We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today, let’s talk about Pastora Soler, who represented Spain in the 2012 contest with the song “Quedate Conmigo”.
Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest
Spain has been a key participant in the Eurovision Song Contest since its debut in 1961. The country has won the competition twice, first in 1968 with “La, La, La” by Massiel, and again in 1969 with “Vivo Cantando” by Salomé, though the latter was part of a four-way tie for first place. Despite these early successes, Spain has struggled in recent years to achieve top positions. Its best recent result came in 2022, when Chanel finished 3rd with her energetic performance of “SloMo.”
As part of the “Big Five” (alongside the UK, France, Germany, and Italy), Spain automatically qualifies for the final each year. This prominent status reflects the country’s significant financial contribution to the contest. Spanish entries are often a blend of modern pop and traditional music, reflecting the country’s rich musical heritage. Eurovision remains a major cultural event in Spain, drawing a passionate fanbase year after year.
Recently, the national final Benidorm Fest put Spain back on the Eurovision map. Chanel’s “SloMo” won Benidorm Fest and reached a 3rd place in the Eurovision final. This year’s “Zora” didn’t end up high, but is a Eurovision classic already.
Eurovisión: Pastora Soler
On December 21, 2011, it was announced that Pastora Soler was going to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest. The plan was to select the song through a national final, with all the songs sung by, of course, Pastora Soler.
It started with an internet selection between 15 and 20 February. Two songs were submitted, one of them would be added to the national final:
- Ahora o nunca, 2,265 votes
- Me despido de ti, 1,750 votes
The final was held on March 3rd, with a 50/50 televote and jury. Here are the songs and results:
- Tu vida es tu vida, 56 pts, 2nd
- Quédate conmigo, 72 pts, 1st
- Ahora o nunca, 52 pts, 3rd
Pastora Soler
Pastora Soler, born María del Pilar Sánchez Luque on September 28, 1978, in Coria del Río, Seville, is a famous Spanish singer and songwriter. Known for blending traditional Spanish music styles like copla and flamenco with modern pop and electronic sounds, she has built a successful music career.
Pastora showed her singing talent as a child, performing Spanish folk songs. In 1994, she released her first album, Nuestras coplas. Five years later her song Dámelo ya became a big hit and made her famous. She continued to release successful albums, mixing different music styles, including the electronic-influenced Deseo in 2002.
In 2005, Pastora signed with Warner Music Spain, releasing albums like Toda Mi Verdad (2007) and Bendita Locura (2009). In 2012, she represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Quédate conmigo, finishing 10th.
After a short break in 2014 due to health issues, Pastora returned to the music scene with new albums and TV appearances, including La Voz Kids and La Voz Senior. In 2019, she also released the album Sentir, and in 2022, her album Libra came out, continuing her successful career.
photo: Junta de Andalucía, Wikimedia Commons
Quédate Conmigo
“Quédate Conmigo” (Stay with Me) is a powerful ballad performed by Spanish singer Pastora Soler at the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. The song was written by a talented team of lyricists and composers. They included Thomas G’son, Tony Sánchez-Ohlsson, and Erik Bernholm. Known for its emotional depth and Pastora’s stunning vocal delivery, the song talks about the pain of losing a loved one and the desire to have them stay, and filled with heartfelt emotion and strong musical arrangements.
At Eurovision, “Quédate conmigo” earned wide praise for its moving performance and was considered one of Spain’s strongest entries in years. It finished in 10th place out of 26 finalists, scoring a total of 97 points, which was a significant achievement for Spain, as it was one of their best results in the contest in over a decade.
