“Sex, money and intrigue are the backdrop to a murder at an exclusive private school – it’s exactly as soapy as that sounds, with enjoyably “OMG!” twists aplenty”: That’s how The Guardian synopsised Netflix’s hit Spanish-language series Elite. And if such a write-up hasn’t snatched your attention, then the latest addition to the show’s soundtrack just might.
Season two landed on the streaming platform earlier this month and episode six contained a tune that will be familiar to Euro-fans the world over — Eleni Foureira’s “Fuego”.
The Eurovision 2018 runner-up was a huge summer smash in Spain last year, and it appears that it was just as popular with the fictional characters in Elite.
Cyprus’ biggest song contest hit plays in a throbbing nightclub, and is introduced with the dialogue: “Gaydar my ass, this song is the authentic gay magnet. I’m off to scout out the talent again”.
Alas, when Eurovision and Spain come together, drama is rarely far behind. And sure enough, “Fuego” forms the backdrop to a tiff between one of the show’s most popular couples.
Eleni Foureira “Fuego” on Netflix’s Elite
Naturally, Eleni herself was thrilled to feature on the show. Taking to social media she wrote:
“When One of my favorite series of all time ELITE @netflix plays my song FUEGO on the 6th episode🤩 I have no words just screaming right now 🙏🏽”
When One of my favorite series of all time ELITE @netflix plays my song FUEGO on the 6th episode? I have no words just screaming right now ?? pic.twitter.com/b6keehUupK
— Eleni Foureira (@foureira_eleni) September 27, 2019
This isn’t the first instance of a Eurovision track popping up on a hit TV show. Duncan Laurence’s “Arcade” and Mahmood’s “Soldi” appeared on the British and German versions of Love Island respectively.
And on the silver screen, Verka Serduchka’s “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” played a pivotal role in Melissa McCarthy’s Spy. Another Ukrainian bop, Gaitanna’s “Be My Guest”, accompanied a BDSM scene in the Saoirse Ronan starring Byzantium.
It remains to be seen whether any real-world Eurovision entries are used in Netflix’s upcoming Eurovision movie.
Do you watch Elite? What was your reaction when “Fuego” played? Let us know below.
This shouldn’t suprise you. In Spain, Fuego had a strong radio airplay during the summer of 2018.
Danna Paola, who’s starring in this series, is also a singer and her songs are kinda similar to “Fuego”, they have this Latin pop feel. I learned about her through the telenovela she did “La Doña”. Anyway, it’s great to hear “Fuego” appeared there
Elite season 2 is so medicore and redundant…Dragging storyline.
Season 2 was much better!
Wasn’t Fuego also played on one of the clips on Victoria’s Secret’s Instagram? And this happened even before the actual contest and the hype around Fuego, when at that time everyone considered Fuego a cheap Despacito rip-off
There is nothing better for a hardcore Eurovision fan than to see something Eurovision-related in mainstream media. This is probably more so for Eurovision fans outside of Europe and Australia, because it is such a rare occurrence. Indeed, for most people living outside of the Eurovision-competing nations, these scarce opportunities where Eurovision-related content is broadcast results in peoples consciousness of the contest, and ultimately broadens the Eurovision fraternity. To highlight this point, I would just like to share with you how I, as a South African, came to know about the contest. So my earliest memory of Eurovision was in… Read more »
What is it, some Glee rip off?
Anyways, it’s an awesome song, so congratz
Couldn’t be more than the opposite of Glee!
Thx, it was solely based on their uniforms and using pop song. Sorry if I offended anyone.
Fuego is one of my fave songs of all time
You know something is succesfull when people still talk about it even after almost 2 years. Eleni is a eurovision legend
Salvador Sobral who?