EUROVISION 2023: SPAIN - BENIDORM FEST 2023 REVIEW

Spain has been reborn at Eurovision thanks to Benidorm fest that was launched last year and besides creating a hype, hit songs and return of Spain to Eurovision top-3 finish this year the concept is the same. Two semi-finals and the grand final. Most of the songs have already been streaming successes but after seeing the semi-finals one can only wonder are they trying a bit too hard? Most of the staging haven't been so good, there's too much going on in most every act and they come across chaotic and too busy. Add weak vocals here and there and even an act where one was left wondering did he sing at all in the end? Sadly that song was maybe my favorite before the live and didn't even make the final despite apparently topping the rank of the pre-selection. What a difference live three minutes can make!

Anyways, here's my take on the final songs (and the rest):

Agoney - Quero arder **

This one's fun to watch and he can sing for sure, but when I only listened the studio version it's noisy, shouty, I hate the arrangement. A show number, not a song in my opinion. Apparently the favorite now but I have doubts this will repeat Chanel's success. Too confusing and all over the place.

Megara - Arcadia *****

This one was one of my favorites in studio version and they didn't disappoint. The staging works and she comes across wonderfully. Imagine we have this, Käärijä, Bedwetters, Lord of the lost all in Liverpool :-)

Alice Wonder - Yo quisiera *

I still haven't managed to finish listening this song once to the end. I don't get this, I don't connect with this at all....

Fusa Nocta - Mi familia ***

Interesting staging that is just on the border of being too much. The car... why? Can't help thinking of Azucar Moreno as this is just like them. Also this one works better when you see it, only listening it's a bit urgent and busy and as much I loved Azucar Moreno back in the day and all this ethnic gypsy flamenco stuff I'm a bit tired of it in 2023.

José Otero - Inviernos en Marte **

I wasn't very convinced by the live performance even if I kinda like the song, I always have place for a good Latin ballad. Mostly I remember his huge oversize jacket.....

Karmento - Quiero y duelo ***

Now that was something different! Don't know really what to think about it but she owned the stage and knew exactly what she was doing and we could only watch mesmerized and admire. Wonderful voice, lololololoo

Blanca Paloma - Eaea **

Highest scoring entry in semi-finals and therefor a front runner for the final. But I don't warm up to this one. Great vocals but ... Where's the song? It's just gipsy screaming and wailing for three minutes. Well performed for sure but..... No.

Vicco - Nochentera ***

Rather weak vocals after Paloma and Karmento for sure but quite catchy pop song with 80's summer hit style. Quite long 3 minutes despite it's fun and bubbly.

The NQ's

Sharonne - Aire ***

Aritz - Flamenco ****

OMG what happened here? Fantastic choreography, my favorite song of Benidorm fest in studio version, but I have one question: How much did he sing for real?

Sofia Martin - Tuki *

Meler - No nos moverán **

Twin Melody - Sayonara *

Famous - La Lola **

Rakky Ripper - Tracción *

E'Femme - Uff! *

Siderland - Que esclati tot **

Alfred Garcia - Desde que tú estás *

I guess these NQ's had in most cases question of rather unfortunate stagings and often bad vocals.

Comments

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Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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