Felicitaciones! Spain — the land of a million eurodramas — lived up to its reputation on Saturday evening, staging the intense, nail-biting finish of Objetivo Eurovisión 2017. It’s been a long journey from the early days of the Eurocasting, but we now know that Manel Navarro will sing “Do It For Your Lover” in Kyiv.
But the result was far from simple. The jury ultimately had to split a tie between Manel and poll favourite Mirela — creating amazing television that left us on the edge of our seats.
A 50% televote, 50% jury split comprised the result. The jury members — Virginia Diaz, Javier Cardenas and Xavi Martinez — are all directors and hosts from Spanish TV and radio.
Manel won with the jury convincingly, finishing nine points ahead of his nearest competitor Mario Jefferson, and 12 points clear of Mirela, who came third with the juries. Mirela, however, won the televote whilst Manel managed only third, meaning the result was tied at 58 points each.
Unlike in 2014, when the televote broke the tie between Brequette and Ruth Lorenzo, this year the rules called on the juries to do so. The look on Mirela’s face suggested that she knew she was dead. It was like she was just waiting for her execution.
$H*T!!! The moment @MirelaCofficial realises it’s a tie and the jury gets to decide. pic.twitter.com/fo4UGqx81Y
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) February 11, 2017
To break the deadlock the jury then had to vote again. The studio audience was definitely #TeamMirela, cheering her name with true Latin passion.
Xavi voted for Manel, whilst Javier voted for Mirela. The final vote came down to Virginia, who remained with her original 12 point artist, Manel.
As the audience booed and hissed (a recurring theme throughout the voting segment), Virginia apologised to Mirela. It was high drama.
And while we totally understand fans’ passion for Mirela, it seemed decidedly unfair to spoil Manel’s victory by not getting behind him and cheering after he had won. After all: He is singing for Spain at Eurovision.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhuRRSylN-E
Objetivo Eurovision — Combined Results
Objetivo Eurovision — Jury Results
Objetivo Eurovision Running Order
- Manel Navarro — “Do It For Your Lover”
- Leklein — “Ouch!”
- Paula Rojo — “Lo que nunca fue”
- Mario Jefferson — “Spin My Head”
- Maika — “Momento critico”
- Mirela — “Contigo”
Tonight’s show also saw performances from previous Spanish Eurovision acts. Karina performed her 1971 entry, “En un mundo nuevo”, and David Civera reprised “Dile que la quiero” from 2001. The final returning act on stage was Barei, who reprised her 2016 entry “Say Yay!”We also saw an acted-dancing performance medley of a number of other Spanish Eurovision songs, including “Quedate conmigo”, “Eres Tu” and “La La La”. The memories were just flooding back, y’all!
So, what do you think of Spain’s decision? Will Manel bring Spain back to the top ten in Kyiv, or should the Spaniards have gone with Mirela? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
I LOVE YOU Manel! Wellcome to the ESC Party!
@Maria Teresa – You said “Manel already apologized. He didn’t behave properly, but he did it because people were insulting him, and treating him so badly”. I guess then you’ll understand when he “take a pee” or something similar on the audience in eurovision, cause the same reject, or even worst, will be expected. Remember that on the show only 90 people where there. So as much, he recieved the insults of 90 people. But he already have 3k dislikes on his youtube video (and thanks it was uploaded again, cause he had over 7k dislikes by then). He is… Read more »
Manel already apologized. He didn’t behave properly, but he did it because people were insulting him, and treating him so badly. You are so very weird asking other countries not to vote for Spain’s entry. Mirela’s song was bad, and Manel’s song is also weak, we’ll flop anyway, but have some respect, guys. Besides they already knew the rules, the jury was going to decide in case of a tied vote.
Register your complaint on https://www.facebook.com/ebueurope
STOP CORRUPTION!!
Which version will he sing at Eurovision? The spanish version is so much better in my own opinion. I do hope he sings this version on the big stage in Kiev.
News about the corruption of Toñi Prieto and her daughter:
http://bluper.elespanol.com/noticias/conflicto-intereses-tve-eurovision-vinculacion-toni-prieto-sony-music-espana
More evidences that Xavi Martínez knew one month in advance (!) that the winner of Objetivo Eurovisión would be his mate Manel Navarro. Here is an outrageous private conversation with Xavi, offered by one of the eliminated candidates in the Spanish Eurocasting: ?oh=67f80ee2f5c32516032d67d7a8a8a097&oe=58FDAF0E Shameful that the daughter (Laura Fernández) of the Spanish head of the delegation (Antonia “Toñi” Prieto) is working in Sony Music and is part of the Manel’s record label promoting team!! EBU-UER can NOT allow this humiliating FRAUD!! It’s not only a matter of injustice against Mirela, it’s OUR MONEY which has been STOLEN by these corrupt… Read more »
In last hours another fact have seen the light: Laura Fernández, the daughter of the spanish head of the delegation (Antonia Prieto), works in Sony Music and is part of the Manel’s record label promoting team.
What we all saw on the live show was an scandal, but thats is becuase IT IS an scandal. Any time press is digging deeper, more corruption is being noticed.
It is pretty enjoyable, it reminds me of Bruno Mars’ ‘Lazy Song’ a little. In my opinion it is clearly a better choice than Mirela and I wouldn’t be shocked if this would place better than last’s years ‘greatest’ ‘Amanecer’ and ‘Say Yay’.
[…] they rated Mirela the *lowest […]
Luis Fuster is not allowing us to comment telling the truth about what has happened. We all know that Luis is Catalonian and Manel was his favourite contestant, but it’s NOT fair that he manipulates the truth and write lies to protect him on this post: http://wiwibloggs.com/2017/02/13/absurd-circus-manel-navarros-objetivo-eurovision-win-sends-spain-eurodrama-meltdown/173654 Mirela ranked 1st by televote from thousand of Spanish viewers (SHE WAS OUR TRUE WINNER). Manel only ranked the 3rd position, but his friends (two members in the jury, from Sony and Los 40) rated him the highest… and suspiciously they rated Mirela the slowest (!), showing it was a FRAUD, a big… Read more »
200+ comments in this thread.
That might be a Wiwibloggs record!
Oh my God! This is so trashy. Total crap. Mirela was real good. Best of luck SPAIN
I really didn’t like any of the songs, so no sweat from me. But I am concerned that the jury might not have been impartial. That one or two might have had a vested interest either economic or personal in the outcome. Now, that needs to be clarified. The performers show all have been given an equal shot at winning based on the merits of their song and performance. TVE que dices? Fraude o no?
I think in this situation spanish fans should speak with EBU and show that RTVE lost you transparency.
or
RTVE wake up a ritght time and disqulialified Jury-Votes and Manel … sorry Manel
Please, don’t vote for Spain this year.
Mirela was the real winner and RTVE has cheated on us and played with our enthusiasm
Manel said F*uck you to the audience, and we tell him F*ck YOU Manel!!
#Pheonix the problem is that rules say that no jury member can have relation with any of the singers and one of them is deeply involved with Manel’s carrier. Also RTVE only announced the members jury names one day before the final.
That is what has no explanation, RTVE has to rectify because it is clearly TONGO.
‘And while we totally understand fans’ passion for Mirela, it seemed decidedly unfair to spoil Manel’s victory by not getting behind him and cheering after he had won. After all: He is singing for Spain at Eurovision’… It’s the kind of blind, passive acceptance of such a blatantly rigged jury result which is a highly misguided tolerance of corruption. If you accept such corruption, under the dubious notion that you should respect the result and the ‘winner’, it is complicit and no better than the shameful behaviour which brought about this result, which any self respecting Eurofan should never accept,… Read more »
btw I object people talking about gays. there are straight eurovision fans too!
if you start pointing at the eurofans, please don’ t misbehave yourselves too.
Talk about songs artists and jurors you like or dislike, selection methods, personal taste, but don’t lower yourself to the disgraceful behaviour like the spanish tv-audience.
I can’t help the feeling, this was merely an internal selection with the other 5 artists just being fillup for a ‘ show’ .
@MS: if this is true, is not nice for sure, but still nothing illegal. Maybe the other singers should have complained and ask for a jury change, or even withdraw. Now seems like too late.
My question is: what do eurofans want now? Disqualify Manel and send Mirela to Kiev or to repeat the voting with a new jury (that could maybe select Manel again). I am being curious, not ironic
I think the fact that the two jurors who voted for Manel work with him speaks volumes, not to mention the fact that RTVE changed the rules from past contests to allow the jurors to hold sway despite working in their favour in past years with Ruth Lorenzo at Eurovision. This entire affairs smacks of corruption.
I think, it is a break from what Spain used to present in ESC these past few years. Maybe they thought that by changing the formula, Spain will have a better standing in the competition… But meh, they’re standing for a worse ranking.
@erin it’s ok, it would have been better if RTVE had chosen song and singer internally than making people waste their money and time in a rigged selection.
I think you guys are overreacting a little bit too much with this. I don’t see anything wrong with this selection. The judges voted, so the public did. there was a tie and tve announced already that the jury would be making the tie break. it’s their show, their rules… france picked the song without televoting, so did Russia last year and many other countries. Mirela,maika and the rest of the singers did a good job, they should be proud. they were watched on national television and in europe, which I think is great for their careers.and at the end… Read more »
@erin and Mario’s song is more radio-friendly than Mirela/Leklein??wow u should be awarded the Lebon(opposite of Nobel) prize in music and logic.
Ebu should cancel Spain’s participation this year.they shouldn’t stand for corruption
Definitely it wasn’t my favourite song, but I would have accepted it in Eurovision if it had been fairly chosen, as I did with other Spanish songs I didn’t like in the last decade. I knew we would end up in the bottom again no matter the song we chose, but I hated the corruption and bias of the jury and that’s why I don’t support Manel.
@Vanuatu: and what should have the jury voted in your opinon? they liked Manel, so they voted for him. I would have probably voted the same way. And the both who placed Mirela last, maybe they did it strategically, or maybe they really didn’t like it, specially working for radio stations (if I am not wrong), they’d prefer something more radiofriendly, and Mirela’s song sounds dated, nothing you can hear at a radio station nowdays. And in the second round they voted like they did in the first round, it would have been weird if they had changed their votes… Read more »
@erin – The hate is not about him and/or his song. Is about TVE and a rigged process.
This winner will take public fonds from a rigged competition, to promote himself on Europe and to 200 million viewers using eurovision.
If you love eurovision, and have at least a little sympathy for Spain, please show TVE in May you all know this and you dont like or support rigged selectionts.
Actually I think Spain has better changes than last year. This song sounds new and refreshing, and will be different from the others. I don’t get all the hate, it ‘s a nice radiofriendly song and Manel looks cute
Reading your comments, guys, i see some people is not understanding what happened. They think people is mad cause Mirela didnt win, like if they were childs or brainless people.. But the real issue is that whole thing is that Manel didnt just win to Mirela. He won to ALL the artists, in an UNFAIR WAY. Thats the real thing and why people screamed, and families of the other artist jelled and booed last night. Let me explain you why i say it was rigged, with details so you can understand better: 1st of all, let me add that My… Read more »
Here is my top 10 so far: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAdNNL5ISqA
I just come here to say the show had a share of 9%, so the famous televote who gave the win to Mirela doesn’t really represent Spain as the audience where integrated mostly by eurofans. We know how the majority of those Spanish eurofans vote, to divas and dated songs… so even if the jury were rigged (something which would be the fault of TVE a not of Manel) the televote is biased. By the way, it’s ridiculous and pathetic how the angry Spanish eurofans are demandind the last place for Spain. I know you are pissed of, but grow… Read more »
It still wouldn’t be a fair selection process for everyone who took part in Objetivo.
If the results were rigged or not, the whole Europe should thank the spanish jury for saving us from baila-la-la-la.
I wonder if the EBU is going to step in to conduct an independent inquiry into what’s turning out to be a possible rigging of the results courtesy of the jurors.
Such a shame.
Just my thoughts on this: 1. Man, it went from 0 to 100 really fast. The crowd were up in arms over the final result. Goes to show that the televotes sometimes do matter at Eurovision and this year will be no different. 2. After listening and watching to both Manel and Mirela’s performances, it’s safe to say Mirela did have a better performance. It feels hot in there while watching her performance. So hot that it feels summer came way too early. (don’t judge me, Singapore is hot and wet all year round…) 3. I feel bad for Spain.… Read more »
Dear Eurofans, you are MISSING THE POINT of people’s dissatisfaction with Manel’s win. It’s not the issue wether *we prefer* Contigo or Do it for your lover (In fact, I find both songs kind of catchy and generic). The problem is that Manel and two jury members were possibly in cahoots and possibly STAGED THE WIN! I get one can prefer Manel to Mirela, but giving Mirela *the lowest* scores (and LeKlein as well), while giving more to atrocious entry of Mario Jefferson was not coincidental! I actually feel sorry for poor Mario. He was probably happy when he was… Read more »
Xaxa ? Look Spain didn’t win him gender shouldn’t come in to it, I don’t like many entires but a fair contest is what I like and this wasn’t fair I’m sorry but he souls withdraw out of respect! He’s not gonna do a Poland 2016 ! His song is the generic i wanna be different but it’s totally not I heard it so many times this year. Spain needs to wake up and listen to people who support them every year ! Disgusting it was a clear rig from the jury ! Need to do a Belarus 2012 !
So, a bullet point summary:
– That National Performance ESC YouTube video has 2,000+ dislikes v. 1,000+ likes.
– There is a “change.org” petition set up to get RTVE to change the result.
– “Tongo” was a ferengi form of gambling in the TV show ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.’ Any other use of the word is… questionable.
– This comment thread has 170 comments in 12 hours. WTF?!! 😀
Polegend Godgarina: I think it’s more about how it was selected that people hated than the actual song. One of the jurors knew Manel so that puts into question the jury’s over-all credibility as Xavi Martinez may have already predetermined Manel as his preferred choice before the show’s start, among whatever is now surfacing on social media.
After all, we all don’t want a national selection to be rigged, right?
it’s not like the other songs were any better. They were all bottom 5 material!
It’s a quirky little guitar number that wouldn’t be out of place on a street corner. As for what ‘it’ is that should be done for your lover – not quite sure. He’s a good looking young guy and sings it well.
It’s very, very forgettable and the only thing people will remember him for is his long hair and boyish good looks. The song won’t carry him very far from the bottom of the leader board.
Here’s your daily reminder that you can hate all you want, but Manel is attractive, talented, and with a great song, and he will prove all of you wrong in Kiev. Besitos! 😀
In Spain we call this “tongo”
I will be happy if he comes last because the results are corrupted. NEVER a jury had more impact in a 50-50 system and the fact that a member of the jury had a tweet saying that he would help manuel to win screams scandal.
Omg be quiet with this queen drama. Jury saved this year Eurovision. We have cool summer song by talented young male singer. Why we should listen next female with mediocre pop, when it sends 50% of all countries? You are angry with every national final, where doesnt win a girl with pop. Your limited taste destructs Eurovision. Spain tried to choose something different and we (normal people) are happy. We really dont want cheap telenovelas song like Mirelas song. Who would vote for it? Manel has a huge potential. Spanish Bruno Mars! He will be in Top 15.
LOL This is outrageous! I’ve just watched it. Mirela was so robbed. TVE is corrupted to their teeth.
Apart from ‘Ouch’, I’d not listened to any of the studio versions. I can see why the jury broke for this one over Marela’s early 2000s fluff (I believe it’s called choosing between a rock and a hard place), at least this sounds like it was written in the last 3 years, but the chorus is just so BLAND AND BORING! At least half the song is the meaningless “do it for you lover” line, no variation, no word play, no lyrical artistry. There’s time and opportunity to work with another songwriter and boost the chorus, but let’s face it,… Read more »