Blas Cantó
{{Short description|Spanish singer (born 1991)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{family name hatnote|Cantó|Moreno|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Blas Cantó
| image = Blas Cantó, Los40 Summer Live 2022.png
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| alt =
| caption = Blas Cantó in 2022
| birth_name = Blas Cantó Moreno
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|10|26|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Ricote, Murcia, Spain
| origin =
| genre = Pop
| occupation = Singer
| instrument =
| years_active = 2000—present
| label = Warner Music Spain
| website =
}}
Blas Cantó Moreno (born 26 October 1991) is a Spanish singer and songwriter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bekia.es/celebrities/blas-canto/|title=Blas Cantó|website=Bekia|language=es-ES|access-date=2019-10-05|archive-date=5 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005170050/https://www.bekia.es/celebrities/blas-canto/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/sevilla/20190801/463810856188/blas-canto-no-hemos-podido-disfrutar-de-la-venta-de-disco-como-antes.html|title=Blas Cantó: No hemos podido disfrutar de la venta de disco, como antes|newspaper=La Vanguardia|date=2019-08-01|language=es-ES|access-date=2019-10-05|archive-date=16 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016134746/https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/sevilla/20190801/463810856188/blas-canto-no-hemos-podido-disfrutar-de-la-venta-de-disco-como-antes.html|url-status=live}} He rose to prominence as a member of the Spanish band Auryn. In 2017, he embarked on a solo career. His debut studio album Complicado was released in September 2018, the album peaked at number one on the Spanish Albums Chart. He was going to represent {{Esccnty|Spain|y=2020}} at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam,{{cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2019/10/05/blas-canto-will-represent-spain-at-eurovision-2020/242688/|title=Blas Cantó will represent Spain at Eurovision 2020|first=Luis|last=Fuster|date=5 October 2019|website=Wiwibloggs|access-date=5 October 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005170042/https://wiwibloggs.com/2019/10/05/blas-canto-will-represent-spain-at-eurovision-2020/242688/ |archive-date=2019-10-05 }} with the song "Universo" but the competition was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He represented Spain instead in Eurovision Song Contest 2021{{cite web |url=https://eurovoix.com/2020/03/18/spain-blas-canto-accepts-tves-invitation-to-be-eurovision-2021-representative/ |title=Spain: Blas Cantó Accepts TVE'S Invitation To Be Eurovision 2021 Representative |first=Anthony |last=Granger |date=18 March 2020 |website=Eurovoix |access-date=20 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318185438/https://eurovoix.com/2020/03/18/spain-blas-canto-accepts-tves-invitation-to-be-eurovision-2021-representative/ |archive-date=18 March 2020 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Emma |title=Eurovision 2021: Who is competing in the Song Contest this year? |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/02/11/eurovision-2021-with-100-days-to-go-who-is-competing-this-year-14064484/ |access-date=20 February 2021 |work=Metro |date=11 February 2021 |archive-date=21 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221191617/https://metro.co.uk/2021/02/11/eurovision-2021-with-100-days-to-go-who-is-competing-this-year-14064484/ |url-status=live }} with the song "Voy a quedarme".
Biography
= 2000–2004: Beginnings =
In 2000, Cantó participated in the children's talent show Veo Veo, at eight-years old.{{Cite news|first=Cristina|last=Zavala|url=https://los40.com/los40/2019/03/26/radio/1553598637_839549.html|title=BLAS CANTÓ, PREPARADO PARA EL DESPEGUE Y PROTAGONISTA DE UN NUEVO LOS40 STAGE|website=Los 40|date=2019-03-26|language=es-ES|access-date=2019-10-05|archive-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330073325/https://los40.com/los40/2019/03/26/radio/1553598637_839549.html|url-status=live}} In 2004, he participated in Eurojunior, the national selection process organised by {{lang|es|Televisión Española|i=no}} (TVE) to select the Spanish entry for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2004. He advanced to the national final with the song "Sentir", but lost to María Isabel, who went on to win the European final with the song "Antes muerta que sencilla".
=2009–2016: Auryn=
In 2009, Cantó founded the boy band Auryn together with Álvaro Gango, Carlos Marco, David Lafuente and {{Ill|Dani Fernández (singer)|lt=Dani Fernández|es|Dani Fernández (cantante)}}. In 2011, the band participated in Destino Eurovisión, the national selection process organised by TVE to select the Spanish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. The band advanced to the national final's top three, but lost in the televote to Lucía Pérez.
Auryn went on to gain popularity after their appearance on Destino Eurovisión. The band released their first single "Breathe in the Light" later in 2011, as well as their debut album Endless Road, 7058, both reaching the top 10 of the Spanish Singles and Albums Charts respectively.{{Cite web|url=https://spanishcharts.com/search.asp?search=Auryn&cat=s|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223165641/http://spanishcharts.com/search.asp?search=Auryn&cat=s|url-status=dead|title=Spanish charts portal|archive-date=23 February 2015|website=spanishcharts.com|access-date=19 April 2023}} Their follow-up album Anti-Heroes was released in 2013 and went straight to number one on the Spanish Albums Chart and was certified platinum. Their third album Circus Avenue was preceded by the group's first number one single "Puppeteer", and reached number one on the Spanish Albums Chart where it stayed for 5 consecutive weeks, as well as a platinum certification. The band released their fourth album Ghost Town in December 2015, seven months before going on hiatus.
= 2016–2017: ''Tu Cara Me Suena''=
In July 2016, Cantó was announced to join the cast of the fifth season of television show Tu cara me suena of the singing show series Your Face Sounds Familiar, in which celebrity contestants impersonate a different iconic music artist on stage each week. Shortly after, Auryn announced that they were going into hiatus, as various members of the band, including Cantó, were expecting to launch solo projects.{{Cite news |title=Auryn se separa temporalmente tras el fichaje de Blas por 'Tu cara me suena' |url=http://bluper.elespanol.com/noticias/auryn-separa-fichaje-blas-tu-cara-me-suena |newspaper=El Español |date=28 July 2016 |access-date=28 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925080208/http://bluper.elespanol.com/noticias/auryn-separa-fichaje-blas-tu-cara-me-suena |archive-date=25 September 2017 |language=es}} The fifth season of Tu cara me suena premiered on Antena 3 on 7 October 2016. In the season finale that took place on 3 March 2017, he was declared the winner with 55% of the televote.{{Cite news|url=https://elpais.com/cultura/2017/03/04/television/1488584587_973204.html|title=Blas Cantó gana la final de 'Tu cara me suena'|newspaper=El País|date=2017-03-04|language=es-ES|access-date=2019-10-05|archive-date=5 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005173518/https://elpais.com/cultura/2017/03/04/television/1488584587_973204.html|url-status=live}}
Performances
{{legend|PaleTurquoise|Points|color2=black|text2=|tamaño=100%|borde=gray|vertical=0}} {{legend|#01DF74|Maximum points|color2=black|text2=|tamaño=100%|borde=gray|vertical=0}}
=2017–present: Solo career=
After signing to Warner Music Spain, Cantó released his debut solo single "In Your Bed" on 3 March 2017, the same day as the finale of Tu Cara Me Suena.{{cite news |url=http://www.elmundo.es/happy-fm/2017/02/22/58adc815e5fdea9f7f8b4613.html |newspaper=El Mundo |title=Blas Cantó Anuncia el Lanzamiento de In Your Bed, su Primer Single en Solitario |language=es |date=22 February 2017 |access-date=12 January 2019 |publisher=Unidad Editorial |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824102835/http://www.elmundo.es/happy-fm/2017/02/22/58adc815e5fdea9f7f8b4613.html |archive-date=24 August 2017 |url-status=live }}
On 9 March 2018, Cantó released his first solo Spanish-language single, "Él no soy yo".{{Cite news|url=https://www.cadena100.es/al-dia/noticias/soy-primer-single-espanol-blas-canto-20180309_322822|title="Él no soy yo", primer single en español de Blas Cantó|website=Cadena 100|date=2018-03-09|language=es-ES|access-date=2019-10-05|archive-date=5 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005173519/https://www.cadena100.es/al-dia/noticias/soy-primer-single-espanol-blas-canto-20180309_322822|url-status=live}} The single went on to achieve a PROMUSICAE platinum certification. Cantó released his debut solo album, titled Complicado, on 14 September 2018, and debuted atop the Spanish Albums Chart.{{Cite news|url=https://www.laverdad.es/culturas/musica/blas-canto-diferencia-20180914181600-nt.html|title=Blas Cantó: "No hay que tener miedo a ser diferente"|agency=Europa Press|newspaper=La Verdad|date=2019-09-14|language=es-ES|access-date=2019-10-05|archive-date=5 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005173517/https://www.laverdad.es/culturas/musica/blas-canto-diferencia-20180914181600-nt.html|url-status=live}}
On 5 October 2019, TVE announced Cantó as the Spanish entrant at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. He was going to compete with the song "Universo". After the contest was cancelled, TVE announced that Cantó would represent Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
On 29 June 2021, following his participation at Eurovision, Cantó released the single "Americana" featuring the Californian band Echosmith. The official video of the single was released the same day on his official YouTube channel. One month later, a lyric video of the song was released, this version as a solo single with lyrics fully in Spanish.
Eurovision Song Contest
=2020=
On 5 October 2019, TVE announced Cantó as the Spanish entrant at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. He was going to compete with the song "Universo". After the contest was cancelled due to the coronavirus global pandemic, TVE announced that Cantó would represent Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
=2021=
For the 2021 finals, titled "Destino Eurovisión 2021", he has proposed various songs and two were chosen for the final to be picked from: "Memoria" and "Voy a quedarme". The final was held on 20 February 2021, with "Voy a quedarme" winning and being chosen to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. In the final on 22 May 2021, he placed 24th out of 26, scoring 6 points.
Discography
{{see also|Auryn#Discography}}
=Albums=
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
{{notelist}}
== As featured artist ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col"| Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Mi luz" {{small|(Pastora Soler featuring Blas Cantó)}} | rowspan="2"| 2020 | Sentir |
| scope="row"| "I Dare You (Te Reto a Amar)" {{small|(Kelly Clarkson featuring Blas Cantó)}} | rowspan="3" {{n/a|non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "Cúrame" {{small|(Nia featuring Blas Cantó)}} | 2021 |
| scope="row"| "La stessa lingua" {{small|(Emma Muscat featuring Blas Cantó)}} | 2022 |
=Promotional singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col"| Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Complicado"
| 2018 | rowspan="2"| Complicado |
| scope="row"| "Dejarte ir" (featuring Leire Martínez) | 2019 |
Awards and nominations
{{See also|Auryn#Awards and nominations}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| before = Miki Núñez
with "La venda"
| title = Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest
| years = 2020 (cancelled)
| after = Himself
with "Voy a quedarme"
}}
{{succession box
| before = Himself
with "Universo"
| title = Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest
| years = 2021
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Blas Cantó}}
{{Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest |state=autocollapse}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 2020 |state=autocollapse}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 2021 |state=autocollapse}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cantó, Blas}}
Category:Warner Music Spain artists
Category:Singers from the Region of Murcia
Category:Spanish LGBTQ singers
Category:English-language singers from Spain
Category:Spanish male songwriters
Category:21st-century Spanish male singers