SPAIN 2023

The Spanish final "Benidorm Fest" was held on February 4th at the Palau Municipal d’Esports l'Illa de Benidorm, hosted by Mónica Naranjo, Rodrigo Vázquez & Inés Hernand. In the week before the final there were two semi-finals where 8 songs qualified from the 18 competing songs. Voting in the final was divided into televoting and demoscopic jury (25% each) and the expert panel having a 50% say. Going to Liverpool is Blanca Paloma with "Eaea"

Blanca Paloma is an real all-round creator as she has a background is many different spheres of art. As well as her singing pursuits she's worked with RTVE creating music for the series "Lucía en la telaraña". She also studied Fine Arts at Miguel Hernández University in her home town of Elche and has also worked a costume designer and set designer for theatrical productions. Last year, she participated in Benidorm Fest with the song "Secreto de agua" coming 5th in the final.

The song has a very clear Flamenco personality although the backing track is much more electronic and avant garde. Blanca Paloma is wearing white trousers, a maroon bodice with black latticing on one arm. The maroon colour is also shared by the backing singers and dancers. Apart from the fringing used to encompass the stage there is little backdrop. There are, however, clever lighting effects and overhead/tracking shots to create atmosphere. The song is rather transfixing with a pulsating backing track which almost works like a heart beat  - twinned with the clapping. It starts unusually with a pre-chorus and chorus which allows this part to be repeated more times. There is then the first verse followed by a pre-chorus/chorus then again. The final chorus is mainly sung by the backing vocalists as Blanca Paloma sings a long powerful almost heart-wrenching note to end.

This song comes to life when performed on stage as the studio version really belies Blanca Paloma's powerful vocals, enchanting personality and mastery of her artform. Whether you like this or not or enjoy it or not EVERYONE has an opinion or point of view on it. Those who love this will vote, vote and vote again and - being Spain - the nation will support this to the hilt. The tight staging works well as it is and I hope they make few major changes. 

A concern some people may have is that the song sounds a little bit nagging and Blanca Paloma's face can pull some odd faces which may put people off. I also wonder if this 'new flamenco' style is a little too removed - in a similar way that "Fulenn" was a step too far for France. One can look back to 1983 when Remedios Amaya came to Munich with a very contemporary modern flamenco number and came away... with nil points. But in this modern era of pushing authentic artists and showcasing diverse talents this surely has to be up there are something special - whether people vote for this or not may well be another matter.

ARTIST - Blanca Paloma

SONG - Eaea

WRITING/PRODUCTION CREDITS -  José Pablo Polo, Blanca Paloma Ramos, Álvaro Tato