Spain: TVE confirms Operación Triunfo as Eurovision mechanism for Lisbon

by Sanjay (Sergio) Jiandani 1,356 views

TVE, the Spanish national broadcaster has confirmed that the 2018 Spanish Eurovision representative will be selected via Operación Triunfo 2017. Hence one of the participants of the latest Operación Triunfo (OT) edition will fly to Lisbon next May.

The announcement was made by OT’s host Roberto Leal during tonight’s show. The Spanish broadcaster will be revealing more details on how it will select the Spanish Eurovision song and representative in due course. One thing is for sure is that one of the eighteen OT 2017 participants will be awarded the golden ticket to Lisbon.

Pastora Soler, the 2012 Spanish Eurovision representative, visited the show tonight and got the chance to see one of the participants sing her Eurovision entry. Pastora met up with the participants and sang one of her latest hits La Tormenta.

OT 2017 ‘s Nerea sang the 2012 Spanish Eurovision entry Quédate conmigo during tonight’s show.

It is the 4th time that Spain will select its Eurovision and act via Operación Triunfo. TVE has paved the road for Operación Triunfo to be used as the format and mechanism to select the Spanish Eurovision hopeful again.

The revamped version Operación Triunfo has been constantly drawing attention to the Eurovision Song Contest and giving it much exposure. Eurovision has been very much on the show’s forefront recently.

Former Spanish Eurovision representatives Rosa Lopez, Manel Navarro, Ruth Lorenzo, Nina and Barei, together alongside Pastora Soler, have either graced the show or visited the academy and shared their Eurovision experience with this year’s participants.

Few weeks back, Operación Triunfo hosted a Eurovision Chat after the show and a special Eurovision medley was performed by OT’s host, participants and teachers, featuring many Eurovision hits; Waterloo, La la la, Baila el chiki-chiki, Bandido, Dile que la quiero, Diva, Europe’s living a celebration, etc.

Operación Triunfo and Eurovision

Operación Triunfo kicked off in Spain in 2001 and TVE used it as the mechanism to select the 2002 Spanish Eurovision entry and act.

The first edition of the talent show was a massive hit in Spain, thus getting much exposure and mediatic coverage. Rosa Lopez was crowned the winner of OT 2001 and won the golden ticket to Tallinn with her song Europe’s living a celebration.

TVE used the same format for the following 2 years in order to select the Spanish Eurovision entry and act: Beth (2003) and Ramon (2004).

TVE axed the show after its third edition. In 2005, Spanish private television channel Tele Cinco revived the talent show and aired a total of 5 seasons and had no link to Eurovision.

We must not forget that 2 of the participants of the 4th edition of Operación Triunfo went on to represent years after their participation: Soraya Arnelas (2009) and Edurne (2015).

Spain in Eurovision

Spain debuted in Eurovision in 1961 and has won the competition twice (1968 and 1969). The country enjoyed much success in its early days, but now seems to have had a reverse in fortunes. We must not forget that Spain has not made it to the Top 5 since 1995.

The Iberian country has only made it twice to the Top 10 in the last decade, namely in 2012 and 2014 with Pastora Soler and Ruth Lorenzo respectively.

In 2017, Spain selected its Eurovision entry via a national final leading to Manel Navarro‘s victory and winning the golden ticket to Kyiv with Do it for your lover. Unfortunately Spain came last in the Grand Final, continuing the bad spell of poor results in the competition.