Tonight brings a special broadcast called Benidorm Fest Star, a celebration that recaptures the excitement of the festival’s inaugural edition. Not every participant from the debut year returns for this retrospective, but the lineup is packed with memorable moments. Luna Kin is absent after withdrawing close to the semi-final start, and Alaska’s premiere will not count toward the lineup. Rigoberta Bandini and White Dove are also part of the mix in this reflective tribute.
A translator for Ay, Mamá did not appear on the private channel, and a guest from Secreto del Agua performed a variant of a song that did not make the final cut. This moment was not included in the media press release distributed to reporters.
In an interview conducted for a notable Spanish media program, Blanca Paloma explained that her performance was left out of the special because she remains neutral among competitors, choosing to revisit Eaea on a later stage. Her act was recorded at the Palau d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm, and TVE eventually selected her candidacy after the gala filming.
Rakky Ripper, who later appears in Tracción and Benidorm Fest 2023, joins this broadcast as he will not perform the song that previously represented him. He will share the stage with Marta Sango, who unveils her new track La corriente.
Benidorm Fest Star, Alaska’s own tribute event
Televisión Española invites audiences to tune in tonight at 10 PM. The program channels the energy of the first Benidorm Fest held at BeFest Stars last January. It serves as a commemorative event where artists who participated in the Spanish Eurovision qualifier revisit the songs that made them known and, for some, unveil new work after a year of rising success.
On stage, a series of artists take their turns. Varry Brava and Prope Ri pop deliver high-spirited performances alongside Raffaella. Marta Sango presents her latest track La corriente. Xeinn performs Echo, while Unique delivers Better. Fireproof Brown Sugar takes the stage with Postureo. Javiera Mena performs I Like You, and Sarah Deop closes the night with Make You Say.
Moon Ki performs Dispara, a selection from an earlier offer that could not be staged at Benidorm Fest 2022. Tanxugueiras return with a fresh hit, Pano Dorado, while Gonzalo Hermida sings Who Would Sing That. Derailed, now touring globally, takes the stage for Calle de la llorería.
As the night winds down, Chanel steps into the spotlight with SloMo, a song that marked a historic third place for Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, a milestone within the competition’s history.
Benidorm Fest Stars stands as a tribute to all the artists who have passed through Benidorm Fest. It offers a window into life after the competition, recalling the anecdotes, fears, and dreams that defined those days.