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EUROVISION 2022: SPAIN - BENIDORMFEST 2022 REVIEW



What can we say about Spain's impact at Eurovision in recent years? Saving someone else from the places at the bottom?  Maybe that's all we can say about their fortunes. The songs have not been that bad generally, but they just haven't connected neither with the juries nor televoters. All in all Spain and Eurovision has been quite uninspiring effort but boy, have they changed it around this year! They dusted off the old good Benidorm Fest and gave us fourteen songs, each of them worth a trip to Turin 2022 considering their track record. Or make it 13 now that Luna Ki withdraw. I can only wonder how come no one noticed before she can't use all that auto-tune in her performance?! 

But let's get to the business. As usual the remarks are mine and the votes are mine based on my personal taste, not how I think they will/would do at the Eurovision, unless stated something about that in the review.


Varry Brava - Raffaella ***
An homage to late Raffaella Carrá that does sound like a song she could have done for some tv show in the 70's. Somehow very Spanish sounding vocals and song, if you know what I mean. Pleasant and somewhat memorable and catchy. I suppose they will have some sort of "funny" staging. I hope not. 
Azúcar Moreno - Postureo ***
Azúcar Moreno is Azúcar Moreno and sounds like time  stood still for them since early 1990's when I was a devoted fan. Maybe not their strongest song but sadly  more like any random album track. But it's great to have them back!
Blanca Paloma - Segreto de agua ****
Any other year this would have been manna from heaven in a Spanish selection. This year not so much so.This said very atmospheric and beautiful and could be very hypnotic and capturing on stage if done well.
Unique - Mejores **
A lot of noise for nothing, aka the chorus. The verses are ok, but the chorus is simply annoying, maybe written to showcase the boys dancing abilities I suppose. Quite irritating not much else.
Tanxugueiras - Terra **
Apparently one of the two big fandom favorites. I have one name: Tulia. This is basically just the ethno folk version of Unique's song. Shouty nonsense.
Chanel - SloMo ***
Let's go! Makes me think of Cuban music or Camila Cabello. Obviously nothing original or revolutionary but this is fun and works and at least I get the tiempo and want to sway along. Maybe not for Eurovision stage though.
Xeinn - Eco ****
A nice flashback to Flashdance soundtrack's era. I wonder how he handles this live? Other than that I maybe like this more than I should. But that's just me. Should Spain choose this they'd be stuck in the bottom-5 zone, I think.
Marta Sango - Sigues en mi mente ****
And straight to the mid 80's we go and it's quite wonderful! I'm loving this 80's back theme! After all most my favorite music was made in early/mid 80's. This sticks to your head and tomorrow you wake up singing this.And just like Xeinn this would probably be hopeless in Turin.
Javiera Mena - Culpa ****
Now that's an intro! (Again very 80's btw, take note young folks!) A hint of very old Mecano is there as well which means this. too, is very old school 80's. That arrangement! 
Gonzalo Hermida - Quién lo diria ***
A classic Spanish ballad that would have been wonderful in any other year again. Then again, this is the only ballad this year, so who knows? I'm afraid though this will be lost among all these 80's bangers. And Pablo Alboran would do this so much better.
Rigoberta Bandini - Ay mamá ****
The favorite among fan boys. I may join them this time. Again very much Mecano-ish. I can totally imagine this belted out by Ana Torroja with her crystal clear voice. The 80's arrangement tricks are there. What's there not to like? I can already hear Turin arena go all mamamamamamamamaaaa....loiloiloiloiloi..... How far it would take Spain I don't know.
Rayden - Calle de la lloreria ****
Reminds me of some Italian artists loved by critics that occasionally do Sanremo. Quite entertaining and catchy, and I have a soft spot for his voice. At least on tape. Will be probably lost on major public. 
Sara Deop - Make you Say ***
Like any other Latin hit from the Caribbean. I always like these but sometimes they are hard to tell them apart as the genre is so generic and this brings nothing new to it. But thank you for participating, glad to have you on my playlist.
Luna Ki - Voya a morir
How come no one noticed before hand that auto-tune is not allowed? Why they let her into top-14? Why they waited until the a week before to make her withdraw? Was it only at the rehearsals they realized there's a major problem? Not that I'm a fan of auto-tune or say it should be allowed but it's just so overused these days, and usually "in a wrong way". Ok, enough of that rant.
I have grown into liking this a lot. It's such a ear worm that I have woken up several morning with voy a morir, voy a matar in my head. And I'm generally a happy person!
And yes, also this owes a lot to early Mecano!


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