JOY Eurovision

14 Mar 2012

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.

And here is the latest chapter.