Did Loreen deserve another win for Sweden? Why didn’t Blanca Paloma’s proposal convince the public? What was the overall level of Eurovision 2023? Five authoritative voices from the fields of television, music and Eurovision analyze the finale of the festival, which took place in Liverpool this Saturday: Laura OrtizJournalist specializing in television and Eurovision; Jose Garcia Luca, co-director of eurovision-spain.com, a specialized reference site on the Eurovision Song Contest; Twin Melody, Aitana and Paula Etxeberria, stars of Tik Tok and participants of the Benidorm Fest 2023, where they were rivals of Blanca Paloma, and Mariola Cubellstelevision analyst.
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1. How do you rate that? Enter Blanca Paloma in the Eurovision final? What went wrong that the public didn’t like?
Laura Ortiz: Blanca Paloma’s performance was vibrant and hypnotic. Very similar to Benidorm Fest but with other nuances that improve performance. It was very careful execution and lighting. His voice shone with its own light. There is nothing left to say, you can see the work behind it. One of the best performances that Spain has brought to the festival.
Jose García: Blanca Paloma was outstanding, the performance was impeccable, there were no buts. He made various appearances and rehearsals during the week in Liverpool and the pass in the final was one of his best passes. The proposed performance is a small audiovisual gem, a three-minute work of art with cinematographic aesthetics. Various plans were fought until the last day to achieve the desired result and his performance in the final was outstanding. It’s a risky proposition and the problem is that such authentic performances at the Eurovision Song Contest are either voted on en masse, as was the case with Salvador Sobral, or end up being disliked. It is a candidacy that is polarised, marked by extremes and not easy to reach all types of public. In the end, the balance sheet decided on the negative side. The European audience has opted for more accessible options and more commercial themes, moving away from a proposal as different as flamenco fused with electronica by Blanca Paloma.
twin melody: It was an incredible performance, he showed how talented he is and gave a lot of security and feeling. We thought it would be a performance of 10. We also really liked the staging, with the red curtain while she sang at the beginning we thought it was very original and the dance crew has a lot to offer too. You can tell they liked it.
Mariola Cubells: The song Eaea never seemed special to me, but Blanca Paloma had a very powerful production, very solid and very elaborate. And elegant, as it seems to me. And we have to appreciate the effort put into making the television production, which was complicated, come out well. But it’s obvious that, judging by the public vote, it didn’t cause a stir…
Europe didn’t like the Spanish proposal and nothing is happening. You have to keep working with concentration. In risky applications, you lose sometimes and learn every time
Jose Garcia
2. What made Sweden the winner?
IT: Sweden had a very complete pack but was risky at the same time. With a promotional song, Loreen gave a masterful performance that was mesmerizing and couldn’t stop watching. The expectations placed on her were high and she far exceeded them.
JG: He brought a candidacy that won over all types of audiences, it was also well received by the professional jury, he received the highest score from the juries. Loreen is a well-known singer, a stage professional who proved to be one of the best at the Eurovision Song Contest. After his triumph in Baku eleven years ago, he came up with a perfectly accessible proposal, a pop song. Tattoo becomes a hit and is already a success in many European countries. It was the candidacy that found the greatest support on the one hand in the televoting and on the other hand in the jury. He achieved the maximum number of points from the jury and second best in the televoting.
TM: That the song was very well liked by the audience.
MC: She was very well received (she was undoubtedly the favourite, and there’s always a reason for that), she’s impeccable, a veteran, she had a very festive song. And it triggered a consensus between the expert jury and the public. It’s her second time, and I suspect that gives her all kinds of benefits, not just for knowledge of the show, but for recognition of the artist.
Sweden’s representative Loreen after winning the Eurovision Song Contest.OLI SCARFF (AFP)
Loreen with the crystal microphone that recognizes her as a Eurovision winner. PHIL NOBLE (Portal)
Loreen after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Martin Meissner (AP)
Mae Muller, UK representative, during her appearance at the Eurovision Gala. Aaron Chown (PA Images / Getty Images)
The Croatian rock band Let 3 with their song “Mama ŠC!”. Martin Meissner (Associated Press/LaPresse)
Indie rock band Joker Out represented Slovenia with “Carpe Diem”. ADAM VAUGHAN (EFE)
“Eaea” is the song of the Spanish representative Blanca Paloma. Martin Meissner (AP)
Performance by Noa Kirel from Israel with the song “Unicorn”. Martin Meissner (AP)
Lithuanian Monika Linkyté performed at the Eurovision Song Contest with the theme “Stay”. Martin Meissner (AP)
Germany with its rock bet with the group Lord of the Lost and the song “Blood & Glitter”. Martin Meissner (AP)
Alessandra, representative of Norway, during her performance with the song “Queen of Kings”. Martin Meissner (AP)
Ukrainian duo consisting of Nigerian singer Jeffery Kenny and Ukrainian producer Andrew Hutsuliak, TVORCHI, with the song “Heart of Steel”. PHIL NOBLE (Portal)
The brunette, whose real name is Elen Yeremyan, is the representative of Armenia with the song “Future Lover”. Martin Meissner (AP)
Pasha Parfeni, representative of Moldova on the topic “Soarele si Luna”.PHIL NOBLE (Portal)
‘Because of you’ was the theme Gustaph chose to represent Belgium. Martin Meissner (AP)
A moment of the performance of the Belgian representative Gustaph. Martin Meissner (AP)
The rock group Voyager is the representative of Australia and took part with the song “Promise”. PHIL NOBLE (Portal)
The group Vesna from the Czech Republic competes with the song “My Sister’s Crown”.OLI SCARFF (AFP)
Finnish singer, rapper and songwriter Käärijä performs the song ‘Cha Cha Cha’ on the Liverpullian stage. OLI SCARF (AFP)
Alika Milova from Estonia performed the song “Bridges”. Aaron Chown (PA Images/Getty Images)
“Due Vite” was the bet made by Italy’s representative, Marco Mengoni.OLI SCARFF (AFP)
Albina & Familja Kelmendi are the representatives of Albania with the song “Duje”.PAUL ELLIS (AFP)
Swedish Loreen of Berber descent defended the ‘tatoo’ theme at the Eurovision Song Contest. Martin Meissner (AP)
The representative of Cyprus, Andrew Lambrou, with the song “Break a Broken Heart”.ADAM VAUGHAN (EFE)
La Zarra, a Canadian-born singer, has competed for France with the song “Évidemment”. OLI SCARF (AFP)
“Samo Mi Se Spava” is the subject of Serbian representative Luke Black.PHIL NOBLE (Portal)
Poland is taking singer Blanka and her song “Solo” to the Eurovision Song Contest this year. Peter Byrne (PA Images/Getty)
Remo Forrer is the Swiss representative and will participate with the theme “Watergun”. Peter Byrne (PA Images / Getty Images)
The Portuguese singer-songwriter Mimicat with her song “Ai Coração”. Aaron Chown (PA Images / getty)
The moderators of the gala, from left: Julia Sanina, Hannah Waddingham and Graham Norton. Peter Kneffel (dpa / picture Alliance / Getty)
The duo Teya & Salena from Austria defended their country with the song “Who the hell is Edgar?”. Peter Kneffel (dpa / picture Alliance / Getty)
Last year’s Ukrainian winning group, Kalush Orchestra, will open the Eurovision Gala. Dominic Lipinski (Getty Images)
Singer Jedward, in the fan area at the festival, this Saturday in Liverpool. Cameron Smith (Getty Images)
Switzerland fans are photographed in front of the stadium.OLI SCARFF (AFP)
3. What does Spain need to improve to win?
IT: Spain must go ahead and look for the best pack. Coming from years of real failures at the festival and a 17th place finish can’t make them throw in the towel. The Eurovision Song Contest is not won overnight. You still have to take the risk that this year’s result will not be interpreted in public hands, since radical and risky proposals have no place at the festival.
JG: This is the path Spain must take, nothing has failed. We have chosen a risky proposal whose candidacy has polarized. Reaching the public wasn’t easy, and that was the problem. There is a large audience that only sees the festival that night and Blanca’s proposal, so authentically and impeccably executed, did not find favor in Europe and nothing happens. You have to keep working with concentration. In risky applications, you lose sometimes and learn every time. It is the path that TVE must take in the Eurovision Song Contest, quality, authentic proposals that identify him and continue working in this direction, as he started two years ago with the Benidorm Fest. It is the only way to create a Spanish brand in the Eurovision Song Contest and see Spain as a power in the Eurovision world so this can help us achieve victory in the future at the end by pushing the button for this Press song and this artist That connects the audience and the jury.
Blanca Paloma’s performance was amazing, she showed how talented she is and gave a lot of security and feeling. From 10
twin tune
TM: It’s a difficult question to answer because, at the end of the day, the Eurovision Song Contest is about music and art and each voter has their own personal taste. Each year the winning factor can change depending on what the audience likes or is looking for. Everyone who takes part in the Eurovision Song Contest is very talented and just the fact that they made it is a huge credit, no matter the position. In Spain they work very well and select artists with excellent criteria for the festival and soon we will see Spain win.
MC: It’s obvious that it works (in the audience, in the expectation). The least of it, seeing what is seen is victory, and no one, or almost no one, expects it. It is important what you generate before, during and after the appointment. It is a festival that generates controversy and excitement. And yes, it seems to me that the selection of the representative is the right way [en la cita del Benidorm Fest] It is the only possible way, the most successful and best for years. Of course, it would make the most sense to adapt musically to the circumstances of the festival. Slomo was undoubtedly more Eurovisive than Eaea.
4. What do you think of changing the electoral system with a greater presence of the referendum and opening it up to the rest of the world?
IT: One of the best decisions the EBU made this year was undoubtedly opening up voting to the rest of the world. There is a clear commitment to include people from non-participating countries who are enthusiastic about the competition. Changing the voting system, which eliminated the juries entirely in the semifinals, was the big mistake of the year. The jury always rewarded and evaluated proposals that had no public relation from the outset. The EBU must give this issue a new perspective.
JG: The change was more likely in the semifinals, where only the audience voted. In the final, the rest of the world counted as one country more, country No. 38. So when it comes to this global calculation of the votes, it’s very good because it includes the whole world, but in the end it’s not very significant.
TM: We think this is a good change as it allows non-European countries to have their say when voting and the talent that is behind Eurovision can be seen and appreciated by more people, which is positive for us appears.
MC: I’m just not sure about that. Jury members tend to look closely when awarding 12 points. So perhaps the greater presence of the referendum makes it more open, more democratic, and perhaps less “professional”…
That this year’s result should not be interpreted by the public in such a way that radical and risky proposals have no place at the festival
Laura Ortiz
5. How do you generally assess the level of the participants and the organization of Eurovision 2023?
IT: It was a festival where we could see a wide variety of music styles. In my opinion, the finale didn’t have a great rhythm on TV and at times seemed like a very monotonous show. As for the organization of the city, it was one of the best festivals in recent years. Liverpool were fully invested in the event and the city was very committed and focused on showing Ukrainian culture to show that they are the hosts.
JG: It was a good edition. We saw a dynamic finale, musically of quite high quality, with a great variety of styles and interesting proposals. The only thing, but maybe it would be a somewhat static realization that would lead to many candidatures being indistinguishable from one another. The BBC can be blamed for being more dynamic in bringing the show to life and for making nominations differently than before.
TM: It seems to us that this year there were very diverse and beautiful proposals, in which each country could show a work of art of its culture. We have noticed the effort and dedication that each individual has put in and hope everyone takes pride in their work.
MC: One of the most attended television and music events in the world, evoking world-class social conversations. There are no more Twitter viewers, there are no more dedicated fans, there are no more loyal audiences. The performances, from the most whimsical to the most serene, ensure joy, fun, pure glee and heaps of performance. Like it or not, the performances keep getting more and more spectacular, even if some lapse into caricature. And this year it seemed to me that the organization was impeccable.
Loreen with the crystal microphone after winning Eurovision 2023. DPA via Europa Press (DPA via Europa Press)
6. What does RTVE need to improve on its Eurovision commitment? Have you found the right system for selecting the representative?
IT: RTVE must focus on consolidating Benidorm Fest and continue to bet on adding modern, risky proposals to the competition that sound like the current year. I am concerned that the public body interprets the results as having to bet on a Benidorm festival next year full of commercial proposals that have no identity and are generic. That a 17th place finish (ninth in the jury) doesn’t prevent us from realizing that we are on the arduous path to getting the crystal microphone soon. We must continue to search for the most suitable candidate with personality and build a festival that sees artists as an opportunity to showcase their music and that represents all musical styles in the country.
JG: Eurovision is a competition and you have to come to participate. We did it with Blanca Paloma and Chanel, they were competitive, different, authentic candidatures, that’s the right way. It is difficult to find the key that unites and convinces both professional juries and televoting, but we are on the right track. At the Benidorm Fest, the candidatures are already being tested and that’s very good for Eurovision. We must continue to work in this format and encourage artists to showcase their music at Benidorm Fest and the Eurovision Song Contest, the most watched non-sports program of the year, and explain what that can mean for an artist and their music. It’s a huge showcase. In conclusion: keep working on the Benidorm Fest, keep betting on authentic quality candidates and work with great professionalism, attention to detail and care, as has been done in recent years. And to wait to find the key to a future victory for Spain, which will be very close following this line.
The Benidorm Fest has revived this festival, modernizing it, taking it to a place where it no longer existed and has managed to bring it to new audiences and win respect.
Mariola Cubells
TM: Blanca did great and we are very happy for her. We believe that there is nothing special to change as any suggestion, be it rock, pop, a ballad, etc., would matter if made and delivered with love and devotion. We believe that the Benidorm Fest is a very cool program where each artist can express and represent the proposal that everyone thinks is right, so choosing the Spanish representative seems like a good option to us.
MC: For me I’m not a fan of Euros, it seems to me that everything has gone for the better since the beginning of the Benidorm Fest. Despite this year’s (very poor) result, it is evident that the organization of Benidorm Fest has revived this festival, modernized it, brought it to a place where it was no more and managed to open it up and closer to a new one bring new audiences and gain respect. Selecting the songs like this is the only way. I don’t think there are better suggestions. Spain reached third place last year with Slomo (a song I personally hated) and with Chanel. Sometimes we’ll do better and sometimes we’ll do worse, but it’s obvious that it’s a good idea for Benidorm to be the start of the Eurovision Song Contest.
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