Eurovision

Eurovision 2024 celebrates this Thursday, May 9, its second semifinal in a gala that will have a double Spanish flavor. And, in addition to Nebulossa, who performs tonight representing Spain as a guest country, the Malmö Arena stage will receive a visit from Madrid’s Megara.

The Spanish “fucksia rock” band will try to qualify for this Thursday’s semi-final to be able to perform at Eurovision on Saturday and, thus, win first place at the Song Festival with their song ’11:11′. But why doesn’t Megara sing for Spain in the contest? What country do you represent?

Although Megara is representing San Marino at ‘Eurovision 2024’, the truth is that they previously tried to go with Spain by competing at the Benidorm Fest in 2023. Their song ‘Arcadia’ tried their luck and although it did not obtain a bad position (it achieved 4th place ) the truth is that they were left off the podium.

Even so, his song and his curious style managed to capture the attention of Eurofans so they were encouraged to send a new song to Benidorm 2024 that was not chosen by the RTVE expert committee. They did not throw in the towel and thus ’11:11′ was born, a new song with a recipient: the microstate of San Marino.

Destination San Marino

After not giving up and doing a long search on which countries were open to being represented by foreign artists, they came across San Marino and its ‘Una Voce Per San Marino’. Determined to achieve their goal, they sent their proposal ’11:11′ and it was chosen to participate in the preselection. There was nothing and no one to stop the Spanish group on this occasion, not even the then favorite Loredana Bertè and her song ‘Pazza’, so Megara finally obtained her well-deserved pass to Eurovision.

But did you know that nationality is not the only commonality between Nebulossa and Megara? In 2022 María Bas and Mark Dasousa, this year’s representatives of Spain in Eurovision, dared to participate in the first edition of ‘Una Voce Per San Marino’. It was not with one, but with two proposals with which they tried to conquer the microstate: “Last Night” and “Glam.” However, destiny had other plans for them and that is why they were nowhere near entering the last phase of the preselection.

Lyrics of the song ’11:11′ by Megara for Eurovision 2024

Second semi-final

This second semi-final of Eurovision 2024 will be marked by controversy regarding Israel’s participation in the midst of the war in Gaza. Despite numerous calls to boycott the song, the contest and the rest of the artists, Israel will be at the festival. He will do it with Eden Golan and her song ‘Hurricane’, a song whose lyrics had to be changed because it was considered too political – at first it was called ‘October Rain’, in reference to the Hamas attacks on October 7. Golan, as indicated by Europa Press, has not left the hotel in Malmö except to perform and the security of the Israeli delegation will be the most severe in history.

16 countries will perform on the Malmö Arena stage, of which only 10 will ensure their place in the grand final that will be held on Saturday, May 11. This will be the time to see Malta, Albania, Greece, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Austria, Denmark, Armenia, Latvia, San Marino, Georgia, Belgium, Estonia, Israel, Norway and the Netherlands sing live.

The invited countries in this second semi-final are Spain, with Nebulossa and their song ‘Zorra’; France, with Slimane and her song ‘Mon Amour’ and Italy, with Angelina Mango and ‘La Noia’.