Spain at Eurovision: A Legacy of High Notes, Controversies, and Cultural Influence

A Week Before Basel 2025: Anticipation Builds

As we approach the Eurovision 2025 Grand Final in Basel on the 17th of May 2025, Spain's entry, "Esa Diva" (That Diva) by Melody, is generating buzz among hardcore Eurovision fans, particularly Spaniards.

So, who is Melody?

Melodía Ruiz Gutiérrez, known professionally as Melody, first gained fame at the age of 10 with her hit "El Baile del Gorila," which became one of the biggest summer hits of 2001 in Spain. Her debut album, De Pata Negra, released the same year, earned her a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Children's Album. Over the years, she has released six albums and numerous successful singles, solidifying her presence in the Spanish and Latin American music scenes.

In perfect Eurovision style, her song "Esa Diva" is full of camp flair. Her performance in the grand finale is set to be a theatrical spectacle, divided into three acts with dramatic costume changes, aiming to highlight her image as a bold and powerful diva.

The Evolution of Spain's Selection Process

So, how did Spain select Melody to represent them? Spain's method for selecting its Eurovision entries has evolved over the years. The country has alternated between internal selections and national finals. Notably, from 1977 to 1999, TVE internally selected the entries. In recent years, the Benidorm Fest has become the primary national selection process, aiming to revitalise Spain's presence in the contest.

The Benidorm Fest, inspired by the original Benidorm International Song Festival, consists of two semi-finals and a final, with the winner determined through a combination of public televoting, a mobile app vote, and an expert jury. The original festival, held from 1959 to 2006, was a significant platform for Spanish music, akin to Italy's Sanremo Music Festival. The modern Benidorm Fest seeks to emulate this legacy, attracting a mix of established artists and emerging talents.

In the 2025 edition, Melody's "Esa Diva" clinched victory with 150 points, narrowly surpassing Daniela Blasco's "Uh nana," which garnered 141 points, and J Kbello's "V.I.P." with 134 points. Click here to see Melody's Benidorm Fest performance.

Spain's Status as a Big Five Member

So, how did Melody bypass the semi-finals? As a member of the "Big Five," Spain automatically qualifies for the Eurovision Grand Final each year. This status, shared with France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, reflects the country's significant financial contributions to the European Broadcasting Union.

There have been discussions in Spain about whether this automatic qualification is beneficial, especially given the country's inconsistent performances in recent years. Some argue that bypassing the semi-finals denies artists the opportunity to build momentum (and costs the country a lot of money), while others believe it ensures Spain's presence in the grand final, maintaining visibility on the international stage.

Historical Highlights and Controversies

Spain's Eurovision history is rich and complex. The country debuted in the contest in 1961 and has participated every year since. Spain has won the contest twice: in 1968 with "La, la, la" by Massiel and in 1969 with "Vivo cantando" by Salomé.

The 1968 victory was mired in controversy, with allegations that the Franco regime manipulated the outcome to enhance Spain's international image. Reports suggest that the regime engaged in behind-the-scenes lobbying, including offering to purchase television programming from other countries in exchange for favourable votes. This alleged interference aimed to project a modern and progressive image of Spain during a period of political isolation under the dictatorship.

In addition to its two victories, Spain has had several near misses, finishing second four times: in 1971 with Karina's "En un mundo nuevo," in 1973 with Mocedades' "Eres tú," in 1979 with Betty Missiego's "Su canción," and in 1995 with Anabel Conde's "Vuelve conmigo." The country also achieved a third-place finish in 1984 with Bravo's "Lady, Lady."

However, Spain is also pretty inconsistent at Eurovision and has also experienced less successful outcomes, finishing last with zero points in 1962, 1965, and 1983, and also finishing last in 1999 and 2017.

Language and Cultural Influence

Spain has predominantly sent entries in Spanish, maintaining its linguistic heritage in the contest. This commitment has influenced other countries; for instance, Cyprus's 2018 entry "Fuego" by Eleni Foureira, though performed in English, had a Spanish version and incorporated Latin rhythms (and obviously its name is Spanish). Romania's 2022 entry, "Llámame" by WRS, was performed in Spanish, showcasing the language's appeal beyond Spain.

The Eurovision Song Contest has seen changes in language rules over the years. From 1966 to 1973 and again from 1977 to 1998, participants were required to perform in one of their national languages. Since 1999, there has been no restriction on language choice, leading many countries to opt for English to maximise appeal.

Spain has generally adhered to singing in Spanish, with few exceptions. In 2016, Barei represented Spain with "Say Yay!," the country's first fully English-language entry, which sparked debate about cultural representation. Although there have been some instances of dual language entries in both English and Spanish (2014, 2017 and 2023).

Notable Entries and Personal Favourites

Spain has produced several memorable Eurovision performances. Personally, Pastora Soler's 2012 entry "Quédate Conmigo" stands out for its emotional depth and vocal prowess. It is actually my favourite Eurovision entry of any country of all time, closely followed by Italy's Emma and "La mia città." 

Interestingly, the year Pastora Soler competed, there were concerns in Spain about the financial implications of potentially winning the contest during a period of economic crisis. Moreover, from a British curiosity point of view, the UK's entry last year, Olly Alexander (Years and Years), also mentioned in an interview that it was one of his favourite Eurovision songs of all time!

Other notable entries include Edurne's 2015 performance of "Amanecer"; interestingly, she is married to former Manchester United footballer, David de Gea. Her performance was widely discussed and became the subject of various internet memes due to a bad live note.

Additionally, reality TV favourite Ruth Lorenzo, who represented Spain in 2014 with "Dancing in the Rain," (Spain's second dual language entry after 2008 Baila el Chiki Chiki). Lorenzo gained fame from her participation in the UK's "The X Factor", and as such, her performance earned a fair amount of publicity in the UK.

Las Ketchup, known for their global hit "The Ketchup Song," also represented Spain in 2006 with "Un Blodymary," adding a touch of fun and camp to the contest. Despite their previous success, the song finished 21st, but it remains a memorable entry for its catchy tune and quirky performance.

Lucía Pérez's 2011 entry "Que me quiten lo bailao" is another personal favourite - I have particularly fond memories of it as it was Spain's entry when I finished my A-Levels and was a sort of soundtrack to my school leavers summer.

International Spin-offs: American Song Contest and Eurovision Latin America

With Eurovision’s expansion to include Australia in 2015, it was only a matter of time before other regions began trying to replicate the format. And in 2022, the United States gave it a go with the American Song Contest.

I was actually really excited about it. The idea of showcasing regional differences across such a huge country had real potential, and the icing on the cake was the fact that it was hosted by my personal all-time favourite singer, Kelly Clarkson, who genuinely did her best to sell the concept to the public alongside Snoop Dogg as the other host.

On paper, the premise worked: acts from all 50 states, five territories and Washington D.C. competing to be crowned winner of “Best Original Song.” But the execution was another matter. The judging panel was absolutely dominated by country music figures, and while I’ve got time for a bit of country now and then, the result was an overload of safe, mid-tempo ballads that drained the life out of what should have been a vibrant, eclectic show. Although, it must be conceded, the winning entry was interestingly, a k-pop song from Oklahoma.

And then there was the public. As much as Americans love a talent show, they didn’t really buy into the camp, kitsch, and joyful chaos that make Eurovision what it is. It all felt a bit too polished, a bit too serious. Like they were watching a completely different show from the one we know and love.

With my Spanish language hat on, to its credit, the American Song Contest did try to include some Hispanic and Latin flavour. Christian Pagán represented Puerto Rico with "Loko", which had a great energy, and Sweet Taboo’s "Keys to the Kingdom" offered a blend of Spanish, English and Spanglish. But those performances were the exception, not the rule, and they weren’t given the space to really shine. In the end, the show just didn’t capture the messy brilliance that makes Eurovision tick. It wasn’t renewed for a second season, and to be honest, I wasn’t shocked.

Meanwhile, the real Eurovision organisers have been working on something far more promising: Eurovision Song Contest Latin America. Announced back in 2022, the project has been quietly moving forward, and anticipation is now building that we could get a major update during this year’s Grand Final. If it goes ahead, it could be huge. Given Latin America’s musical richness, its obsession with big, televised competitions, and its flair for drama and rhythm, a Latin American Eurovision might actually out-Eurovision Eurovision. Let’s see what happens.