Just a week ago we attended again starring the debacle Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest. Despite having a song in English, a pesar de la total libertad que ha dejado TVE este año al equipo de la representante para preparar su candidatura e incluso a pesar de que las casas de apuestas catapultaron a Toolbar al tercer puesto después de su actuación, finalmente la cantante madrileña fue relegada al puesto 22 of the list. the top 5 started by the end, if you want to see and.
The winner of the night was the singer Jamala with his song, “1944”, la cual, He explained the story her grandmother told as a child about the deportation of the Crimean Tatars because of pressure from Stalin. A very powerful piece of music to voice level, Nevertheless, He not managed to convince much of the Spanish audience. On a night in which Russia and Australia are postulated as favorites to win the tournament, Ukraine's surprising victory at the end of the gala - thanks to the new voting system that gives it more vividness - outraged social networks, they were soon filled with "memes" and protest messages questioning the worth of the song.
paradoxically, the triumph was given to him by the support of the festival's audience through televoting, as being by the professional jury, the win would have been Australia. And that is the second year participating. But all that could be Dami In, Australian representative, would the trophy shaped crystal microphone. As a rule, Australia should choose a European country in case of winning and running with half of the costs for conducting. So those who imagine watching Eurovision breakfast with coffee can rest easy.
The keys to our Eurodrama
En 2002, more of 14 millones de espectadores en nuestro país asistieron a la decepción colectiva de Rosa de España, winner of the television phenomenon American Idol, who was sixth in Eurovision. Who would tell Rosa that sinsabor not win the festival for his adoring fans, with the years, It would become one of our best positions of the decade. We have only to look at the ranking of the last 15 años:
In view of the table, one might wonder whether the fact go directly to the finals as a member of the Big Five is not a handicap. Elaboración propia. Fuente: Wikipedia.
Why Spain is not getting off with respect to festival? What happened this year for a bet that is pricked seemed safer than others?
En primer lugar, I must say that while it is true that our applications have evolved and this year we dared to go beyond incorporating innovative elements (for us, Clear) as is the English, the festival also moves to evolve. Y este año no sólo ha sorprendido el espectacular escenario del Globe Arena de Estocolmo; also the realization has outdone herself taking a turn very much in line finery of MTV awards. Incluso ha actuado “Sir Justin Timberlake”, who had a moment "messiah" with all the contestants surrounding him as he spoke like Jesus Christ teaching the Beatitudes. En definitiva, it is the greatest TV show of our continent and more than forty countries that are still common in recent editions throw all the meat on the grill to offer the best of the best.
This involves a careful selection of candidates, and their songs, and an ambitious set design at the time of his performance that leaves nothing to the imagination. Self Jamala, winner of this year, Spanish media indicated that was not according to the screening method of our country. While we started the pre-campaign in February, other countries do in September. En Suecia tienen el “Melodifestivalen”, un certamen que dura semanas y cuyas canciones van cobrando fama hasta copar los primeros puestos de “spotify”. Against this deployment, we have the typical one-night gala presented by Anne Igartiburu with a selection of candidates in its latest edition the average age did not exceed thirties. So when TVE does not choose an artist finger, como le pasó con “El sueño de Morfeo” O Edurne.
Sin embargo, it seemed that this year our candidate and his song promised. In fact, betting They placed in the top Barei 10 after his promotion in various locations across Europe before the festival. It was the calm before the storm. After knowing the performance of their number after his first trial in Stockholm, he collapsed to the post 17. The reason: a poor scenography that not even a tenth advantage of the potential of LED scenario provided by Swedish television; a showgirl who had prepared a choreography based on the language of the deaf that simply was not seen because they were in darkness and just flat out, and shows an embodiment focused close-ups of Barei, rather than show off the artist-showgirl-set stage.
Even with all, she was stunning, breathing freshness and safety. But for a TV show in which you compete with twenty numbers, many of them more visual than yours, and in which you have the handicap yourself known on the last night, when most have already acted in the semifinals, it is clear that the attitude is not enough. It is one of the curses of being a member of the Big Five, if not, to be told the French Amir, who was sixth in the standings despite that social networks they gave by winner for months. Everything indicates that if you do not carry a powerful song, la puesta en escena cobra un papel importante de cara a destacar, y España no se caracteriza por proporcionar hits internacionales al festival.
Toolbar, affected by the outcome
"The number weighs, not for me, but for you ", said one Barei visibly affected after its position in the standings and be venting who confessed to reporters while acknowledging its responsibility "for better and for worse" result.
After the first criticism of its implementation by specialized media, It came to light that the assembly had been conducted entirely by her boyfriend and self Barei, which, They wanted to give a personal touch. But none have the proper television knowledge.
The reaction came late. The duties must be made before traveling to destination. In the months before the festival, los países deben enviar un storyboard a la televisión pública del país anfitrión donde quede reflejado con detalle lo que quieren de su realización. Of course, amendments must be submitted with equal haste. Once there, it is impossible to make changes beyond the light touch of a focus, because with forty countries while rehearsing no time for anything else.
"I'm happy because I felt the energy of the audience inside the stadium. I fear that energy has not passed the screen, but I am more about focusing on my connection with the audience during my live shows than on putting on a visual show. Perhaps this is why I should not be here, but elsewhere ", were the words with which Barei explained his commitment to the media.
I should consider stop participating Spanish Television?
This is a question that arises every year: Is it worth to continue attending a festival where you do not have us in mind? The answer lies in the ratings: emphatically yes. great 29,6% audience share in the battered Saturday night for the public body confirms that the Spanish population continues to maintain interest in the festival, even if it is to have a hard time seeing how we are ignored in the voting. In fact, the semifinals issued by the 2 They exceeded the average of the chain 600.000 viewers about.
Eso sí, the poor performance of recent years have caused that voices are raised against those responsible for the festival in TVE: Federico Llano and Toñi Prieto. Several Twitter users have called for the resignation of both under the hagstag # FedeyToñiFueraDeEurovision with the intention of letting new blood and see if you can turn around our situation in the contest.
Toñi Prieto and Federico Llano, heads of Eurovision TVE. Fuente:rtve.es
Meanwhile, Federico Llano stated to the media, minutes after the end of the gala this year, that from TVE have a proposal for the EBU to review the voting system and prevent it from being so partisan: "This system is good for the winner and the top ranking, but from the tenth to start even the vecinismo. There is a working group within the EBU and we will discuss this issue to improve the system as we have been perfecting since Rosa ".
A controversial festival
The controversy is served as every year, once proclaimed the winner. Although this time more than ever, since days after the victory of Jamala, A video appeared on the YouTube social network where the interpreter sang "1944" live in the Maidan square in May 2015. This, in theory, breached the rules of the festival, which, It requires new songs even months before its conclusion, this is, October 2015. Sin embargo, EBU has defended his winning claiming that the song had not been published or edited, and video viewing before knowing only had about hundreds of visits, therefore, it had not been a competitive advantage over other competitors.
Jamala, recibida como una heroína en su país tras haber ganado el certamen de este año. Fuente: la Vanguardia.
Meanwhile, Russia threatens not to attend next year, claiming that the festival has been politicized. Ukraine crisis experienced by the Crimean peninsula not help matters. In fact, Jamala song is a hymn of Ukraine's case against Russia.
What is clear is that once again the pattern repeated Eurovision. Wins again the most original song, more surprising, which does not leave anyone indifferent to good or evil. comments on the political influence of neighboring countries and the need to repeat them to gather votes. So, What about Australia, the most isolated, and yet, Monday? the charges against TVE and easy self-criticism happen, We are alleging that never get anything decent. And we finally found the eurofans, festival connoisseurs behavior as loyal followers for years, to which, We not surprise us nothing and we take this celebration as it is: a game which is very difficult to satisfy more than forty different nationalities. But no matter what happens, there will continue to be to enjoy it. Until next year.
The internal selection does not have to be a negative or worse than big selection processes…It has been the case in France this year and sixth place is not bad…It has been our best record so far this century…