He’s in heaven but he’s not falling. Spain’s Blas Cantó has experienced a troubled year with the passing of both his grandmother and his father. In an interview with wiwibloggs, Blas notes how his Eurovision 2021 staging reflects those sad moments.
Blas sat down with our William shortly after his second rehearsal in Rotterdam. He explained the meaning behind the giant moon on stage and how during the performance of “Voy A Quedarme” he tries to feel as if he is in heaven, next to his grandmother.
Interview: Blas Cantó at Eurovision 2021
“I feel as if I were in heaven with her […] I promised her the moon, and here is her moon”, Blas explains. Note that in Spanish, this idiom means Blas promised that he would do everything for his grandmother, and not that he promised her something which can’t be done, as it’s interpreted in English.
“The performance is about my story. That’s why I’m all in black and I don’t wear anything else. It’s just me, my passion and me”, he says.
The staging is also meant to show his grief and what a horrible experience it was for him. “When [my grandmother] died, it was the worst moment of my life. I told my mother: there are moments when I think, ‘I’m going with her'”.
“Hey, little boy, you did it”
Eurovision has been a long-time dream for Blas. Ever since he came second behind María Isabel at the Junior Eurovision 2004 Spanish selection, he has tried to get to the contest.
To Blas, the stage is his “second home”. And once he saw himself on the Rotterdam stage, he spoke to his inner child: “Hey, little boy, you did it”.
The first run-throughs were more stressful for him: “I could feel the blood in my head”. However, now he finds himself much more at ease on stage. At Wednesday’s jury rehearsal for semi-final two, Blas was even cheering up the audience before his long note.
Eurovision is just another step in Blas Cantó’s career. He’s a regular on Spanish radios, and has participated in multiple television shows. “I’m working to have a career”, he insists, and that goes beyond his result on Saturday.
What did you make our interview with Blas Cantó? How do you think he’s going to do in the final? Do you connect with his feelings on stage? Let us know in the comment section below!
The final stagin is lovely, and he’s one of the most talented singers this year. His voice is on point and he performs very well (body language-wise). This makes me think: I’ve noticed many singers this year don’t really “sing” and rely heavily on backing vocals or pre-recorded vocals. Especially during the second semifinal, I thought something happened to the singers’ audios, as it seemed more like a lip-sync competition at times. Does anyone know if anything really happened? (no irony, real interest).
Too camp and too forced
Sending tons of love to Blas!
I like a lot this song but this narrative is too forced!! Clearly the song was not thought about his grandma (something that is clear if you speak spanish fluently) and he’s always repeating this in every interview. You can ask him about climate change and he’s gonna reply talking about how much he wants to dedicate the performance to his grandma
Agreed! The lyrics can’t be dedicated to a grandmother. It doesn’t make sense.
I speak Spanish and I would wholeheartedly have to disagree with you. The first verse is him telling his grandmother to stay even one second more, or he’d have to resort to seeing her as only a memory when she passes away. In the lead-in to the chorus he talks about bringing down the sky (the moon in the staging!) Then the second verse talks about their special love as family, even if others would give her anything she wanted. Although the chorus mentions kissing slowly, it makes sense if you realize his grandmother has passed and he doesn’t want… Read more »
Some people will never get it, Esc. Blas is one of a kind! I’m stoked! His album Complicado is a master piece!
Because he wants to stay away from politics and not make every ounce of his being about the toxic landscape of politics. Something that every artist should do. Instead of trying to divide people, bring people together as music is supposed to do. He has more common sense than you’ll ever have!