-479: The eastern regions. Facing pressures from Germanic tribes, in 58 BC, the Helvetii, influenced by Orgetorix , a wealthy aristocrat, decided to abandon the Swiss Plateau for better opportunities in western Gallia. After Orgetorix's mysterious death, the tribe continued their migration but was decisively defeated by Julius Caesar's armies at the Battle of Bibracte , in present-day eastern France. Following their defeat,
9963-632: The end of the 15th century. The expansion led to increased power and wealth for the confederation. By 1460, the confederates controlled most of the territory south and west of the Rhine to the Alps and the Jura mountains , and the University of Basel was founded (with a faculty of medicine) establishing a tradition of chemical and medical research. This increased after victories against the Habsburgs ( Battle of Sempach , Battle of Näfels ), over Charles
10086-551: The entries in the "Young artists" category had to go through an elimination round, while "Big artists" were directly admitted to the final round. In 1977, the Sanremo Casino, which hosted all the previous editions of the contest, was closed for renovations, therefore the show moved to the Teatro Ariston . The theater later became the usual location for the annual contest, hosting it every year except in 1990, when
10209-581: The event between 2020 and 2024, Amadeus joined Baudo and Bongiorno in the record for the most consecutive editions hosted, i.e., five, and established himself as the presenter with the highest number of consecutive nights hosted, at 25. Full list of festival hosts: Switzerland in Europe (green and dark grey) Switzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation , is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe . It
10332-640: The extinction of its male line in 1263, the Kyburg dynasty fell in AD 1264. The Habsburgs under King Rudolph I (Holy Roman Emperor in 1273) laid claim to the Kyburg lands and annexed them, extending their territory to the eastern Swiss Plateau. The Old Swiss Confederacy was an alliance among the valley communities of the central Alps. The Confederacy was governed by nobles and patricians of various cantons who facilitated management of common interests and ensured peace on mountain trade routes. The Federal Charter of 1291
10455-412: The festival came back to the rules used in the 1990s, with two completely separate competitions for established artists and newcomers. In 2009, a new competition, held entirely online, was introduced by the artistic director of the 59th edition of the contest, Paolo Bonolis . Titled Sanremofestival.59 , the contest was not held in the following years. The "Mia Martini" Critics Award, originally named
10578-593: The festival have been broadcast live by the Italian TV station Rai 1 . From 1951 to 1976, the festival took place in the Sanremo Casino , but starting from 1977, all the following editions were held in the Teatro Ariston , except in 1990, which was held at the Nuovo Mercato dei Fiori [ it ] . The songs selected in the competition are in Italian or in any regional language , and
10701-590: The festival made its first appearance on television, since part of the final night was also broadcast by RAI's channel Programma Nazionale . The last night of the show was also broadcast in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. In 1964, Gianni Ravera , who organized the 14th Sanremo Music Festival, slightly changed the rules of the contest, requiring each song to be performed once by an Italian artist and once by an international singer, who
10824-661: The headwaters of several major rivers, such as the Rhine , Inn , Ticino and Rhône , which flow in the four cardinal directions, spreading across Europe. The hydrographic network includes several of the largest bodies of fresh water in Central and Western Europe, among which are Lake Geneva (Lac Léman in French), Lake Constance (Bodensee in German) and Lake Maggiore . Switzerland has more than 1500 lakes and contains 6% of Europe's freshwater stock. Lakes and glaciers cover about 6% of
10947-413: The highest in terms of quality of life, albeit with some of the highest costs of living . Switzerland holds an international reputation for its established banking sector, alongside its distinctive recognition for their watchmaking and chocolate production. It has four main linguistic and cultural regions: German, French, Italian and Romansh . Although most Swiss are German-speaking, national identity
11070-660: The last widely recognised state without full UN membership. Switzerland is a founding member of the EFTA but not the European Economic Area (EEA). An application for membership in the European Union was sent in May 1992, but did not advance since rejecting the EEA in December 1992 when Switzerland conducted a referendum on the EEA. Several referendums on the EU issue ensued; due to opposition from
11193-426: The main competition, he won with the song " Se telefonando " by Mina for the "Best Cover", and with his song "Fatti avanti amore" another three awards, for the "Best Arrangement" awarded by the festival orchestra, the newsroom Radio and TV "Lucio Dalla," as well radio award "Sempre più Sanremo" for the most popular festival song on radio. On 4 March Nek released his twelfth studio album Prima di parlare , followed by
11316-537: The musical event. In 2003, Pippo Baudo hosted for the eleventh time, matching the record previously held by Mike Bongiorno . He later overtook this record, hosting the Sanremo Music Festival in 2007 and in 2008. Only seven women have hosted the festival as main presenters. The first women ever to host the event alone were Lilly Lembo and Giuliana Calandra in 1961, followed by Maria Giovanna Elmi in 1978, Loretta Goggi in 1986, Raffaella Carrà in 2001, Simona Ventura in 2004, and Antonella Clerici in 2010. Hosting
11439-629: The name for themselves after the Swabian War of 1499, used alongside the term for "Confederates", Eidgenossen (literally: comrades by oath ), used since the 14th century. The data code for Switzerland , CH, is derived from Latin Confoederatio Helvetica ( Helvetic Confederation ). The toponym Schwyz itself was first attested in 972, as Old High German Suittes , perhaps related to swedan 'to burn' (cf. Old Norse svíða 'to singe, burn'), referring to
11562-762: The national territory. Lake Geneva is the largest lake and is shared with France. The Rhône is both the main source and outflow of Lake Geneva. Lake Constance is the second largest and, like Lake Geneva, an intermediate step by the Rhine at the border with Austria and Germany. While the Rhône flows into the Mediterranean Sea at the French Camargue region and the Rhine flows into the North Sea at Rotterdam , about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) apart, both springs are only about 22 kilometres (14 miles) apart in
11685-582: The patriciate was only temporary. After a period of unrest with repeated violent clashes, such as the Züriputsch of 1839, civil war (the Sonderbundskrieg ) broke out in 1847 when some Catholic cantons tried to set up a separate alliance (the Sonderbund ). The war lasted less than a month, causing fewer than 100 casualties, most of which were through friendly fire . The Sonderbundskrieg had
11808-409: The reintroduction of completely separate competitions starting from 1999. The distinction among different categories was abolished again in 2004. The following year, the contest included five different categories—Newcomers, Men, Women, Groups, and Classics. The winner of each category competed for the final victory of the contest. The category Classic was abolished in 2006, while starting from 2007,
11931-414: The right to vote . Some Swiss cantons approved this in 1959, while at the federal level, it was achieved in 1971 and, after resistance, in the last canton Appenzell Innerrhoden (one of only two remaining Landsgemeinde , along with Glarus ) in 1990. After obtaining suffrage at the federal level, women quickly rose in political significance. The first woman on the seven-member Federal Council executive
12054-561: The sales charts and ranked high in all the major radio play charts for over four months, for which received the Festivalbar "Radio" award. The album went three times Platinum in Italy, Platinum in Spain, and Gold throughout Europe. In the first half of 1999 he toured Italy, Europe and Latin America, enjoying great success wherever he performed. His sixth album La vita è was released worldwide on 2 June 2000, and peaked at number eight on
12177-480: The show was held at the Nuovo Mercato dei Fiori, also known as Palafiori. In 1980, pre-recorded backing tracks replaced the orchestra, while playback performances were allowed in 1983 during the final round. In 1984 and 1985, all the artists were forced to perform in playback, while live performances with the orchestra were reintroduced in 1990. During the same years, several other changes were introduced in
12300-778: The sixth century, following Clovis I 's victory over the Alemanni at Tolbiac in 504 AD, and later Frankish domination of the Burgundians. Throughout the rest of the sixth, seventh and eighth centuries, Swiss regions continued under Frankish hegemony ( Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties) but after its extension under Charlemagne , the Frankish Empire was divided by the Treaty of Verdun in 843. The territories of present-day Switzerland became divided into Middle Francia and East Francia until they were reunified under
12423-538: The song " Fatti avanti amore " where he reached second place. During his career he has released thirteen studio albums and forty-eight singles, which include hits " Sei solo tu ", " Almeno stavolta ", " Lascia che io sia ", " Instabile ", " La voglia che non-vorrei ", and it has been reported that he has sold over 10 million records. Filippo Neviani was born on 6 January 1972, in Sassuolo , Modena , Italy . He began playing drums, bass and guitar at nine years of age. He
12546-577: The song " Laura non c'è " (in Spanish: "Laura no está") went on to become his international breakthrough as it became a major hit in Europe and Latin America that year, as well the release of his fourth and million-selling album Lei, gli amici e tutto il resto , which was his first album to also be recorded in the Spanish language. After eighteen years he performed at the Sanremo's 2015 edition with
12669-689: The song "La mia storia tra le dita", which Gianluca Grignani sang at Sanremo, became a hit in South America, selling two million copies. Nek sang " Laura non c'è " at the Sanremo Festival in 1997, with the song becoming a hit in Europe and Latin America; the Spanish version charted in the US and peaked at number 21 in the Billboard Hot Latin Songs Chart. " Soldi " by Mahmood won the 69th Sanremo Festival and placed second in
12792-856: The three most voted songs are awarded. Other special awards are also given, including the Critics' Award, created ad hoc by the press in 1982 to reward the quality of Mia Martini 's song, and named after the singer in 1996, after her death. The Sanremo Music Festival has often been used as a method for choosing the Italian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. It has launched the careers of some of Italy's most successful musical acts, including Toto Cutugno , Gigliola Cinquetti , Laura Pausini , Eros Ramazzotti , Andrea Bocelli , Giorgia , Il Volo , and Måneskin . Between 1953 and 1971 (except in 1956), in 1990, and 1991, each song
12915-695: The wider world by Axis-controlled territory. Over the course of the war, Switzerland interned over 300,000 refugees aided by the International Red Cross , based in Geneva. Strict immigration and asylum policies and the financial relationships with Nazi Germany raised controversy, only at the end of the 20th century. During the war, the Swiss Air Force engaged aircraft of both sides, shooting down 11 intruding Luftwaffe planes in May and June 1940, then forcing down other intruders after
13038-560: Was Elisabeth Kopp , who served from 1984 to 1989, and the first female president was Ruth Dreifuss in 1999. In 1979 areas from the canton of Bern attained independence from the Bernese, forming the new canton of Jura . On 18 April 1999, the Swiss population and the cantons voted in favour of a completely revised federal constitution . In 2002 Switzerland became a full member of the United Nations, leaving Vatican City as
13161-460: Was a highly popular song, it peaked at number five on the charts and remained in the Top 10 for 12 weeks. In 2004 was held European and Latin American tour. On 13 May 2005, was released his eighth studio album, Una parte di me . The album peaked at number three in Italy and Switzerland, stayed on the Italian charts for more than 50 weeks, and sold over 200,000 copies. On 2 July, Nek performed at
13284-464: Was allowed to perform the song in any language. The same rule was applied in the following year's contest. Between 1967 and 1971, entries were not forced to be interpreted by foreign artists, but double performances were kept. Starting from 1972, each entry was sung by one artist only. The competing artists were split for the first time into "Big artists" and "Young artists" during the Sanremo Music Festival 1974. The competition had one winner only, but
13407-575: Was complicated and controversial; over the course of the war, it admitted as many as 300,000 refugees while refusing tens of thousands more, including Jews persecuted by the Nazis. After the war, the Swiss government exported credits through the charitable fund known as the Schweizerspende and donated to the Marshall Plan to help Europe's recovery, efforts that ultimately benefited
13530-748: Was covered by many international artists, becoming a best-selling single: Bobby Curtola 's version charted at number ten in Canada, Engelbert Humperdinck 's reached number forty in the UK, and Pat Boone 's version achieved number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song " Con te partirò " was first performed by Andrea Bocelli at the 1995 Sanremo Festival, topping the charts in several European countries. A partial English version, released in 1996 as "Time to Say Goodbye", achieved greater success, selling more than twelve million copies worldwide and making it one of
13653-469: Was especially influenced by country musicians like John Denver , and later Sting . In the late 1980s he began searching for a well-defined expressive identity and started playing in small clubs with his country music-oriented band "Winchester", and subsequently enjoyed budding notoriety in the Bologna province with soft-rock band "White Lady". In the 1991 began his solo career when he earned second place at
13776-513: Was integrated into the Roman province of Raetia . Sometime around the start of the Common Era , the Romans maintained a large camp called Vindonissa , now a ruin at the confluence of the Aare and Reuss rivers, near the town of Windisch . The first and second century AD was an age of prosperity on the Swiss Plateau. Towns such as Aventicum , Iulia Equestris and Augusta Raurica reached
13899-539: Was launched by the founder of Mia Martini's official club, Chez Mimi, alongside Alba Calia and Dori Ghezzi and supported by numerous Italian artists, including Mina , Luciano Pavarotti , Fabrizio De André , Lucio Dalla , and Franco Battiato . Pippo Baudo , then-artistic director of the Sanremo Festival and the Critics Award jury, decided to name the prize after the Calabrian artist, specifically because she
14022-477: Was marked, introducing two different competitions with separate winners. In 1989, a third category, the Upcoming Artists Section, was introduced, but it was removed the following year. Only in 1998 were the top three artists in the newcomer section allowed to compete in the main competition. This led to the victory of the debuting Annalisa Minetti , which generated some controversy and led to
14145-630: Was on the Svensktoppen weekly chart for fourteen weeks and won a Gold record in Sweden; in Norway, the song achieved Diamond and subsequently Platinum status. The song became successful in France when it was covered by Françoise Hardy , under the title "La maison où j'ai grandi". The first edition of the Sanremo Music Festival was hosted by Nunzio Filogamo . He also hosted the next three editions of
14268-528: Was one of Italy's Top Ten selling singles of the year. In the summer 2007 Nek re-recorded the song "Para ti sería..." (Spanish version of 2005's hit) with the Spanish band " El Sueño de Morfeo ". The song was included in the re-edition of En el cuarto 26 and the single reached number one in the Spanish download charts (more than 250,000 downloads), holding the top position for over 13 weeks. The two following singles, "Contromano" and "L'inquietudine", also climbed
14391-507: Was part of the territory of the Kings of the Burgundians , who introduced the French language to the area. The Alemanni settled the Swiss Plateau in the fifth century and the valleys of the Alps in the eighth century, forming Alemannia . Modern-day Switzerland was then divided between the kingdoms of Alemannia and Burgundy . The entire region became part of the expanding Frankish Empire in
14514-587: Was recorded in English by Dusty Springfield under the title " You Don't Have to Say You Love Me ". It became Springfield's most successful single, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart and number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Elvis Presley recorded a cover version in 1970, which was a hit in both the US and the UK. Other covers have charted in the UK, Ireland, Italy, and Finland. The song "Non amarmi" by Aleandro Baldi and Francesca Alotta won
14637-695: Was released on 16 November 2010 and has a collection of songs by Nek in his 20-year career and three previously unpublished songs: "E da qui", "Vulnerabile" and "È con te", plus 3 live songs recorded in the Summer Tour of 2010. It charted for over 64 weeks, and was certified Platinum by FIMI . On 28 March, Nek performed two songs "Se non-ami" e "Per non-morire mai" at the 25th anniversary of the World Youth Day at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City . In October 2011, Nek sang duet with L'Aura in
14760-424: Was released, The Best of Nek: L'anno zero , in both the Italian and Spanish versions. It crowned the successful 10 years by offering hits taken from the seven previous albums, plus two unreleased tracks, "Almeno stavolta" and "L'anno zero". The album sold over 300,000 copies in Italy alone, and peaked at the third place on the charts, where it stayed for 40 weeks, of which 13 in the Top 10. The song "Almeno stavolta"
14883-455: Was sung twice by two different artists, each one using an individual orchestral arrangement, to illustrate the meaning of the festival as a composers' competition, not a singers' competition. During this era of the festival, it was custom that one version of the song was performed by a native Italian artist while the other version was performed by an international guest artist. This became a way for many international artists to debut their songs on
15006-451: Was the artist who, until then, had won the award the most frequently (three times), as well as having been its first winner. Notable guest artists of that time were, among others: Various songs presented during the Sanremo Music Festival over the years have become international hits, including " Nel blu, dipinto di blu " and " Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina) " by Domenico Modugno . "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" spent five non-consecutive weeks atop
15129-540: Was to create an annual music festival to be held in the city. In 1948 and 1949, the first two editions of the Italian Song Festival ( Festival della Canzone Italiana ) were held in Viareggio, from an idea developed in 1947 by Aldo Valleroni. The competition was discontinued in 1950 due to financial problems, but it became the basis for the future Sanremo Music Festival. During the summer of 1950,
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