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Revised: Spain’s Identity and Attitudes on Diversity: 2010 Through 2012

The international broadcasting of the Eurovision Song Contest can create different stereotypes or images about certain European countries. Depending on the way a performance is presented and later interpreted, some countries might represent themselves in a negative or arrogant manner, while others might represent themselves in a positive and humbled manner. This idea can assist in creating and determining a countries identity. By analyzing three consecutive performances, starting with 2010 and ending with 2012, it is possible to explore the identities that represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest, along with their attitude towards diversity.
 “Algo Pequeñito” or “Something Tiny,” performed by Daniel Diges (2010, Spain), uses descriptive lyrics and theatrical staging elements to create symbols that relate to his creatively presented song. In the beginning, Diges starts to list the “tiny things” (Daniel, 2010) that he desires in a relationship, like flowers or a simple embrace. In the second verse, he sings “that’s all I ask you my love, my life is falling apart,” and “try to change soon, time is really running out” (Daniel, 2010). Based off of these lyrics, it seems that his lover does not do these things even though Diges expresses how much he longs for them. Therefore, in order for the relationship to continue, Diges’s lover must quickly change their ways. The performance opens up with Diges singing alone in the center of the stage and four dancers positioned behind him. One dancer is dressed as a raggedy doll, another as the Nutcracker, and the last two as a ballerina and a clown. These dancers are meant to represent toys, which are a symbol for the things he sings about in his love song. In terms of the choreography, the theatrical style and presentation of Diges’s performance can be interpreted in a very heavy and intense way. Often times, these toys are used--in films especially--to represent things that are menacing or sinister. This style of choreography enhances the message of his song, because it acts as a threat to his lover if change does not occur, just like the lyrics do. For most of the performance, “Algo Pequeñito” is only sung--in Spanish--by Diges, until a man in a dark suit pops up behind him, and begins to sing along. Due to the fact that this backing singer appears at a time that is untraditional in most performances (in the middle and not at the beginning), it can be assumed that his presence is very significant. The backing singer can represent Diges’s inner thoughts and feelings, because of his position on stage (behind Diges). Most times, these feelings are kept hidden in the back of a person’s conscience, because they create vulnerability, which is hard to cope with. Both the lyrics and choreography of this Eurovision entry amplify the artist’s message that the little things in a relationship are very important and should not be forgotten or disregarded. 
In 2011, Lucia Perez performed “Que Me Quiten Lo Bailao” (Spain), which means: they can't take the fun away from me. This fast and upbeat song is about happy moments spent with others. Similarly, to Daniel Diges (2010, Spain), Lucia Perez sings her entire song in Spanish. One section in the chorus translates as: “I have enjoyed all this so much and nobody can take the fun I had away from me” (Lucia, 2011). Perez is very effective at presenting the message behind this song, because of the high level of excitement and joyfulness that is exuded on stage. Her performance starts off with bright hues of yellow, red, and orange, as well as silhouettes of palm trees in the background. Colorful fireworks pop up throughout and roman candles are held by two backup dancers towards the end of the song. The bright colors and fireworks used in this Eurovision entry represent playfulness and freedom, which is related to the artist’s message of positivity along with appreciating life and the time you spend with others.
            Pastora Soler is a well-known Spanish singer and participant in the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. “Quédate Conmigo” (2012, Spain), is an unconventional love song that asks the significant other for forgiveness, rather than expressing love and affection. Throughout the entire song, Soler appeals to her audience in a very emotional way, because of her performances visual effects and very heartwarming lyrics. In the first verse, she sings: “Forgive me for every tear I brought into your eyes” (Pastora, 2012). While this line is sung, a blue background with streams of tears drips down behind her. Finally, when she sings this line of the chorus for the last time: “Stay with me when shadows fall, I’ll raise the sun” (Pastora, 2012), five backup singers appear behind her and the background changes from blue, to red and orange. This change in color emphasizes the shift between tears and the sun, which can also represent hope. It suggests that the relationship can potentially be revived and their love can continue to grow. According to Eurovision.tv, Soler’s “Quédate Conmigo” (2012, Spain) is a very “lively modern pop ballad.” (Pastora, 2012) However, I do not perceive it under this light. While the special effects during her performance make it seem very lively (with many colors and blinking lights), the lyrics themselves do not promote this. As with the 2010 and 2011 performances by Spain, Pastora Soler sings her entire song in Spanish. One line of the song translates as: “and now I see you walk away, I beg you, stay for one more day” (Pastora, 2012). Another line translates as: “but the one thing I know now is that I can’t live without you near me” (Pastora, 2012). It is clear that the artist is unhappy and is regretting pushing her lover away. These lyrics show how she is owning up to her actions and taking the blame for causing relationship problems. In order to move on and fix the relationship, Soler sings to her lover and asks them for forgiveness during her 2012 Eurovision performance.

Upon analysis between the 2010, 2011, and 2012 Eurovision entries, it can be concluded that Spain lacks when it comes to the idea of diversity. Throughout all three of these performances, racial representation was basically nonexistent. Not only were all of the main performers “white,” but so were all of the backing singers and extras. In addition to racial diversity, musical diversity is another aspect that is not very strong in Spain’s entries at the Eurovision Song Contest. Catherine Baker, a lecturer in 20th Century History at the University of Hull states that “Eurovision entries from Spain…often draw on the representational strategies of commercially successful Latin pop music, such as “bright colors, rhythmic music, and brown or olive skin” (Baker, 181). Spain fails to present diversity in their performances at the Eurovision Song Contest because they rather present what is commercially successful. Often times, they conform to classic Eurovision tropes, like key note changing and performing ballads and pop songs, which have proven to be very commercially successful over the history of the Eurovision Song Contest. Across all three years, the artists that represent Spain included a key note change in their songs. This is a very popular musical element that many other countries use as well because it adds to the performance and emphasizes its impact and effectiveness, in order to appeal to the audience. Also, all three of the performances were either a ballad or a pop song. Ballads are very mainstream genres of music performed and love is a common theme that is specific to the Eurovision Song Contest. Overall, Spain mostly presents themselves in a positive and appealing manner but fails to show racial and musical diversity during their performances.

Works Cited
Baker, C. (2008). Wild Dances and Dying Wolves: Simulation, Essentialization, and National Identity at the Eurovision Song Contest. Popular Communication. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.proxy.seattleu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=7cfcf31c-6bae-4781-9c03-5702f9b0f21c%40sessionmgr104

“Daniel Diges.” (2010.) Eurovision.tv. Retrieved from https://eurovision.tv/participant/daniel-diges/info

Diges, D. (2010). a Algo Pequenito (Spain). Eurovision Song Contest 2010 Oslo. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gltZu8lsFc

“Lucia Perez.” (2011). Eurovision.tv. Retrieved from https://eurovision.tv/participant/lucia-perez/info

“Pastora Soler.” (2012). Eurovision.tv. Retrieved from https://eurovision.tv/participant/pastora-soler/info

Perez, L. (2011). Que Me Quiten Lo Bailao (Spain). Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Dusseldorf. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSOEmM0h-aE

Soler, P. (2012). Quédate Conmigo (Spain). Eurovision Song Contest 2012 Baku. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8J1b62wOao

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