Pastora Soler's Voice Reminds Europe Spain Can Still Sing

MAY 15 2012 · 12:25

Pastora Soler · "Quédate conmigo" · Spain · 2012 Placement: 10 · Score: 97 · Language: Spanish · Composers: Tony Sánchez-Ohlsson, Thomas G:son, Erik Bernholm · Venue: Crystal Hall · Host: Baku, Azerbaijan · Type: performance innovation · Broadcast: streaming era Pastora Soler — Andalusian, 34, already a Spanish national star — takes the Crystal Hall stage in an elegant cream gown and delivers a classic Spanish ballad with a single note held at the climax for six full bars. The vocal is the kind that stops a stadium. 10th place with 97 points. Loreen wins for Sweden with 'Euphoria'. Context Thomas G:son — Sweden's composer king and co-writer of 'Euphoria' — also co-wrote Soler's Spanish entry, an almost unheard-of dual-country credit. TVE's selection was aimed at reclaiming Spanish pride after years of middling Eurovision performance. Baku's host status was controversial because of Azerbaijani human rights issues. Legacy Soler's 2012 performance is now routinely cited as the best Spanish Eurovision vocal of the 21st century. Her post-contest concerts sold out across Spain. 'Quédate conmigo' became the template for Spain's next decade of Eurovision selections — quality balladry aiming for vocal-tour-de-force rather than staging gimmicks. Chanel's 2022 'SloMo' would finally break that pattern.