Introduction 

• Participant(s): Blas Cantó
• Song: Universo
  
• Writer(s): Blas Cantó, Dan Hammond, Dangelo Ortega, Maciej Mikolaj Trybulec & Ash Hicklin
  
• Composer(s): Dan Hammond & Maciej Mikolaj Trybulec
• Broadcaster: TVE
• Social media:         
  
• Team review: 

This year Spain had no national final. The time of Operación Triunfo seems to be over. The Spanish broadcaster RTVE has made an internal decision and wanted to send Blas Cantó to Rotterdam this year. Unfortunately, the Corona pandemic has crossed all plans and the ESC has been cancelled. Luckily, RTVE has already confirmed Blas Cantó as representative in 2021 as well.

The 28-years-old singer Blas Cantó was born in Ricote, Region Murcia in South East Spain and has Nicaraguan roots. After finishing school Blas went to a music conservatory learned to play the piano and trumpet. In 2004 he has been participating in the Eurojunior show, a national final for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Sentir” . Later in 2009 he was part of the boy group Auryn together with Álvaro Gango, Carlos Marco, David Lafuente and Dani Fernández. With this band a truly success story began, Auryn has released four very successful albums and various singles, top chart positions, it was one of the most desired bands at that time in Spain. With songs like “Breathe in the light” . Auryn also took part in the national final 2011 with “Volver”  and came third after Lucia Pérez.

Blas, who is living in Madrid now, started his solo career with his debut album “Complicado”, which became number one in Spain, the first single "Él no soy yo"  reached platinum status and has over 69 million clicks on YouTube.

There is a very nice version of the song “Complicado” in an acoustic version.

This year’s song for Spain “Universo” has been composed and written by a big team: Dan Hammond, Dangelo Ortega, Maciej Mikolaj and Ashley Hicklin. Maciej Mikolaj has already been involved for the Czech group Lake Malawi with “Friend of a Friend” in 2019 (11th rank). Ashley Hicklin has written the song “Me And My Guitar” for Tom Dice from Belgium (6th place).

The video clip of “Universo” is of a very high quality. There is a smooth rhythm and decent melody, which does not convince by first time listening. The song is about an inner conflict, haven’t said the own opinion in the right moment, close the eyes, so that’s the excuse which he refers to the universe. Among the other 25 entries in the Grand Final this entry would have its difficulties to shine through. Let’s hope that next year’s song is more impressive.

History

• Debut: 1961
• Participations: 60
• Victories: 2
• Finals: 59
• Top 10: 28
• Chances for Top 10: 47%

Spain joined the Eurovision family in 1961 with the debut song “Estando Contigo” by Conchita Bautista, which reached the 9th place in Cannes. From that time Spain has participated on a regular basis, so this year would have been the 60th year to see Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest. Regrettably, this year’s ESC has been cancelled due to the Corona pandemic.

Like France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, Spain belongs the Big 5 countries. That means these countries are directly qualified for the Grand Final and they don’t have pass the Semi Finals. The reason for this is the financial support to the European Broadcasting Union EBU. The host country Netherlands will also have the right to directly start in the Grand Final.

The most successful period for Spain was in the late 60’s and early 70’s when there were two victories and some second places. Spain was also the first country having these two victories directly after another one in 1968 “La, La, La…” by Massiel and 1969 with “Vivo Cantando” by Salomé.

The chance to reach the Top10 is 47%, as in the history Spain reached the Top10 for 28 times, out of 60 participations. Even if the Big 5 countries did not shape up that well in former years, Spain could at least make the 10th place for three times since 2004: Ramón with “Para Llenarme De Ti” in 2004, Pastora Soler with “Quédate Conmigo” in 2012 and Ruth Lorenzo with “Dancing In The Rain” in Copenhagen 2014. There were many great songs with outrageous quality both in songs and singers.

In the long history of Spanish entries there are a lot of gems. Most of the songs were sung in Spanish, while English is getting more and more used. But it’s a pity that such a country like Spain, which is often bringing high quality entries into the festival, does not win again. It’s 51 years now, since the last Spanish victory. It would be time for Spain to win the contest again. But other countries like Austria or Portugal could also be taken as a good example that everything is possible nowadays.

Biggest successes

• 2x 1st place
  “La, La, La…” |Massiel (London 1968)
  “Vivo Cantando” |Salomé (Madrid 1969)
• 4x 2nd place
  “En Un Mundo Nuevo“|Karina (Dublin 1971)
  “Eres Tú” |Mocedades (Luxembourg 1973)
  “Su Canción” |Betty Missiego (Jerusalem 1979)
  “Vuelve Conmigo” |Anabel Conde (Dublin 1995)
• 1x 3rd place
  “Lady, Lady” |Bravo (Luxembourg 1984)

Video Nostalgia

• “Enseñame A Cantar“| Micky
  Rank 9, London 1977
  
  
• “La Fiesta Terminó” | Paloma San Basilio
  Rank 14, Gothenburg 1985
  
  
• “Sin Rencor” | Marcos Llunas
  Rank 6, Dublin 1997