Spain - lost the plot years ago

The above comment from Wogan regarding last year’s Spanish entry isn’t all that true. Up until 2005, Spain had had a good run of results. Then they entered Son De Sol (who appeared to be the mothers of Las Ketchup) and then Las Ketchup (the daughters of Son De Sol). They both finished a dismal 21st, and so something had to be done.

This year, Spain have transformed their selection process by having their entry chosen in Mision Eurovision, currently airing on Spanish TV. Curiously there’s two separate parts of this competition – one to find the singer and one to find the song. The singers competition seems a bit boring to me, but I have complete faith in Spain that they’ll probably choose someone good. It’s nice to see Spain’s 1988 entrants La Decada back for another go though – they made some great use of castanets back in ’88 and finished an unfair 11th. Unfinished business methinks.

Anyway, this week the song competition got underway. After receiving 1001 songs, TVE, the Spanish broadcaster, posted up their fifteen potential entries on their website. These songs are in demo form, so the singer on it may just be a studio sessionist, but they’re there to be heard and for the next week subscribers to the website can vote for their favourites. The Top 5 songs will go into the Spanish national final. I like this system and it’s interesting to see how big a part the internet and users from around Europe will play in the selection of the Spanish song.

So what are these songs like? Well it wouldn’t be me unless I did a mini-review of all the songs! This is what l’Espagne have to choose from…

1. Busco un Hombre
A big, brassy song about about men! Not bad, quite cheesy but not all that catchy. 6/10

2. Ya Estas Aqui
Why are all Spanish male singers hoarse (© Wogan)? MOR lift music, pretty darn dull. 4/10

3. I Love You Mi Vida
Sounds like a less sinister Ruslana with strings, guitars and castanets! Not bad at all, written by the Swede who was responsible for last year’s Swedish entry Invincible, by the equally invincible Carola. 7/10

4. Me Gusta Hacer Canciones Con Un Hey
Weird vocal harmonies, sounds like something from the 1960s country America! 5/10

5. Una Lagrima
Fairly impartial Ruslana-soundalike with a few ethnic rhythms thrown in. 6/10

6. Ley Le Lee
Pleasant summery pop that breezes along rather nicely. Not sure about the dodgy key change up to the chorus though… 6/10

7. Rienda Suelta A Mi Corazon
Boring Dad pop sung by somebody’s dad with an out-of-place English chorus. 4/10

8. Angel
More dad pop with jazz organ – sounds like a modern Christian hymn! 5/10

9. Cuanto Amor Por Ti
Nice sounds, reminiscent of When You’re Around from UK Song For Europe 2002! Anyone remember? No? Well it’s rather good acoustic pop I think, I do like it. 8/10

10. Destiny
This actually does sound like a poor version of last year’s Swedish entry and I’m not sure if they fully pull it off. Not bad, but very un-Spanish! 6/10

11. Ain Veri Jupi Nau
An utterly bizarre song with the title ringing bells of ‘I’m very happy now’… rather odd, but it has ska rhythms making it sound a little like Gogol Bordello! Spanish man with guitar too, could be the underdog if you like something a bit different. 7/10

12. Tu Voz Se Apagara
Very Spanish with a fiddle thrown in! More ethnic rhythms with a good beat and a great carnival feel to the chorus. This is rather excellent, one to watch I think! 8/10

13. Ven A Bailar
Yawn! Sounds like a cross between No Woman No Cry and Save Tonight by Eagle-Eye Cherry. Goes nowhere. 5/10

14. Bailame
Also written by last year’s Swedish writer. Stereotypically Spanish with a big chorus, wouldn’t be too out of place in the hands of Enrique Iglesias or Ricky Martin! Excellently poppy, big and it’s got a good hook too. 8/10

15. La Reina De La Noche
Begins like a moody Balkan ballad before a dance beat breaks in. A bit of a cliché melody but it pumps along nicely and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this in the top 5. 7/10


So what can we conclude from all this? Well firstly, I was surprised at how bland a few of the songs were – I thought Spain were trying to win the Eurovision, not take it back to the mid-90s! I was also surprised at how much English appeared in the Spanish songs – they’ve never sung a whole chorus in English and this year could be the first time they’ve done so. Even France has done this incredible feat.

For me I would say that Bailame would give Spain their greatest chance as it’s a really good pop song, not too dissimilar from those of Spain’s entries from 2001 and 2004 that both finished in the top 10. I think it’s even better than those though and with a brilliant singer and performance they could get a rather good result.

The five songs I would personally like to see qualify to the final five are:

14 Bailame
12 Tu Voz Se Apagara
09 Cuanto Amor Por Ti (although I’m not sure it will, I think this is my own personal taste)
11 Ain Veri Jupi Nau
15 La Reina De La Noche

It will be very interesting to see which songs make it, and I shall report on it when it happens!