Operación Triunfo — Spain’s talent show/reality show/Eurovision national selection — continued last night with Gala 1. Last week the 16 competing acts were decided and moved into the OT Academy. This week, they performed their first duets and faced the dreaded elimination nominations.

The show kicked off with the group performance. The sixteen tackled the self-empowerment anthem “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman. Look, we’re not going to say that most of the girls were better singers than most of the boys in this performance, but it felt that way at times. And after just one week, the audience favourites are becoming clear — listen to who gets the biggest cheers.

One of the most popular performances of the evening was also the first. Carlos Right — who had been in the bottom three last week and narrowly escaped missing out on entering the Academy — teamed up with Miki. The pair tackled the fun ’80s synthpop tune “El ataque de las chicas cocodrilo” (The attack of the crocodile girls). Los guapos oozed charm and charisma, and had plenty of bromantic chemistry.

Another big performance came from two of the biggest voices on the show. Alba Reche and Noelia paid tribute to the late, great Aretha Franklin with a version of her iconic song “Respect”. The pair delivered the female empowerment anthem with loads of attitude and energy and they established themselves as two contestants to keep an eye on.

The third stand-out performance of the evening came from Famous and Natalia. They delivered a slick performance of Portugal. The Man‘s recent hit “Feel It Still”. Natalia delivered her femme fatale style, while Famous showed that his seductively deep bass tones are to OT 2018 what Agoney’s thrilling treble was to OT 2017.

Noelia earned some “Respect” and was the audience favourite, which made her safe from elimination. The jury saved Famous, Natalia, Alba and Miki. The jury also saved Damion, Dave, Marilia, María, Marta, and Julia. Carlos Right was saved as well, proving that his near-elimination last week wasn’t about to repeat.

Less safe was África, who was saved from the bottom by the Academy staff. Joan Garrido was similarly saved by his fellow contestants’ votes. Joan had been singled out by the jury for not being up to the standard of his duet partner Julia.

That means that facing elimination next week will be Alfonso and Sabela. The pair had dueted on Luis Fonsi and Demi Lovato’s “Échame la Culpa”. It wasn’t a terrible performance, but the pair was lacking in chemistry and overall it didn’t measure up to most of the other acts.

Next week Alfonso and Sabela will give solo performances, face the public vote and one of them will be sent home. The remaining 14 acts will be paired up and again sing duets.

Until next Wednesday, here’s Dave from this week’s conversational English class. He likes eating pears.

What do you think? Who were your favourites from Gala 1? Who should Spain send to Eurovision 2019? Sound off below!

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sehi
sehi
5 years ago

could you maybe next time post all the youtube links to all of the performances ? thank you 🙂

FACTS
FACTS
5 years ago

Julia sings beautifully, no doubt. BUT they would probably give her a ballad…

FACTS
FACTS
5 years ago

Natalia is hot and has stage presence, but her voice does not stand out. Very average.. Famous would be great, he has it all.

FACTS
FACTS
5 years ago

Noelia or Alba would do well in Eurovision with the right song. Alba’s tone reminds me of Duffy/Amy winehouse.

Mika
Mika
5 years ago

Noelia has some great power in her voice. If she goes with a high-power song to Eurovision I am pretty certain she could end up top 10. Staging has to be decent as well, but I’m sure her voice will impress a lot of people.

I am shock
I am shock
5 years ago

Wooooow it my first time i watch it and my top duet is
1. Joan Garddio y Julia
2 Noella y Alba Reche
3 Famous y Natalia
4 Damion y Africa
5 Marta y Maria
6 Carlos y Miki
7 Alfonso y Sabela
8 Dave y Marila

zzxxz
zzxxz
5 years ago

Noelia is my favorite! Noelia for Eurovision!!

Just a simpleton
Just a simpleton
5 years ago

I agree with the judges, that famous(possibly famous and natalia) should go to eurovision with a soul song. I know that austria did that last year, but i think that it would pay of for spain to do something they have never done before.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

100%. A soul duet would be amazing.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Maybe rather than a slower song like Austria’s it could be something upbeat, like an Aloe Blacc or Paloma Faith

FACTS
FACTS
5 years ago

Uh, no. Noelia and Famous should. Natalia’s voice is super average, especially if you hear her other covers.

David
David
5 years ago

Africa 4
Alba Reche 8
Alfonso 5
Carlos Right 6
Damion 6
Dave 7
Famous 9
Joan 3
Julia 7
Maria 6
Marilia 8
Marta 6
Micky 7
Natalia 9
Noelia 8
Sabela 3

Mrj
Mrj
5 years ago

Let’s send Noelia to ESC, PLEASE :”D

Sabrina
Sabrina
5 years ago

Noelia keeps impressing me. She has LOTS of potential. I like Alba too, but her enunciation bothers me a little bit. Famous has a great deep voice and already showed some improvement, he’s my second favorite at the moment. Miki is a solid perfomer, but I don’t think this song helped him to showcase what he can do. Marta did a better job last week, but I still think she’s one of the best of the bunch. So far, those are my top 5. But Natalia definitely got under my radar with this performance.

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago

My list of favourites might be a Little biased, because I’m just so in love with Miki and Carlos, but okay. Here are my favourites: Miki, Dave, Natalia, Alba, Carlos, Noelia, Famous and Julia. I also think that the six finalists will be among the names I’ve jusst listed. Noelia, Natalia or Miki will win the selection somehow, mark my words!

Héctor
Héctor
5 years ago

This year most of them have something I like (not you Marilia). My fav would be Damion, I think, but I also like Famous, Alba or Natalia. I know we are still in the beggining of the edition, but the five finalists are rather clear. My bet in random order: Famous, Noelia, Alba, Natalia and Miki and, maybe Julia, switching for one of the others.

Vanuatu
Vanuatu
5 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

Julia is so overrated imo. What people claim as “sweet”, it is “boring” and “uncharismatic” to me. 😛

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago

AAAAALLLLLBBBBBAAAAA 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

Dave
Dave
5 years ago

Marta and Maria did a way better performance then Miki and Carlos, tbh

Vanuatu
Vanuatu
5 years ago

Noelia, Alba, Miki, Carlos, Famous & Natalia were the stand outs for me this week. I also liked Marta & Maria. Between Alfonso or Sabela, I guess i prefer Sabela, she looks great on camera. But the winner is not among those 2 so at the end of the day, it doesnt matter who will leave first.