What has been the general level of Eurovision 2022?
Has Ukraine's victory been fair?
How was Chanel's performance?
Has the implication of RTVE in the Spanish candidacy changed?
Four experts in television and music related to Eurovision analyze the final of the festival, held on Saturday in Turin: José García
Luka
, co-director of eurovision-spain.com, a specialized website of reference in Eurovision;
Laura Ortiz, journalist specializing in television and Eurovision;
Javier Garay, singer member of the group Mocedades, Spain's representative at Eurovision in 1973 with
Eres tú;
and the group Varry Brava, rivals of Chanel at the Benidorm Fest and now on tour in Spain
.
1. How do you rate
Chanel's performance
in the Eurovision final?
José García:
Outstanding, a show typical of the American Super Bowl.
Chanel's performance has been one of the best, if not the best, in the entire history of Spain in Eurovision.
Behind her performance there is a lot of work, professionalism, dedication and focus and knowledge of the festival.
A performance that has made Chanel's performance, stages and extensive experience on stage even greater, making her one of the best performers of this edition.
More information
Ukraine wins the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 and Chanel is third
Laura Ortiz:
Chanel has made the Spanish public dream with an overwhelming performance, one of the most complete and polished of the night.
The great asset of Spain was Chanel herself, a true scenic beast, who made you stay hypnotized for three minutes with everything that was happening on stage.
It seems like a performance that we could perfectly see in the Super Bowl, worthy of a true international diva.
Chanel's performance has been one of the best, if not the best, in the entire history of Spain in Eurovision
Jose Garcia
Javier Garay:
With the difficulty involved in singing and dancing at the same time, I think it was 10.
Varry Brava:
It was spectacular, it exceeded all expectations and we believe that the changes favored his image as a great singer.
Chanel, representative of Spain in Eurovision 2022, during her performance in the final on Saturday.ALESSANDRO DI MARCO (EFE)
2 - What made Ukraine a winner?
Was his victory fair?
J. García:
It is fair insofar as the televoting of all the European countries wanted it that way and they voted for it en masse.
Has it affected the sociopolitical context, the wave of solidarity and the emotional factor?
Evidently.
Even so, Ukraine started as one of the great favorites to win the edition with a musical proposal, that of the hip hop band Kalush Orchestra with the theme
Stefania
, with its own, genuine identity and with that differential factor in a competition, key in Eurovision.
LO:
Based on the fact that I believe that Ukraine has come to Turin with a very good song and a striking staging, it is impossible to ignore that they have participated in a festival while their country is at war.
Europe has not left Ukraine aside and that has been shown in the great televote they achieved.
It is also relevant to mention the "we are with you" that some of the spokesmen asserted while giving the 12 points to Ukraine.
With Ukraine's victory, the ban is now open for Eurovision to be synonymous with politics and it is the perfect example of the festival's return to its origins.
Eurovision was born as a way to unite people and nations after the war and, with Ukraine's victory, it is shown that we have all united, we have shown solidarity with them.
The votes are something very emotional and the winning song is a great song, it is the most important thing
Varry Brava
J. Garay:
We are all clear about what happened with the televote.
Without those “war votes” that we knew Ukraine was going to get, and seeing that televoting was better for Spain than for the United Kingdom or Sweden, I think Chanel had a lot of chances to have won Eurovision.
VB:
Voting is a very emotional thing and the song is a great song, it's the most important thing.
Kalush Orchestra, representatives of Ukraine and winners of Eurovision 2022. Luca Bruno (AP)
3 - What does Spain need to improve to win?
J. García:
RTVE needs to continue working and putting as much effort into it as it has done this year.
The path, with the Benidorm Fest, is already marked, and we know that it works.
When the work is serious, rigorous, professional, competitive and impressive, we are recognized in Europe.
You have to keep looking for complete and competitive packs of artist, song and staging so that the performance in Eurovision is memorable.
LO:
RTVE has begun the path towards the glass microphone thanks to its great commitment to the Benidorm Fest.
This change of direction of the Spanish delegation, the work done and the clear commitment to one of the great brands of the house, are just some of the keys that will make us achieve the long-awaited victory in a few years.
It is not an easy road and all of them now have the challenge ahead of surpassing the level of the first Benidorm Fest.
That they continue betting on current songs and with identity.
RTVE has started the path towards the glass microphone thanks to its great commitment to the Benidorm Fest
Laura Ortiz
J. Garay:
Surely something can be improved for the following year, but seeing the results of this one, it is difficult to comment on improvements at this time.
This is the path, a complete artist according to what people want to see and hear, with a good song and take advantage of all the media that the host countries put on stage.
VB:
Follow the example of this year's Benidorm Fest and continue to make great pre-selections.
4 - What is your general assessment of Eurovision 2022 in terms of the level of the participants and the organization of Italy?
J. García:
The musical level has been more than remarkable, in an edition marked by ballads, but with representation of different musical genres such as hip hop by the winners Kalush Orchestra, more
indie
and personal proposals such as that of the Serbian Konstrakta ( 5th), Latinas like Chanel or the folk of the Moldovans.
As for the organization, it has been one of the worst festivals organized in the recent history of Eurovision.
Performance failures during the entire week of rehearsals;
failures of the main element of the stage, a kinetic sun, which harmed and affected the work that many of the delegations brought;
difficulties for regular media coverage, among other things.
The presenters of Eurovision 2022, Alessandro Cattelan, Laura Pausini and Mika.YARA NARDI (REUTERS)
LO:
It has been one of the worst festivals in recent years in terms of organization.
It's incomprehensible that one of the biggest shows on television had production failures, cameras completely out of place, in a grand finale.
The
shows
have lacked character and Italy was expected to rise to the occasion and show the world what they are and where they are.
As for the city, there were hardly any indications that the festival and the organization of the
eurovillage were held there
it was nonsense.
As for the general level of Eurovision 2022, we can say that there was a wide variety of musical styles that were far from commercial and therefore have been less attractive to the general public.
In addition, it will go down in history as the festival that has been marked by war thanks to the continuous messages of support from the artists, as well as the intervals in which peace was requested.
It has been one of the worst festivals in recent years in terms of organization
Laura Ortiz
J. Garay:
In the qualifying rounds, speaking in general, it seemed to me that there was a medium level.
Ballads predominated over other styles of music, it seems as if they had agreed or spied on the countries that have won the most Eurovision, for example, "if Sweden has a ballad, so do we."
The best come to the final and it has been at the level of other years.
As for the organization of Italy, I think it has been spectacular, the means they have provided and the humor of the presenters, which always makes the festival more enjoyable.
VB:
Very high level, the top 5 is amazing and the organization understands that they have done the best they could, as always.
5 - Have you noticed a change in RTVE's involvement in Eurovision this year?
What would be left to improve in this aspect?
J. García:
Without a doubt.
The change of RTVE has been 180 degrees with the Eurovision brand, one of its star programs and more efficient in terms of cost, and with a well-planned and worked-out pre-selection such as the Benidorm Fest, which could well become in future editions in musical showcase for the industry of our country.
LO:
Yes, it shows that there has been a change in the delegation.
There is no color compared to previous years.
With the position achieved, it is shown that working on the brand, betting on songs that do not leave you indifferent and doing your homework before arriving at the festival venue, many achievements can be achieved.
Eva Mora, the head of the Spanish delegation, and her team should be proud of what they have started to build.
Of course, now the eyes are on them and for next year they have to go to improve this year's result.
It will not be easy and therefore they cannot relax.
Chanel, upon arrival at the Palaolimpico Arena in Turin in the 2022 Eurovision final. Luca Bruno (AP)
J. Garay:
What has been seen with the Benidorm Fest and at the promotion level, I think it has been good.
A higher level of involvement has been noted in terms of the pre-festival and I believe that more means have been put in place to support the candidates.
Perhaps what has been missing is that someone from the organization appeared in the media to explain what was being done and why, at least I have not seen it.
VB:
From within we have noticed a lot of affection, a lot of work and involvement and if this is the trend, everything will be fine in the coming years.
A higher level of involvement has been noted in terms of the pre-festival and RTVE has provided more means to support the candidates
Javier Garay
6 - Would you make any changes in the selection system for the representative of Spain for next year?
J. García:
The Benidorm Fest has been shown to work as a preselection, so let's continue working on improving the format.
The experience of the first edition will serve to introduce corrective mechanisms, for example, in the voting system and include a more diverse, plural and representative professional jury.
03:16
The summary of Eurovision 2022
Kalush Orchestra, from Ukraine, celebrates the victory in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Photo: JENS BÜTTNER (EUROPA PRESS)
LO:
It would expand the number of juries and specify the criteria that they follow when voting and when they vote (whether they will form an opinion based on the essays or not).
J. Garay:
Regarding the selection, the people invited as a jury should always be musicians, producers, dance teachers, choreographers, etc.
That they be professionals according to what is intended to be achieved.
So that this year's controversy does not repeat itself, I do not know what the solution is.
If you put the jury's vote first and then the public's, as is done in Eurovision, surely someone will come out saying that this is influencing people, and if you leave it as it is, they say that there is a tongo.
Let them do it as they want, there will always be someone who protests.
VB:
There are always things that can be improved, but well, we understand that they will already be looking for ways to make Benidorm Fest more powerful every year.
I hope it consolidates as a great festival and that the format continues to grow year after year.
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