Sexist “Zorra”?
Several Spanish feminist movements have been up in arms since Saturday February 3 against the song chosen to represent the country in the next Eurovision contest, in Malmö (Sweden) on May 11.
The Nebulossa duo was chosen on Saturday evening during the Benidorm festival, near Alicante, to defend the colors of Spain with a song entitled “Zorra”, which literally means “vixen”.
But the term is also known for its double meaning in the language of Cervantes: depending on the context, it can quite take on the meaning of a sexist insult to designate a prostitute or a woman who has multiple partners, close to "bitch" or “trail” in French.
“This title is a way of transforming this word into something beautiful”
“I know I'm just a slut (…) I'm the black sheep, the misunderstood one,” sings María Bas, accompanied by keyboardist Mark Dasousa.
“I have often been called a
slut.
This title is a way of transforming this word into something beautiful”, in the sense of “knowing what you want”, explained the 55-year-old singer to Spanish Public Radio-Television (RTVE) after her victory at the Benidorm festival, which each year designates the song representing Spain at Eurovision.
Indeed, beyond the simple term used, the lyrics also denounce the sexist prejudices that weigh on women: “If I go out alone, I'm a slut.
If I'm having fun, I'm even more of a slut.
If I party until dawn, I'm the biggest slut,” María Bas clearly states.
She also points out the clichés about professional success by singing “When I get what I want, it’s never because I deserve it”.
Feminist movements denounce the song, Sanchez approves
Lyrics and a message denounced by several Spanish feminist associations, who demanded the withdrawal of the song from Eurovision.
The song "insults women in a macho way", launched the Feminist Movement of Madrid in a long press release, describing as "absurdity" the fact of "pretending to wash away the offense by repeating that it is about giving more of power to women.
From the @MovFemMad, present the following script of Queja on the election of the song that will be represented on the Spanish public radio and television in #Eurovision2024 to: @InstMujeres @rtve @rtveigualdad @EBU_HQ ⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/4NU24vG2 Qq
— Movimiento Feminista de Madrid (@MovFemMad) February 5, 2024
The association recalls that women are daily mistreated by men who use this term and that “celebrating a term which is a weapon of humiliation for macho attackers is a form of double public punishment”.
She accuses the song of becoming a “vehicle of misogyny”.
The controversy led socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to speak out on the subject.
“Feminism is not only fair, but also entertaining, which is why this type of provocation must necessarily come from culture,” he commented this Monday on the Sexta channel.
🦊 ZORRO SANXE 🌹
Pedro Sánchez defends 'Zorra' of Nebulossa for Eurovision and is the president that we all welcome 😌 #BenidormFest2024 pic.twitter.com/SqJ5VcLsW8
— Alejandro Vigara (@alejandrovigara) February 5, 2024
The Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo García, also defended a “funny song, which breaks stereotypes”, and which “was massively popular” with the public.
She wishes him “all the best,” she told the Spanish agency EFE.
In fact, the title topped the jury and public rankings during the Benidorm Fest, and garnered 17.31% of the televote votes.
The organizer of Eurovision, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), validated the choice of this song to represent Spain by stating that it understood that there were "many interpretations of the title of the song » chosen by RTVE.
In a press release sent to the Spanish media, the EBU therefore “concluded that the song (was) eligible to participate in this year’s competition”.