Spain

UEFA 2020: Quarter finals DAY 1

We are getting closer and closer to the final of UEFA 2020, the European Soccer Championship. Today we will have two quarter finals. The first match will be between Spain and Switzerland. In the sixties, both countries had a song with a double title. In 1965, Conchita Bautista brought the song “Que bueno, que bueno” for Spain. In 1969, Paola Del Medico sang “Bonjour, bonjour” for Switzerland.   For the second match, Belgium vs Italy, we look at duos. Belgium sent quite a few, but the most outstanding one was the duo Nicole & Hugo in 1973. Their song was “Baby, baby”, but they are particularly famous for… well have a look yourself. In 1985, Al Bano & Romina Power represented Italy. They had Europe wide fame already when they sang “Magic, oh magic”.  

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UEFA Eighth finals: DAY 3

It is already the 3rd day of the UEFA eighth finals. The first match of today is between Croatia and Spain. Both countries decided to celebrate with a song. Croatian Daria sang her song “Celebrate” in 2011, while Spanish Rosa sang “Europe’s living a celebration” in 2002. France meets Switzerland. These countries are united in one man: Jean Philippe. The French singer participated for both countries: in 1959 he defended the French colours with the song “Oui, oui, oui, oui”. In 1962 he came out for Switzerland with the song “Le retour”.

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UEFA 2020: DAY 13

It’s gonna be the last day of the first round today. Four matches will be played again. We can put the first two countries, Poland and Sweden, in only one song. In 2018, Poland was represented by Polish DJ Gromee and Swedish singer Lukas Meijer. They sang “Light me up” in a Polish/Swedish co-production. The second match will be between Slovakia and Spain. For both countries, we chose a ballad, sung by a duo. For Slovakia we chose for the 2009 contestants Kamil Mikulčík and Nela Pocisková and their duet “Leť tmou”. The Spanish song is a love duet from 2018: Amaia and Alfred sang “Tu canción”. Portugal will meet France tonight. Both countries most often sing in their native languages. So we decided to pick the exceptions. In 2008, Sebastien Tellier sang “Divine”. Only a few lines were in French, the biggest part in English. This year, the Portuguese band The Black Mamba sang it’s song “Love is on my side” in English. And we have the match between Hungary and Germany today. The city of Munich is not allowed to make a statement and colour the stadium in rainbow colours. That’s what UEFA decided. However, we don’t need UEFA’s permission. So we add Kati Wolf’s “What about my dream”; the 2011 Hungarian entry. It was the fan favorite, and we all know that a big part of the Eurovision fan base is at least very gay friendly! Even more clear was the German singer Lou in 2003 in her song “Let’s get happy”. Why? Well, just listen!

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UEFA2020: Day 9

And the European soccer Championship continues with day 9. We start with Hungary and France. Hungary, the country where the authorities consider LGBT+ as a crime. Well, Hungary, remember who and what you sent in 2009? Watch Zoli Ádok and his “Dance with me”. And we have France. We have Bilal Hassani’s “Roi” here. No explanation needed. The second match is between Portugal and Germany. In 1988, the Portuguese singer Dora sang “Voltarei”, which means “I’ll come back”. In 2000, the German singer Stefan Raab opened his entry “Wadde hadde dudde da” with  “He’s been to America and said: if I make it there I’m never gonna make it to Germany again. And tonight, here he is, back again”. Spain will meet Poland today. And although Spain won twice, there are a lot of successful second places for the country. We chose for Anabel Conde’s “Vuelve conmigo” from 1995. One year before that, Poland debuted, also with a second place. Poland has never done better so far, so watch and listen Edyta Gorniak’s “To nie ja!”.

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Blas Cantó

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameBlas Cantó Moreno Born26 april 1991 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionDestino Eurovisión 2011Internal selection (2020)Internal selection (2021) In Eurovision2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled)2021 Rotterdam SongUniverso (2020)Voy a quedarme (2021) Biography Blas Cantó is a Spanish singer, born in Ricote but raised in Molina de Segura. He was only eight years old when he won the Veo Veo festival, an important song contest, in his region. Two years later he competed again and reached the national final of Veo Veo. In 2004, he participated in the national final for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Blas Cantó became a member of the band Auryn in 2010. They reached fame when their version of the song “Umbrella” reached almost 20.000 views on Youtube in the first hours. Auryn took part in the 2011 national final for the Eurovision Song Contest and became 2nd. With Auryn, Cantó won the LOS40 Music Awards and the MTV Europe Music Awards for best Spanish artist in 2013.  The band released a total of 6 studio albums. In 2016 the band split up. Blas Cantó participated in the show “Tu cara me suena” (Your face sounds familiar) right after leaving Auryn. He won the show.  In 2017, Blas Cantó released his first solo single “In your bed”, followed by hits like “Drunk and irresponsible” and “He is not me”. The latter was so far his greatest success, getting a gold and platinum record, with more than 51 million views on the official video clip on YouTube, and reaching the #1 spot in the Spanish Top 40. In september 2018, his album “Complicado” was released. In just 1 week of its release it reached # 1 in the best-selling albums in Spain. Blas Cantó would be the representative of Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Unfortunately, his song “Universo” couldn’t be sung in the contest, due to the cancellation of Eurovision. TVE announced him as the 2021 Spanish representative. Out of two songs, “Voy a quedarme” was chosen. Blas Cantó became 24th. The Eurovision participation was followed by a collaboration with the band Echosmith, a song called “Americana”. Entries Voy a quedarme Country Spain Year2021 LanguageSpanish Lyrics & MusicBlas CantóDan HammondLeroy SanchezDangelo Ortega BackingsAlba GilIrene AlmanDaira MonzónDaniel OrtegaHéctor Artiles Results Semi Points: – Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 6Position: 24Running order: 13 https://youtu.be/thV-vhOQHvQ Universo Country Spain Year2020 LanguageSpanish LyricsBlas CantóDan Hammond ComposersBlas CantóDan HammondDangelo OrtegaMaciej Mikolaj TrybulecAsh Hicklin Backings– Results Semi Points:Position:Running order: Results Finals Points:Position:Running order: https://youtu.be/zuDdex1st-Y

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Soraya

About Quick Facts NameSoraya Arnelas Rubiales Born13 September 1982 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionEurovisión 2009: El retorno In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongLa noche es para mí (2009) Biography Early Life and Career Beginnings Soraya Arnelas Rubiales was born on September 13, 1982, in Valencia de Alcántara, Cáceres, Spain. From a young age, she had a passion for performing arts and moved to Madrid at 11 to pursue her dreams. Although she initially aimed to study drama, Soraya worked as an airline stewardess for Iberworld, traveling worldwide. She is fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, which helped her connect with a diverse audience. Rise to Fame: Operación Triunfo and Debut Album Soraya’s big break came in 2005 when she participated in the fourth season of the Spanish TV show “Operación Triunfo.” She impressed the audience and judges with her vocal talent, finishing as the runner-up. This exposure led to the release of her debut album, “Corazón De Fuego,” on December 5, 2005. The album, produced by Kike Santander, reached number 13 on the Spanish charts and earned Platinum status, marking a successful start to her career. Continued Success: Ochenta’s and Dolce Vita In 2006, Soraya released her second album, “Ochenta’s,” on November 21. This album featured English-language covers of 1980s hits, including RAF’s “Self Control,” which achieved Gold status in Spain. “Ochenta’s” peaked at number 5 on the Spanish charts and also earned Platinum certification. Following this success, Soraya released “Dolce Vita” on September 11, 2007. The album included more 1980s covers, such as “La Dolce Vita,” Kylie Minogue’s “I Should Be So Lucky,” and Eurythmics’s “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” It also peaked at number 5 on the Spanish charts and received Gold certification. Exploring New Sounds: Sin Miedo In 2008, Soraya released her fourth album, “Sin Miedo,” which marked a departure from her previous 1980s cover albums. This album featured 12 original tracks, including a duet with Kate Ryan called “Caminaré.” Despite debuting at number 21 on the Spanish Albums Chart, the album’s new edition helped it re-enter the Top 40 at number 32. Eurovision and Beyond: Dreamer and Universe In Me In 2009, Soraya represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “La noche es para mí,” finishing in 23rd place. Despite the result, this experience boosted her international profile. In 2010, she released “Dreamer,” an electronic-dance-pop album produced by Antoine Clamaran. The album peaked at number 8 on the Spanish Albums Chart and included the hit single “Live Your Dreams,” which charted in several European countries. Soraya continued her musical journey with the release of “Universe In Me” on November 11, 2013. This album reached number 31 on the Spanish charts and showcased her growth as an artist. Live Performances and Recent Work In 2016, Soraya released a live album, “Akustika,” which included both CD and DVD formats and peaked at number 97 on the Spanish Albums Chart. She continued to release singles, such as “Con Fuego” in 2013, “Plastic” in 2013, and “Neon Lovers” in 2014, maintaining her presence in the music industry. Soraya released several singles becoming hits in Spain. In 2015, she reached the charts with the song “You Didn’t Do It”, a year later “Long Time” was a success. She teamed up with Mister Mimon, who featured in her 2017 hit “El Pretendiente”. A year later, “Qué bonito” was a hit. In 2023, Soraya released a brand new single, “La Botella”. Television Appearances and Acting Soraya’s television career is extensive. She first appeared on “Operación Triunfo” in 2005 and then on “Mira quién baila” in 2006. Between 2006 and 2007, she was a contestant on “El Club de Flo.” In 2009, she led a choir in “La Batalla de los Coros” and represented Spain in the “Eurovision Song Contest 2009.” She also appeared on “Canta si puedes” during New Year’s Eve in 2009 and 2010, and served as a judge on “Generación de estrellas” in 2010. Soraya made guest appearances on shows like “Adivina quién viene a cenar esta noche” in 2010, “Juntos” in 2011, “Tu cara me suena” from 2011 to 2018, and “Atrapa un millón” in 2011. She co-hosted “Cabaret Olé” from 2011 to 2013 and appeared in special episodes of “Pasapalabra” in 2012 and 2013. She was also a contestant on “¡A bailar!” in 2014 and a judge on “¡Vaya fauna!” in 2014. More recently, she served as a judge on “Tú sí que sí” in 2017, appeared on “Trabajo Temporal” in 2018, and was a contestant on “Celebrity Bake Off” in 2021 and “Sálvame Mediafest” in 2022. In 2023, she was a guest judge on “Drag Race España.” Personal Life Since 2012, Soraya has been in a relationship with male model Miguel Ángel Herrera. The couple welcomed their first child, Manuela Grace, on February 24, 2017. Soraya Arnelas Rubiales continues to be a prominent figure in the Spanish music scene, known for her versatility and enduring appeal. From her early days on “Operación Triunfo” to her international ventures and personal milestones, she remains a beloved artist with a rich and diverse career. Entries La noche es para mí Country🇪🇸 Spain Year2009 LanguageSpanish LyricsFelipe Pedroso MusicDimitri StassosIrini MichasJason Gill BackingsAlexey PostoloskyDima OleschenkoNoemí GallegoNora JiménezVerónica Ferreiro Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 24Position: 23Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/zw8uKCrDt7U?si=61YjGfBK1gkn9mcn

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Daniel Diges

© Vincent Hasselgård, Wikimedia Commons About Quick Facts NameDaniel Diges Garcia Born17 Januari 1981 Nationality🇪🇸 Spain National SelectionDestino Oslo, La Gala de Eurovisión 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongAlgo pequeñito (2010) Biography Daniel Diges García, born on January 17, 1981, is a celebrated Spanish artist known for his roles as a singer, pianist, composer, and actor. His early life in Madrid transitioned to a youth filled with artistic endeavors in Alcalá de Henares. Starting his career in the local theater company Teatro Escuela Libre de Alcalá de Henares, Diges quickly moved into the spotlight with TV commercials and a notable role in the teen drama “Nada es para siempre” during 1999-2000. He expanded his television presence by hosting children’s shows and securing supporting roles in several TV series, showcasing his versatile talent. Diges made a significant impact in musical theatre, taking on key roles in productions like “Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar” and “We Will Rock You”. His participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with “Algo pequeñito” marked a pivotal moment in his career, leading to the release of his self-titled debut album under Warner Music. Despite an unexpected interruption by Jimmy Jump during his Eurovision performance, he finished respectably in 15th place. Following Eurovision, Diges continued to shine in the theatrical world, playing Enjolras in “Les Misérables” and co-creating “Póker de Voces.” His second album, a tribute to the 1970s, preceded his role as Gaston in “La Bella y la Bestia” and his successful participation in “Tu cara me suena.” In 2013, Diges took the lead in “Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar,” further solidifying his reputation in musical theatre. He released his third studio album, “Quiero,” in 2014 and reprised his role in “Los Miserables” on a national tour. 2015 saw the release of “Calle Broadway,” his fourth studio album, featuring renditions of Broadway classics. Expanding his international footprint, Diges portrayed Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables” in both Brazil (2017) and Mexico (2018), showcasing his talent on a global stage. In 2019, he led in “El Médico,” and in 2021, he starred in the Madrid production of “Kinky Boots,” continuing to captivate audiences with his dynamic performances and artistic versatility. In 2022, Daniel Diges performed the show Cineman about the history of cinema. In November of that year, he was part of the theatre play Tick Tick Boom. A year later, he was a member of the jury in “La La La”. He also played in Los titanes. La furia de los dioses and in the musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the role of Willy Wonka. Entries Algo pequeñito Country🇸🇲 Country Yearyear Language🇬🇧 English LyricsJesus CañadillaDaniel DigesAlberto JodarLuis Miguel de la Varga MusicNames Backings/DancersDavid VelardoYuri OlmechenkoLidia GómezAlejandro ArceGwenaelle Poline Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 68Position: 15Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/6gltZu8lsFc?si=2yzy_Ip1o0m-lgRA

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Ruth Lorenzo

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameRuth Lorenzo Pascual Born10 November 1982 Nationality🇪🇸 Spain National SelectionInternal selection 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongDancing In The Rain (2014) Biography Ruth Lorenzo Pascual, known simply as Ruth Lorenzo, is a prominent Spanish singer and songwriter. Born on November 10, 1982, in Murcia, Spain, Ruth demonstrated a passion for music at an early age. She began singing and composing music when she was just a child, with an enduring interest in opera, rock, and pop. This blend of genres would later shape her distinct and versatile music style. In 2008, Ruth’s career gained significant momentum when she decided to audition for the fifth series of the popular British music reality show, The X Factor. She impressed the judges and the audience with her vocal prowess and charismatic stage presence, making her way to the live shows and eventually finishing in fifth place. Her journey on The X Factor exposed her to a global audience and created opportunities for her to collaborate with numerous established artists in the industry. Following The X Factor, Ruth spent several years refining her craft and performing at various venues. She released her debut single “Burn” in 2011, showcasing her songwriting ability. In 2014, Ruth was selected to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest. She performed her self-penned power ballad “Dancing in the Rain,” and secured a 10th place. The song became a hit in Spain, charting at the top of the Spanish Singles Chart. Ruth released her debut album, “Planeta Azul,” in October 2014. The album featured a mix of pop, rock, and ballad tracks, many of which were written by Ruth herself. In 2015, Ruth Lorenzo featured as a judge on Levántate, the Spanish rendition of Stand Up for Your Country. The show ran in February and March.  Her debut album, “Planeta Azul”, was reissued in a special edition on October 16, 2015. It included new and previously recorded English songs. On August 28, 2015, she launched “99,” a new single from the album. In July 2015, it was revealed that Ruth would join the celebrity impersonation show Tu cara me suena for its fourth season. In its season finale in 2016, Ruth emerged victorious with 47% of the public votes. Following her stint on television, Ruth concentrated on her music, recording her new album. Ruth announced in September 2016 her intentions to break a Guinness World Record on October 19, which aimed at raising funds for breast cancer research. The record involved performing eight concerts in eight different Spanish cities within twelve hours. At the close of 2016, Ruth embarked on the Voces Tour across Spain, making stops in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, and Murcia. After a brief hiatus from the music scene, Ruth returned on October 13, 2017, releasing “Good Girls Don’t Lie,” the lead single of her forthcoming second studio album, Loveaholic. Ruth also collaborated on a cover of the Spanish hit “¿A quién le importa?” by Alaska y Dinarama, which was chosen as the anthem for WorldPride Madrid 2017. The song topped digital platform sales charts and became a trending topic on Twitter, leading to the announcement of The Loveaholic Tour for 2018. In 2017, after leaving Virgin EMI Records and releasing a charity single with Universal Music, Ruth decided to establish her record label, Raspberry Records. She also announced the creation of her clothing line, White Lion, named in honor of her fans. “Loveaholic”, her second album, came out on March 9, 2018, featuring a collaboration with Jeff Beck and peaking at number 9 on the Spanish Albums Chart. December 2018 saw Ruth making her musical theatre debut in La Llamada, at Teatro Lara in Madrid. Throughout 2019, Ruth embarked on numerous projects, including performing at the sold-out Festival Mil·leni, starring in a travel show, releasing a new single “Underworld,” touring with La Llamada: Musical, and starring in El gran secuestro for Playz. In June 2020, Ruth unveiled “Miedo,” the first single from her third studio album, “Crisálida”. The title track was released on January 29, 2021. In 2021, Ruth was part of the music game show Veo cómo cantas on Antena 3. The following year, she guest-judged on season 2 of Drag Race España. As of January 2023, Ruth has been confirmed as the primary host of RTVE’s singing competition, Cover Night, alongside Ana Guerra and Abraham Mateo. On 18 May 2023, she released a new single, “Tú (visualizer)”. Entries Dancing In The rain Country🇪🇸 Spain Year2014 LanguageEnglishSpanish LyricsRuth LorenzoJim IrvinJulian Emery MusicRuth LorenzoJim IrvinJulian Emery BackingsSandra BorregoMey GreenAwinnie MybabyAlana Sinkëy Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 74Position: 10Running order: 19 https://youtu.be/LY4n5FUlfDQ

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Pastora Soler

About Quick Facts NameMaría del Pilar Sánchez Luque Born01 month 1900 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionEurovisión: Pastora Soler (2012) In Eurovision2012 Baku SongQuédate Conmigo (2012) Biography María del Pilar Sánchez Luque, born on 28 September 1978 in Coria del Río, Seville, is widely recognized under her stage alias, Pastora Soler. Not only a vocalist, she’s also a deft composer, blending traditional Spanish sounds like copla and flamenco with contemporary pop and electronic vibes. Showing a natural talent early on, Pastora serenaded audiences with traditional Spanish songs as a child. By 1994, she teamed up with the music label Polygram, releasing her debut album “Nuestras coplas”. However, it was in 1996, with her sophomore album “El mundo que soné”, that she bid adieu to her collaboration with Polygram. The year 1999 saw Pastora transition to Emi-Odeón, under whose banner she released “Fuente de luna”, an album that featured her breakthrough single “Dámelo ya”. A couple of years later, she unveiled “Corazón congelado”, followed closely by the electronic-influenced “Deseo” in 2002. 2005 marked a new partnership with Warner Music Spain. Her inaugural album under this label, named after herself, was a tapestry of evolved music. That same year, she also released a compilation of her greatest tracks, “Sus grandes éxitos”. Pastora’s seventh offering, “Toda mi verdad”, dropped in 2007, followed by “Bendita locura” in 2009. She celebrated a decade and a half in the industry with a live album in 2010, titled “15 años”. October 2011 saw the release of “Una mujer como yo”. In 2012, Pastora showcased her talents on the international stage, representing Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. Performing the song “Quédate conmigo”, she secured a commendable 10th position. 2013 saw Pastora expand her horizons as a judge on Spain’s “El Número Uno” talent show. That same year, she released the album “Conóceme”. However, 2014 was marked by a temporary halt in her career due to health concerns. This hiatus aligned with the release of her commemorative album, “20”. She resurfaced in 2015 on the popular show “La Voz Kids”. Pastora heralded her return to music in 2017, announcing a new album and a Spanish tour. Her comeback single “La tormenta” dropped in July, paving the way for the album “La calma” later that year. Her latest studio work, “Sentir”, graced the shelves in October 2019. As of 2020, she has lent her expertise as a coach on “La Voz Senior” and appeared on “Mask Singer: Adivina quién canta”. Entries Quédate Conmigo Country🇪🇸 Spain Year2012 LanguageSpanish LyricsAntonio Sánchez-Ohlsson MusicThomas G:sonAntonio Sánchez-OhlssonErik Bernholm BackingsRebeca RodsMey GreenSheila BlancoAntonio Tomás SepúlvedaMiguel Antelo Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 97Position: 10Running order: 19 https://youtu.be/U8J1b62wOao?si=WjO9pitl3_zc1l5n

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Barei

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameBárbara Reyzábal González-Aller Born29 March 1982 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionObjectivo Eurovisión 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongSay yay! (2016) Biography Barei, whose full name is Bárbara Reyzábal González-Aller, was born in Madrid in 1982. She is a Spanish singer and songwriter. Her paternal family belongs to the Reyzábal clan, one of the wealthiest families in Spain. Music has always been a presence in her childhood. She studied singing, guitar, music theory, and piano at the Andana School in Madrid, combining her music career later with studies in Interior Architecture. At the age of 14, Bárbara decided she wanted to pursue a career in musi. She began her career at the age of 16, performing covers of songs by Christina Aguilera, Laura Pausini, and Daddy Yankee. In 2001, she participated in the Benidorm International Song Festival alongside Gonzalo Nuche as part of the duo “Dos Puntos,” and they achieved second place with the song “Abrazo del tiempo.” Soon after, Barei moved to Miami, where she recorded some demos in the Latin pop genre, which she decided to keep unreleased. Upon returning to Madrid, she became a regular singer in concert venues in the capital city. In 2011, Barei released her first album, “Billete para no volver,” a completely Spanish-language album. After this album, Barei began releasing an English-language single every three months, starting with “Play” in October 2012. “Another’s Life,” released in 2013, reached the Top 30 on iTunes’ most popular songs list and garnered over 600,000 views on YouTube, while “Wildest Horses” in 2014 achieved 1.5 million views and reached the 36th position on the best-selling songs chart in Spain. In November 2014, as a result of a common professional relationship with producer Ruben Villanueva, Barei collaborated on a duet with Tito el Bambino and the band Mägo de Oz called “Sueños de Cristal,” a groundbreaking rock song that showcased the Spanish artist’s ability to bring strength and elegance to any melody. In her second studio album titled “Throw the Dice,” released on April 7, 2015, Barei was heavily influenced by British and American pop, funk, and soul. The album included songs such as “Foolish Nana,” “Another’s Life,” and “Wildest Horses,” which had been previously released. In July 2015, she was the opening act for Lenny Kravitz at the Starlite Festival concert in Marbella. In September 2015, Barei released the song “Time to Fight,” co-written by herself and Fernando Montesinos, which served as the anthem for Atresmedia’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League 2015-16. As a songwriter for other artists, in 2015, Barei wrote the song “Encadenada a ti” for Malú, which became the second single from Malú’s album “Caos.” She also adapted the Spanish lyrics for Edurne’s song “La última superviviente,” included in the album “Adrenalina.” On February 1, 2016, the selection gala for Spain’s representative in Eurovision, called “Objetivo Eurovisión,” took place. Barei secured the first place with her song “Say yay!”, thus being chosen to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. Before Eurovision, it resulted in a contract with Universal, rejecting the other proposal offered by Sony Music. On April 22, the reissue of “Throw the Dice” was released, featuring all the remastered tracks and including “Say Yay!” and the previously unreleased songs “Who Plays The Drums?” and “Super Ranger.” In the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, Barei achieved the 22nd position, despite initially ranking fourth in the betting odds after her performance. Despite her position, it was one of the most downloaded songs of that edition on Spotify (over 10 million downloads) and one of the most-watched Spanish performances on YouTube, which led to a long tour during that summer. After several months of waiting, as her record label (Universal Music) refused to release new songs to capitalize on her Eurovision success, Barei decided to part ways with the label and returned to her previous independent status with Barei Music. On April 1, the singer released the song “I Don’t Need to Be You,” which quickly surpassed one million views on platforms like YouTube and Spotify. She embarked on a new summer tour. Later, following the success of “I Don’t Need to Be You,” now as an independent artist, she released singles such as “Wasn’t Me,” “Forget It,” and “Worry Worry,” the latter featuring a collaboration with Porta and accumulating nearly 1.2 million views between the lyric video and the later-released music video. Finally, in 2019, she released the album “You Number One,” also stylized as “U#1,” under her record label. With this album, Barei explored new sounds and delivered a disc with melodies different from her previous works. The first single from the album was the eponymous “You Number One,” accompanied by a music video in collaboration with TikTok. On December 24, 2018, she released the music video for “Bitter Cold,” coinciding with the birth of her two children and announcing their names: India and León. Her new role as a mother led her to scale back the promotion of her album and temporarily put her singing career on hold to focus fully on her children while balancing her role as a songwriter. Months after releasing the music video for “Bitter Cold,” she released a remix of the song in collaboration with Gavin Moss. In 2019, she collaborated with Chenoa on her new single “Las Chicas Buenas,” which they co-wrote with Rubén Villanueva. On July 13, 2022, she performed her Eurovision song “Say Yay!” alongside presenter Carmen Alcayde at the Sálvame Mediafest, emerging as the winners of the final concert. Entries Say Yay! Country🇪🇸 Spain Yearyear LanguageEnglish LyricsBárbara ReyzábalRubén VillanuevaIctor Púa Vivó MusicBárbara ReyzábalRubén VillanuevaIctor Púa Vivó BackingsBrequette CassieMilena BrodyAwinnie MybabyRebeca RodsAlana Sinkey Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 77Position: 22Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/EgbjNsxehrY

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UEFA 2020: Quarter finals DAY 1

We are getting closer and closer to the final of UEFA 2020, the European Soccer Championship. Today we will have two quarter finals. The first match will be between Spain and Switzerland. In the sixties, both countries had a song with a double title. In 1965, Conchita Bautista brought the song “Que bueno, que bueno” for Spain. In 1969, Paola Del Medico sang “Bonjour, bonjour” for Switzerland.   For the second match, Belgium vs Italy, we look at duos. Belgium sent quite a few, but the most outstanding one was the duo Nicole & Hugo in 1973. Their song was “Baby, baby”, but they are particularly famous for… well have a look yourself. In 1985, Al Bano & Romina Power represented Italy. They had Europe wide fame already when they sang “Magic, oh magic”.  

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UEFA Eighth finals: DAY 3

It is already the 3rd day of the UEFA eighth finals. The first match of today is between Croatia and Spain. Both countries decided to celebrate with a song. Croatian Daria sang her song “Celebrate” in 2011, while Spanish Rosa sang “Europe’s living a celebration” in 2002. France meets Switzerland. These countries are united in one man: Jean Philippe. The French singer participated for both countries: in 1959 he defended the French colours with the song “Oui, oui, oui, oui”. In 1962 he came out for Switzerland with the song “Le retour”.

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UEFA 2020: DAY 13

It’s gonna be the last day of the first round today. Four matches will be played again. We can put the first two countries, Poland and Sweden, in only one song. In 2018, Poland was represented by Polish DJ Gromee and Swedish singer Lukas Meijer. They sang “Light me up” in a Polish/Swedish co-production. The second match will be between Slovakia and Spain. For both countries, we chose a ballad, sung by a duo. For Slovakia we chose for the 2009 contestants Kamil Mikulčík and Nela Pocisková and their duet “Leť tmou”. The Spanish song is a love duet from 2018: Amaia and Alfred sang “Tu canción”. Portugal will meet France tonight. Both countries most often sing in their native languages. So we decided to pick the exceptions. In 2008, Sebastien Tellier sang “Divine”. Only a few lines were in French, the biggest part in English. This year, the Portuguese band The Black Mamba sang it’s song “Love is on my side” in English. And we have the match between Hungary and Germany today. The city of Munich is not allowed to make a statement and colour the stadium in rainbow colours. That’s what UEFA decided. However, we don’t need UEFA’s permission. So we add Kati Wolf’s “What about my dream”; the 2011 Hungarian entry. It was the fan favorite, and we all know that a big part of the Eurovision fan base is at least very gay friendly! Even more clear was the German singer Lou in 2003 in her song “Let’s get happy”. Why? Well, just listen!

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UEFA2020: Day 9

And the European soccer Championship continues with day 9. We start with Hungary and France. Hungary, the country where the authorities consider LGBT+ as a crime. Well, Hungary, remember who and what you sent in 2009? Watch Zoli Ádok and his “Dance with me”. And we have France. We have Bilal Hassani’s “Roi” here. No explanation needed. The second match is between Portugal and Germany. In 1988, the Portuguese singer Dora sang “Voltarei”, which means “I’ll come back”. In 2000, the German singer Stefan Raab opened his entry “Wadde hadde dudde da” with  “He’s been to America and said: if I make it there I’m never gonna make it to Germany again. And tonight, here he is, back again”. Spain will meet Poland today. And although Spain won twice, there are a lot of successful second places for the country. We chose for Anabel Conde’s “Vuelve conmigo” from 1995. One year before that, Poland debuted, also with a second place. Poland has never done better so far, so watch and listen Edyta Gorniak’s “To nie ja!”.

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Blas Cantó

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameBlas Cantó Moreno Born26 april 1991 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionDestino Eurovisión 2011Internal selection (2020)Internal selection (2021) In Eurovision2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled)2021 Rotterdam SongUniverso (2020)Voy a quedarme (2021) Biography Blas Cantó is a Spanish singer, born in Ricote but raised in Molina de Segura. He was only eight years old when he won the Veo Veo festival, an important song contest, in his region. Two years later he competed again and reached the national final of Veo Veo. In 2004, he participated in the national final for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Blas Cantó became a member of the band Auryn in 2010. They reached fame when their version of the song “Umbrella” reached almost 20.000 views on Youtube in the first hours. Auryn took part in the 2011 national final for the Eurovision Song Contest and became 2nd. With Auryn, Cantó won the LOS40 Music Awards and the MTV Europe Music Awards for best Spanish artist in 2013.  The band released a total of 6 studio albums. In 2016 the band split up. Blas Cantó participated in the show “Tu cara me suena” (Your face sounds familiar) right after leaving Auryn. He won the show.  In 2017, Blas Cantó released his first solo single “In your bed”, followed by hits like “Drunk and irresponsible” and “He is not me”. The latter was so far his greatest success, getting a gold and platinum record, with more than 51 million views on the official video clip on YouTube, and reaching the #1 spot in the Spanish Top 40. In september 2018, his album “Complicado” was released. In just 1 week of its release it reached # 1 in the best-selling albums in Spain. Blas Cantó would be the representative of Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Unfortunately, his song “Universo” couldn’t be sung in the contest, due to the cancellation of Eurovision. TVE announced him as the 2021 Spanish representative. Out of two songs, “Voy a quedarme” was chosen. Blas Cantó became 24th. The Eurovision participation was followed by a collaboration with the band Echosmith, a song called “Americana”. Entries Voy a quedarme Country Spain Year2021 LanguageSpanish Lyrics & MusicBlas CantóDan HammondLeroy SanchezDangelo Ortega BackingsAlba GilIrene AlmanDaira MonzónDaniel OrtegaHéctor Artiles Results Semi Points: – Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 6Position: 24Running order: 13 https://youtu.be/thV-vhOQHvQ Universo Country Spain Year2020 LanguageSpanish LyricsBlas CantóDan Hammond ComposersBlas CantóDan HammondDangelo OrtegaMaciej Mikolaj TrybulecAsh Hicklin Backings– Results Semi Points:Position:Running order: Results Finals Points:Position:Running order: https://youtu.be/zuDdex1st-Y

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Soraya

About Quick Facts NameSoraya Arnelas Rubiales Born13 September 1982 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionEurovisión 2009: El retorno In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongLa noche es para mí (2009) Biography Early Life and Career Beginnings Soraya Arnelas Rubiales was born on September 13, 1982, in Valencia de Alcántara, Cáceres, Spain. From a young age, she had a passion for performing arts and moved to Madrid at 11 to pursue her dreams. Although she initially aimed to study drama, Soraya worked as an airline stewardess for Iberworld, traveling worldwide. She is fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, which helped her connect with a diverse audience. Rise to Fame: Operación Triunfo and Debut Album Soraya’s big break came in 2005 when she participated in the fourth season of the Spanish TV show “Operación Triunfo.” She impressed the audience and judges with her vocal talent, finishing as the runner-up. This exposure led to the release of her debut album, “Corazón De Fuego,” on December 5, 2005. The album, produced by Kike Santander, reached number 13 on the Spanish charts and earned Platinum status, marking a successful start to her career. Continued Success: Ochenta’s and Dolce Vita In 2006, Soraya released her second album, “Ochenta’s,” on November 21. This album featured English-language covers of 1980s hits, including RAF’s “Self Control,” which achieved Gold status in Spain. “Ochenta’s” peaked at number 5 on the Spanish charts and also earned Platinum certification. Following this success, Soraya released “Dolce Vita” on September 11, 2007. The album included more 1980s covers, such as “La Dolce Vita,” Kylie Minogue’s “I Should Be So Lucky,” and Eurythmics’s “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” It also peaked at number 5 on the Spanish charts and received Gold certification. Exploring New Sounds: Sin Miedo In 2008, Soraya released her fourth album, “Sin Miedo,” which marked a departure from her previous 1980s cover albums. This album featured 12 original tracks, including a duet with Kate Ryan called “Caminaré.” Despite debuting at number 21 on the Spanish Albums Chart, the album’s new edition helped it re-enter the Top 40 at number 32. Eurovision and Beyond: Dreamer and Universe In Me In 2009, Soraya represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “La noche es para mí,” finishing in 23rd place. Despite the result, this experience boosted her international profile. In 2010, she released “Dreamer,” an electronic-dance-pop album produced by Antoine Clamaran. The album peaked at number 8 on the Spanish Albums Chart and included the hit single “Live Your Dreams,” which charted in several European countries. Soraya continued her musical journey with the release of “Universe In Me” on November 11, 2013. This album reached number 31 on the Spanish charts and showcased her growth as an artist. Live Performances and Recent Work In 2016, Soraya released a live album, “Akustika,” which included both CD and DVD formats and peaked at number 97 on the Spanish Albums Chart. She continued to release singles, such as “Con Fuego” in 2013, “Plastic” in 2013, and “Neon Lovers” in 2014, maintaining her presence in the music industry. Soraya released several singles becoming hits in Spain. In 2015, she reached the charts with the song “You Didn’t Do It”, a year later “Long Time” was a success. She teamed up with Mister Mimon, who featured in her 2017 hit “El Pretendiente”. A year later, “Qué bonito” was a hit. In 2023, Soraya released a brand new single, “La Botella”. Television Appearances and Acting Soraya’s television career is extensive. She first appeared on “Operación Triunfo” in 2005 and then on “Mira quién baila” in 2006. Between 2006 and 2007, she was a contestant on “El Club de Flo.” In 2009, she led a choir in “La Batalla de los Coros” and represented Spain in the “Eurovision Song Contest 2009.” She also appeared on “Canta si puedes” during New Year’s Eve in 2009 and 2010, and served as a judge on “Generación de estrellas” in 2010. Soraya made guest appearances on shows like “Adivina quién viene a cenar esta noche” in 2010, “Juntos” in 2011, “Tu cara me suena” from 2011 to 2018, and “Atrapa un millón” in 2011. She co-hosted “Cabaret Olé” from 2011 to 2013 and appeared in special episodes of “Pasapalabra” in 2012 and 2013. She was also a contestant on “¡A bailar!” in 2014 and a judge on “¡Vaya fauna!” in 2014. More recently, she served as a judge on “Tú sí que sí” in 2017, appeared on “Trabajo Temporal” in 2018, and was a contestant on “Celebrity Bake Off” in 2021 and “Sálvame Mediafest” in 2022. In 2023, she was a guest judge on “Drag Race España.” Personal Life Since 2012, Soraya has been in a relationship with male model Miguel Ángel Herrera. The couple welcomed their first child, Manuela Grace, on February 24, 2017. Soraya Arnelas Rubiales continues to be a prominent figure in the Spanish music scene, known for her versatility and enduring appeal. From her early days on “Operación Triunfo” to her international ventures and personal milestones, she remains a beloved artist with a rich and diverse career. Entries La noche es para mí Country🇪🇸 Spain Year2009 LanguageSpanish LyricsFelipe Pedroso MusicDimitri StassosIrini MichasJason Gill BackingsAlexey PostoloskyDima OleschenkoNoemí GallegoNora JiménezVerónica Ferreiro Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 24Position: 23Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/zw8uKCrDt7U?si=61YjGfBK1gkn9mcn

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Daniel Diges

© Vincent Hasselgård, Wikimedia Commons About Quick Facts NameDaniel Diges Garcia Born17 Januari 1981 Nationality🇪🇸 Spain National SelectionDestino Oslo, La Gala de Eurovisión 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongAlgo pequeñito (2010) Biography Daniel Diges García, born on January 17, 1981, is a celebrated Spanish artist known for his roles as a singer, pianist, composer, and actor. His early life in Madrid transitioned to a youth filled with artistic endeavors in Alcalá de Henares. Starting his career in the local theater company Teatro Escuela Libre de Alcalá de Henares, Diges quickly moved into the spotlight with TV commercials and a notable role in the teen drama “Nada es para siempre” during 1999-2000. He expanded his television presence by hosting children’s shows and securing supporting roles in several TV series, showcasing his versatile talent. Diges made a significant impact in musical theatre, taking on key roles in productions like “Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar” and “We Will Rock You”. His participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with “Algo pequeñito” marked a pivotal moment in his career, leading to the release of his self-titled debut album under Warner Music. Despite an unexpected interruption by Jimmy Jump during his Eurovision performance, he finished respectably in 15th place. Following Eurovision, Diges continued to shine in the theatrical world, playing Enjolras in “Les Misérables” and co-creating “Póker de Voces.” His second album, a tribute to the 1970s, preceded his role as Gaston in “La Bella y la Bestia” and his successful participation in “Tu cara me suena.” In 2013, Diges took the lead in “Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar,” further solidifying his reputation in musical theatre. He released his third studio album, “Quiero,” in 2014 and reprised his role in “Los Miserables” on a national tour. 2015 saw the release of “Calle Broadway,” his fourth studio album, featuring renditions of Broadway classics. Expanding his international footprint, Diges portrayed Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables” in both Brazil (2017) and Mexico (2018), showcasing his talent on a global stage. In 2019, he led in “El Médico,” and in 2021, he starred in the Madrid production of “Kinky Boots,” continuing to captivate audiences with his dynamic performances and artistic versatility. In 2022, Daniel Diges performed the show Cineman about the history of cinema. In November of that year, he was part of the theatre play Tick Tick Boom. A year later, he was a member of the jury in “La La La”. He also played in Los titanes. La furia de los dioses and in the musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the role of Willy Wonka. Entries Algo pequeñito Country🇸🇲 Country Yearyear Language🇬🇧 English LyricsJesus CañadillaDaniel DigesAlberto JodarLuis Miguel de la Varga MusicNames Backings/DancersDavid VelardoYuri OlmechenkoLidia GómezAlejandro ArceGwenaelle Poline Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 68Position: 15Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/6gltZu8lsFc?si=2yzy_Ip1o0m-lgRA

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Ruth Lorenzo

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameRuth Lorenzo Pascual Born10 November 1982 Nationality🇪🇸 Spain National SelectionInternal selection 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongDancing In The Rain (2014) Biography Ruth Lorenzo Pascual, known simply as Ruth Lorenzo, is a prominent Spanish singer and songwriter. Born on November 10, 1982, in Murcia, Spain, Ruth demonstrated a passion for music at an early age. She began singing and composing music when she was just a child, with an enduring interest in opera, rock, and pop. This blend of genres would later shape her distinct and versatile music style. In 2008, Ruth’s career gained significant momentum when she decided to audition for the fifth series of the popular British music reality show, The X Factor. She impressed the judges and the audience with her vocal prowess and charismatic stage presence, making her way to the live shows and eventually finishing in fifth place. Her journey on The X Factor exposed her to a global audience and created opportunities for her to collaborate with numerous established artists in the industry. Following The X Factor, Ruth spent several years refining her craft and performing at various venues. She released her debut single “Burn” in 2011, showcasing her songwriting ability. In 2014, Ruth was selected to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest. She performed her self-penned power ballad “Dancing in the Rain,” and secured a 10th place. The song became a hit in Spain, charting at the top of the Spanish Singles Chart. Ruth released her debut album, “Planeta Azul,” in October 2014. The album featured a mix of pop, rock, and ballad tracks, many of which were written by Ruth herself. In 2015, Ruth Lorenzo featured as a judge on Levántate, the Spanish rendition of Stand Up for Your Country. The show ran in February and March.  Her debut album, “Planeta Azul”, was reissued in a special edition on October 16, 2015. It included new and previously recorded English songs. On August 28, 2015, she launched “99,” a new single from the album. In July 2015, it was revealed that Ruth would join the celebrity impersonation show Tu cara me suena for its fourth season. In its season finale in 2016, Ruth emerged victorious with 47% of the public votes. Following her stint on television, Ruth concentrated on her music, recording her new album. Ruth announced in September 2016 her intentions to break a Guinness World Record on October 19, which aimed at raising funds for breast cancer research. The record involved performing eight concerts in eight different Spanish cities within twelve hours. At the close of 2016, Ruth embarked on the Voces Tour across Spain, making stops in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, and Murcia. After a brief hiatus from the music scene, Ruth returned on October 13, 2017, releasing “Good Girls Don’t Lie,” the lead single of her forthcoming second studio album, Loveaholic. Ruth also collaborated on a cover of the Spanish hit “¿A quién le importa?” by Alaska y Dinarama, which was chosen as the anthem for WorldPride Madrid 2017. The song topped digital platform sales charts and became a trending topic on Twitter, leading to the announcement of The Loveaholic Tour for 2018. In 2017, after leaving Virgin EMI Records and releasing a charity single with Universal Music, Ruth decided to establish her record label, Raspberry Records. She also announced the creation of her clothing line, White Lion, named in honor of her fans. “Loveaholic”, her second album, came out on March 9, 2018, featuring a collaboration with Jeff Beck and peaking at number 9 on the Spanish Albums Chart. December 2018 saw Ruth making her musical theatre debut in La Llamada, at Teatro Lara in Madrid. Throughout 2019, Ruth embarked on numerous projects, including performing at the sold-out Festival Mil·leni, starring in a travel show, releasing a new single “Underworld,” touring with La Llamada: Musical, and starring in El gran secuestro for Playz. In June 2020, Ruth unveiled “Miedo,” the first single from her third studio album, “Crisálida”. The title track was released on January 29, 2021. In 2021, Ruth was part of the music game show Veo cómo cantas on Antena 3. The following year, she guest-judged on season 2 of Drag Race España. As of January 2023, Ruth has been confirmed as the primary host of RTVE’s singing competition, Cover Night, alongside Ana Guerra and Abraham Mateo. On 18 May 2023, she released a new single, “Tú (visualizer)”. Entries Dancing In The rain Country🇪🇸 Spain Year2014 LanguageEnglishSpanish LyricsRuth LorenzoJim IrvinJulian Emery MusicRuth LorenzoJim IrvinJulian Emery BackingsSandra BorregoMey GreenAwinnie MybabyAlana Sinkëy Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 74Position: 10Running order: 19 https://youtu.be/LY4n5FUlfDQ

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Pastora Soler

About Quick Facts NameMaría del Pilar Sánchez Luque Born01 month 1900 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionEurovisión: Pastora Soler (2012) In Eurovision2012 Baku SongQuédate Conmigo (2012) Biography María del Pilar Sánchez Luque, born on 28 September 1978 in Coria del Río, Seville, is widely recognized under her stage alias, Pastora Soler. Not only a vocalist, she’s also a deft composer, blending traditional Spanish sounds like copla and flamenco with contemporary pop and electronic vibes. Showing a natural talent early on, Pastora serenaded audiences with traditional Spanish songs as a child. By 1994, she teamed up with the music label Polygram, releasing her debut album “Nuestras coplas”. However, it was in 1996, with her sophomore album “El mundo que soné”, that she bid adieu to her collaboration with Polygram. The year 1999 saw Pastora transition to Emi-Odeón, under whose banner she released “Fuente de luna”, an album that featured her breakthrough single “Dámelo ya”. A couple of years later, she unveiled “Corazón congelado”, followed closely by the electronic-influenced “Deseo” in 2002. 2005 marked a new partnership with Warner Music Spain. Her inaugural album under this label, named after herself, was a tapestry of evolved music. That same year, she also released a compilation of her greatest tracks, “Sus grandes éxitos”. Pastora’s seventh offering, “Toda mi verdad”, dropped in 2007, followed by “Bendita locura” in 2009. She celebrated a decade and a half in the industry with a live album in 2010, titled “15 años”. October 2011 saw the release of “Una mujer como yo”. In 2012, Pastora showcased her talents on the international stage, representing Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. Performing the song “Quédate conmigo”, she secured a commendable 10th position. 2013 saw Pastora expand her horizons as a judge on Spain’s “El Número Uno” talent show. That same year, she released the album “Conóceme”. However, 2014 was marked by a temporary halt in her career due to health concerns. This hiatus aligned with the release of her commemorative album, “20”. She resurfaced in 2015 on the popular show “La Voz Kids”. Pastora heralded her return to music in 2017, announcing a new album and a Spanish tour. Her comeback single “La tormenta” dropped in July, paving the way for the album “La calma” later that year. Her latest studio work, “Sentir”, graced the shelves in October 2019. As of 2020, she has lent her expertise as a coach on “La Voz Senior” and appeared on “Mask Singer: Adivina quién canta”. Entries Quédate Conmigo Country🇪🇸 Spain Year2012 LanguageSpanish LyricsAntonio Sánchez-Ohlsson MusicThomas G:sonAntonio Sánchez-OhlssonErik Bernholm BackingsRebeca RodsMey GreenSheila BlancoAntonio Tomás SepúlvedaMiguel Antelo Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 97Position: 10Running order: 19 https://youtu.be/U8J1b62wOao?si=WjO9pitl3_zc1l5n

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Barei

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameBárbara Reyzábal González-Aller Born29 March 1982 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionObjectivo Eurovisión 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongSay yay! (2016) Biography Barei, whose full name is Bárbara Reyzábal González-Aller, was born in Madrid in 1982. She is a Spanish singer and songwriter. Her paternal family belongs to the Reyzábal clan, one of the wealthiest families in Spain. Music has always been a presence in her childhood. She studied singing, guitar, music theory, and piano at the Andana School in Madrid, combining her music career later with studies in Interior Architecture. At the age of 14, Bárbara decided she wanted to pursue a career in musi. She began her career at the age of 16, performing covers of songs by Christina Aguilera, Laura Pausini, and Daddy Yankee. In 2001, she participated in the Benidorm International Song Festival alongside Gonzalo Nuche as part of the duo “Dos Puntos,” and they achieved second place with the song “Abrazo del tiempo.” Soon after, Barei moved to Miami, where she recorded some demos in the Latin pop genre, which she decided to keep unreleased. Upon returning to Madrid, she became a regular singer in concert venues in the capital city. In 2011, Barei released her first album, “Billete para no volver,” a completely Spanish-language album. After this album, Barei began releasing an English-language single every three months, starting with “Play” in October 2012. “Another’s Life,” released in 2013, reached the Top 30 on iTunes’ most popular songs list and garnered over 600,000 views on YouTube, while “Wildest Horses” in 2014 achieved 1.5 million views and reached the 36th position on the best-selling songs chart in Spain. In November 2014, as a result of a common professional relationship with producer Ruben Villanueva, Barei collaborated on a duet with Tito el Bambino and the band Mägo de Oz called “Sueños de Cristal,” a groundbreaking rock song that showcased the Spanish artist’s ability to bring strength and elegance to any melody. In her second studio album titled “Throw the Dice,” released on April 7, 2015, Barei was heavily influenced by British and American pop, funk, and soul. The album included songs such as “Foolish Nana,” “Another’s Life,” and “Wildest Horses,” which had been previously released. In July 2015, she was the opening act for Lenny Kravitz at the Starlite Festival concert in Marbella. In September 2015, Barei released the song “Time to Fight,” co-written by herself and Fernando Montesinos, which served as the anthem for Atresmedia’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League 2015-16. As a songwriter for other artists, in 2015, Barei wrote the song “Encadenada a ti” for Malú, which became the second single from Malú’s album “Caos.” She also adapted the Spanish lyrics for Edurne’s song “La última superviviente,” included in the album “Adrenalina.” On February 1, 2016, the selection gala for Spain’s representative in Eurovision, called “Objetivo Eurovisión,” took place. Barei secured the first place with her song “Say yay!”, thus being chosen to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. Before Eurovision, it resulted in a contract with Universal, rejecting the other proposal offered by Sony Music. On April 22, the reissue of “Throw the Dice” was released, featuring all the remastered tracks and including “Say Yay!” and the previously unreleased songs “Who Plays The Drums?” and “Super Ranger.” In the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, Barei achieved the 22nd position, despite initially ranking fourth in the betting odds after her performance. Despite her position, it was one of the most downloaded songs of that edition on Spotify (over 10 million downloads) and one of the most-watched Spanish performances on YouTube, which led to a long tour during that summer. After several months of waiting, as her record label (Universal Music) refused to release new songs to capitalize on her Eurovision success, Barei decided to part ways with the label and returned to her previous independent status with Barei Music. On April 1, the singer released the song “I Don’t Need to Be You,” which quickly surpassed one million views on platforms like YouTube and Spotify. She embarked on a new summer tour. Later, following the success of “I Don’t Need to Be You,” now as an independent artist, she released singles such as “Wasn’t Me,” “Forget It,” and “Worry Worry,” the latter featuring a collaboration with Porta and accumulating nearly 1.2 million views between the lyric video and the later-released music video. Finally, in 2019, she released the album “You Number One,” also stylized as “U#1,” under her record label. With this album, Barei explored new sounds and delivered a disc with melodies different from her previous works. The first single from the album was the eponymous “You Number One,” accompanied by a music video in collaboration with TikTok. On December 24, 2018, she released the music video for “Bitter Cold,” coinciding with the birth of her two children and announcing their names: India and León. Her new role as a mother led her to scale back the promotion of her album and temporarily put her singing career on hold to focus fully on her children while balancing her role as a songwriter. Months after releasing the music video for “Bitter Cold,” she released a remix of the song in collaboration with Gavin Moss. In 2019, she collaborated with Chenoa on her new single “Las Chicas Buenas,” which they co-wrote with Rubén Villanueva. On July 13, 2022, she performed her Eurovision song “Say Yay!” alongside presenter Carmen Alcayde at the Sálvame Mediafest, emerging as the winners of the final concert. Entries Say Yay! Country🇪🇸 Spain Yearyear LanguageEnglish LyricsBárbara ReyzábalRubén VillanuevaIctor Púa Vivó MusicBárbara ReyzábalRubén VillanuevaIctor Púa Vivó BackingsBrequette CassieMilena BrodyAwinnie MybabyRebeca RodsAlana Sinkey Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 77Position: 22Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/EgbjNsxehrY

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UEFA 2020: Quarter finals DAY 1

We are getting closer and closer to the final of UEFA 2020, the European Soccer Championship. Today we will have two quarter finals. The first match will be between Spain and Switzerland. In the sixties, both countries had a song with a double title. In 1965, Conchita Bautista brought the song “Que bueno, que bueno” for Spain. In 1969, Paola Del Medico sang “Bonjour, bonjour” for Switzerland.   For the second match, Belgium vs Italy, we look at duos. Belgium sent quite a few, but the most outstanding one was the duo Nicole & Hugo in 1973. Their song was “Baby, baby”, but they are particularly famous for… well have a look yourself. In 1985, Al Bano & Romina Power represented Italy. They had Europe wide fame already when they sang “Magic, oh magic”.  

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UEFA Eighth finals: DAY 3

It is already the 3rd day of the UEFA eighth finals. The first match of today is between Croatia and Spain. Both countries decided to celebrate with a song. Croatian Daria sang her song “Celebrate” in 2011, while Spanish Rosa sang “Europe’s living a celebration” in 2002. France meets Switzerland. These countries are united in one man: Jean Philippe. The French singer participated for both countries: in 1959 he defended the French colours with the song “Oui, oui, oui, oui”. In 1962 he came out for Switzerland with the song “Le retour”.

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UEFA 2020: DAY 13

It’s gonna be the last day of the first round today. Four matches will be played again. We can put the first two countries, Poland and Sweden, in only one song. In 2018, Poland was represented by Polish DJ Gromee and Swedish singer Lukas Meijer. They sang “Light me up” in a Polish/Swedish co-production. The second match will be between Slovakia and Spain. For both countries, we chose a ballad, sung by a duo. For Slovakia we chose for the 2009 contestants Kamil Mikulčík and Nela Pocisková and their duet “Leť tmou”. The Spanish song is a love duet from 2018: Amaia and Alfred sang “Tu canción”. Portugal will meet France tonight. Both countries most often sing in their native languages. So we decided to pick the exceptions. In 2008, Sebastien Tellier sang “Divine”. Only a few lines were in French, the biggest part in English. This year, the Portuguese band The Black Mamba sang it’s song “Love is on my side” in English. And we have the match between Hungary and Germany today. The city of Munich is not allowed to make a statement and colour the stadium in rainbow colours. That’s what UEFA decided. However, we don’t need UEFA’s permission. So we add Kati Wolf’s “What about my dream”; the 2011 Hungarian entry. It was the fan favorite, and we all know that a big part of the Eurovision fan base is at least very gay friendly! Even more clear was the German singer Lou in 2003 in her song “Let’s get happy”. Why? Well, just listen!

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UEFA2020: Day 9

And the European soccer Championship continues with day 9. We start with Hungary and France. Hungary, the country where the authorities consider LGBT+ as a crime. Well, Hungary, remember who and what you sent in 2009? Watch Zoli Ádok and his “Dance with me”. And we have France. We have Bilal Hassani’s “Roi” here. No explanation needed. The second match is between Portugal and Germany. In 1988, the Portuguese singer Dora sang “Voltarei”, which means “I’ll come back”. In 2000, the German singer Stefan Raab opened his entry “Wadde hadde dudde da” with  “He’s been to America and said: if I make it there I’m never gonna make it to Germany again. And tonight, here he is, back again”. Spain will meet Poland today. And although Spain won twice, there are a lot of successful second places for the country. We chose for Anabel Conde’s “Vuelve conmigo” from 1995. One year before that, Poland debuted, also with a second place. Poland has never done better so far, so watch and listen Edyta Gorniak’s “To nie ja!”.

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Blas Cantó

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameBlas Cantó Moreno Born26 april 1991 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionDestino Eurovisión 2011Internal selection (2020)Internal selection (2021) In Eurovision2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled)2021 Rotterdam SongUniverso (2020)Voy a quedarme (2021) Biography Blas Cantó is a Spanish singer, born in Ricote but raised in Molina de Segura. He was only eight years old when he won the Veo Veo festival, an important song contest, in his region. Two years later he competed again and reached the national final of Veo Veo. In 2004, he participated in the national final for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Blas Cantó became a member of the band Auryn in 2010. They reached fame when their version of the song “Umbrella” reached almost 20.000 views on Youtube in the first hours. Auryn took part in the 2011 national final for the Eurovision Song Contest and became 2nd. With Auryn, Cantó won the LOS40 Music Awards and the MTV Europe Music Awards for best Spanish artist in 2013.  The band released a total of 6 studio albums. In 2016 the band split up. Blas Cantó participated in the show “Tu cara me suena” (Your face sounds familiar) right after leaving Auryn. He won the show.  In 2017, Blas Cantó released his first solo single “In your bed”, followed by hits like “Drunk and irresponsible” and “He is not me”. The latter was so far his greatest success, getting a gold and platinum record, with more than 51 million views on the official video clip on YouTube, and reaching the #1 spot in the Spanish Top 40. In september 2018, his album “Complicado” was released. In just 1 week of its release it reached # 1 in the best-selling albums in Spain. Blas Cantó would be the representative of Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Unfortunately, his song “Universo” couldn’t be sung in the contest, due to the cancellation of Eurovision. TVE announced him as the 2021 Spanish representative. Out of two songs, “Voy a quedarme” was chosen. Blas Cantó became 24th. The Eurovision participation was followed by a collaboration with the band Echosmith, a song called “Americana”. Entries Voy a quedarme Country Spain Year2021 LanguageSpanish Lyrics & MusicBlas CantóDan HammondLeroy SanchezDangelo Ortega BackingsAlba GilIrene AlmanDaira MonzónDaniel OrtegaHéctor Artiles Results Semi Points: – Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 6Position: 24Running order: 13 https://youtu.be/thV-vhOQHvQ Universo Country Spain Year2020 LanguageSpanish LyricsBlas CantóDan Hammond ComposersBlas CantóDan HammondDangelo OrtegaMaciej Mikolaj TrybulecAsh Hicklin Backings– Results Semi Points:Position:Running order: Results Finals Points:Position:Running order: https://youtu.be/zuDdex1st-Y

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Soraya

About Quick Facts NameSoraya Arnelas Rubiales Born13 September 1982 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionEurovisión 2009: El retorno In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongLa noche es para mí (2009) Biography Early Life and Career Beginnings Soraya Arnelas Rubiales was born on September 13, 1982, in Valencia de Alcántara, Cáceres, Spain. From a young age, she had a passion for performing arts and moved to Madrid at 11 to pursue her dreams. Although she initially aimed to study drama, Soraya worked as an airline stewardess for Iberworld, traveling worldwide. She is fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, which helped her connect with a diverse audience. Rise to Fame: Operación Triunfo and Debut Album Soraya’s big break came in 2005 when she participated in the fourth season of the Spanish TV show “Operación Triunfo.” She impressed the audience and judges with her vocal talent, finishing as the runner-up. This exposure led to the release of her debut album, “Corazón De Fuego,” on December 5, 2005. The album, produced by Kike Santander, reached number 13 on the Spanish charts and earned Platinum status, marking a successful start to her career. Continued Success: Ochenta’s and Dolce Vita In 2006, Soraya released her second album, “Ochenta’s,” on November 21. This album featured English-language covers of 1980s hits, including RAF’s “Self Control,” which achieved Gold status in Spain. “Ochenta’s” peaked at number 5 on the Spanish charts and also earned Platinum certification. Following this success, Soraya released “Dolce Vita” on September 11, 2007. The album included more 1980s covers, such as “La Dolce Vita,” Kylie Minogue’s “I Should Be So Lucky,” and Eurythmics’s “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” It also peaked at number 5 on the Spanish charts and received Gold certification. Exploring New Sounds: Sin Miedo In 2008, Soraya released her fourth album, “Sin Miedo,” which marked a departure from her previous 1980s cover albums. This album featured 12 original tracks, including a duet with Kate Ryan called “Caminaré.” Despite debuting at number 21 on the Spanish Albums Chart, the album’s new edition helped it re-enter the Top 40 at number 32. Eurovision and Beyond: Dreamer and Universe In Me In 2009, Soraya represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “La noche es para mí,” finishing in 23rd place. Despite the result, this experience boosted her international profile. In 2010, she released “Dreamer,” an electronic-dance-pop album produced by Antoine Clamaran. The album peaked at number 8 on the Spanish Albums Chart and included the hit single “Live Your Dreams,” which charted in several European countries. Soraya continued her musical journey with the release of “Universe In Me” on November 11, 2013. This album reached number 31 on the Spanish charts and showcased her growth as an artist. Live Performances and Recent Work In 2016, Soraya released a live album, “Akustika,” which included both CD and DVD formats and peaked at number 97 on the Spanish Albums Chart. She continued to release singles, such as “Con Fuego” in 2013, “Plastic” in 2013, and “Neon Lovers” in 2014, maintaining her presence in the music industry. Soraya released several singles becoming hits in Spain. In 2015, she reached the charts with the song “You Didn’t Do It”, a year later “Long Time” was a success. She teamed up with Mister Mimon, who featured in her 2017 hit “El Pretendiente”. A year later, “Qué bonito” was a hit. In 2023, Soraya released a brand new single, “La Botella”. Television Appearances and Acting Soraya’s television career is extensive. She first appeared on “Operación Triunfo” in 2005 and then on “Mira quién baila” in 2006. Between 2006 and 2007, she was a contestant on “El Club de Flo.” In 2009, she led a choir in “La Batalla de los Coros” and represented Spain in the “Eurovision Song Contest 2009.” She also appeared on “Canta si puedes” during New Year’s Eve in 2009 and 2010, and served as a judge on “Generación de estrellas” in 2010. Soraya made guest appearances on shows like “Adivina quién viene a cenar esta noche” in 2010, “Juntos” in 2011, “Tu cara me suena” from 2011 to 2018, and “Atrapa un millón” in 2011. She co-hosted “Cabaret Olé” from 2011 to 2013 and appeared in special episodes of “Pasapalabra” in 2012 and 2013. She was also a contestant on “¡A bailar!” in 2014 and a judge on “¡Vaya fauna!” in 2014. More recently, she served as a judge on “Tú sí que sí” in 2017, appeared on “Trabajo Temporal” in 2018, and was a contestant on “Celebrity Bake Off” in 2021 and “Sálvame Mediafest” in 2022. In 2023, she was a guest judge on “Drag Race España.” Personal Life Since 2012, Soraya has been in a relationship with male model Miguel Ángel Herrera. The couple welcomed their first child, Manuela Grace, on February 24, 2017. Soraya Arnelas Rubiales continues to be a prominent figure in the Spanish music scene, known for her versatility and enduring appeal. From her early days on “Operación Triunfo” to her international ventures and personal milestones, she remains a beloved artist with a rich and diverse career. Entries La noche es para mí Country🇪🇸 Spain Year2009 LanguageSpanish LyricsFelipe Pedroso MusicDimitri StassosIrini MichasJason Gill BackingsAlexey PostoloskyDima OleschenkoNoemí GallegoNora JiménezVerónica Ferreiro Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 24Position: 23Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/zw8uKCrDt7U?si=61YjGfBK1gkn9mcn

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Daniel Diges

© Vincent Hasselgård, Wikimedia Commons About Quick Facts NameDaniel Diges Garcia Born17 Januari 1981 Nationality🇪🇸 Spain National SelectionDestino Oslo, La Gala de Eurovisión 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongAlgo pequeñito (2010) Biography Daniel Diges García, born on January 17, 1981, is a celebrated Spanish artist known for his roles as a singer, pianist, composer, and actor. His early life in Madrid transitioned to a youth filled with artistic endeavors in Alcalá de Henares. Starting his career in the local theater company Teatro Escuela Libre de Alcalá de Henares, Diges quickly moved into the spotlight with TV commercials and a notable role in the teen drama “Nada es para siempre” during 1999-2000. He expanded his television presence by hosting children’s shows and securing supporting roles in several TV series, showcasing his versatile talent. Diges made a significant impact in musical theatre, taking on key roles in productions like “Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar” and “We Will Rock You”. His participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with “Algo pequeñito” marked a pivotal moment in his career, leading to the release of his self-titled debut album under Warner Music. Despite an unexpected interruption by Jimmy Jump during his Eurovision performance, he finished respectably in 15th place. Following Eurovision, Diges continued to shine in the theatrical world, playing Enjolras in “Les Misérables” and co-creating “Póker de Voces.” His second album, a tribute to the 1970s, preceded his role as Gaston in “La Bella y la Bestia” and his successful participation in “Tu cara me suena.” In 2013, Diges took the lead in “Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar,” further solidifying his reputation in musical theatre. He released his third studio album, “Quiero,” in 2014 and reprised his role in “Los Miserables” on a national tour. 2015 saw the release of “Calle Broadway,” his fourth studio album, featuring renditions of Broadway classics. Expanding his international footprint, Diges portrayed Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables” in both Brazil (2017) and Mexico (2018), showcasing his talent on a global stage. In 2019, he led in “El Médico,” and in 2021, he starred in the Madrid production of “Kinky Boots,” continuing to captivate audiences with his dynamic performances and artistic versatility. In 2022, Daniel Diges performed the show Cineman about the history of cinema. In November of that year, he was part of the theatre play Tick Tick Boom. A year later, he was a member of the jury in “La La La”. He also played in Los titanes. La furia de los dioses and in the musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the role of Willy Wonka. Entries Algo pequeñito Country🇸🇲 Country Yearyear Language🇬🇧 English LyricsJesus CañadillaDaniel DigesAlberto JodarLuis Miguel de la Varga MusicNames Backings/DancersDavid VelardoYuri OlmechenkoLidia GómezAlejandro ArceGwenaelle Poline Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 68Position: 15Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/6gltZu8lsFc?si=2yzy_Ip1o0m-lgRA

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Ruth Lorenzo

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameRuth Lorenzo Pascual Born10 November 1982 Nationality🇪🇸 Spain National SelectionInternal selection 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongDancing In The Rain (2014) Biography Ruth Lorenzo Pascual, known simply as Ruth Lorenzo, is a prominent Spanish singer and songwriter. Born on November 10, 1982, in Murcia, Spain, Ruth demonstrated a passion for music at an early age. She began singing and composing music when she was just a child, with an enduring interest in opera, rock, and pop. This blend of genres would later shape her distinct and versatile music style. In 2008, Ruth’s career gained significant momentum when she decided to audition for the fifth series of the popular British music reality show, The X Factor. She impressed the judges and the audience with her vocal prowess and charismatic stage presence, making her way to the live shows and eventually finishing in fifth place. Her journey on The X Factor exposed her to a global audience and created opportunities for her to collaborate with numerous established artists in the industry. Following The X Factor, Ruth spent several years refining her craft and performing at various venues. She released her debut single “Burn” in 2011, showcasing her songwriting ability. In 2014, Ruth was selected to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest. She performed her self-penned power ballad “Dancing in the Rain,” and secured a 10th place. The song became a hit in Spain, charting at the top of the Spanish Singles Chart. Ruth released her debut album, “Planeta Azul,” in October 2014. The album featured a mix of pop, rock, and ballad tracks, many of which were written by Ruth herself. In 2015, Ruth Lorenzo featured as a judge on Levántate, the Spanish rendition of Stand Up for Your Country. The show ran in February and March.  Her debut album, “Planeta Azul”, was reissued in a special edition on October 16, 2015. It included new and previously recorded English songs. On August 28, 2015, she launched “99,” a new single from the album. In July 2015, it was revealed that Ruth would join the celebrity impersonation show Tu cara me suena for its fourth season. In its season finale in 2016, Ruth emerged victorious with 47% of the public votes. Following her stint on television, Ruth concentrated on her music, recording her new album. Ruth announced in September 2016 her intentions to break a Guinness World Record on October 19, which aimed at raising funds for breast cancer research. The record involved performing eight concerts in eight different Spanish cities within twelve hours. At the close of 2016, Ruth embarked on the Voces Tour across Spain, making stops in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, and Murcia. After a brief hiatus from the music scene, Ruth returned on October 13, 2017, releasing “Good Girls Don’t Lie,” the lead single of her forthcoming second studio album, Loveaholic. Ruth also collaborated on a cover of the Spanish hit “¿A quién le importa?” by Alaska y Dinarama, which was chosen as the anthem for WorldPride Madrid 2017. The song topped digital platform sales charts and became a trending topic on Twitter, leading to the announcement of The Loveaholic Tour for 2018. In 2017, after leaving Virgin EMI Records and releasing a charity single with Universal Music, Ruth decided to establish her record label, Raspberry Records. She also announced the creation of her clothing line, White Lion, named in honor of her fans. “Loveaholic”, her second album, came out on March 9, 2018, featuring a collaboration with Jeff Beck and peaking at number 9 on the Spanish Albums Chart. December 2018 saw Ruth making her musical theatre debut in La Llamada, at Teatro Lara in Madrid. Throughout 2019, Ruth embarked on numerous projects, including performing at the sold-out Festival Mil·leni, starring in a travel show, releasing a new single “Underworld,” touring with La Llamada: Musical, and starring in El gran secuestro for Playz. In June 2020, Ruth unveiled “Miedo,” the first single from her third studio album, “Crisálida”. The title track was released on January 29, 2021. In 2021, Ruth was part of the music game show Veo cómo cantas on Antena 3. The following year, she guest-judged on season 2 of Drag Race España. As of January 2023, Ruth has been confirmed as the primary host of RTVE’s singing competition, Cover Night, alongside Ana Guerra and Abraham Mateo. On 18 May 2023, she released a new single, “Tú (visualizer)”. Entries Dancing In The rain Country🇪🇸 Spain Year2014 LanguageEnglishSpanish LyricsRuth LorenzoJim IrvinJulian Emery MusicRuth LorenzoJim IrvinJulian Emery BackingsSandra BorregoMey GreenAwinnie MybabyAlana Sinkëy Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 74Position: 10Running order: 19 https://youtu.be/LY4n5FUlfDQ

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Pastora Soler

About Quick Facts NameMaría del Pilar Sánchez Luque Born01 month 1900 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionEurovisión: Pastora Soler (2012) In Eurovision2012 Baku SongQuédate Conmigo (2012) Biography María del Pilar Sánchez Luque, born on 28 September 1978 in Coria del Río, Seville, is widely recognized under her stage alias, Pastora Soler. Not only a vocalist, she’s also a deft composer, blending traditional Spanish sounds like copla and flamenco with contemporary pop and electronic vibes. Showing a natural talent early on, Pastora serenaded audiences with traditional Spanish songs as a child. By 1994, she teamed up with the music label Polygram, releasing her debut album “Nuestras coplas”. However, it was in 1996, with her sophomore album “El mundo que soné”, that she bid adieu to her collaboration with Polygram. The year 1999 saw Pastora transition to Emi-Odeón, under whose banner she released “Fuente de luna”, an album that featured her breakthrough single “Dámelo ya”. A couple of years later, she unveiled “Corazón congelado”, followed closely by the electronic-influenced “Deseo” in 2002. 2005 marked a new partnership with Warner Music Spain. Her inaugural album under this label, named after herself, was a tapestry of evolved music. That same year, she also released a compilation of her greatest tracks, “Sus grandes éxitos”. Pastora’s seventh offering, “Toda mi verdad”, dropped in 2007, followed by “Bendita locura” in 2009. She celebrated a decade and a half in the industry with a live album in 2010, titled “15 años”. October 2011 saw the release of “Una mujer como yo”. In 2012, Pastora showcased her talents on the international stage, representing Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. Performing the song “Quédate conmigo”, she secured a commendable 10th position. 2013 saw Pastora expand her horizons as a judge on Spain’s “El Número Uno” talent show. That same year, she released the album “Conóceme”. However, 2014 was marked by a temporary halt in her career due to health concerns. This hiatus aligned with the release of her commemorative album, “20”. She resurfaced in 2015 on the popular show “La Voz Kids”. Pastora heralded her return to music in 2017, announcing a new album and a Spanish tour. Her comeback single “La tormenta” dropped in July, paving the way for the album “La calma” later that year. Her latest studio work, “Sentir”, graced the shelves in October 2019. As of 2020, she has lent her expertise as a coach on “La Voz Senior” and appeared on “Mask Singer: Adivina quién canta”. Entries Quédate Conmigo Country🇪🇸 Spain Year2012 LanguageSpanish LyricsAntonio Sánchez-Ohlsson MusicThomas G:sonAntonio Sánchez-OhlssonErik Bernholm BackingsRebeca RodsMey GreenSheila BlancoAntonio Tomás SepúlvedaMiguel Antelo Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 97Position: 10Running order: 19 https://youtu.be/U8J1b62wOao?si=WjO9pitl3_zc1l5n

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Barei

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameBárbara Reyzábal González-Aller Born29 March 1982 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionObjectivo Eurovisión 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongSay yay! (2016) Biography Barei, whose full name is Bárbara Reyzábal González-Aller, was born in Madrid in 1982. She is a Spanish singer and songwriter. Her paternal family belongs to the Reyzábal clan, one of the wealthiest families in Spain. Music has always been a presence in her childhood. She studied singing, guitar, music theory, and piano at the Andana School in Madrid, combining her music career later with studies in Interior Architecture. At the age of 14, Bárbara decided she wanted to pursue a career in musi. She began her career at the age of 16, performing covers of songs by Christina Aguilera, Laura Pausini, and Daddy Yankee. In 2001, she participated in the Benidorm International Song Festival alongside Gonzalo Nuche as part of the duo “Dos Puntos,” and they achieved second place with the song “Abrazo del tiempo.” Soon after, Barei moved to Miami, where she recorded some demos in the Latin pop genre, which she decided to keep unreleased. Upon returning to Madrid, she became a regular singer in concert venues in the capital city. In 2011, Barei released her first album, “Billete para no volver,” a completely Spanish-language album. After this album, Barei began releasing an English-language single every three months, starting with “Play” in October 2012. “Another’s Life,” released in 2013, reached the Top 30 on iTunes’ most popular songs list and garnered over 600,000 views on YouTube, while “Wildest Horses” in 2014 achieved 1.5 million views and reached the 36th position on the best-selling songs chart in Spain. In November 2014, as a result of a common professional relationship with producer Ruben Villanueva, Barei collaborated on a duet with Tito el Bambino and the band Mägo de Oz called “Sueños de Cristal,” a groundbreaking rock song that showcased the Spanish artist’s ability to bring strength and elegance to any melody. In her second studio album titled “Throw the Dice,” released on April 7, 2015, Barei was heavily influenced by British and American pop, funk, and soul. The album included songs such as “Foolish Nana,” “Another’s Life,” and “Wildest Horses,” which had been previously released. In July 2015, she was the opening act for Lenny Kravitz at the Starlite Festival concert in Marbella. In September 2015, Barei released the song “Time to Fight,” co-written by herself and Fernando Montesinos, which served as the anthem for Atresmedia’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League 2015-16. As a songwriter for other artists, in 2015, Barei wrote the song “Encadenada a ti” for Malú, which became the second single from Malú’s album “Caos.” She also adapted the Spanish lyrics for Edurne’s song “La última superviviente,” included in the album “Adrenalina.” On February 1, 2016, the selection gala for Spain’s representative in Eurovision, called “Objetivo Eurovisión,” took place. Barei secured the first place with her song “Say yay!”, thus being chosen to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. Before Eurovision, it resulted in a contract with Universal, rejecting the other proposal offered by Sony Music. On April 22, the reissue of “Throw the Dice” was released, featuring all the remastered tracks and including “Say Yay!” and the previously unreleased songs “Who Plays The Drums?” and “Super Ranger.” In the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, Barei achieved the 22nd position, despite initially ranking fourth in the betting odds after her performance. Despite her position, it was one of the most downloaded songs of that edition on Spotify (over 10 million downloads) and one of the most-watched Spanish performances on YouTube, which led to a long tour during that summer. After several months of waiting, as her record label (Universal Music) refused to release new songs to capitalize on her Eurovision success, Barei decided to part ways with the label and returned to her previous independent status with Barei Music. On April 1, the singer released the song “I Don’t Need to Be You,” which quickly surpassed one million views on platforms like YouTube and Spotify. She embarked on a new summer tour. Later, following the success of “I Don’t Need to Be You,” now as an independent artist, she released singles such as “Wasn’t Me,” “Forget It,” and “Worry Worry,” the latter featuring a collaboration with Porta and accumulating nearly 1.2 million views between the lyric video and the later-released music video. Finally, in 2019, she released the album “You Number One,” also stylized as “U#1,” under her record label. With this album, Barei explored new sounds and delivered a disc with melodies different from her previous works. The first single from the album was the eponymous “You Number One,” accompanied by a music video in collaboration with TikTok. On December 24, 2018, she released the music video for “Bitter Cold,” coinciding with the birth of her two children and announcing their names: India and León. Her new role as a mother led her to scale back the promotion of her album and temporarily put her singing career on hold to focus fully on her children while balancing her role as a songwriter. Months after releasing the music video for “Bitter Cold,” she released a remix of the song in collaboration with Gavin Moss. In 2019, she collaborated with Chenoa on her new single “Las Chicas Buenas,” which they co-wrote with Rubén Villanueva. On July 13, 2022, she performed her Eurovision song “Say Yay!” alongside presenter Carmen Alcayde at the Sálvame Mediafest, emerging as the winners of the final concert. Entries Say Yay! Country🇪🇸 Spain Yearyear LanguageEnglish LyricsBárbara ReyzábalRubén VillanuevaIctor Púa Vivó MusicBárbara ReyzábalRubén VillanuevaIctor Púa Vivó BackingsBrequette CassieMilena BrodyAwinnie MybabyRebeca RodsAlana Sinkey Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 77Position: 22Running order: 9 https://youtu.be/EgbjNsxehrY

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UEFA 2020: Quarter finals DAY 1

We are getting closer and closer to the final of UEFA 2020, the European Soccer Championship. Today we will have two quarter finals. The first match will be between Spain and Switzerland. In the sixties, both countries had a song with a double title. In 1965, Conchita Bautista brought the song “Que bueno, que bueno” for Spain. In 1969, Paola Del Medico sang “Bonjour, bonjour” for Switzerland.   For the second match, Belgium vs Italy, we look at duos. Belgium sent quite a few, but the most outstanding one was the duo Nicole & Hugo in 1973. Their song was “Baby,

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UEFA Eighth finals: DAY 3

It is already the 3rd day of the UEFA eighth finals. The first match of today is between Croatia and Spain. Both countries decided to celebrate with a song. Croatian Daria sang her song “Celebrate” in 2011, while Spanish Rosa sang “Europe’s living a celebration” in 2002. France meets Switzerland. These countries are united in one man: Jean Philippe. The French singer participated for both countries: in 1959 he defended the French colours with the song “Oui, oui, oui, oui”. In 1962 he came out for Switzerland with the song “Le retour”.

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UEFA 2020: DAY 13

It’s gonna be the last day of the first round today. Four matches will be played again. We can put the first two countries, Poland and Sweden, in only one song. In 2018, Poland was represented by Polish DJ Gromee and Swedish singer Lukas Meijer. They sang “Light me up” in a Polish/Swedish co-production. The second match will be between Slovakia and Spain. For both countries, we chose a ballad, sung by a duo. For Slovakia we chose for the 2009 contestants Kamil Mikulčík and Nela Pocisková and their duet “Leť tmou”. The Spanish song is a love duet from 2018:

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UEFA2020: Day 9

And the European soccer Championship continues with day 9. We start with Hungary and France. Hungary, the country where the authorities consider LGBT+ as a crime. Well, Hungary, remember who and what you sent in 2009? Watch Zoli Ádok and his “Dance with me”. And we have France. We have Bilal Hassani’s “Roi” here. No explanation needed. The second match is between Portugal and Germany. In 1988, the Portuguese singer Dora sang “Voltarei”, which means “I’ll come back”. In 2000, the German singer Stefan Raab opened his entry “Wadde hadde dudde da” with  “He’s been to America and said: if I

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Blas Cantó

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameBlas Cantó Moreno Born26 april 1991 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionDestino Eurovisión 2011Internal selection (2020)Internal selection (2021) In Eurovision2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled)2021 Rotterdam SongUniverso (2020)Voy a quedarme (2021) Biography Blas Cantó is a Spanish singer, born in Ricote but raised in Molina de Segura. He was only eight years old when he won the Veo Veo festival, an important song contest, in his region. Two years later he competed again and reached the national final of Veo Veo. In 2004, he participated in the national final for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Blas Cantó became a member

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Soraya

About Quick Facts NameSoraya Arnelas Rubiales Born13 September 1982 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionEurovisión 2009: El retorno In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongLa noche es para mí (2009) Biography Early Life and Career Beginnings Soraya Arnelas Rubiales was born on September 13, 1982, in Valencia de Alcántara, Cáceres, Spain. From a young age, she had a passion for performing arts and moved to Madrid at 11 to pursue her dreams. Although she initially aimed to study drama, Soraya worked as an airline stewardess for Iberworld, traveling worldwide. She is fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, which helped her connect with a diverse audience. Rise

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Daniel Diges

© Vincent Hasselgård, Wikimedia Commons About Quick Facts NameDaniel Diges Garcia Born17 Januari 1981 Nationality🇪🇸 Spain National SelectionDestino Oslo, La Gala de Eurovisión 2010 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongAlgo pequeñito (2010) Biography Daniel Diges García, born on January 17, 1981, is a celebrated Spanish artist known for his roles as a singer, pianist, composer, and actor. His early life in Madrid transitioned to a youth filled with artistic endeavors in Alcalá de Henares. Starting his career in the local theater company Teatro Escuela Libre de Alcalá de Henares, Diges quickly moved into the spotlight with TV commercials and a notable role in

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Ruth Lorenzo

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameRuth Lorenzo Pascual Born10 November 1982 Nationality🇪🇸 Spain National SelectionInternal selection 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongDancing In The Rain (2014) Biography Ruth Lorenzo Pascual, known simply as Ruth Lorenzo, is a prominent Spanish singer and songwriter. Born on November 10, 1982, in Murcia, Spain, Ruth demonstrated a passion for music at an early age. She began singing and composing music when she was just a child, with an enduring interest in opera, rock, and pop. This blend of genres would later shape her distinct and versatile music style. In 2008, Ruth’s career gained significant momentum

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Pastora Soler

About Quick Facts NameMaría del Pilar Sánchez Luque Born01 month 1900 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionEurovisión: Pastora Soler (2012) In Eurovision2012 Baku SongQuédate Conmigo (2012) Biography María del Pilar Sánchez Luque, born on 28 September 1978 in Coria del Río, Seville, is widely recognized under her stage alias, Pastora Soler. Not only a vocalist, she’s also a deft composer, blending traditional Spanish sounds like copla and flamenco with contemporary pop and electronic vibes. Showing a natural talent early on, Pastora serenaded audiences with traditional Spanish songs as a child. By 1994, she teamed up with the music label Polygram, releasing her debut

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Barei

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameBárbara Reyzábal González-Aller Born29 March 1982 Nationality🇪🇸 Spanish National SelectionObjectivo Eurovisión 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongSay yay! (2016) Biography Barei, whose full name is Bárbara Reyzábal González-Aller, was born in Madrid in 1982. She is a Spanish singer and songwriter. Her paternal family belongs to the Reyzábal clan, one of the wealthiest families in Spain. Music has always been a presence in her childhood. She studied singing, guitar, music theory, and piano at the Andana School in Madrid, combining her music career later with studies in Interior Architecture. At the age of 14, Bárbara decided

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