After taking a two-month break to observe Spain‘s coronvavirus lockdown regulations, the talent show Operación Triunfo 2020 has returned. While the show no longer has a live audience, it helped make up for it by featuring guest performances from two Spanish Eurovision stars, Miki Nuñez and Blas Cantó.
Miki is no stranger to OT. He competed on the 2018 edition of the show. And while he just missed out on making the top five who competed in the grand final, Miki returned to win the Eurovision gala and went on to represent Spain in Tel Aviv with “La venda”.
Miki performed his latest single, the upbeat “Me vale”, with OT 2020 finalist Hugo Cobo. They were accompanied by the OT dancers, all wearing face masks as a protective measure. The normal studio audience space was instead filled with sun umbrellas instead of a cheering crowd, but OT fans were represented on the back LED wall, showing a grid of supporters enjoying the performance at home.
The official music video for “Me vale” was recorded by Miki at home while on lockdown. The OT performance was Miki’s first live performance of the song — and one of the few new live music performances on Spanish television since lockdown restrictions have started to ease. Along with Hugo, he delivered more of his trademark charisma in the performance.
Spain’s Eurovision 2020 star Blas Cantó — who will also return to Eurovision 2021 — also sang with an OT finalist. His duet partner was Nía Correia, who is hotly tipped to win next Wednesday’s grand final.
Blas and Nía performed “Hoy tengo ganas de ti”, a classic 1976 single from the Spanish crooner Miguel Gallardo. The song tells of intense desire and longing between a separated couple. This time it was just the two singers alone on stage, with moody lighting helping capture the mood of the performance. They did seem to practise social distancing and never got too close to one another.
Blas showed his vocal talent — and demonstrated why he’s still a good pick for Spain to send to Eurovision. While Nía again delivered her rich, emotional vocals and proved she has more than earned her place in the OT grand final.
The grand final of OT 2020 will take place next Wednesday, 10 June. Competing for victory alongside Hugo and Nía at the final will be Anaju Calavia, Eva Barreiro and Flavio Fernández. While Operación Triunfo no longer has a formal association with Spain’s Eurovision selection, the grand finalists will informally be on the radar of the Spanish delegation and may even be considered for Eurovision in future years.
What do you think? Should Blas take an emotional ballad to Eurovision 2021? Or should he take a cue from Miki and go upbeat? Tell us your thoughts below!
Update – Final rankings:
Winner: Nía
Runner-up: Flavio
3rd: Eva
4th: Anaju
5th: Hugo
Maialen was screwed. As a Spaniard, I can assure in this country people care more about shipping than talent. That’s why “Tu canción”, the Disney copycat sung by Alfred and Amaia was voted for the ESC instead of Aitana and Ana Guerra’s “Lo malo” (which became one of the biggest hits in Spain during 2018).
Nia is the best !! I hope she ‘s winning OT next Wednesday’s grand final.
He definitelly needs to go with ballad, he’s not really BOP guy like Miki and midtempo songs like Universo are mostly failure on esc stage.
And it seems that ballad and him are perfect combination, he’s vocally great and I can feel emotions in his voice which is very important.
For example, Tom and Uku were also singing cute, emotional ballads but I felt nothing. Literally nothing, zero emotions.
Btw, Nia is great.
Nia is being hired by Must! Producciones, the agency that manages Blas Cantó and some other artists like Manel Navarro or Lola Indigo. I think there’s a chance she will go to ESC in one of the upcoming years.
Nia is also a good friend of Mirela, who unsuccessfully tried to represent Spain in the Contest in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2017. Both Nia and Mirela played Nala in Madrid’s version of The Lion King musical.
If she wins she would be signed by Universal Music Spain if I’m not mistaken
There’s no record deal prize for the winner this season.
Really? Interestingly, well I guess since OT seems to been promoting her in LATAM, they would try to sign her to an international label so that she can work there. Here in the US many Americans have been talking and doing reactions about her since her Run the World performance became viral.
I don’t really get OT, but then again, Im not Spanish
Only one or two of the contestants of each year are the ones who actually end up having a musical career. The rest are forgotten after, if they are lucky enough, becoming a one hit wonder.