The night in which Miki Núñez beat María Escarmiento in the race to Eurovision, a theory was confirmed: there are those who do not want to go to the festival. Of course, they are in favor of the exposure and prestige that a format like Operación Triunfo gives them, but they reject the possibility of representing Spain. That 2019, it was clear: in front of a performer who took her candidacy seriously, the other tarnished the song that she considered her favorite. And not only that: she repeatedly showed her disagreement. This feeling can be transferred today to the Benidorm Fest, which this Saturday announced the 16 names that will star in its third edition. Although with a nuance: in this case, They are established artists who stand up.
As El Periódico de España, from Prensa Ibérica, has learned, three singers with extensive careers and wide repercussions They would like to be part of the Alicante cartel without the burden of traveling to Europe. A condition that, currently, is unavoidable for anyone who wishes to compete. “I want to participate in the Benidorm Fest, but not go to Eurovision. For years, the contest has been greatly maligned. We have sent proposals that, instead of making us shine, have dragged us to the bottom. And, sometimes, part of the fault has not been the artists’, says the first, who prefers to remain anonymous like the other two. Together, they exceed 10 million monthly listeners. A figure supported by sales, charts and concerts.
“It is the the only platform we have in Spain to present our material. And on top of that, it is super cared for. However, not all of us agree to assume this commitment,” says the second, who highlights the impact and visibility that Rigoberta Bandini, Tanxugueiras, Chanel, Blanca Paloma and Rayden had. Without forgetting Vicco, who is about to surpass 100 million plays on Spotify with Nightlight. To which the third adds: “I don’t like to compete, music is there to be felt. At the Benidorm Fest, although there is a classification, there is a feeling of total enjoyment on all four sides. Not like in Eurovision, where Being in 17th place seems to be synonymous with failure. When it should be the opposite.”
Modify the bases?
The three of them wonder if, in the future, they could correct the regulations so that this obligation becomes just an option. This is how it is set, for example, at the Sanremo festival: In the Italian event, the winner is the one who decides what he wants to do with his project. A right that, in 2016, was exercised by the Stadio group: Giovanni Pezzoli, Roberto Drovandi, Andrea Fornili and Gaetano Curreri swept the Un giorno mi dirai after receiving 42.74% of the support. However, they ruled out their presence in Stockholm immediately. “We don’t need it considering our route. “If we were kids just starting out, we would be happy to make ourselves known there,” they said at the press conference they organized afterwards.
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Francesca Michielin, silver medalist with 30.37% of the votes, picked up the band’s baton and wore the Italian flag with Nessun degree of separation. At that time, the young woman from Bassano del Grappa had already been in her career for five years: she won X Factorsigned with Sony, debuted at number 1 with Distracted and published his first album in 2012. A resounding success that he repeated with his second album, the prelude to the show. Data that confirms that she was not a stranger in the industry when she had to make that decision. El Periódico de España has contacted RTVE to find out if a similar scenario would be possible. That is to say, rewrite the rules of the Benidorm Fest so that the winner of each edition has the last word.
The answer is clear: “We are not considering a change in the rules at the moment. Those who enter already know that the winner will go to Eurovision and we have had no problems in this regard. This only happened at the time of Triumph operation, when a contestant had doubts about whether to go.”. Therefore, as until now, everyone who wants to participate must continue to accept said responsibility. On this occasion, the chosen one will come from among Almacor, Angy, Dellacruz, Jorge gonzalez, Lyric, Mantra, Maria Peláe, marlena, Miss Caffeina, Nebula, Noah, Quique Nice, Roger Padros, Sofia Coll, st. Pedro and Yoly Saa