Javier Herrero
Liverpool (United Kingdom) (EFE).- Blanca Paloma competes this Saturday in the grand final of Eurovision 2023 on behalf of Spain under very good omens (“I come to win”, she tells EFE) and probably the most daring bet of this country in decades: the lullaby por bulerías “EaEa”, which brings flamenco back to the European festival.
“I am very proud that such a risky proposal has gone so far”, subscribes the artist from Elche Blanca Paloma in an interview a few hours after she steps on the stage of the Liverpool Arena with a song that celebrates the importance of the maternal legacy and, in her case, of his grandmother Carmen and her red fringed shawl.
QUESTION: All the specialized press highlights your vocal performance and your ability to control your nerves on stage. How does he do it?
ANSWER: I wish I knew. I suppose it’s confidence in the work we’ve done so far, the work of a team forged over the last year and with which I feel identified, because you have to go out on that stage thinking that what you’re going to do is true. I am very proud that such a risky proposition has gone this far.
QUESTION: Why did you decide to keep the staging with which you won the Spanish pre-selection of Benidorm Fest almost intact in Eurovision?
ANSWER: The concept was already closed. We have only proposed more adaptations to this scenario, because there were things that could not be reproduced as is, because otherwise we would have left it. We were very satisfied with the result in Benidorm and, at the same time, we have found advantages to take advantage of, such as performance. The important thing is not the amount of new sensationalism, but to maintain the essence of the ones that were there and that those who join elevate the whole.
QUESTION: Why change in that sense the final note supported by the melisma of the studio version?
ANSWER: It is true that the sharp gave me confidence. It was an arrow from the voice that shot straight into the hearts of the people, but in these months when we presented variations in the performances, there were people who asked me about the melisma of the recording. I have reserved it for the final because it is complex and risky. For me this song is an Olympics of the voice and it is the first time that I sing while moving.
QUESTION: Is there a trickier moment during the performance?
ANSWER: Each of them is important and significant. For me, at the beginning, the challenge is to cross the screen and, later, come out with determination in the look and in the movement. It is a matter of sustaining the energy so that it does not decay. I have mental images throughout the entire subject in case at any time I disconnect or there is a failure, to be able to do an emergency reconnection.
QUESTION: What images?
ANSWER: Before starting I always look up and connect with Grandma Carmen, because this trip is a tribute to her entire legacy.
QUESTION: What would she have said to him in a moment like this?
ANSWER: Let’s go there the White Dove!
QUESTION: It appears fifth in the bets, are we going to put an end to the flamenco spell that brought Remedios Amaya to last place?
ANSWER: I hope so, although beyond flamenco this candidacy represents me and the great diversity that exists in Spain, because it also has oriental nuances and is intertwined with electronic music. It is looking back to recover the value of our identity and send it to future generations.
QUESTION: What has Eurovision given you?
ANSWER: It has made me realize how strong I am. And I also think that it has been important not only for me but for other artists that would not be seen in this context. They are told that in these formats, perhaps more associated with commercial music or more of the moment, there is also room for more risky proposals, a commitment to culture and art and thus enrich the festival.
QUESTION: This song came up in the middle of the production of your first album, at what point is that album?
ANSWER: On stand-by. We gave it a boost recently by releasing “Plumas de nácar”, which was the first song I wrote. What I want now is to take advantage of this adrenaline to continue working when Eurovision ends, lock myself in the studio to record and at the same time do concerts, which I really want, because it is where I connect with people the most and where I feel freest.
QUESTION: What whim has been promised for the end of this maelstrom?
ANSWER: Go back to my town and eat a paella or a fideuá from my mother, that is like the best hug.
QUESTION: With two candidates as strong ahead as Sweden and Finland, is there room for the hope of repeating a phenomenon like that of Salvador Sobral in 2017?
ANSWER: You don’t come to lose a contest. There will be those who come to participate, but with this proposal I come to win. I’m prepared to stay where we are, because it’s not up to me, but I think we’re up to the task and we have to dream until the end.