All of Spain — and plenty of international Eurofans — watched them fall in love during Operacion Triunfo.
And now Alfred & Amaia are sharing their love story with the rest of the world in a series of candid video interviews published on the RTVE YouTube channel.
Replete with English subtitles, the videos tell their OT stories concisely and emotionally, helping lay the scene for what will be a touching performance on the Eurovision stage this May.
The videos aren’t merely about their romance. They also discuss their personal journeys — of building self-esteem, of experimenting with different musical genres, and on maintaining self-belief amid an intense competition.
Alfred — “I was a bit weird”
Alfred’s air of self-assurance wasn’t always there.
“I went into casting with my own style, a bit underground-jazzy,” he explains. “I was not expecting to be selected.” But his rendition of Salvador Sobral’s “Amar pelos dois” impressed the judges and he found himself moving steadily toward the live shows.
“I thought I was passing the phases because I was the odd one in — a bit weird playing the trombone. But I was not sure about making it to the final.”
But as we all know he did. Over the course of Operacion Triunfo he showed his versatility, tackling songs as diverse as Ray Charles’ “Georgia on My Mind” and Salvador’s winning Eurovision number.
“At the beginning I felt a bit like an outsider,” he admits, with footage showing him in a flood of tears. “Then I realised being emotional is not as bad as it’s said. I think the coaches were key in the progress I made. They gave me great self-confidence and I’ll keep it always. I opened myself to emotions.”
And yes — there is plenty of talk of his real-life love interest Amaia. He admits that their piano duet to “City of Stars” touched him in ways well beyond the music. Tickling the ivories next to Amaia he’s quoted as saying: “I fell in love while singing that song.”
“It was so beautiful. It’s one of my fondest memories.”
I’m absolutely thrilled to perform in the Eurovision contest. There is that amazing trip to Lisbon. We have to work hard together. I’m so happy to do it with her. In the end, love and music always win.”
Amaia
If there’s one word that springs to mind with Amaia, it’s evolution. Over the course of the show she blossomed from a timid girl with lots of potential to a self-assured woman who retained her sweetness.
The opening of the clip looks back at an earlier interview from the beginning of her time at the academy. She’s not sure she can cut it.
“I’ve imagined I could win indeed, although I think it’s very, very difficult,” she says. “The standard is really high. I don’t know…I’m not sure vocally.”
“I’m slowly grasping the outcome, as I still don’t believe it.” I’ve been absolutely determined to devote myself to music since I was a child. I’ve discovered new facets of me. I’ve performed songs in the show I never thought I was capable of.”
Naturally she discusses her cover of Florence & The Machine’s “Shake It Out”, which seemed to tip the balance in her favour and announced her arrival as a major contender for the OT crown.
“The week before performing ‘Shake it Out’ I was worried because I wasn’t sure of doing it well. But the coaches helped me a lot and I did it!”
Winning the Eurovision Gala was overwhelming — to the point she can’t recall details of what happened. “I don’t remember the moment I heard it was Alfred and I who were going to Eurovision…I don’t recall my reaction. I just remember a lot of confetti and Alfred bending down. It’s all very fuzzy in my mind, like blurred.”
She credits Alfred with making her time in the academy so special.
“Altogether it has been amazing. I’m so happy I met Alfred. Actually, nothing would have been the same without him.”
Are you loving how RTVE is showcasing their connection to the world? Do you think that they can challenge for the win in Lisbon? And what changes do you hope to see to their staging in Lisbon? Let us know in the comments box below.
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LEAVE SPAIN ALONE THANK YOU. We don’t care about your stupid entries, we don’t care about the position we are getting we know it will be low as always. But you are starting to be really disgusting. In Spain we love Alfred and Amaia as we also love the other 14 contestants of OT. Leave us alone with our artists, we don’t care about your stupid votes! Just don’t enter to our articles THANK YOU.
¡¡¡No soy tu juguete!!!! Si es así, es número uno en las apuestas.
I would love to understand why this entry gathers so much hate from some eurofans. Honestly, just out of curiosity: Is it because spanish fans are so passionate and annoy you? Is it because you hate the song and you feel like leaving a hate comment in every Almaia article? I understand the first point, some fellow spaniards annoy me as well, but it’s not Almaia’s fault, right? Second point: I don’t get this attitude, I dislike some entries such as San Marino or Hungary, but I just don’t read articles about these songs because I don’t care about them.… Read more »
AMEN
No, we aint religious here. soz
It’s because we all know this love thing is all fake made for the purpose of a talent show. This makes this song hideous and really cringy. It is even worse cause Spain is trying to copy last year’s Portugal with fake lovers and song from a talent show – not made by themselves, not born in their emotions, even though they’re trying to imitate them really hard. I’m sorry but you’re doing it wrong, Spain. :c
You can’t fake 24/7 while you are being recorded on camera. I find them too cheesy although I like their song, but you just talk like a hater. Spanish and last year’s Portuguese entries share nothing.
Such good self-taught actors then. 18 & 20 years old. How prominent they would be for such young age. Musicians, singers and actors. Da Vinci would look pedestrian next to them.
It’s a terrible song that will flop. Better accept it now or they’ll be disappointed soon. Next.
I don’t know about the rest but we spaniards accept it.
I mean we’ve been “highly trained” for flop positions in these last years (from 20th to 25th results)
We are more than ready to receive another european slap in the face.
Really is a pity that a lot of people only think of Spain as a place to sunbathe, lie on the beach next to its marvelous sea and drink beer at a cheap price. That’s all they want from Spain, for that, Viva España, which is well in Spain in summer, with its sun, its cheap hotels and its good people. When the holidays are over, everything changes and there is only hatred.Many people come on their days off to Spain because it is very cheap, and only to do what they dare to do in their country, but it… Read more »
I don’t think this is the reason, honestly. I believe it has to do more with jealousy about the fact that spanish eurofans are so passionate (and numerous) and invade comment sections in youtube videos and blogs like this. Of course for us spaniards, spain is going to win and slay and all,that’s part of the fun during the eurovision season (depression comes on sunday after the bad results in the final) but I am just asking all these negative people to let us enjoy our entry because this continuous bullying is really spoiling the joy of being an eurofan.… Read more »
Thank you
Well… Guess they lost expectations of winning after some underrated results in recent years (not last year, obviously). If they like the song and the performance, they will support their entry no matter the result is. After ESC they supported Barey, Pastora and Ruth no matter the result. They all became bigger!
To be fair, lots of spanish hate alfred, because he’s a separatist and has a bad voice and pronunciation
If I was part of the spanish team I would only use the accoustic version for the pre parties live. Amaia at the piano and Alfred with his guitar. Simple as that.
Save all the magic and all the impact of the definitive track for the semifinal and grand final day. Make the biggest possible impact when their staging comes to play.
They will not be in semifinal, but I agree with your idea! This song has potential for great staging.
They will. As every big 5 country + Portugal. An exhibition performance.
They look so cute together and song is beautiful, I hope that performance will be good, good luck Amaia&Alfred <3
I’m concerned about these two. RTVE is squeezing them to get until the last drop of publicity. It will get to the point that many people will start hating them just because they can’t stand listening about them anymore. I hope they both have strong minds and families that can keep their feet on the ground. That said, I guess Spain can have any faith on this Eurovision. They can get to the top or to the bottom. I just hope the producers are also thinking about how to stage the perfect performance and not just about hey can keep… Read more »
I dont care about their love story… the song is total bore
I don’t care care about they love story either. But their song is beautiful.
Amaia has a beautiful voice.
A matter of taste I guess.
No, its a matter of reality. it sucks.
There is a lot of publicity around Spain’s entry, for sure. But, the reason their entry might win Eurovision actually comes down to the melody and the harmony of the song. They can do whatever they want with each other in public or in private – it won’t change the impact of the song on the night. Best of luck to both of them.
Yep. The song is good enough to win if they stage it the way it deserves.
Everything around it makes this candidacy more meaningful and sure is collecting a bunch of addepts, but that’s it.
Spain is sending a very complete package to Eurovision this year.
I totally agree. It depends now in the staging. Hope they keep it simple and focuses on them
It’s a good telenovela the one these two are trying to sell us. 🙂
The first 24hrs-a-day recorded telenovela (soap opera) in history, huh?
BTW, telenovelas in Spain is something from the past (15 years ago or so) Mexico and Colombia are still doing them with TV rating success.
Flop of the year. Cheesy and fake
Flop or win… With Spain we never know because of the support from the televote.
But: a lot of people like love songs, specially if they have good quality and are somehow touchong. And in my ooinion this entry is one of those. It might have an emotional impact for many behing the screen and…. who knows… it will all depend on what we feel seeing them performing on stage.
Meh, I’m not buying what Spain are selling, to be honest. “OMG WE FELL IN LOVE ON THIS COMPETITIVE REALITY SHOW!!! SHIP HOW C00T WE ARE!! ^__^”
Showmances are notoriously fake and shortlived, why would this one be any different? Almaia’s success will depend entirely on whether the rest of Europe is in a shipping mood… which is pretty hard to predict before rehearsals.
I don’t think they are trying to “sell” their love story, but showing us how they have been feeling in their very short career. Rosa is what these videos talk about. In any case, this story is truely real, authentic and personal as a product and not “created” as a marketing product… as some others may be.
how do you know it’s not a product? thats it authetic? you cant know, you’re not them. only they know if it’s real. We will talk after 3 months.
In a world full of anger about gay rights, racism and discrimination I can actually see this no nonsense duet between a young straight couple in love do very well with the televoters. I am personally not a fan of it at all, but whenever I see it I can’t deny that the innocence of it all moves me.
Like Salvador said. Music is about emotion, not fire works…. This could be the dark horse.
All and all is not about wining.
Is about sharing music and spending a week all europe united.
Music is for all of us gay straigth man women old or young.
I listen to the songs often and all are good.
I totally agree. Music is about what the singers make us feel and not about fireworks. Let’s see what they make us feel perforning on the stage
This year wiwibloggs favorites are Spain and Finland.But both countries will be flop so hard in Eurovision. Spain will be from 21 to 26 in final, Finland from 14 to 18 in final,if she pass the hard semifinal.Spanish lovers look so unnatural and fake, many believe they will spit few week after Eurovision., and they decide to be.couple.to get better chance to win Eurovison nation final,. OT, Eurovision ,after.so spanish people belive in fake love.
I feel a of hate in your comentary.
I think you should respect wiwiblogs opinion and many of us that think that this world with the magic of love would not be the same.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE?
DO YOU BELIVE IN REAL LOVE?
TRIE 🙂
We had some love couples from first OT in Spain, when OT first time is method to Spain select singer for Eurovision. But they don t promote that during the show, they become couple after OT . And we know how that love end.
Love sometimes ends man. Sure you have dozens is cases around you. And this might as well one day. But I think they became a couple after one performance together and before talking about Eurovision and the songs. In fact, the author of the song wrote it specially for them after watching them falling. They and their story inspired him to compose this song…. this is at least what I’ve heard
GOD YOU’RE ANNOYING. It’s pretty clear you’re a spaniard pretending to be foreigner. Try hiding it better lmao.
And no, the author had the idea wayyy before he heard them.
So from your reasoning you may be spaniard too. You seem to know a thing or two about all this…
“The author had the idea wayyy before he heard them”
I don’t know if you’re another “Lo malo” obssessed This cheap party song will fade off after next summer as every other cheap one.
“Tu canción” will trascend its time as a true, beautiful human story, at least for spaniards.
I see them live and i think when they do the rehearsals can be posible to see Spain in the top 3 in the bets, they deserve to win this year, amazing, magic
Amazing song and amazing story <3
Hm, it’s interesting to read that Amaia evolved from a timid girl and Alfred entered the show as “the weird one”.
I haven’t followed the live shows, just saw them the first time in their winning performance. There was nothing timid left in Amaia and nothing “positively weird” in Alfred. Maybe if I followed those shows, I would buy into their hype, too, but without this knowledge, they seemed very polished, artificial and unnatural to me. That’s probably what casting shows do to young artists – robbing your authenticity and making a product out of you…
Those videos are the most perfect things EVER — as if I couldn’t love Alfred and Amaia (ESPECIALLY Amaia) MORE, these videos DO it…
They are so cute!
I like the new version a lot and I hope they have a nice staging prepared, focusing on them with no other weird elements. good Luck Allmaia! <3
You’re so welcome. I’m working on reserving the URL almaiabloggs.com….PS there are 45 articles between this one and our last Almaia post….
William – don’t feed the trolls
Maybe that’s because, unlike Chechia, where the winner was revealed with almost any fanfare, there WAS a televised national final in Spain. Just sayin’
We only need to see how they look each other to know how real their love is. They don’t need to win as they have won in our hearts. If only people could have seen them during three and a half months, they’d understand how happy Almaia have made us. As Alfred says, why do people think is bad showing love in public but they don’t mind show anger and fights. It’s weird, isn’t it?
Good point! Some need here a dose of love hehe