Eurovision History Chats: Spain
Spain is one of the “big five” and an ever-present since 1961.
It has always made its presence felt at the ESC and has been involved in its fair share of controversies.
But while, in the early years, songs were sung and votes cast but something not right.
“La España diferente” was the title of the interval film at the 1969 contest in Madrid and indeed for the first part of Spain’s history at Eurovision it was diferente.
The country was ruled by a dictator, Francisco Franco y Bahamonde, who had taken power after a bloody civil war in the 1930s.
His power was absolute & ruthless and that meant even each year’s ESC entry had his fingerprints on it.
It was an annual opportunity to show off Spain as part of the pan-european family: albeit one where civil & linguistic rights were slight and political opposition a dangerous pastime.
As Hikki & AJ discuss, the songs between 1961-75 may have sounded sunny and done well on the scoreboard, but there was something dark at work.
JoyEurovision’s Hikki & AJ ponder Spain in the Franco era
Franco died in late 1975.
The country had to and did change.
And that’s where we pick up the story.
Rehabilitation and reconciliation took their time in Spanish society and in Spanish entries at Eurovision.
So how were things Eurovision-wise after the Caudillo de España and Generalissimo departed
Spain’s story is one of the epics of Eurovision.
RECENT PODCAST
Vienna glitters for the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest
Image credit: EBU The Eurovision Song Contest takes place for the 70th time in 2026. And once again, Vienna gets to ...
Who’s coming next?: Previewing Finland’s UMK 2026
It's a national final that we've become big fans of and yet again, Finland isn't here to disappoint. Uuden Musiikin ...
LISTEN TO PODCAST NOW
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:59 — 49.4MB)
Subscribe or Follow Us: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Podchaser | RSS
Hold my coffee: Previewing Estonia’s Eesti Laul 2026
It's the first big weekend of Eurovision national finals, and Friends of the Show - Estonia - are ready to ...
LISTEN TO PODCAST NOW
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:00 — 57.7MB)
Subscribe or Follow Us: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Podchaser | RSS
Living a fantasy: Previewing Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2026
The Nordic Grand Prixes are getting underway. The first cab off the rank is Denmark, with Dansk Melodi Grand Prix ...
LISTEN TO PODCAST NOW
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:07 — 47.7MB)
Subscribe or Follow Us: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Podchaser | RSS