A few days earlier, notably on 10 and 12 May, the music scene will light up Pala Alpitour, an 18,000-seat arena hosting the Eurovision semi-finals. The showtime for both the semi-finals and the grand final is scheduled for 21:00 local time.
Spain goes straight to the final this year, not needing a semi-final appearance. As part of the Big Five—Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Spain—the country earns an automatic spot in the final due to its long-standing contributions to the European Broadcasting Union. Bookmakers currently list Spain among the five favorites, alongside Ukraine, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Chanel, born in Havana, charted a challenging journey to become Spain’s representative. The artist, who excels as a singer, actor, and dancer, built a career in musical theatre and stage productions. Chanel delivered a standout performance at Benidorm Fest, earning a victory after a campaign that sparked controversy because public support did not appear overwhelming.
Facing Spain’s decision to name Chanel as the country’s entry, the 31-year-old performer now steps onto the Eurovision stage to demonstrate the full range of her talent and to justify the selection. The path to this moment has not been without controversy, reflecting the high expectations and intense scrutiny surrounding the competition.
There was notable excitement around the song SloMo. Some critics argued that the entry breached rules by containing more than 35% lyrics in a language other than Spanish or the country’s official languages. The organizers reviewed the issue and permitted the song to proceed. Others condemned certain aspects of the track as overly provocative or sensational. The conversation around SloMo highlighted the tension between artistic expression and official guidelines within the contest framework.
Despite these debates, SloMo has continued to receive heavy airplay on radio and television, and it has become a staple on dance floors as audiences move in time with Chanel’s performance. Yet the public still asks what SloMo truly means. The phrase is commonly understood as an abbreviation for slow motion, echoing the chorus’s emphasis on a slowed, deliberate movement. Chanel wanted this interpretation to shape her live presentation at Benidorm Fest and beyond, weaving a visual language that mirrors the song’s tempo and mood.
Lyrics to Chanel’s song SloMo
Let’s go! Mother, come
Queen, a bold one is a luxury ride
The world is captivated by this party
If there’s a problem, it isn’t financial
I drive all dads crazy
I’m always first, never secondary
I barely escape the end of days
With my bang, boom
And I zoom in, I zoom in
from Miami
And don’t get confused
ma’am and sir
I’m always ready for toys
break hip, break heart
there is only one
no imitation
And if you still don’t believe me, then I have to show you.
take video
Watch slowly, month after month after month
booty hypnotic
Make you want more, more, more, more, more
I’ll take it down, lo, lo, lo, lo
You can also make this dembow if you wish.
it drives you crazy
Take a video, watch it SloMo
you love everything I have
I sweeten your face with mango juice
It shoots at you when I turn it on
I won’t stop until the end
take a sip of my coke
A little wild na-na-na
Make it go like pa-pa-pa
like pa-pa-pa-pa
And don’t get confused
ma’am and sir
I’m always ready for toys
break hip, break heart
there is only one
no imitation
And if you still don’t believe me, then I have to show you.
take video
Watch slowly, month after month after month
booty hypnotic
Make you want more, more, more, more, more
I’ll take it down, lo, lo, lo, lo
You can also make this dembow if you wish.
it drives you crazy
take video
Watch SloMo.