benidorm fest 2023

Here’s a fact for you: RTVE has received 876 songs for Benidorm Fest 2023. In any other country this would be something you’d read and be like: “ah okay, cool”. But we’re talking about Spain here. There’s an awful lot to unpack behind this number. ¡Vámonos!

In short, this means that Chanel’s successor is already on RTVE’s table, where it will have to battle with the other 875 entries. Easy, huh?

And it may have just arrived. On Monday, which was the last day to participate, the broadcaster received 150 songs. The last song arrived yesterday at 23:56, but the first one was sent to RTVE just two minutes after the window opened, on September 1.

Less is more?

You’d think that after the success of “SloMo”, Spain would receive more songs this year… but it’s actually not the case.

RTVE received 876 songs, down ten from last year. 455 of them entered via the web procedure, 27 were sent via e-mail and the labels sent the remaining 394.

That last part is quite important, as 12 out of the 14 songs from last year came directly from the labels. And actually, last year there were 194 proposals coming from their side, which means that number has doubled in 2023. 

In theory, that should mean there’s more professional interest in the contest and fewer amateurish performers in the mix. That’s exactly what RTVE has tipped, as they said in the press release that there were more familiar faces this year.

And who could that include? Weeks ago, we told you about fans’ favourites in this post below, but there have been some surprises with today’s statement.

A long awaited return?

The rumour mill has been spinning for ages now, but just as RTVE broke the news, fans rushed to social media to comment on who may be in the Benidorm Fest line up.

One name seems pretty evident, and that’s the one of the older artists who’s entered. RTVE’s statement said that there’s an applicant who’s turning 76 years old this year. And there’s a profile who’s expressed interest on Benidorm Fest and casually turns 76 in December. That’s Karina, who represented Spain at Eurovision 1971.

Karina has enjoyed success in Spain ever since she came second in Dublin 1971. She is one of the country’s most beloved artists. 

Recently, she’s also become a social media darling, with her heart-warming videos on Instagram. She regularly posts super sweet and polite messages for her followers and she even had a “hit” during the pandemic: a song that endeared people to use masks for protecting themselves against coronavirus.

And even more recently, she asked Russian president Vladimir Putin to not use nuclear bombs against Ukraine. “Putin don’t press the button”, she sang. What would Teapacks say?

Second try

According to RTVE, at least one of last year’s performers wants to give it a second go, and there are a few options.

We can already discount some of them: Javiera Mena, Rayden and Varry Brava have publicly said they’re not entering, although the three of them have stated they would love to try again, either as singers or songwriters, in the future.

It’s pretty unlikely that Chanel or Tanxugueiras will try again, and Rigoberta Bandini is taking a break from music after she finishes her tour later this year. 

Who could it be? Maybe Gonzalo Hermida, who couldn’t take the stage last year as he got covid during the Benidorm Fest week? Can you imagine Luna Ki actually entering for real this year?

What do you expect from Benidorm Fest in 2023? Who do you want to see compete? Who’s coming back?

17 Comments
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Jake
Jake
1 year ago

Sounds that there will be a good cross section of genres and artists that will reflect the many varied music styles in Spain for the international to pick the reggaeton song—which inherently will be less Spaniard.

Efraim
Efraim
1 year ago

By the way, earlier today it was reported that 12 of the 13 acts that appeared in the 2022 Benidorm Fest have taped performances for an upcoming TVE Christmas special earlier this week. Rigoberta Bandini is the absent one due to her hiatus from touring (plus, Unique will be missing half of its BeFest lineup, as apparently only Valen and Matt attended the tapings, with Gio and Armand nowhere to be seen).

Romaric
Romaric
1 year ago

It must be cool to be able to work within a broadcaster (RTVE…) and to be able to enjoy listening to each song received! At least they know in advance and we are waiting!!!

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Romaric

I sincerely doubt that one person is listening to all the proposed songs. I don’t know, but I imagine they initially might be divided in groups, and together listen to the final 40-50 songs. I might be wrong, but that seems more economic.

Andi
Andi
1 year ago

Damn, I really would love to listen to all 876 🙂

Colin
Colin
1 year ago

Benidorm Fest was one of the best selections as a whole last year + they had a really good winner, so of course that I have high expectations. Good luck, Spain!

PS. Azerbaijan confirmed their 2023 participation, meaning that now we only wait for Armenia, Bulgaria, Czechia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and perhaps a returning / debuting country yet unknown.

Romaric
Romaric
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

yes maybe Kazakhstan ! Kosovo is out…

Zisk
Zisk
1 year ago

At the very least it also probably means some really established artists will be in there, hopefully with Chanel levels of professionalism and a great song. Luckily they’ll skim it down to the best anyway.

Inclusivity and Diversity
Inclusivity and Diversity
1 year ago

In theory, that should mean there’s more professional interest in the contest and fewer amateurish performers in the mix.

Sorry, but this is totally disrespectful towards indie artists. There are many indie (independent) artists who are more professional and more talented than many record label artists.

Nikki
Nikki
1 year ago

Out of topic- they just announced King Charles’s Coronation date and it’s the 6th of May, (probably) just the day before the Opening Ceremony and just a week before the Grand Final.

Don’t you feel it weird they would squish two huge events in the same week?

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
1 year ago
Reply to  Nikki

I’m curious if bbc will be able to give any attention at all to eurovision that week. When the Queen died British people weren’t allowed to see anything else on the media for like a month so obsessive it was.

Zisk
Zisk
1 year ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Coronation is a different affair. It’s treated like celebration and not mourning the previous royal hence why it’s also so far apart. It’ll get like, 2 days coverage tops.

Thallo
Thallo
1 year ago

876 submissions is INSANE!

To think Spain went from being one of the worst countries at Eurovision to a (possible) powerhouse is crazy. I’m pretty certain Spain will win within the next few years, and I’m also sure at least 1 of these 876 submissions will give Spain another good result in Liverpool.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago
Reply to  Thallo

It will be very hard for next year’s entrant to mattress a passion on next year, but I’m glad that Spain been taking the contest more seriously. However, the fortunes can change year-by-year. France was runner up last year, but they finished second last this year. Even if Spain’s result is lower next year, I hope it won’t be as drastic of a decline as France. As much as I would like a first time winner for next year, I wouldn’t mind it being winning, in fact I would greatly support it. It has been way too long Is Spain… Read more »

Devito
Devito
1 year ago

Off-topic, but Lithuania just confirmed its intention to use PIN as its selection process for the 4th time in a row. Rules have been made public (at the moment, only in Lithuanian) and it says that LRT is now ready to accept applications for artists/authors until 2022-12-12. The competition will consist of 2 heats, 2 semi-finals, and a final (dates TBA). Also, just like in the 2022 competition, artists will be granted an aid (1,000 € for the creation of a phonogram and 500 € for the creation of a stage image). No rules have been changed. Again, if there’s… Read more »

Devito
Devito
1 year ago
Reply to  Devito

You’re welcome! Yes, the rules have it – 5 shows. However, the executive director did mention that depending on the amount of applications, there can be less shows but five is the cap. I hope they will make it so 10 artists will qualify from each heat, then 5 qualify from each semi-final and, thus, then we would get a final of a nice TOP10. I never understood why we have a tendency of finals of only 6 when we can clearly increase it to 10 as points are given 1-8, 10 and 12.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago
Reply to  Devito

I wanted to wait until wiwibloggs post an article about the Lithuanian selection, but I find it interesting that they’re shaving down from 6 to 5 shows. That could cut out a lot of filler and raise up the overall quality of the entries, but we’ll see when the songs are out. I wonder how long this guy Audrius Giržadas Has been the Lithuanian head of delegation. I don’t know if he’s newer or old hand, but I think he clearly has his head on straight. Hopefully this one will be rewarded for its efforts next year or in the… Read more »