Víctor Balaguer (1982), José Guardiola (1963), Salomé (1969), Peret (1974), José María Bacchelli (1981), Nina (1989), Sergio Dalma (1991), Beth (2003), Rodolfo Chikilicuatre (2008) , Manel Navarro (2017), Alfred García (2018), Miki Núñez (2019) and Chanel Terrero 13 Catalan artists flying the Spanish flag at Eurovision. They represent 20.96% of our representatives, which makes this autonomous community the ensemble that has submitted the most names to the music competition. Andalusia (12), Madrid (11) and the Canary Islands (7) are leading.
This 2023, after Joan Manuel Serrat’s failed attempt 55 years ago, the Catalan got the chance to represent the country with Siderland. Although it will eventually White Dove Who will do it this Saturday? They were not the only attempt to export their culture to the Old Continent. In fact, there have been several times since the founding of the Catalan Audiovisual Media Corporation (CCMA) in 1983 when they tried to compete under their own television set, TV3. A wish poured on pro-independence connotations continuing after 40 years set the political agenda.
EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA contacted the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organization in question to join as a step before participating in Eurovision, to find out its current position. He continues to be what he always advocates: “Participation is limited to stations that are members of this formation: Having this status, RTVE represents all of Spain in the competition.. We don’t plan to change the rules at this time.”
In addition, the entity excludes any future rapprochement between the two parties to reach an agreement. “no talk because the decision made in 2019 is preserved,” he says of the recent membership petition, led by Núria Llorach, who was CCMA’s vice president at the time. a claim to have First claims in 1987When Joan Granados spoke publicly about it.
The leader of the former Catalan Radio and Television Corporation (CCRTV) assured: “The Royal Decree Project has already begun to develop the Fifth Supplementary Clause of the Third Channel Act, which regulates the coordination of existing television establishments in communities for the purpose of participation in international organizations”. However, despite the failure of the attempt, The end was not shaken. Rather, it was strengthened until the first real nomination came in 1998: Josmar Gerona was going to represent Catalonia with this song. super strong in Birmingham.
Behind this move was El Terrat.Producer of Andreu Buenafuente, who threw Rodolfo Chikilicuatre in 2008. traffic light Narciso Sánchez Serrador will carry senyera first time in the competition. Although there are those who consider this project as a television joke, the program has mobilized all its resources to promote Catalan culture. And why not embarrassing europe.
Comedian known for wearing leather jacket and thong, even went to the UK to make a formal request to the head of the EBU. Although he wasn’t successful, he created a stir by performing on a makeshift stage near the rendezvous. “The program used my image to get noticed. Around that time, I learned to work with a team. It was in my favor to introduce myself in England if I agreed to do so. I have not seen the festival until today. I’m not interested,” Josmar admitted to the portal. catch.
Newspapers of the period echoed the controversial success and gave him priority over the then Spanish candidacy: Mikel Herzog, What will I do without you? He placed 16th in the National Indoor Arena with just 21 points. And, of course, without the almost worldwide repercussions that Buenafuente’s toy produces. A feat that includes more ordinary buffoonery in a Catalan vein.
Funding Andorra’s debut
The closest Catalonia came to Eurovision was in 2004, when Andorra financed its debut. TV3 financially supported RTVA (the Prince’s public television) in the development of its first national preselection. summoned 12 points and the only condition was that the selected song was entirely in Catalan. Thus, this language would have spread to the festival for the first time in history. Marta Roure and Bis a Bis were chosen after an ensemble cast that toured the country of the Pyrenees. Each artist was given six songs, mostly composed by Catalan musicians: Jofre Bardagí, Astrud, Josep Thió, Natxo Tarrés, Jordi Vidal…
During the nine premieres broadcast on both channels, the songs were skipped until only two remained: We will play to care for each other And soil. For this reason, it was necessary to choose both the subject and the translator in the final. And they made a choice for it. Jury composed of two members from Catalonia and three members from Andorra: Marcos Llunas, Salvador Cufí, Catheryne Metayer, Josep Maria Escribano and Oriol Vilella. Each would be entitled to one point. The remaining two (until they completed a total of seven) corresponded to the spectators of the two regions.
The winning combination is Marta Roure and We will play to care for each other. The enthusiasm was so great that the singer made his claim even before a packed Camp Nou. On the other hand, they weakened miserably in Turkey: they took only 12 points from Spain to reach 18th place. A lot, This nomination meant Catalonia’s secret participation in the festival.. This was the only time it happened, as the next five editions were only borne by Andorra.
It has not participated in the competition since 2010 due to lack of capital. And for now No new co-production between the two television companies is foreseen.. Main reason as explained Eurovision-Spainis the cost. Not forgetting the very bad results achieved. In fact, this country has never made it to the final. The closest it came to achieving this was 2007, when Anonymous reached 12th place with 80 points. In other cases, it never exceeded 27. Even when they resorted to English with Gisela at the helm.
A “negative” report
An important breakthrough took place in 2013, with the EBU amending its statutes and opened the door to regional companies meeting certain requirements. Which one? Article 3.4 states: “These groups must provide a broadcast service of national character and importance, with the permission of the competent authorities in their country.” But what does this last adjective mean?
According to regulations, what covers its own language domain within a multilingual State. From here TV3 can be a previously active member. However, as José Antonio Sánchez Domínguez pointed out at the TVE control commission in April 2017, the request was denied for two reasons. According to the head of the public agency, there was a unanimous rejection from the Television Committee, where Spain occupied the vice-presidential seat with Federico Llano. In addition, the Statute Committee defined the Catalan service as “regional in nature” on some basis. “negative” report”.
this is any #Eurovision Is it very equal, oi? Everyone who sees it will compete with another participating State, Catalonia!
– Marta Pascal (@martapascal) May 13, 2017
That same year, during the Portuguese-led vote, the PDeCAT general coordinator dropped the bomb below. “Eurovision is very equal, isn’t it? Next year there will be one more participating State: Catalonia”, Marta Pascal wrote on Twitter. Subsequently, the CCMA’s deputy chairman announced in a committee in Parliament his intention to continue the fight for this cause. “As full members, we want to be part of this organization,” said Núria Llorach.
Entry to Eurovision is one of the biggest goals of the political parties in the nationalist orbit. An excellent strategy for Catalonia to gain the international recognition they want. This was particularly the case in the 1990s in the former Yugoslav and former Soviet republics, which found a clear indication of political independence in this format. Right now, Kosovo that wants to repeat the game.
Example of Wales, Bavaria and Flanders
The TV3 desire did not end there. in December 2019 Global History He uncovered the EBU’s letter addressed to the CCMA, which ruled out any possibility of entry. In it, he refers to the different communications exchanged by both parties to justify the admission request. The first dates are from May 2018, as indicated by the European Company Catalonia is not part of the International Telecommunication Union or the Council of Europe..
Likewise, it stated that it lacked the “national character and importance” determined by the regulations. Which regional television responded harshly: “Catalonia has the same relationship with both institutions as Flanders, Bavaria and Wales.” And regarding his controversial “national character”, he compared his status to Belgium’s RTBF and Wales’ S4C. Two arguments examined and finally ignored.
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The series continued with another letter from Catalonia underlining the authority contained in the document. Charter 2006: “We are a nation formed as an autonomous community in accordance with the Constitution and this Statute, exercising self-government through its own institutions.” And to clear any doubts, Wide penetration of Catalan in Spain: Catalonia (84.9%), the Balearic Islands (63.1%), the Commonwealth of Valencia (59.6%) and Aragon (5.7%).
Again in September 2019, the EBU rejected the membership offer. As the institution reiterated in this environment, a decision is still in effect. EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA questioned the CCMA to learn more deeply about the details of this plan: Have there been any other attempts? Was a pre-selection designed for Eurovision? What deadlines are foreseen? The answer is succinct: “We tried to find some precedents that failed. We don’t have this information.”