Eurovision 2024: What’s behind the controversy over Spain’s entry into “Sola”?

advertisement

Benidormfest is held every year to help Spain qualify for Eurovision and is watched by millions of people.

The final will feature eight artists who will be selected through a series of votes, including television voting by the jury and viewers at home.The winner will represent Spain that year. eurovision song contestIt is being held at Swedish city Malmö.

This year, Spanish dance electro-pop group Neblossa won and will perform their hit song “Zorra” at Eurovision on May 11th.

So far it’s been scripted…except that the song seems to have divided Spanish society, leaving many clutching their pearls in dismay.

“Zola” means “woman” in Spanish, but is most often used as an insult, similar to the English words “bitch” and “slut.”

It’s also worth noting that, as expected, there is a sexist double standard. The male version of “Zora”, “Zoro”, means “fox” and does not have the derogatory connotation that the female version does.

He calls the man “Zoro” and he is a sly villain. If you call a woman “zora”, she is the equivalent of slag, or “pyta”.

The fact that Spain’s signature song of the year refers to an insult often directed at women has been controversial, with many questioning whether the song is supposed to be satirical. There is. bandera de españa Please come in May.

For some, the song is a welcome anthem for the country’s feminist movement, a way to reclaim words that have been weaponized against women, and a necessary missile against outdated male-chauvinist rhetoric. It is.

Given that Spain has never withdrawn from the competition since 1961, some may think it is unfit to represent the country that has been participating in Eurovision the longest.

And some see this as another disgusting example of so-called “woke politics.”

The song is clearly aimed at reclaiming sexist language, with lead singer Maria Bass, 55, singing the lyrics:

Ya se ke soi solo una zola
(I know I’m just a bitch)
Que mi pasado te devora
(My past is eating away at you)
Ya se que soy la obeja negra
(I know I’m a black sheep)
La Incomprendida, La de Piedra
(something misunderstood, something made of stone)
Ya sé que no soy quien tú quieres – Lo sé
(I know I’m not who you want me to be – I know)
Entiendo que te desespere – Lo sé
(I understand that I’m disappointed in you – I know)
pero esta es mi naturaleza
(But this is my nature)
Cambia por time da pereza
(Change for you makes me lazy)

(…)

Si sargo sola, soy la zola
(If I go out alone, I’m a slut)
I am Divierto, La Mas Sola
(If I’m having fun, I’m the sluttiest)
Si alargo y se me hace de dia
(If you go outside and it’s daytime)
Soy Mas Sola Todavia
(I’m the slut)
Cuando Consigo Lo Que Quiero – Zola, Zola
(When you get what you want – bitch, bitch)
Jams es porque lo melesco – Zola, Zola
(Never because I deserve it – bitch, bitch)
Y aunque me esté comiendo el mundo
(And I’m eating the world)
No se valora ni un segundo
(It’s not worth it for a moment)

Spanish singer Ruth Lorenzo, who shot to fame on Britain’s The I’m happy to have found you in our Spanish Madonna!”

Some people are not so convinced, and the controversy has prompted Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to consider the issue.

He liked the song and said, “Feminism isn’t just fair, it’s also fun.”

advertisement

“The ‘fascist bloc’ would have preferred it to be Cala al Sol,” Sánchez added in response to right-wing criticism, referring to the anthem of Spain’s Falangist movement.

Still, even with that stamp of approval, there was always the possibility that Eurovision organizers might not accept the song if they deemed it contained “insults or language of an unacceptable nature” .

Thankfully, European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed that there was no need to change the lyrics of “Zorra” for the contest.

Their statement reads:

“The EBU understands that there are many interpretations of the title of the song submitted by RTVE to represent Spain in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Considering its intended use in the context of its lyrics and message, we have concluded that this song is eligible to participate in this year’s contest.”

advertisement

At a press conference the day after the Benidorm Fest final, RTVE’s head of communications and participation, Maria Eizaguirre, emphasized that there was nothing wrong with RTVE’s lyrics, explaining: If you look up the definition of this word in the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (the body that oversees the Spanish language), the definition is very clear. ”

She further added, “For us, the lyrics of this song are completely in line with the current rules.”

Well, that’s it.

We at Euronews Culture are rooting for Nebrossa – Zorros is a piece of shit.

And, to further enrage the “fascist sphere”, we present an image of Maria Bas smashing through the fascist sphere while surrounded by two male dancers wearing corsets.

advertisement

That should work.

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will be held at the Malmö Arena on Saturday 11th May, with the semi-finals taking place on Tuesday 7th and Thursday 9th May. Swedish broadcaster SVT, in cooperation with the EBU, will organize a competition to commemorate Laureen’s victory in Liverpool in 2023.