Vienna 2015, 60th ESC 40 For 40: Edurne "Amanecer"

With the grand final next Saturday, there are only two more grand final only participants to review for Vienna, starting with Edurne (pictured), with "Amanecer" (Spain).

"Amanecer" is song that is too mainstream for a reason: the biggest reason is the flow of the tune, and also her voice. That is all. And since she will perform on grand final Saturday next Saturday night, I got a feeling she will finish next to last (Australia will finish last in their first ESC, not joking). Good luck.

Up next: Mans Zelmerlow "Heroes"

Copenhagen 2014 Reviews: Ruth Lorenzo "Dancing in the Rain"

Ruth Lorenzo (pictured) is the representative for Spain at Copenhagen 2014 with the ballad "Dancing in the Rain."

"Dancing in the Rain" is a power ballad that starts soft and gets hard. Typical of a ballad. Since Spain is among the 'Big Six' of the ESC, she will perform next Saturday in the grand final only. Does she have a shot to win? Not really, it's a good, reasonable song, but I think it will finish way down towards the bottom.

Spain has been a part of the ESC landscape for about five decades. They have had some awesome songs of the past ESC's including Beth "Dime" (2003, best ESC entry from Spain), Cadillac "Valentino" (1986) and Rosa "Europe's Living a Celebration" (2002) just to name a few. Even the past two years were good, with Pastora Soler "Quedate Conmigo" (2012) and El Sueno de Morfeo "Contigo Hasta el Final" (2013) giving what real Eurofans want. This song might be okay, but not one of the best that Spain has sent to an ESC, but good nonetheless.

Up next: Sanna Nielsen "Undo."

Sochi 2014: The Countdown Series: Spain

32 days remaining until the opening ceremonies (31 until the first day of competition) at Sochi 2014. Up next on the countdown: Spain.

Spain made their winter Olympics debut at Garmisch Partenkirchen 1936, and has competed at every winter games since. Spanish athletes in the winter games won only two medals, including a gold medal.

Francisco Fernandez Ochoa (pictured) remains to this day as the only gold medalist for Spain in the winter games, after his win in the slalom event at Sapporo 1972. Fernandez Ochoa is one of many who have competed in both the winter and summer Olympics.

For Sochi, 20 quota spots available, including in Alpine and cross country among others.

Up next: Swaziland

Malmo 2013 39 For 39: El Sueno de Morfeo "Contigo Hasta el Final"

El Sueno de Morfeo won't have to worry about a semifinal. Why? Because Spain is among the 'big six' exclusively for grand final day May 18.

The Spanish trio's entry, "Contigo Hasta el Final" is one I think has it all. A great song, which starts slow and gets harder, with a folkish sound. Take a listen:

No doubt about it. This has something Pastora Soler didn't have at Baku 2012: being a worthy contender on grand final day. I mean "Quedate Conmigo" was okay, but this song is heaps better.
Will they back up my words on May 18? Stay tuned.

Up next: a review of Robin Stjernberg "You."

France-Spain Late Game Fracas!

Check out Nicolas Batum's low blow on Jose Calderon late in the quarterfinal match on Thursday! Watch here!

This result in a near bench-clearing incident:

No word on any possible penalties from FIBA as a result of this. Spain won and moves on to the second round.

After the match, Batum on this incident said that he wanted to give the Spaniards 'something to remember'.

Why not this?





Champions of Europe!

The Spanish men's senior national team became the first program in the history of the UEFA EURO Championships to go three-peating after their 4-0 blowout of Italy Sunday in Kiev.

No other program has done that feat in the history of that tournament. Congrats.

London 2012: The Countdown Series: Spain

78 days to go until the first day of the summer Olympics. Next up on the parade of nations: Spain (ESP).

Spain has participated in the summer Olympics since the first modern day Olympics of 1896 (Athens). 113 medals have been won by Spanish athletes in the summer games, including 34 gold medals.

Four Spanish athletes have won two individual gold medals in the summer games. One of those is track cyclist Joan Llaneras (pictured), who won the men's point race twice-at Sydney 2000 and again at Beijing 2008. Llaneras joins the other three that have won two golds each in the summer games for Spain:

• Luis Doreste (sailing), won mixed two person Dinghy at Los Angeles 1984, and mixed two person heavyweight Dinghy at Barcelona 1992.
• Theresa Zabell (sailing), won women's two person Dinghy at Barcelona 1992 and again at Atlanta 1996.
• Gervasio Deferr (gymnastics), won men's horse vault at Sydney 2000 and again at Beijing 2008.

For Spain, their biggest athletes have won gold in the summer games as well. Take multi-time Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain (pictured), who won gold in the men's individual time trial at Atlanta 1996.

Former world number one in men's tennis and multiple grand slam singles champion Rafael Nadal (pictured) won men's singles gold at Beijing 2008, defeating Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) in final.

At the team level, men's football (soccer) won gold at Barcelona 1992, defeating Poland in the final. Also at Barcelona, the women's (field) hockey team defeated Germany in the final to win gold. Finally, the men's water polo team defeated Croatia in the final to win gold at Atlanta 1996.

As of now, 228 Spanish athletes are headed to London to compete in 21 events, including athletics, boxing, cycling, equestrian, judo, swimming, taekwondo, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling. In addition, the following teams have also qualified for the London games:

• men's basketball
• men's (field) hockey
• men's football (soccer)
• men's handball
• men's water polo

Up next: Sri Lanka