It’s been a dramatic week for Spain’s Operación Triunfo. First, OT 2017 alum Thalia fell victim to a social media hacker, then OT 2018 acting coach Itziar Castro was fired for failing to meet goals. But the show must go on, so let’s take a look at all that went down at Gala 6.
Every week there’s an elimination and this time it was Damion versus Marta. He performed Drake’s recent hit “God’s Plan”, turning the melodic rap into a song. Marta went retro with Michael Jackson’s 1989 single “Leave Me Alone”. Both contestants seemed to be equally liked, Damion had won an elimination before, but in the end it was Marta who won the audience vote and will stay another week. In the closest elimination vote yet, it went 59% to Marta, 41% to Damion.
The big performance of the evening came from Alba Reche. In her first solo performance, she tackled the emotional Mexican folk song “La Llorona” (The weeping woman). Alba conveyed strength and emotion and brought a modern edge to the performance while also respecting its tradition. After placing in the top three for the past four weeks, Alba finally topped the vote as the public’s favourite.
Meanwhile, Sabela had her make-or-break moment. There had been a growing feeling amongst viewers that Sabela wasn’t being given good songs, and finally the Academy listened and assigned Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain”. It’s a big song that required big vocals. While Sabela’s English pronunciation still needs work, she nailed the vocals, including the big money note. She was in the public’s top three and the jury declared her safe from elimination.
The other top-three act was Famous. Week after week, he’s been working away, not making the top but not making the bottom either. But this was his week. He performed “1, 2, 3” with María and again showed he is a skilful vocalist who can tackle pretty much any genre. Famous was also safe from elimination.
Then it came time for the jury’s decisions. As well as the above, Julia, Natalia and Carlos Right were also saved from elimination. This left their singing partners, María, Marilia, Noelia and Miki up for elimination. The professors of the Academy again saved Miki, while María was saved in a tense vote from the safe contestants.
This leaves Marilia and Noelia up for elimination next week.
In recent days, criticism has been levelled at the 2018 edition of Operación Triunfo, with observation that some contestants seem too focused on the fame and glory that they believe will await them outside the academy. But with the expected return of Los Javis as acting coaches, it seems the upcoming seventh gala has the potential to be a big improvement.
Operación Triunfo 2018 – Gala 6 performances
- Group performance – “Vivir así es morir de amor”
- Damion – “God’s Plan”
- Marta – “Leave Me Alone”
- Famous & María – “1, 2, 3”
- Sabela – “Set Fire to the Rain”
- Carlos Right & Marilia – “Lucky”
- Alba – “La Llorona”
- Julia & Noelia – “Tú y yo volvemos al amor”
- Miki & Natalia – “Shallow”
Who are your favourites from OT 2018?
We’re at the halfway point of the series, so let’s check in and see who the favourites are. You can vote for as many acts as you like, but you can only vote once — so vote carefully!
[polldaddy poll=10152963]From today, song submissions for the OT Eurovision gala are open. They will close on November 15 and the search for the “Tu canción” successor will begin.
What do you think of OT 2018 Gala 6? Who would you like to see represent Spain in Tel Aviv? Share your thoughts below!
So, this just happened: http://twitter.com/itszaek/status/1060289172601221120
The official OT Twitter account deleted the tweet after some users were able to read what was written on Brisa Fenoy’s (guest judge) page. Basically, Famous is this week’s favorite, Noelia is safe (if the public saves her). Natalia and Maria are safe, the rest can go either way (based on Tuesday’s rehearsals according to Tinet Rubira).
I love these articles, thank you Robyn! As an English speaker with a very limited amount of Spanish, I follow the rehearsal and Gala videos more than the conversations, drama and background events. Interesting to see many commenters both here and under YT videos calling out favouritism. Is there any other place where English speakers gather to discuss OT, can anyone tell me? 🙂
It’s ludicrous to see Noelia facing elimination this early, even if she isn’t reaching all her potential. I start to think that Alba’s problems go beyond enunciation and have something to do with the lack of proper breathing exercises. Though her performance was really passionate and she’s an interesting performer. At the moment I’m leaning towards Natalia. She always look great on the stage and deliver solid vocal performances. It doesn’t hurt that she seems to be very popular with both the audience and the producers.
Damion deserved to stay. He has a great talent, but the contest didn’t really make justice to it. Sure he will have a great career after the contest and I’m looking forward to hear some of his songs. He has already writen 30 songs while in there! About the contest itself, there are some clear favouritism and there is an obvious problem with some people voting because they take OT as a reality show, which it is, but music should be first. Carlos and Maria should have gone long time ago. Marilia isn’t that good neither. The hate towards Noelia… Read more »
The production and Universal Spain already chose the finalists before the show began: Natalia, Alba, Miki, Julia and Famous.
Cesar Sampson’s “Nobody But You” for Famous (favouritism), Sia’s Flames for Natalia (favouritism), “Voy en un coche” for María (100% sure nomination), no solo for Carlos (the Cepeda treatment) and another song in Spanish. Lots of hate towards Noelia, Carlos and María and guess what? None of them will be a finalist, just like Damion wasn’t going to be one either.
I have to disagree with you about Famous and favouritism. He had 2 songs that were not in his favour (Dejala que baile – we know that almost everytime when someone in OT sings reggaeton – is up for nomination 😀 ) and this one with Maria (it was clearly a choice made to nominate him, but he did well, and he was among the 3 favorites, and I think that is the reason why he got the chance of performing solo again. ) his video presentation last night was made with intention to present him as someone who doesn’t… Read more »
“it was clearly a choice made to nominate him, but he did well” No, they were aiming to nominate Maria and they did. “he is one of the people who work the most every day, he is not complaining about the songs, he is learning, he deserves to be where he is.” You’ve just described Maria. While Maria was rehearsing, Famous was playing hide and seek and it happened two days in a row. Famous is kinda lazy, and he’s one of my favorites. Carlos is the only remaining contestant without a solo performance and he is so getting nominated… Read more »
well I had a feeling it was made to nominate famous too, but well, I may be wrong 🙂
Guy plays hide and seek once (or twice xd) and suddenly he isn’t rehearsing enough 😀 90% of the time, when I watch the 24h, Famous is in a box rehearsing, or anywhere else, but well
Famous’ song this week is “Nobody But You” by Cesar Sampson, he loves that song and is a fan of Sampson. Jury member Joe Perez Orive said Famous is in his Top 3. The production is going to make him a finalist, just watch.
yes I know he is a fan, he even said that if he was nominated, he would sing that song. and I know Cesar sent him the video and everything. To me, this is a song well deserved. there are other examples of favouritism for another contestants, but I won’t mention them here 😀 and also… I would say it as Famous is going to make himself a finalist because of his work, dedication, and every song well delivered the night of the gala . and a lot more. but I don’t wanna write anymore about this. we will see… Read more »
Agree. In fact, I think Miki hasn’t fullfilled what was expected from him. I also think he tries to take advantage making social statesments every time he can. However, given he has a big fanbase, he will make it to the final. About Famous I have some doubts. He is one of my favs (probably my first since Damion is gone) and, I do think the producers want him in the final, but he has had two “hard” songs for him like “Déjala que baile” and “1,2,3”. On the other side he has had other gifts like “Take Me To… Read more »
Los Javis’ method:
1. Make the contestants cry
2. Make the contestants jump and dance
3. Make the contestants kiss each other (the shippers are going to love this).
Agoney was one of their victims. Los Javis tried to make him talk about his terminally ill mother just to see him cry.
Alba was on the verge of an anxiety attack during their masterclass in late September. They made Natalia cry today.
Joe Perez-Orive (one of the jury members) said in a recent interview that his Top 3 contestants are Julia (we been knew), Natalia and Famous. Miki is Manu Guix’s fave (last year it was Alfred). We already have our five finalists: Natalia, Alba, Miki, Julia and Famous. The winner is going to be either Natalia or Alba. If they decide to have duets for the Eurovision Gala, then Natalia and Alba are going to Tel Aviv in 2019.
I’m not sure, but I think this year the OT Eurovision final will be open to the 16 contestants. At least, they said that and the beginning.
Yes, they said that but we know they care more about the ratings than winning Eurovision.
oh, and something else. another nomination for two people who didn’t really deserve to be nominated. another video of presentation before their performances that doesn’t do them any justice. (I guess the trailers for a movie of Spielberg are for some contestants only 🙂 ). I am interested to see what will happen this week, with the songs and with the way videos of two of them will be presented, (on youtube and on the night of the gala). I hope people won’t allow themselves to be manipulated by some videos on youtube, or even moments in the daily resumes… Read more »
Noelia is not going to win, I would go as far as to say that she won’t be a finalist either. She’s nowhere near an audience favorite. The hate campaign against her is strong that a lot of people on Twitter are saying they’re voting for Marilia because Noelia is an arrogant, brat.
Marilia mentioned the video prior to her performance to Marta and María today, and how it made her look bad. She’s worried about that.
I am following what is going on in the academy and the programme on Twitter pretty much every day, but if I had to write everything, I would surely forget something. You summed everything up perfectly! I love reading your articles, can’t wait for the next one.
So only 3 guys left?
The producers want Miki and Famous in the final.