Given that Spain’s wildcard selection has been going on for months, you may have forgotten that the Eurocasting final is just one week away. But take note: Things are really heating up!
On Wednesday Spanish broadcaster RTVE announced that Eurocasting finalist Fruela has decided to revamp his song “Live It Up”, adding Spanish lyrics to the number, which was originally 100% in English. Please pause and join us in screaming, saying yay, etc.
You can listen to the Fruela’s revamped “Live It Up” here.
The move comes after a heated debate among Eurofans and a petition for him to make the change.
While the production and the rhythm of the song remain the same, he’s revamped all of the lyrics apart from the chorus, which he’s keeping in English “so Europe can understand the meaning.”
Fruela told RTVE:
From the beginning, I recorded “Live It Up” in both languages: English and Spanish. We decided to send the English version to Eurocasting because this was supposed to be my new single. But after reading some fan comments asking me to sing in Spanish in the contest, we stood up for this new version.
Although the verses of the song are now in Spanish, the meaning of the song remains the same.
It’s a song in which I talk about how even in the darkest and most negative moments of life, there’s always some light. It’s a song that describes everything I’ve fought for in my life until this very moment.
For this version he joined forces with Ander Pérez Nemowave and Amaya Martínez, who together are the songwriting duo Andermay. They’re Eurovision veterans who were also behind “Dime” (Spain’s 2003 Eurovision entry). Fruela hopes they will manage to get him to Eurovision, too.
LIVE IT UP LYRICS — FRUELA
Intentar, no llegar
Resistir, continuar
Una vez más
Todo va a cambiar
No hay ayer, solo es hoy
Decidí ser quien soy
Sin avisar
Sin guardar mi voz
Batallas que ganar
Soñando viviré
No voy a renunciar
Nada nos para
Nada nos para
Just live it up (x4)
Nada nos para
Sé que al fin despertaré
El dolor, ya se fue
Se acabó sigo en pie
Repetiré una y otra vez
No hay dolor, no hay porqués
Lo viví como fue
Me convirtió
En lo que ahora ves
Batallas que ganar
Soñando viviré
No voy a renunciar
Nada nos para
Nada nos para
Just live it up (x4)
Sé que al fin despertaré
Sé que al fin olvidaré
Intentar, no llegar
Resistir, continuar
Un poco más
Todo va a cambiar
EURODRAMA
¡Dios mío!
Not everyone is happy with the news. Fruela’s decision to change his song has sparked another round of drama.
Among those crying foul is Nicky Triphook, who managed to make the Eurocasting Top 10 with his song “Daddy’s Little Girl”. In fact, he finished fourth along with Brequette in the jury voting.
He’s understandably peeved that a song that wasn’t voted for by the jury (Eurocasting 10) and televoters (Eurocasting 30) will be allowed to participate in the final.
And he’s reached out to RTVE asking them to explain…
A mí me gustaría que se pronunciara el jurado @guillemilkyway @jenesaispop . Vosotros no votasteis esta canción. No entiendo
— Nicky Triphook (@NickyTriphook) January 4, 2017
Nicky: I would like the professional Jury to speak up. You didn’t vote for that song. I don’t get it.
He received an answer from one of the jury members, who works on the Jenesaispop website.
Nosotros no hemos votado en base a los idiomas en esta ocasión.
— jenesaispop (@jenesaispop) January 4, 2017
Jenesaispop: We didn’t vote based on the language on this occasion.
Spanish fans are also reacting to the announcement, with many of them pointing out that this is not the song they voted for. They’re saying it’s unfair, especially given that seven other artists were sent home during the jury vote, including fan wank and long-standing fan favourite Brequette.
Reactions came from everyone, including Fruela himself. His message? Stop the drama! Start the music!
Espero q nadie se sienta defraudado, la intención es q todo el mundo se sienta identificado con el tema. Disfrutemos de la musica ??
— FRUEL? (@kingfruela) January 4, 2017
Fruela: I hope no one feels disappointed. The intention is that everyone can identify with my song. Let’s enjoy the music.
So, what do you think? Do you prefer the new version of Fruela’s “Live it Up”? Is the Spanish broadcaster being unfair by letting Fruela revamp his song with the Eurocasting final in just one week? Let us know in the comments section below!
First: I love the Spanish language, though I don’t speak Spanish. I am in favour of singing in the native language, but I don’t reject English. Sometimes English is bette as it is a universal language, most people speak English and it is better if you want to deliever the message of the song to as many as possible.
As for the song, personally I like the revamp more than the fisrt one. Love the Spanish part! My problem is with the chorus. Actually I had this problem from the beginning. For some reason, I don’t like it that much.
It was far better in English. Sorry! Now my favourite is LeKlein!
I love it – we always see songs being changed from their native language to English, now it’s the other way around.
He’s definitely my favorite now.
@mad-professor
Complaining – yes. But not questioning the legitimacy of the choice of the song after the language change. That was my point.
If people – as some actually do – just say, that they preferred the english version that’s ok, but to say things as “this is a violation of the voting procedure” is one step further. And a unjustified one, imo.
Jurists are judging the music, not the language. Discuss. 🙂
He turned it in Spanish to please the Spanish viewers. Once he (if he) wins, he’ll probably turn it back to full English to give a “universal” message.
Blehh.
@TJ
Everyone complains about Albania going from an Albanian song to an English one, every year. It’s the highlight of the Eurovision season.
Tempest in a teapot. It’s about the music, not the language. Peace.
He really went from the top to the bottom with the new spanish lyrics. 12 points from Sweden will now instead be 3-7.???????????? It feels the same like if Euphoria would have been mixed with Swiss “Exodus”. Why do you do a disaster of a modern masterpiece?
Hm, this doesn’t really work. I would have gone the Enrique Iglesias way: a Spanish language chorus (just a few Spanish words that everyone knows, bailamos, te quiero, amor) and English language verses.
But it’s still better than No Enemy, I don’t know why the Eurofans are so obsessed with that one… the mere fact that she has some Eurovision experience doesn’t make it a good song.
TJ is absolutely right.
I voted the song in English and now I don´t like it. Do they cancel my vote and go back in the process? Changing the song after the vote is a fraud
Nicky Triphook is right. I voted for Fruela with “Live it up” in English . What would have happened if he entered the competition with the Spanish version ? Of course, we never know. But this is just not right and I understand Nicky’s complain.
Brequette a Fan Wank? lol NO enemy was the only good song their!
Great decision. Last year proved that giving in to the pressire for english lyrics did not help Spain.
It’s funny that you’ll NEVER EVER hear an argument like “What? They changed the lyrics into english? That’s not the song that jury/televoters voted for in the NF’ Unfair!” In the many cases every year that that happens (Iceland, Albania, Macedonia just to name a few of the recent ones.) But once it happens the other way round – DRAMA! Clearly, this is not logical!
Having some lyric in Spanish is pointless. Have it all in English!
How do they know in which position did Nicki and Brequette finished?
I have started to use “fan wank” in so many contexts aside from Eurovision! It drives my b/f nuts~
fan wank? more like only decent song in the wildcard voting
Not liking the rhyme in Spanish…….sorry!!
If the arrangement had changed or the song had a complete overhaul, I’d understand. But a language change is minor in this game.
The lyrics couldn’t be more meaningless.
looooooooooool @ fan wank
Looove the song and in spanish sounds also great!
Well, technically, Eurovision rules state that performers can sing their song in any language they like so this shouldn’t be an issue in this case if the quality of the song is not compromised.