Scandal
The fact that Spain hasn't won the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) all but twice, being the second time a huge tie, is really a national drama. So dramatic that TV station La Sexta was planning a documentary speaking about May 68. Yes, the world was under revolutions, Paris was on arms, the US students were against Vietnam, but Spain had a fierce dictatorship that repressed people. The big spanish event in May 1968 was winning the ESC.
According to this documentary, Spain bought its victory in the ESC in May 1968. There's a lot behind. For instance, Juan Manuel Serrat was the chosen singer, but he withdrew in the last moment saying that he was either singing in Catalan or not going. So TVE rushed to find another singer, kind of "alternative" as well. Her name is Massiel and she learnt the song in a few weeks and won. According to the documentary, TVE bought lots of stuff in Europe in exchange, so other TV stations would be thankful and would vote for Spain's entry.
The rumor I knew was that Spain bought the PAL colour TV System (being neighbours of France would have meant that SECAM was a wiser option), thus gaining votes from Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.
The thing is that that victory was publicised by the regime. Bear in mind that the only news were broadcast by the official radio and the official tv, as well as a newsreel before any film in cinemas. And this was sold as a great Spanish success.
Read the story (in spanish) here and here.
According to this documentary, Spain bought its victory in the ESC in May 1968. There's a lot behind. For instance, Juan Manuel Serrat was the chosen singer, but he withdrew in the last moment saying that he was either singing in Catalan or not going. So TVE rushed to find another singer, kind of "alternative" as well. Her name is Massiel and she learnt the song in a few weeks and won. According to the documentary, TVE bought lots of stuff in Europe in exchange, so other TV stations would be thankful and would vote for Spain's entry.
The rumor I knew was that Spain bought the PAL colour TV System (being neighbours of France would have meant that SECAM was a wiser option), thus gaining votes from Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.
The thing is that that victory was publicised by the regime. Bear in mind that the only news were broadcast by the official radio and the official tv, as well as a newsreel before any film in cinemas. And this was sold as a great Spanish success.
Read the story (in spanish) here and here.