Some voices don’t age, they change skin. And when you pronounce Raf’s name, you inevitably go back to the eighties, to the nights with Self Control at full volume, to that elegant pop that has spanned generations. Today, at 66 years old, the Apulian singer-songwriter is preparing to go on stage again at the 2026 Sanremo Festival with “Now and forever”a song that talks about adult, conscious, experienced love.
It’s not just a return to Ariston. It is a return to himself.
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Raf’s age, career and achievements
Raf, born Raffaele Riefoli, was born on 29 September 1959 in Margherita di Savoia, Puglia. He is 66 years old, but his artistic story tells many more. Raised between Florence and London, he exploded in 1984 with Self Controla song that becomes an international success and projects him beyond the Italian borders.
Then come the songs we’ve all sung, perhaps without realizing it: What will remain of the 80s, I demand you, Infinite, Like a fairy tale. Raf has been able to evolve without chasing trends, remaining faithful to a writing that talks about feelings, anxieties, real relationships.
The new song competing in Sanremo 2026, Now and foreveralso arises from a generational comparison. His son Samuele collaborated in the writing. A detail that says a lot: music as a dialogue, as a bridge between past and future.
Health problems
In recent years Raf has had to deal with some difficulties related to his voice. Bronchitis aggravated by laryngitis compromised some live performances, putting strain on the vocal cords. For those who live from music, the voice is home. And when it falters, everything falters. Yet, he didn’t stop. He continued to work, to write, to question himself.
Where does Raf live today?
Today Raf lives in Miami Beach, Florida, in a quiet area away from the spotlight. A lifestyle choice that allows him to slow down, to breathe. But the bond with Italy remains strong: he often returns to Rome for professional reasons and to keep alive that direct connection with the public that has followed him for over forty years.
Next to him is his wife Gabriella Labate, a discreet but solid presence, and his children. The family dimension has become increasingly central over the years, even in his music. The Raf that we will see at Sanremo 2026 is not the glossy idol of the Eighties. He is a man who has gone through successes, fragilities and changes. And perhaps for this very reason it appears more authentic today.
The lyrics to “Now and Forever”
“Now and forever” is a ballad in which Raf talks about a mature love capable of resisting time and the noise of the world. The song alternates nostalgia and promise, evoking shared memories that become proof of the solidity of the bond. Against the backdrop of a reality perceived as cold and lacking in empathy, the relationship becomes an emotional refuge. The message is simple but clear: when it is authentic, love can truly last forever.
A dot in the middle of the universe
I was an alien I felt alone
I got lost among the people
Inside a spaceship eternally in flight
While the world spoke to the future
I just stood there adrift
And my face smiled anyway
But not the heart
And you took my life by the hand
And walking on the way out
Without speaking you told me:
Now and forever you will remain
You will be there even if I never see you again
You are in the soul and I will look for you there
When I miss you
Now and forever you will be.
Between the pages of an old diary
Consumed like our time
In a breath of wind our first anniversary
Now it’s a distant echo
Today the world is so different,
Nothing is certain, everything is controversial
And among millions of voices the truth is hidden
And you are always the most beautiful
Time is working wonders on you
And every mark on your skin speaks about you
Now and forever my love
It was expected that I would stay
We didn’t have much chance
But we are still here
And I would go back just for a moment
At the first meeting to feel the thrill
Slightly faded graffiti of a fire
Which is no longer there
But it’s part of us
Now and forever
And while the world screams and screeches
Empty of empathy
We will not be part of this madness
Hold me tight when the sun rises
Together he will find us he will find us
When the dawn comes
Now and forever will be
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