He rose to fame as runner-up on the first season of Operación Triunfo and has gone on to sell over five million records around the world.

And now David Bisbal – who was a backing vocalist for Rosa Lopez at Eurovision 2002 – has offered his support to Spain’s Eurovision 2017 act Manel Navarro, who came last in the Grand Final with only five points.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper El PaísDavid spoke from the heart, saying: “In the face of criticism, keep fighting and working for your dreams.”

Indeed, despite a barrage of memes and attacks from the Spanish press, Bisbal suggests Manel should look at the positives of the situation.

“Eurovision is a boost for new artists, it’s a golden opportunity. Julio Iglesias was just starting out when he represented Spain,” he says. Igelsias went on to sell 350 million records worldwide after placing fourth in the Eurovision Song Contest 1970.

Bisbal isn’t totally immune to the negative effects a poor result at Eurovision can have on your career, but despite that remains upbeat about the contest.

“Almost all singers who have participated historically have sought the same opportunity the contest offers. It’s nice to start with that dream.”

Now as a fully fledged artist, however, Bisbal wouldn’t consider returning to the Eurovision stage, and making the jump from backing to lead vocal like Israel’s Imri Ziv.

Instead, he’s on the promo tour for his sixth album, Hijos del Mar, which topped the Spanish charts when it was released last year.

SPAIN AT EUROVISION 2018

After going off air in 2011, Operación Triunfo is set to return in 2018, with a new budget from TVE of €10.2 million. The move has fuelled suggestions from fans that the show will be used as the national selection for Eurovision 2018, hoping to achieve Spanish success based on an unknown talent, a model which worked well for Germany in 2010.

When the show was originally used as Spain’s national selection between 2002-2004, the nation placed in the top 10 three consecutive times. The nation’s only top 10 results since came courtesy of Pastora Soler in 2012 and Ruth Lorenzo in 2014.

GET MORE SPAIN NEWS HERE

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Efraim
Efraim
6 years ago

I think you’re on the wrong site

Music is the key
Music is the key
6 years ago

To be honest, some of the “internet fan bullying” of Manel, almost makes me embarrased to be an ESC-fan!

OK…maybe duious results in their NF. But in my oppinion, his song was WAY better than the “cheao schlager” “Concitgo”. And I doubt it would have done much better in ESC…..It’s not his faulth. He shouldn’t be blamed. And at least not get this chilidish and silly storm…..

I prefer Spain 2016 to cliched euroballads like “Quedate conmigo” anyday! This much more sounds likek a “real” pop song…not just something banal generic for ESC

Grete Paia
Grete Paia
6 years ago

HarpyDarper must have missed the Spain delegation saying they dont want to win ESC

Grete Paia
Grete Paia
6 years ago

Learn to sing Manuel

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Grete Paia

Honestly, it SOUNDED as if he were keeping it together during his Grand Final performance. It may have been just a bit shaky, compared to his preview performance in the semis; but I was ready to score him ahead of Germany, until his voice cracked at the bridge and he went off-key.

Richardinho
Richardinho
6 years ago

Is this what actually happened? Manel was walking along the cliff top thinking about throwing himself into the sea, when suddenly David Bisbal’s face appeared within a circle that suddenly opened up magically?

Justin K.
Justin K.
6 years ago

It’s funny that they had Objetivo Eurovision these past two years: it was almost a facade that RTVE were trying, but the songs that were internally selected weren’t the best of the selection shown to the public. I don’t think it comes down to the vocalist’s status as established or not, but whether or not the vocalist(s) and song are congruent and the song is actually good (shocking, right?). Having two radio presenters on the jury wasn’t the best idea since Eurovision is its own animal, and although the two (radio and Eurovision success) aren’t mutually exclusive, it’s hard to… Read more »

Efraim
Efraim
6 years ago
Reply to  Justin K.

Actually all three jury members were radio hosts: Javier Cárdenas has his morning show on Europa FM, Xavi Martínez is on the evenings on Los 40, and Virginia Díaz has a one-hour daily program on TVE’s Radio 3.

Justin K.
Justin K.
6 years ago
Reply to  Efraim

Ahh, well that explains that.

Mainstream can still work, but the caliber of it has to be so high that it might not be worth trying to find a “radio friendly” hit. It might be better to just work on a good song that may happen to be “radio friendly”, so I don’t know if three radio DJs were the way to go.

Hahahaha
Hahahaha
6 years ago

What is there to praise of him? That he sounds like a chicken being put in a blender?

Darth Thulhu
Darth Thulhu
6 years ago
Reply to  Hahahaha

Mostly, what there is to praise is:

1) He is not actively contributing to the ridiculous, pathetic drama of RTVE’s failures in its selection process

2) He isn’t slagging Mirela, nor fans of Mirela

3) He isn’t being a diva and aggressively trying to pretend that his vocal mis-step was actually wonderful

In other words, he’s acting Classy, and deserves praise for continuing to do so in the face of never-ending online drama. Good for him.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago
Reply to  Hahahaha

Its not easy to act oblivious despite being indulged in corruption….. His acting skills need praise.

Efraim
Efraim
6 years ago

Whatever the format of the Spanish selection is, I just hope we know it well in advance to ensure we can avoid another rushed-together, awfully-produced national final like the ones we’ve had in the last two years.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

I’ve been thinking…with this new voting system the probabilities of the 26th placed country be one of the Big 5 or the host are bigger if they send a weak song (such as Perfect Life, Do it for your Love and Time).
I guess the BBC noticed this and tried to avoid the worst to Lucy Jones. Never Give up on You would probably be at 23rd-24th without a very good staging.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

Semi-final 2 is a very good example of how the new system works in general.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

More like, a good example of how it DOESN’T work. With the old system, Switzerland would’ve qualified instead of Denmark, which would’ve been fair considering Denmark only got 5 televote points.

Justin K.
Justin K.
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

I’ll actually defend Lucie Jones and her song–she was probably the most Eurovision-ready in “You Decide”, and even with the simpler instrumentation still vocally brought the emotion necessary to the song. I don’t think she would have placed any lower than 20th regardless, especially seeing how disparities between the jury and the audience may not make a difference in the mid-table results (practically everything from 7th to 16th were lifted by either the jury or televote, but not both). Besides making the results portion more exciting, the new system adds an element of difficulty in becoming the winner: you don’t… Read more »

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Justin K.

I’m not sure about Lucy Jones. Czech Republic had a strong entry last year but finished very low. I don’t think UK would score “0 televoting points” but, despite being a good entry, ballads from Western Europe (usually) struggle a lot. I’m glad she made Top 15 though. About the new system, it’s more transparent. However, the effect of dragging a song down in the semi-finals was diminished. If a song have a strong televoting result (Croatia, Romania) or jury (Australia, Denmark, Austria), it will qualify. In the final, those songs will still collecting many points across Europe, and this… Read more »

Kris
Kris
6 years ago
Reply to  Justin K.

Belgium would have still been 4th in semi even with old system and 4th in final even with old system. Irrespective of method good songs will qualify.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Kris

Yes, but I’m talking about the last place and the Big5.

HarpyDarper
HarpyDarper
6 years ago

After the bad result now (and recent years, combined with Portugal’s victory, I reakon Spain are going to really push the boat out in upcoming years! Like Greece did after Turkey won

MollieLouise
MollieLouise
6 years ago

It would be great to see Spain back in the top 10 again, especially after the crimes of Edurne and Barei. Let’s hope that this works!