Su canción
Encyclopedia
"Su canción" is a song that was Spain
's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1979
, held in Jerusalem, Israel
. It was sung by the Peru
vian singer Betty Missiego
, who was chosen by the Spanish broadcaster, Televisión Española
(TVE), as their representative in the Contest that year.
's Christina Simon
with "Heute in Jerusalem
." At the end of judging that evening, "Su canción" took the second-place slot with 116 points. Spain was given 12 points by Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium, 12 points being the maximum score allotted to one country by another.
The song was performed from the point of view of "una mujer mayor" (an old woman, ostensibly Missiego), who lived a solitary life until she found joy in the world around her through children who asked her to sing a song with them. At the end, she implores everyone to sing along with her, so the song can become "theirs" as well. Unique that year was her use of children as backup singers of sorts, joining her in "her song." The children on stage that evening were Javier Glaria, Alexis Carmona, Beatriz Carmona, and Rosalía Rodríguez. At the end of the song, the children unfurl small banners, with "thanks" inscribed on each in English, Spanish, Hebrew and French, respectively.
As Spain was the last country to perform, it was also the last to vote. Before its points were awarded to the other countries, it had led the Contest by one point. When it awarded Israel and its song "Hallelujah" 10 points it had, by extension, granted it the win.
According to the official Eurovision website, it was rumored after the contest that Spain gave high marks to Israel to prevent their own country from having to host the Contest in 1980
, thus saving themselves the high expenses of an international production.
, in which the country also placed second. It would be the best placing for Spain in the Contest until 1995
, when they would place second again.
As a result of the high placing, it is remembered as one of the more notable moments for Spain in the Contest, so much so that both Missiego and songwriter Moreno have been involved in events with OGAE
, the official Eurovision fan club. In 2006, Missiego was a guest of honor at a Spanish OGAE meeting, alongside Massiel
, winner of the Contest for Spain in 1968
, and Conchita Bautista
, who sang the first Spanish entry at Eurovision in 1961
.
Missiego recorded "Su canción" in four different languages, besides Spanish also French ("Dès qu'un enfant chante"), Italian ("Vola l'amore") and German ("Der mann im mond").
"Su canción" was succeeded as the Spanish representative
at the 1980 Contest
by Trigo Limpio
with "Quédate esta noche
".
Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest
Spain debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961, finishing 9th. Since 1999, Spain is one of the "Big Five" and therefore automatically allowed to participate in the final because they are the five biggest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union.Spain has won the contest...
's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1979
Eurovision Song Contest 1979
The Eurovision Song Contest 1979 was the 24th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 31 March 1979 in Jerusalem, Israel. The presenters were Daniel Pe'er and Yardena Arazi, and the event was staged at the International Convention Center. Representing Israel, Gali Atari and Milk and Honey were the...
, held in Jerusalem, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. It was sung by the Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian singer Betty Missiego
Betty Missiego
Beatriz Teresa "Betty" Missiego Campos is a Peruvian singer, who now holds dual Spanish citizenship and lives in Spain....
, who was chosen by the Spanish broadcaster, Televisión Española
Televisión Española
Televisión Española is the national state-owned public-service television broadcaster in Spain. TVE's activities were previously financed by a combination of advertising revenue and subsidies from the national government, but since it's been supported by subsidies only.TVE belongs to the RTVE...
(TVE), as their representative in the Contest that year.
Internal selection
From 1977 to 1999, TVE used an internal selection process to select both the singer and the song to represent them at Eurovision. For 1979, Betty Missiego, a 34-year-old singer and television presenter from Peru who had previous song festival experience representing Peru at the Festival OTI in Madrid in 1972, was selected to go to Jerusalem with the song "Su canción," written and composed by Fernando Moreno.At Eurovision
At Jerusalem, the song was the nineteenth and final song performed that evening, after AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
's Christina Simon
Christina Simon
Christina Simon is an Austrian singer and composer.Simon was selected to represent Austria in Eurovision Song Contest 1979. She has performed in that contest the entry "Heute in Jerusalem ". This song had lyrics by André Heller and music by Peter Wolf...
with "Heute in Jerusalem
Heute In Jerusalem
"Heute in Jerusalem" was the Austrian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, performed in German by jazz singer Christina Simon....
." At the end of judging that evening, "Su canción" took the second-place slot with 116 points. Spain was given 12 points by Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium, 12 points being the maximum score allotted to one country by another.
The song was performed from the point of view of "una mujer mayor" (an old woman, ostensibly Missiego), who lived a solitary life until she found joy in the world around her through children who asked her to sing a song with them. At the end, she implores everyone to sing along with her, so the song can become "theirs" as well. Unique that year was her use of children as backup singers of sorts, joining her in "her song." The children on stage that evening were Javier Glaria, Alexis Carmona, Beatriz Carmona, and Rosalía Rodríguez. At the end of the song, the children unfurl small banners, with "thanks" inscribed on each in English, Spanish, Hebrew and French, respectively.
As Spain was the last country to perform, it was also the last to vote. Before its points were awarded to the other countries, it had led the Contest by one point. When it awarded Israel and its song "Hallelujah" 10 points it had, by extension, granted it the win.
According to the official Eurovision website, it was rumored after the contest that Spain gave high marks to Israel to prevent their own country from having to host the Contest in 1980
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was the 25th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 19 April 1980 in The Hague. The presenter was Marlous Fluitsma, although each song was introduced by a presenter from the nation represented...
, thus saving themselves the high expenses of an international production.
Success
"Su canción", ending in second place, was the best showing for a Eurovision entry Spain had seen since 1973Eurovision Song Contest 1973
The Eurovision Song Contest 1973 was the eighteenth Eurovision Song Contest and was held in Luxembourg. The language rule forcing countries to enter songs sung in any of their national languages was dropped, so performers from some countries sang in English....
, in which the country also placed second. It would be the best placing for Spain in the Contest until 1995
Eurovision Song Contest 1995
The Eurovision Song Contest 1995 was the 40th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 13 May 1995 in the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. The presenter was Mary Kennedy. This contest broke the chain of victories that Ireland enjoyed in 1992, 1993, and 1994...
, when they would place second again.
As a result of the high placing, it is remembered as one of the more notable moments for Spain in the Contest, so much so that both Missiego and songwriter Moreno have been involved in events with OGAE
OGAE
OGAE is one of the 2 major international fan club networks of the Eurovision Song Contest. It has branches in 37 European countries.Although the Eurovision Song Contest started in 1956, OGAE began only in 1984 in Finland. All countries that take part or have already taken part in the Eurovision...
, the official Eurovision fan club. In 2006, Missiego was a guest of honor at a Spanish OGAE meeting, alongside Massiel
Massiel
María de los Ángeles Felisa Santamaría Espinoza , professionally known as Massiel, is a Spanish pop singer...
, winner of the Contest for Spain in 1968
Eurovision Song Contest 1968
The Eurovision Song Contest 1968 was the 13th Eurovision Song Contest. The contest was won by the Spanish song "La, la, la", performed by Massiel....
, and Conchita Bautista
Conchita Bautista
María Concepción Bautista Fernández is a Spanish singer and actress, best known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contests of 1961 and 1965....
, who sang the first Spanish entry at Eurovision in 1961
Eurovision Song Contest 1961
The Eurovision Song Contest 1961 was the sixth Eurovision Song Contest. A total of sixteen countries took part in the Contest, including the three debuting countries: Finland, Spain, and Yugoslavia. It was held on 18 March 1961 and was the first to take place on a Saturday night, a tradition that...
.
Missiego recorded "Su canción" in four different languages, besides Spanish also French ("Dès qu'un enfant chante"), Italian ("Vola l'amore") and German ("Der mann im mond").
"Su canción" was succeeded as the Spanish representative
Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest
Spain debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961, finishing 9th. Since 1999, Spain is one of the "Big Five" and therefore automatically allowed to participate in the final because they are the five biggest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union.Spain has won the contest...
at the 1980 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was the 25th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 19 April 1980 in The Hague. The presenter was Marlous Fluitsma, although each song was introduced by a presenter from the nation represented...
by Trigo Limpio
Trigo Limpio
Trigo Limpio were a spanish musical trio very popular in Spain in the 1970s and 1980s. It was formed by Amaya Saizar, Iñaki de Pablo and Luis Carlos Gil....
with "Quédate esta noche
Quédate esta noche
"Quédate esta noche" was the Spanish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, performed in Spanish by Trigo Limpio....
".