Spain in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox song contest national year
| Year = 2023
| Broadcaster = {{lang|es|Radiotelevisión Española|i=no}} (RTVE)
| Contest = Junior
| Country = Spain
| Selection process = Internal selection
| Selection date = Artist: 7 July 2023
Song: 3 October 2023
| Artist = Sandra Valero
| Song = Loviu
| Writer = {{ubl|Luis Ramiro|David Parejo Martín|Alejandro Martínez Valderrama|Diego Cantero}}
| Final result = 2nd, 201 points
}}
Spain was represented at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song "Loviu", written by Luis Ramiro, David Parejo Martín, Alejandro Martínez Valderrama, and Diego Cantero, and performed by Sandra Valero. The Spanish participating broadcaster, {{lang|es|Radiotelevisión Española|i=no}} (RTVE), internally selected its entry for the contest.{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Jessica |date=2023-05-30 |title=Spain begins selection process for Junior Eurovision 2023 |url=https://eurovoxx.tv/spain-begins-selection-process-for-junior-eurovision-2023/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Eurovoxx |language=en-US}}
The singer performed first in the running order, preceding the entry from {{esccnty|Malta|Junior|y=2023}}. Spain finished in second position with 201 points, marking the seventh time the country finished in the top five at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest and its best result since the {{Escyr|2005|j|2005 contest}}.
Background
{{Main|Spain in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest}}
Prior to the 2023 contest, {{lang|es|Televisión Española|i=no}} (TVE) until 2006, and {{lang|es|Radiotelevisión Española|i=no}} (RTVE) since 2019, had participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest representing Spain on eight occasions since TVE's debut in the inaugural {{Escyr|2003|Junior|2003 contest}}. They won the {{Escyr|2004|Junior|2004 contest}} with the song "{{lang|es|Antes muerta que sencilla|i=no}}", performed by María Isabel.{{cite web |title=Spain - Junior Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/country/spain |access-date=2021-09-06 |website=Junioreurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} TVE decided to take an indefinite break from the contest after the {{Escyr|2006|Junior}} contest, with a broadcaster representative stating "Junior Eurovision promotes stereotypes {{Tooltip|[they]|we}} do not share".{{cite web |last=Hondal |first=Victor |date=2007-08-08 |title=Spain withdraws from JESC 2007 |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/9063 |access-date=2009-06-10 |publisher=ESCToday}} RTVE returned after a 13-year absence in {{Escyr|2019|Junior}}.{{cite news |date=25 June 2019 |title=Spain: Junior Eurovision 2019 Participation Confirmed |url=https://eurovoix.com/2019/06/25/spain-junior-eurovision-2019-participation-confirmed/ |publisher=Eurovoix}} Their return proved successful, with "{{lang|es|Marte|i=no}}" by Melani García in {{Escyr|2019|Junior}} and "{{lang|es|Palante|i=no}}" by Soleá in {{Escyr|2020|Junior}} both reaching third place.{{cite web |title=Spain{{snd}}Junior Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/country/spain |access-date=2021-09-06 |website=Junioreurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} In {{esccnty|Spain|Junior|y=2022|t=2022}}, "{{lang|es|Señorita|i=unset}}" performed by Carlos Higes achieved 6th place out of 16 countries with 137 points.{{Cite web |title=Final of Yerevan 2022 - Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/event/yerevan-2022/final |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=Junioreurovision.tv}}
Before Junior Eurovision
File:Sandra_Valero_2024_(cropped).jpg
On 7 July 2023, RTVE announced that Sandra Valero had been selected as its representative based on the unanimous decision of a jury panel made up of {{ill|Ana María Bordas|es}} (head of the Spanish delegation for the contest and co-director of Benidorm Fest), María Eizaguirre (director of communication and participation at RTVE), Miriam Corrales (director of RTVE Entertainment), César Vallejo (co-director of Benidorm Fest), Rayden (musical advisor, Benidorm Fest 2022 contestant), Tony Sánchez-Ohlsson (musical advisor, songwriter of the Spanish entries for the Eurovision Song Contest in {{esccnty|Spain|y=2007|t=2007}}, {{esccnty|Spain|y=2012|t=2012}}, and {{esccnty|Spain|y=2015|t=2015}}), and Pablo Rodríguez (musical advisor).{{Cite web |last=Pons |first=Miguel |date=2023-07-07 |title=Sandra Valero to represent Spain at Junior Eurovision 2023 |url=https://www.esc-plus.com/sandra-valero-to-represent-spain-at-junior-eurovision-2023/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=ESCplus |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=RTVE |first=PRENSA |date=2023-07-07 |title=Sandra Valero, representante de España en Eurovisión Junior 2023 |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20230707/sandra-valero-representante-eurovision-junior-2023/2451484.shtml |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}}
RTVE received a total of 114 applications (19 more than in 2022), of which 14 progressed to the live auditions.{{Cite web |last=Córdoba |first=Adrián |date=2023-11-26 |title=Quién es Sandra Valero, la representante española con la canción ‘Loviu’ en Eurovisión Junior 2023 |url=https://as.com/tikitakas/quien-es-sandra-valero-la-representante-espanola-con-la-cancion-parte-de-tu-mundo-en-eurovision-junior-2023-n/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Diario AS |language=es}} Valero presented a rendition of "{{lang|es|Parte de tu mundo|italic=no}}", the Spanish-language version of "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid (1989) soundtrack during her winning audition the day prior to the announcement, held at Prado del Rey in Pozuelo de Alarcón.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-07-28 |title=Eurovisión Junior 2023: Sandra Valero explica cómo le gustaría que fuera su canción |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20230728/sandra-valero-eurovision-junior-cancion-carlos-higes/2452701.shtml |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}}{{Cite web |last=Mancheño |first=José Miguel |date=2023-12-13 |title=Así fue el proceso de selección de Sandra Valero como representante de España en Eurovisión Junior 2023 |url=https://www.escplus.es/eurovision-junior/2023/asi-fue-el-proceso-de-seleccion-de-sandra-valero-como-representante-de-espana-en-eurovision-junior-2023/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=ESCplus España |language=es}} She had previously competed in season 7 of {{lang|es|La Voz Kids}}.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-22 |title=Así es Sandra Valero, la representante española en Eurovisión Junior 2023 que canta desde los cuatro años |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/television/20231122/9396972/asi-sandra-valero-representante-espanola-eurovision-junior-2023-canta-cuatro-anos-pmv.html |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=La Vanguardia |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=Aitana y Sandra Valero pura ternura cantando a dúo ‘Vas a quedarte’ en ‘La Voz Kids’ |url=https://www.antena3.com/programas/la-voz-kids/temporada-3/talents/sandra-valero/aitana-pura-ternura-cantando-duo-vas-quedarte_2022052762914306a0a8ff0001a96a85.html |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=www.antena3.com |language=es}}
On 15 September 2023, during the presentation gala of the 2023–24 season of RTVE, it was revealed that Valero would sing "Loviu" in Junior Eurovision, and a week later a press conference dedicated to the presentation of some details about the entry was organised.{{Cite web |last=Mancheño |first=José Miguel |date=2023-09-15 |title=Revelados los compositores de «LOVIU», la propuesta de Sandra Valero para Eurovisión Junior 2023 |url=https://www.escplus.es/eurovision-junior/2023/revelados-los-compositores-de-loviu-la-propuesta-de-sandra-valero-para-eurovision-junior-2023/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=ESCplus España |language=es}}{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2023-09-14 |title=🇪🇸 Spain: Sandra Valero to Perform "LOVIU" at Junior Eurovision 2023 |url=https://eurovoix.com/2023/09/14/spain-sandra-valero-love-you-junior-eurovision-2023/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=Spain: Sandra Valero reveals more details about song |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/spain-sandra-valero-reveals-more-details-about-song |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=junioreurovision.tv |language=en}} The song was selected following an open call for entries, after the closing of which 60 songs were assessed and three were shortlisted, including the selected entry as well as "Superwoman" and "{{lang|es|La música|i=no}}". However, the former entry was soon later discarded due to "impossibility of adjusting Sandra Valero's vocal range to that of the song", after which "Loviu", composed by Luis Ramiro, David Parejo Martín, Alejandro Martínez Valderrama, and Diego Cantero, was selected with a majority of the votes from the committee.{{Cite web |last=Mancheño |first=José Miguel |date=2023-12-28 |title=Recordando Eurovisión Junior: Niza 2023, Francia arrasa en una edición donde todos fueron “heroes” |url=https://www.escplus.es/eurovision-junior/2023/recordando-eurovision-junior-niza-2023-francia-arrasa-en-una-edicion-donde-todos-fueron-heroes/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=ESCplus España |language=es}}
"Loviu" was released on 3 October.{{Cite web |last=Farren |first=Neil |date=2023-10-03 |title=🇪🇸 Spain: Sandra Valero Releases "Loviu" |url=https://eurovoix.com/2023/10/03/spain-sandra-valero-releases-loviu/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Marc |date=2023-10-03 |title=RTVE releases LOVIU, Sandra Valero’s song for JESC23! |url=https://www.escunited.com/rtve-releases-loviu-sandra-valeros-song-for-jesc23/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=escYOUnited |language=en-US}} The song contains repeated phrases in English, French, Italian, and Portuguese.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-03 |title=Listen to the Spanish entry for Junior Eurovision 2023 ‘Loviu’ |url=https://escbubble.com/2023/10/listen-to-the-spanish-entry-for-junior-eurovision-2023-loviu/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=ESCBubble |language=en-GB}} A music video directed by Jimmy Llamas and recorded in a virtual reality studio in Boadilla del Monte was later teased by RTVE during a press conference on release day, which would go on to be released on 11 October.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-03 |title=Spain: Sandra Valero films video for ‘Loviu’ and shares snippet |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/spain-sandra-valero-films-video-loviu-and-shares-snippet |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=junioreurovision.tv |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=ESCOT |first=DANIEL BORREGO |date=2023-10-11 |title=Sandra Valero estrena el videoclip de "Loviu", un tema alegre, pegadizo y con un estribillo internacional |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20231011/eurovision-junior-2023-sandra-valero-videoclip-cancion-loviu/2457974.shtml |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}}
At Junior Eurovision
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023 took place at Palais Nikaïa in Nice, France on 26 November 2023. The event was broadcast live on La 1 and TVE Internacional. RTVE also confirmed that Tony Aguilar and Julia Varela would return as commentators for the third year running.{{Cite web |date=16 November 2023 |title=Eurovisión Junior 2023 se podrá ver en todo el mundo a través de TVE Internacional |url=https://www.escplus.es/eurovision-junior/2023/eurovision-junior-2023-se-podra-ver-en-todo-el-mundo-a-traves-de-tve-internacional/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=ESCplus España |language=es-ES}}{{Cite web |date=19 November 2023 |title=Sandra Valero: "lo que más ganas tengo es de ver el escenario" |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20231119/sandra-valero-pone-rumbo-niza-eurovision-junior-ganas-ver-escenario/2461281.shtml |access-date=2023-11-19 |publisher=RTVE}}
Sandra Valero and the Spanish delegation also participated in the Opening Ceremony for the contest, which was held in Hotel Negresco in Nice on 20 November 2023, during which the running order was also determined. Spain was drawn to open the contest, and following the ceremony it was revealed that it would be preceding the entry from {{esccnty|Malta|Junior|y=2023}}.{{Cite web |last=RTVE |first=PRENSA |date=2023-11-26 |title=España actuará en primera posición en Eurovisión Junior 2023 |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20231126/espana-actuara-primera-posicion-eurovision-junior-2023/2461415.shtml |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-20 |title=Opening Ceremony and Junior Eurovision 2023 Running Order! |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/opening-ceremony-and-junior-eurovision-2023-running-order |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=junioreurovision.tv |language=en}}
= Performance =
File:Sandra Valero es jesc2023.jpg
The live performance for the Spanish entry in Nice featured similarities to the music video for the song, with RTVE previously stating that Javier Pageo, the creative director for the song, who had previously done stagings for multiple contestants of Benidorm Fest and would go on to stage the {{esccnty|San Marino|y=2024|t=Sammarinese entry}} for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 performed by Megara, would "be in charge of bringing the universe of the "Loviu" official video live into the Palais Nikaïa’s stage".{{Cite web |last=Cília |first=João |date=2023-10-27 |title=🇪🇸 Spain: Artistic Director and Vocal Coach for Junior Eurovision 2023 Revealed |url=https://eurovoix.com/2023/10/27/spain-artistic-director-vocal-coach-junior-eurovision-2023/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}
Accompanying Valero was a four-piece dance troupe consisting of Juan Diego Álvarez, Elia Cobo, Marcos Pelado, and Evelyn Casteñada, some of whom had previously regularly appeared as dancers for the Spanish entrants in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.{{Cite web |last=Grace |first=Emily |date=2023-10-17 |title=🇪🇸 Spain: Sandra Valero to Be Joined By Four Backing Dancers at Junior Eurovision |url=https://eurovoix.com/2023/10/17/spain-backing-dancers-junior-eurovision/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-26 |title=🇪🇸 Sandra Valero to be joined on stage by four dancers at Junior Eurovision 2023 |url=https://thateurovisionsite.com/2023/10/26/sandra-valero-spain-junior-eurovision-dancers/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=That Eurovision Site |language=en-GB}} RTVE appointed Vicky Gómez as the choreographer, Verónica Ferreira as Valero's lead vocal coach, and Raúl Amor as the stylist for the performance.{{Cite web |last=ESCOT |first=DANIEL BORREGO |date=2023-10-17 |title=Estos son los cuatro bailarines que acompañarán a Sandra Valero en Eurovisión Junior |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20231017/bailarines-sandra-valero-eurovision-junior-2023-niza/2458419.shtml |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-11-24 |title=La vuelta al mundo de Sandra Valero en 56 planos. ¡El vídeo de su segundo ensayo en Eurovisión Junior! |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20231124/sandra-valero-segundo-ensayo-actuacion-eurovision-junior-2023/2461978.shtml |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}}
The song was performed on a stage made of suitcases, while bright and colourful pastel visuals were displayed on the backing LED's showed a journey through Europe and space. The costumes for Valero and her dancers were inspired by aviator suits, including the one worn by Amelia Earhart.{{Cite web |last=Mancheño |first=José Miguel |date=2023-11-22 |title=Gallery: All the images of Sandra Valero (Spain) in her first Junior Eurovision 2023 rehearsal |url=https://www.esc-plus.com/gallery/gallery-all-the-images-of-sandra-valero-spain-in-her-first-junior-eurovision-2023-rehearsal/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=ESCplus |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=CAMPOS |first=PATRI |date=2023-11-26 |title=Quién es Sandra Valero, subcampeona de Eurovisión Junior por España |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20231126/sandra-valero-quien-eurovision-junior-espana/2462130.shtml |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}} Valero's jacket included inscriptions of the words "love you" in 34 languages, including all co-official languages of Spain, while in the final shot the words were displayed on the backing LED's in the 16 official languages of the countries participating in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
= Voting =
{{Junior Eurovision Song Contest voting explanation|2023}}
At the end of the show, Spain received 115 points from juries and 86 points from online voting, placing 2nd behind France.{{Cite web|url=https://junioreurovision.tv/event/nice-2023/final/results/spain|title=Results of the Final of Nice 2023|work=Junioreurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126205659/https://junioreurovision.tv/event/nice-2023/final/results/spain|archive-date=26 November 2023|url-status=live}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable" |
| scope="col" width="33%" | Score
! scope="col" | Country |
|---|
| scope="row" | 12 points
| {{ubl|{{Esc|Estonia|j|y=2023}}|{{Esc|France|j|y=2023}}|{{Esc|Georgia|j|y=2023}}|{{Esc|Italy|j|y=2023}}}} |
| scope="row" | 10 points
| {{ubl|{{Esc|Albania|j|y=2023}}|{{Esc|Germany|j|y=2023}}|{{Esc|Netherlands|j|y=2023}}|{{Esc|North Macedonia|j|y=2023}}}} |
| scope="row" | 8 points
| {{ubl|{{Esc|United Kingdom|j|y=2023}}}} |
| scope="row" | 7 points
| |
| scope="row" | 6 points
| {{ubl|{{Esc|Armenia|j|y=2023}}|{{Esc|Malta|j|y=2023}}}} |
| scope="row" | 5 points
| {{ubl|{{Esc|Ukraine|j|y=2023}}}} |
| scope="row" | 4 points
| |
| scope="row" | 3 points
| |
| scope="row" | 2 points
| {{ubl|{{Esc|Poland|j|y=2023}}}} |
| scope="row" | 1 point
| |
| colspan=2|Spain received 86 points from the online vote |
{{col-2}}
{{col-end}}
==Detailed voting results==
Each nation's jury consisted of five members: three adult music industry professionals and two children, who are citizens of the country they represent. This jury judged each entry based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act. In addition, no member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member were released shortly after the contest.
The following members comprised the Spanish jury:{{Cite web|url=https://junioreurovision.tv/event/nice-2023/final/jury|title=Final of Nice 2023|work=junioreurovision.tv}}{{Cite news|last1=Cervera|first=Marc|url=https://www.escplus.es/eurovision-junior/2023/desvelados-los-miembros-del-jurado-espanol-en-eurovision-junior-2023/|title=Desvelados los miembros del jurado español en Eurovisión Junior 2023|website=escplus.es|language=es-ES|date=26 November 2023|access-date=9 December 2023}}
- Alfred García – singer-songwriter, represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018
- Carlos Higes – singer, represented Spain in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2022
- Gonzalo Hermida – singer-songwriter
- Blanca Paloma – singer-songwriter, represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023
- Martina Venecia Franco – actress
After Junior Eurovision
Following Sandra Valero's return to Spain after the contest, a welcome press conference was organised on 28 November in RTVE's premises in Torrespaña, Madrid, led by María Eizaguirre, where the singer spoke about her experience performing in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, reminiscing returning to the hotel after the contest where a group of Spaniards was waiting for her, including her family and friends, as well as the time spent with other contestants, as the most special moments of her experience, after which she and Eizaguirre thanked the press for the coverage given to Spain's participation in the contest.{{Cite web |last=Carros |first=Enrique García y David |date=2023-11-28 |title=Sandra Valero aterriza en Madrid tras su experiencia en Eurovisión Junior 2023 y su merecido segundo puesto |url=https://www.escplus.es/cronica/sandra-valero-aterriza-en-madrid-tras-su-experiencia-en-eurovision-junior-2023-y-su-merecido-segundo-puesto/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=ESCplus España |language=es}}{{Cite web |last=Sempere |first=Elian Vayá |date=2023-11-28 |title=Sandra Valero recuerda su metedura de pata en Eurovisión Junior 2023 y responde a su comparación con Rosa López |url=https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2023/11/28/sandra-valero-recuerda-su-metedura-de-pata-en-eurovision-junior-2023-y-responde-a-su-comparacion-con-rosa-lopez-cadena-ser/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=cadena SER |language=es-ES}}{{Cite web |last=RTVE |first=PRENSA |date=2023-11-28 |title=Sandra Valero, tras hacer historia en Eurovisión Junior: "Al actuar me sentí feliz y muy orgullosa. Ha sido un honor" |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20231128/sandra-valero-historia-eurovision-junior-2023-feliz-orgullosa-honor/2462960.shtml |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}}
On 14 February 2024, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and RTVE announced that the latter would host the {{Escyr|2024|Junior|2024 contest}}, after 2023 winner, {{lang|fr|France Télévisions|i=no}}, opted against hosting. It was the first time that Spain hosted the contest and the first Eurovision event held in the country since the Eurovision Song Contest 1969.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-14 |title=Spain will host Junior Eurovision 2024 |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/spain-will-host-junior-eurovision-2024 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Junioreurovision.tv |publisher=EBU}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Spain in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023}}
Category:Spain in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest