Soraya, who was elected as the Spanish representative at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest last Saturday, has given her first press conference this morning in Madrid. The singer has shown confidence in bringing Spain its first Eurovision victory in 40 years. That is her aim and, in order to achieve it, her performance will be strong and with some surprises in store to “make Moscow melt”.
Excitement about Soraya's bid to represent Spain arose since the very moment the singer expressed her intention to compete at this year's Spanish Eurovision selection Eurovisión 2009: El retorno. Her song La noche es para míimmediately went on to become one of the fans' favourites both in home soil and abroad, and it was warmly welcomed when last Saturday the young girl from Valencia de Alcántara (Extremadura) beat Melody thanks to the public's qualified vote.
The singer, in her first public appearance since her victory, has stated that she has the aim of "winning Eurovision", because a second place "is not enough". Soraya refers to her participation at the talent show Operación Triunfo, when, back in 2006, she became the runner up at that year's edition. This year's Spanish representative is very thankful to all the fans who voted for her and assured that "this is a triumph for Spain because it has been the people's choice".
In Soraya's opinion, La noche es para mí gathers many elements to achieve a high placing in Moscow in May: "It is a very danceable tune, it mixes Spanish and English, which could be very effective". She and her team, led by the renowned choreographer Miriam Benedited, will prepare a "competitive and attractive" performance with many surprises in store: "There will be changes, we want to display something new. Moscow's stage is spectacular and I am looking forward to being there".
The singer has shown self-confidence in winning: "I applied for Operación Triunfo by a hunch, and now I've felt the same", and she went on stating that "this year, I think we'll win Eurovision. We can". In order to get the Eurovision throne, Soraya has claimed the fans' support and announced that she will meet with them due to their large knowledge about the Contest: "We have to be positive, we need your support, that encourages us".
Soraya has also given her opinion about some of her rivals in Moscow: "I like Norway, I am waiting for Sweden to decide upon their representative and Germany has an interesting duo. But the only one who scares me a bit is the Turkish representative". Soraya will take the flag of her natal region, Extremadura, to Moscow as an amulet, and will open soon a blog to share her experiences with the readers.
Eva Cebrián, head of Programmes at TVE, has been accompanying Soraya in this morning's press conference. Eva has shown the public corporation's satisfaction with the results of the 2009 selection method of the Spanish entry: "We are very happy. The process has been very successful and the public vote has prevailed", and also showed TVE's high expectations for this year's Contest: "We think that Soraya's performance will make Moscow melt. She is a great and very complete artist, and her song is really powerful".
Spain, as a member of the Big-4, is automatically qualified for the final, and will have the right to vote at the first semifinal, to be held on May 12th.
