Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest

This article deals with the history of Spain as participants in the Euro Vision Song Contest.

Regularity of participation and success in competition

Spain took the first time in 1961 and since then every year on the Euro Vision Song Contest. So far, the country was able to achieve two victories: 1968 Massiel won with La, la, la with one point ahead of Cliff Richard and his song Congratulations. The following year, Spain won again, but the winner Salomé Vivo cantando had to share the first place with their fellow activists from Britain, France and the Netherlands. In addition, Spain reached four times the second and even third place. On the other hand, the country came four times to the last place, twice with zero points. Overall, the Spanish track record in the competition is relatively balanced: A total of 21 of the 46 entries, or almost half, ended up in the front half of the table. Since 1999, Spain is one of the "big four " and is therefore qualified along with France, Britain and Germany always directly for the final.

List of posts

Color legend: - Victories. - A tie to the last place. - Contributions finals.

National preliminary decisions

The majority of the Spanish contribution to Euro Vision Song Contest was selected internally, namely in the years 1963, 1966-1968, 1972-1975 and 1977-1999 in the remaining years, national preliminary decisions have been held, with TVE many different systems operated. :

Preliminary decisions of the 1960s

For the first post of 1961 preliminary round was held with six participants who were previously selected in a semifinal of a total of ten singers, which was voted by the jury. 1962 was the decider similar, this time the semi-finals with 16 participants was held on the radio and the top ten qualified. The jury consisted of members that occurred on behalf of various radio stations. In 1964, the ten songs of the preliminary decision of two singers were presented independently. In Copenhagen, the winning title Caracola was finally presented by Los TNT, who had not even participated in the preliminary round. Allowed to vote for the first time the audience, namely by postcard. 1965 were presented a total of 54 songs before the final several weeks, one of which reached the top thirteen in the final. Again could select a jury. 1969 was Salomé before the finale as a representative for Spain notes, only the song should be selected by a jury of ten. All songs were once of Salomé and once introduced by a different artist arbitrary.

Preliminary decisions of the 1970s

In 1970, resorted to the system from 1964, this time with an upstream semi-final with ten excreted songs. Nationally and internationally - - 1971 was a completely new concept performed: only the singer who should submit a title later, was elected on television. A total of 10 artists were available. Ten weeks was ever held a show in which one of the singers introduced several titles and any other one ever, so the focus was on a specific party every week. At the end, a jury of Karina as a Spanish representative. 1976 took part in the preliminary 14 singers, each placed two songs before. Once again the audience were allowed to vote by postcard.

2000 and 2001

After a long break in 2000 first again performed a Spanish decider: It included 15 participants who each presented a song. Was voted by a jury and for the first time by telephone voting. In 2001, the concept was repeated, this time even with 20 participants.

Operación Triunfo (2002 to 2004)

In the years 2002 to 2004 should the talent show Operación Triunfo, whose concept is reminiscent of the the show Fame Academy, determine the Spanish representative for the Euro Vision Song Contest. The three finalists finally presented always in front of several titles under which telephone voting in connection with a jury vote chose favorites. The show was a great success, as evidenced by the significantly higher ratings compared to previous years, both in the preliminary round as well as at the international final.

2005

2005 again a more classical preliminary round was conducted: first 10 songs were reduced to six in a semifinal, was among those named in the finals of the winner. The first time was matched only by phone.

Misión Eurovisión (2007)

2007 was presented with Misión Eurovisión an extremely complicated concept that dragged on for seven weeks: In the first four weeks were 10 per singer - unknown as known - on and found, similar in talent shows, familiar songs before. The top five each reached the semifinals, where again five singers were selected for the finals. During this phase, 15 songs have already been circulated on the Internet, under which the spectators, also Internet users and a jury of five titles selected. In the sixth week, these ten songs were presented by well-known Spanish artists and the top five reached the final. In the final set of each singer in front of each title, so that 25 combinations resulted, of which the top five to the final round, in the finally song and singer were elected.

Salvemos Eurovisión (2008)

In 2008 again a new concept was invented to enhance the Spanish participation in the ESC. All candidates presented themselves on the Internet with MySpace pages. This five titles were selected by e- mail voting and five titles by a professional jury for the national qualifying round. There, a winner was determined by a vote of television viewers by telephone or by SMS.

Discrepancies were there when the candidate who got the most votes in the e- mail voting, was disqualified because of manipulation of the election. The new imagination and voting procedures also meant that eventually won the contribution of the comedian David Fernández Ortiz. The criticism that Spain was represented at the ESC with a parodic title, trailed only after the post had effected a better ranking and higher ratings than the Spanish posts of the past year in the final.

Languages

Spain has been very loyal to their own language, all posts have at least partially sung in Spanish. In a few years English text passages were used (1988, 2002, 2007 and 2008). Especially in the earlier part names the songs were occasionally taken in other languages , such as English, Italian and German.

Aligned competition 1969

In 1969 the Euro Vision Song Contest after winning the previous year held for the first and only time in Spain. The competition was held in Madrid. The stage design was inspired by the works of the artist Salvador Dalí and the break point is classified under modern art: the first time was recorded as a bridge to vote a short film - it was an audio-visual processing of the four elements. The fact that the competition was first held in a country with right-wing dictatorship, caused much controversy, Austria even decided against participating.

Miscellaneous

Massiel, the first winner, won in 1968 by far the highest rating from Germany: six points. It was also the only country other than Spain itself, in which La, la, la was a minor hit.
When Euro Vision Song Contest 1964 ran between the Swiss and Belgian contribution a man on the stage to protest against Francisco Franco and António de Oliveira Salazar. Although he was not seen in the picture, the cries are heard on the soundtrack.

Swell

National finals homepage
January Feddersen: A song can be a bridge, Hoffmann and Campe, 2002

Former Participating countries: Andorra | Yugoslavia | Serbia and Montenegro

Redeemed participations or futile efforts: Lebanon | Liechtenstein

Spain at the Euro Vision Song Contest

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