A controversial line from a new anthem drew immediate attention as the Benidorm Festival progressed. The act, led by Nebulossa, has topped the semi finals after releasing a bold track late last year. A chorus sung by the audience in Benidorm on the night underscored the song’s appeal, while Maria Bass and Mark Dasousa, both well into their careers, emerged from relative obscurity to champion a feminist message in this RTVE competition. The duo’s momentum, peaking with strong estimates of their potential earnings from the contest, suggested they could represent Spain at Eurovision. Yet the festival’s language guidelines ban insults and explicit political statements, prompting a critical question: will the lyrics need revision before any national selection becomes a European stage moment?
Spain has faced this crossroads before. In 2008 the audience split on a provocative moment in a satirical entry that parodied public figures, while other familiar names were woven into the performance. Although some viewers felt the joke crossed lines, the entry still left a mark and the national act managed to secure a solid standing years later. The event demonstrated that bold content can coexist with strong results when it resonates with viewers and the judging panel alike.
The official rules are clear: no political letters, speeches or gestures are allowed, and language must not be insulting or inappropriate. However, the broader aim of the festival is to celebrate diversity through music, emphasizing universality, equality, inclusivity and tradition. This allows performances that carry a message of empowerment to be considered, even if certain phrases require adjustment to fit the broadcast standards. In practice, that balance has been tested before. A Swedish entry in 2017 altered a line that could be read as an insult, in a move that preserved the song’s meaning while aligning with prime time broadcast norms. Similar adjustments occurred with other acts that year, where nuance and wording shifts kept the core message intact.
Neither Putin nor Facebook
Eurovision has, from its inception, seen countries press their political ideologies through lyrics and staging. The organizers have long held that the contest remains a global television entertainment program and should avoid explicit politics. Yet tensions have flared when lyrics touch on current events or reflect national sentiment. For instance, in past cycles Ukraine and Georgia faced pressure over political references, and other nations navigated concerns about whether certain lines could be interpreted as political statements. In some cases words referring to media or technology brands have also led to reframing, while still aiming to convey a clear cultural or social message.
Belarus faced a notable disqualification in 2021 over concerns that a song could be seen as a political signal, and there have been other moments where wording involving social networks or public platforms prompted discussions about fit with the competition’s rules. The overarching lesson is that song and stage must align with the contest’s philosophy while allowing room for expressive art that speaks to universal themes without crossing the line into overt political messaging.
A mystery remains as the Benidorm process unfolds. Media outlets have asked how the organizers will handle a winning candidacy that contains lines open to multiple interpretations. What matters, according to the rules, is that the lyrics and staging align with the competition’s philosophy as an international audience experiences it in prime time. All proposals undergo a thorough review once each country confirms its entry, ensuring that the performance meets the federation’s standards before any final decision.
In the case of María and Mark, the organizers emphasize that they do not comment on songs in the national selection stage. If a piece does not meet the appointment’s requirements, adjustments may be requested after the national rounds conclude. The next step will be to determine whether Nebulossa accepts the terms and how the team will proceed in light of the review by the European Broadcasting Union after the competition progresses.