On Wednesday, Spain will kick off with the semi-finals of its new national final Benidorm Fest 2022. Thirteen artists will head to sunny Benidorm where they will compete to be Spain’s act for Eurovision 2022. But who should get that ticket to Turin? The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — has listened to all the competing songs and ranked and reviewed our favourites. Read on to see what we think!
Benidorm Fest 2022: The Wiwi Jury’s Top 14 Ranking
Note: Luna Ki has withdrawn from the contest, however the Wiwi Jury has still included “Voy a morir” in the rankings.
14. Gonzalo Hermida – “Quién lo diría” (7 points)
13. Sara Deop – “Make You Say” (12 points)
12. Xeinn – “Eco” (13 points)
11. Unique – “Mejores” (13 points)
10. Varry Brava – “Raffaella” (15 points) (🥈 – Luis)
9. Marta Sango – “Sigues en mi mente” (18 points)
Luis: “Sigues en mi mente” is a beautiful throwback to the eighties, and a song that falls so easy on the ears. While it may not be the strongest in Spain’s field, it’s actually a very nice addition to Benidorm Fest. The song progresses until it explodes in a musical climax in which I can only see confetti falling from the floor and disco balls all around. Funny and uncomplicated, Marta Sango provides a cute pop entry suitable for any 80s Eurovision party. Fyr og Flamme’s fate at Eurovision last year, however, is to be acknowledged. Should Spain select Marta, they’ll need to make sure the stage explodes into a party.
8. Azúcar Moreno – “Postureo” (20 points)
Pablo: What most surprises me about this song is that, production-technology gap aside, “Postureo” is perfectly interchangeable with Azúcar Moreno’s Eurovision 1990 entry “Bandido”. The flavour Azúcar Moreno is unmistakably their signature and for what could be shrugged off as the “vintage quota” ends up a really enjoyable entry with strong Spanish identity and an addictive hook. It isn’t my preferred one to send, but I’m more than glad it’s in Benidorm, busting the myth of the “older act” being dull filler.
7. Blanca Paloma – “Secreto de agua” (21 points)
🥈 – Lauren
🥉 – Natalie
Natalie: This song is enchanting from start to finish. Its production is minimal but still wide-ranging and definitely enough to fill anyone’s soul. Blanca Paloma’s voice is a non-stop force of emotion from start to where it fades out into the snares at the end. The only issue I have is while I enjoy these kinds of spiritual ballads, it does end up becoming a bit repetitive towards the end and I wish they would pick it up a bit more as it goes along. Still, I’m sure with enough presentation, this song will soar on stage.
6. Chanel – “SloMo” (32 points)
🥉 – Pablo
Robyn: I’ve always felt that there should be more than enough space in a Spanish national final for this type of music. Sure, dembow music has its origins in the Caribbean, but Chanel brings some trans-Atlantic flavour. While the lyrics maybe bilingual, that isn’t such a huge factor — this is a song to dance to, not to poetically analyse (though I am loving how Chanel sings of “todos los daddies”). If “SloMo” made it to Eurovision, it likely wouldn’t be a hit with juries — but it will be great to experience it live at Benidorm Fest.
5. Javiera Mena – “Culpa” (32 points)
🥇 – Pablo
🥉 – Lauren
Pablo: It’s not every Eurovision season that you see a song that ended up in your Spotify top 100 get signed up for compete for a chance to go to the contest. Javiera is a formidable electropop commander and “Culpa” is a testament to the fact. Its wide range of musical elements never fail to impress me: The danceable, diverse base beats, the great use of vocal effects, the dramatic organ climax, all to end in a vocal layering of good/evil a la Phantom of the Opera. Javiera is a complete original, and this song would be one of the most dignified options for Spain to send.
4. Rigoberta Bandini – “Ay mama” (32 points)
🥇 – Luis, Robyn
Luis: “Ay Mamá” is a modern anthem. The song’s progression from slow ballad to choir hymn and the way it gains momentum as seconds go by makes me want to jump from my chair and scream “Amen!”. The magic of this song is the way Rigoberta manages to turn a simple pop song into both an earworm, with the playful “Mamamamama”, and a tune that moves the masses. The gravitas this song is getting in Spain makes it one to watch. It’s faring better than anyone else on streaming platforms, and is often played in private broadcaster Telecinco, one of Spain’s most watched TV channels.
3. Rayden – “Calle de la llorería” (41 points)
🥈 – Robyn, Pablo, Tom
🥉 – Luis
Tom: Rap isn’t a genre that is usually heard very much at Eurovision. And when it is, it frequently flops. Rayden is giving Spanish rap a go with his song “Calle de la llorería” and dare I say (and I will say this quietly), this could do well. I have not seen Rayden sing live but if he brings the kind of drip from his music video onto the Benidorm stage, he will smash it. Rayden, much like his song, is just so cool and “Calle de la llorería” would not be out of place in a movie soundtrack or a TV series like Money Heist. I am not convinced this song or his moustache for that matter will be universally liked. Rap isn’t everyone’s cup of Sangria. However, the beat is irresistible and I think Rayden is an excellent addition to what will (finally) be a strong Spanish national final.
2. Luna Ki – “Voy a morir” (42 points)
🥇 – Natalie, Tom
Natalie: My first reaction to hearing this song was more or less… wait, what the hell was that!? Then I dived deeper into it and I feel completely in love. It’s like a mixture of angsty pop rock with delicious hyperpop touches and I’m totally sold on it. This, combined with the lyrics, are some of the most viscerally Cluster B feels I’ve ever heard in a national final, makes a song that coats my heart in the beauty of craziness. Luna Ki is also known for their aesthetic, and with a song like this under their belt, I can’t waaaaait to see them on stage.
Note: Luna Ki has since withdrawn from competing in Benidorm Fest 2022.
1. Tanxugueiras – “Terra” (50 points)
🥇 – Lauren
🥈 – Natalie
🥉 – Robyn, Tom
Lauren: The Benidorm Fest 2022 songs dropped when I was boarding the plane back home from Junior Eurovision, and I only had time to play one song. About ten seconds into it, I knew I had chosen the right one. A booming electronic bass echoing as the trio chants “ailaralalá!” at the top of their lungs, fading into an addictive percussive beat – that intro single-handedly gives hope that Spain could end their current dark age at Eurovision and get their best result in at least 20 years. “Terra” is unique, (post-) modern, empowering, and above everything, unifying. Hopefully the nation of Spain is unified in the opinion that Tanxugueiras should go to Turin!
What do you think? What is your favourite entry in Benidorm Fest 2022? Who should Spain send to Turin? Tell us your thoughts below!
@wiwibloggs_official Full scores and reviews of the Wiwi Jury are available at wiwibloggs.com 🇪🇸 #BenidormFest #Spain #Eurovision ♬ original sound – Lucía Ferrero
What? You can’t actually appreciate full auto-tune on purpose more than normal song and singing. How come you put Luna Ki higher than Rayden or rank Luna Ki’s song in top 10?
Takes like that cause Eurovision to become more and more of a popfest than song contest. Mostly generic songs or weird performances that has nothing to do with actual singing. Innovative is good (interesting take on music and staging) as long as it has something to do with singing (main idea of this contest).
Sorry but…
Mamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamamá
I don’t care if Spain is bottom 5 once again. I just want to see her enjoying the show.
And I hope she will be able to show her nipples as Maneskin did last year.
Stop banning female nipples!
1. Rigo 2. Tanxus 3. Javiera 4. Rayden 5. Chanel 6. Varry Brava 7. Azúcar Moreno 8. Marta Sango
Xeinn is underrated. He is my winner of Benidorm Fest 2022.
Also, sorry to say, but after Luna Ki left Benidorm Fest 2022, it seems as if “Terra” is the only good song in semi-final 1 as the other ones are so-so. My favorites in semi-final 1 are Luna Ki and Tanxugueiras. All my other favorites: Xeinn, Rigoberta Bandini, Rayden, and Sara Deop are in semi-final 2.
I feel like ESC fans has been super toxic and trashtalking about entries they didn’t like. Top 10 or bottom 10 doesn’t really matter ‘cos no matter what, these singers will always make their own works after the contest. So shut up and dance (to your favourite track).
Eco underrated
terra needs to win
I’m rooting for Tanxugueiras with Azucar Moreno actually being my second place (Postureo is SO GOOD). Blanca and Xeinn are also up there, and I wouldn’t be too disappointed if Rayden, Chanel, Unique, or Varry Brava were chosen either.
Terra and Ay Mama would both be terrible choices in my opinion. People seem to think that Terra will be the next Shum but it could also end up being the next Telemoveis. Also I don’t see anything musically noteworthy or spectacular about Ay Mama, which seems to be a favorite purely because of the profile of the singer (similar to Norway last year).
Luna Ki, second? Lol.
Yes?
Wiwi once again show that they havo no taste by putting that noisy autotuned mess in second place
Personal favourites: Culpa, Slomo.
Best chance for great results at ESC: Terra, Slomo.
Worst choice and guarantee bottom 5 along with UK (:p) : Ay mama.
The problem is no matter which country you reside, people will always vote for their favourite song and not for the one with the most international appeal. For this reason, Ay mama could win Benidorm because of the feedback we get from Spain. Most people love it there.
I think Terra is a better choice, Ay mamá is Pretty close in quality to Terra but while Ay mamá grew on me, Terra has stayed strong since the first listen. Rigoberta knows that most people need a few listens to like the song, that’s probably why it’s so smart to feature it on telecinco. but considering that most of the Televoters will only be hearing the song for the first time when the grand final comes. so from my view, purely logistically, terra is better
Well done wiwi jury! I sincerely hope Spanish fans don’t choose Ay Mama as the winner of Benidorm Fest 2022, because this song is not going to do well in Eurovision. I get that Spanish fans love Ay mama, and I will show my respect for their taste, but can this song end up being in top 10? Nah, I can’t see it. So please make the right decision!
It’s like Spain is completely living in their own reality. Every year they see the songs, performances and countries that do well and every year they send stuff that will end at the bottom. Why participate at all if you don’t want to try at least win the damn contest. 😀
Que si quiere bolsa señora
Spanish people can blame themselves for not placing well, if “Ay Mama” wins. It has no international appeal, sorry.
lol, exactly my top3
your top 2 (if we exclude luna who dropped out) is exactly what spain should be sending. both quality songs that can be both televote and jury grabs with ease.
Xeinn 12th? I get that its not incredibly unique or offering something new to the table but I think its a very competant song thats catchy. Its the song that I have on repeat from this selection. In other songs, I appreciate the lyrical content or like in Terra’s case the different dialects but compositionally, I really like Xeinn’s song and I’m a little disappointed it came so low. Each to their own I guess.
lol eco would’ve been cute in 2016 but now… plus if you listen to songs on the spanish charts it’s pretty far from their taste
Oh, I didn’t mean it as in Spain should send this, they have other good options. I was just wondering why it was almost next to last in the rankings.
i guess wiwibloggs editors said NO to dated crap
And culpa and sigues en mi mente doesn’t sound dated at all? Whilst I fully understand people not liking a song and thinking it would not be suitable to represent a country in esc, I think your comment is snarky and I don’t appreciate it one bit. You can absolutely not like Eco and not be stuck up about it. I think of eco as having a bit of a Take on me by A-ha vibe a timeless classic or a more modern example, like Blinding Lights by the Weeknd. I do understand that this song may not get as… Read more »
Luna Ki is recycled music that nobody would remember by the next few months
Im rooting for Rayden but I think together with Tanxugueiras and Rigoberta Bandini, these are the three best option and worthy to represent Spain.
My personal top 4 are Terra, Secreto de Agua, Quien lo diria, and Calle de la lloreria. It’s overall a good and diverse selection, and I’m looking forward to see them all performing live. Judging by the hype, it’s between Terra and Ay Mama, but a lot can still happen. Best of luck to everyone!
I’ve noticed on Twitter that Spaniards are obsessed with Rigoberta Bandini’s “Ay mama” but outside of their bubble, she doesn’t have much appeal. There are at least a couple of other songs that get more acclaim than hers. So I expect, as usual and this year again, a lot of support from the Spanish fans for their entry, which will be overhyped and overestimated, but then it will end up giving them yet another disappointing result. They’ll wonder what the problem is with their selection. The answer is simple: constant dissociation from reality.
spain hasn’t been in the top 20 since 2014 (that’s almost a decade ago chile) but their eurofans haven’t humbled down a bit haha i agree with your opinion on rigoberta’s song, i doubt it’ll bring them back to the top 20 as the song has no international appeal whatsoever. but if they’re proud of it representing them, let them be.
I can see a similar thing happen with Lithuania. Monika Liu seems to be the favorite to win and represent Lithuania at the contest, and while I do like her song “Sentimentai” and wouldn’t mind it at the contest, I have a lot of doubts how well it could do. I see it more as a potential non-qualifier, but I could be very wrong. I would prefer Ruta Loop’s Call Me From the Cold as the representative, but I have accepted that it’s not going to win unless there’s an upset. Then again, would it do any better? Either way,… Read more »
That is a common thing. What Might be liked or beloved within a country may not be received positively by the international community once it wins this election is put out there.
Terra and Voy a morir were also my top 2
Well your top 3 without Luna Ki seems to be pretty much the consensus among the fans. I for one would put Blanca Paloma in my top 3 with Tanxugueiras and Rayden, I love her song, so magical and enchanting, and so Spanish!
My favorite is “Calle de la llorería”, but I love “Terra” too and “Ay Mamá” grew a lot on me.
I also like other entries, especially “Raffaella” and “Culpa”, but I believe none of them can leave a strong “pre Benidorm Fest/after Benidorm Fest” mark on Spain’s trajectory in Eurovision like my top 3.
You seriously had Luna Ki at 2nd? Do you keep all of your taste in your mouth? What a joke.
Rayden and Tanxugueiras have been my favourite since the very beginning. Ay Mama I started to like after listening several times and now is one of my favourites as well, but I fear that most of the people, who will listen to the song just once in the ESC, do not get it… Let’s see. In any case, if any of them wins, I’ll be very happy. Looking forward to the stagings!!
I listened to Terra on repeat for hours. Got really hooked by the song. Dark and atmospheric, staging potential is crazy. I’ll be devastated if it doesn’t make its way to Turin.
for me its the only song in the lineup that could so well
Im so sad Luna is out, was my clear winner. Go listen to their other songs, pretty great music
I’m most exited to see Terra on stage, heard the stage description and apparently they’re bringing bonfires, it kinda reminds me of the best part of the SHUM staging (Right before the fast with the drummers)
so the actual top 3, Terra, Calle de la llorería and Ay Mamá looks very promissing indeed
my money is on Terra tho
I think it’s really between Ay Mama, Calle and Terra. Id be completely okay with any of these going, Rigoberta seems the most plausible. If I had my way though Rayden would be spain’s representative 🙂
just to add, i wanna thank benidorm for introducing me to these amazing artists! if you have time check out some of their other songs! rayden’s haz the luz is pure QUALITY. Midas by tanxugueiras is just earth shatteringly great
culpa and ay mama are the best, not too convinced by tanxeguerras tbh
I agree with the Top 6 (maybe gonna swap a few entries around). If any of them ending up winning the debut festival, I’ll have zero problem with it.
Terra, Ay Mama, and Calle de la llorería being top 3 makes sense, but I am surprised Luna was so high. Granted it is a different take since no Eurovision song ever had so much autotune but still surprised.
Luna Ki 2nd is a joke. These Wiwibloggs members who voted are hypnotized by the autotune.
Well, Luna ki has withdrawn so it’s all moot.
True, but why did the Wiwibloggs members even bother to mention Luna in this ranking list while she already has withdrawn? They just should’ve redone the voting to create a new ranking.