Spain, Zero: The Ancient Spanish Art of Loss at Eurovision | TV

“When I first visited Madrid and met the people of Ediciones Fonográfica Jercar, my record company, they told me very clearly not to get excited because that would have been fatal,” recalls Anabel Conde in I haven’t won Eurovision either (Liberos Coppola), review by Patricia Godes and Javier Adrados of Spain’s course at the festival. Conde came second, but this warning from his record company indicates the situation Spain appears to be turning to Eurovision every year: to take failure for granted and content, at least, not to fool himself.

what about Spain, zero points –A phrase never uttered at a festival – it has almost become a patriotic example. United Kingdom, twelve points (UK, 12 points), on the other hand, It even featured in a Coca-Cola commercial so popular that it was produced during the 1960s and 1970s. This contradiction includes the ancient Spanish complex for being the village of Europe, the country that explains itself best through defeats. A good example of this was the last position of Remedios Amaya in 1983 with Who is driving my boat?, Which was fiercely mocked by the public and the press, indicating a certain shame for bringing in Kantawra Gypsy as an actor. How can you like it in Europe? “It was a clear example of racism,” says Adrados, co-author of the new book. “She didn’t know how to read or write and both the record company and TVE left her alone. The only person who supported her was Lula Flores, who said that if they had taken her with Tablau and some guitarists, Europe would be astonished.”

The book tells how, after getting the sixth place in 1966 AD I am the one Before the public clamor, “They have an obsession for us,” Raphael denounced that “as long as we Spaniards cannot sing in French, a language that half of Europe understands, we cannot win.” Representatives such as José María Guzmán of Cadillac, Eva Santamaria, Antonio Carbonell and Marcos Lunas insist on the size in which the song says, “There are countries that vote among themselves.” Commentator José Luis Uribari played sound prediction (the book describes how he ran through the aisles with a suitcase full of maps). However, every year a different country wins. And the country with the most wins, Ireland, has only one neighbor. Something will have to do with the song.

TVE is the spiritual villain of a story I haven’t won Eurovision either. Nobody named him until the end, when Entertainment Director Tony Prieto gave a short interview and several Eurovans They are venting their frustrations before a committee they consider old and hesitant. Paloma San Basilio recalls how in 1985 TVE delegates “went shopping and I barely saw their hair.” The year of its bicentennial celebrations, 1992, TVE wasn’t even interested in bringing in composers Dangling from a dream, Who would theoretically have to go up to receive the prize if he wins.

It is a classic theory. Annabelle Conde, in an interview with ICON, said that TVE reps started making very tense calls when Come back with me He started to top the ranking. Conspiracy theories suggest TVE simply does not want to stage the festival, so it picks unambitious songs and poor preparation. Fear of ridicule generates proposals like With you to the endAnd the Take the dance out of me a Do it for your lover Which aspires, at best, to go unnoticed. They were among the last three places. The result is that Spain, with or without neighbors, is the country with the worst percentage in the past decade: seven times less than 20th out of 26 participants.

“I think TVE is interfering as if it were just another TV show,” Adrados believes, “the 1970s and 1980s artists talk about TVE in different terms than the 90s are here. For the latter and for the sake of his entourage of fans, it’s always wrong with TVE and blackouts. Electrician or that they were not allowed to do what they wanted. Some artists do not understand that they have become part of a concept and that they have to be able to solve these unexpected events. Artists always see flaws everywhere except themselves. Sometimes it’s as simple as sending out lousy songs. ” .

Eurofans coincides with indicating that Spain will slide from past fashions. If they win in 2006 heavy Disguised as goblins (Lordi, with Hallelujah rockThe conclusion was that only the circus mattered, so TVE gave a satirical performance, Baila el chiki-chiki, after two years. What he won after that was Russian with a song, Believe. Most Eurovans I agree that Rodolfo Chikilcuatre consulted in the book is the worst song ever sung on Eurovision. And if there’s a lot of anger against it, then it is, on the one hand, because the alternative was that year The sexual revolution From the blue house.

According to Javier Adrados, Spain should stop feeling the inferiority complex of its musical traditions and accept it as an advantage. “The three most successful artists to come out of Eurovision are ABBA, Celine Dion and Julio Iglesias. We have to embrace our musical culture. If someone from outside tries to do flamenco that will be fatal. Well, we do the same when we try to look outside.” Shark (Beth’s song in 2002) had unique Spanish guitar formats. We just know how to do. “

The cliché that Spain feels comfortable in the masochist landscape of an entrenched loser, going to Europe like Paco Martinez Surya with a chicken basket, finds a way out here. The only absolute Spanish victory, a triumph no no no De Massiel (Salome won the following year I live singingBut a four-way tie spoiled his victory), he’s often overshadowed by theory conspirator Which Franco bought. It’s as if Spain has not yet felt completely comfortable with its successes and needs to rehabilitate. Like I had a good loss but a bad win.

Wins are more boring because they only have one explanation, losses are endless conversations. Since 1988, TV can be blamed or, as Betty Missijo does (# 2 in 1979 with Your song) On I haven’t won Eurovision either, That it wasn’t there: “In my opinion I won. In 1979 there was no internet, no television broadcasting, and I’m sure he would have had the audience vote.” “We did not win because Germany failed us, it is clear! We agreed with them on three points and they did not keep their word,” explains the author. Lady lady De Bravo, Miguel Blasco, third in 1984.

“Spain is an extreme country: you operate by being the first or the last. Mediators never like them” reflects José María Guzmán de Cadillac, tenth in 1986 with Valentino. Hence, perhaps the biggest defeat for Eurovision is irrelevance. “Just as the paparazzi and journalists left spectacularly, there was no one there upon arrival at the Madrid airport,” recalls Carlos Gil de Trigo clean, the twelfth in 1980 with Stay tonight. “Nobody watches Eurovision, but the day after the festival, everyone talks about how bad Spain is, everyone thinks they know what they have to do to win. That’s really good for us Spaniards,” says Adrados.

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