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Esa Diva by Melody
I’ve never been the most patriotic Eurovision fan, not even for my own country: it’s far more important to me to like the song that be blithely wedded to any country just because of who they are. But I’m far from the only fan who would love to see Spain win again. A Eurovision in the warm spring Spanish sun would be blissful, though a EuroClub of Spanish gin measures would likely see me returning in a body bag. But wouldn’t it be a fun way to go?
In such an open year a win for Spain isn’t entirely off the cards, although this is languishing quite far down the betting. It’s not hard to see why, as there’s very little here we haven’t heard before. It’s Spanish diva pop with posturing and hair flicking galore and feels about as contemporary as 2005. But bloody hell, I love it!
Melody’s tried to get here before. Her 2009 flamenco number Amante de la Luna backed by Los Vivancos, a troupe of shirtless wonders was a favourite in that year’s Spanish selection and became our Spanish Second Cherry in our second chance show. She’s also been known in Spain since childhood with her debut hit, aged just 10, El Baile del Gorila, a full 16 years before Francesco Gabbani would bring his primate to the Eurovision stage.
Esa Diva stood out a mile in the Benidorm Fest, which I attended for the first time this year. It was easily my favourite to win, and as I sat watching in a gay bar in Benidorm’s Old Town (well, have you tried to get a ticket to the live final?) as Melody crouched on a throne looking like she was constipated, belted out that big note, and whipped her hair around like an uber-diva – well! Reader, I whooped!
What we do know is that Melody can sing the pants off this. I saw several comments during the pre-party season of people being blown away by her vocals. She can also perform the hell out of it, although in Benidorm she had been given some ambitious choreography. The song, originally Swedish-produced by Eurovision winning composers Peter Bostrom, Thomas G:son, and Joy Deb has had a clubbier make over, ironically now sounding less Spanish than the Swedish version. I preferred the first version, but I can live with the new one.
Bugger only knows how this will fare. Spain has delivered some absolute belters at Eurovision to scant reward, so it’s perhaps sensible not to get my hopes up for this. It doesn’t quite feel like it’s a Chanel moment waiting to happen, though SloMo was undoubtedly enhanced by the live performance and here’s where Melody could bring her A-game. I’d so love to see this do well.
My marks: douze points!
Photo: Valero Rioja/EBU
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