WHEN?: Tuesday 28 January, Thursday 30 January through Saturday 1 February 2025

WHERE?: Palau Municipal d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm

Spain achieved its best Eurovision result for 27 years with the 1st winner of Benidorm Fest – Chanel’s SloMo was 3rd – but the last 2 years have seen finishes in 17th and 22nd.

• Read on for reasons including Sonia y Selena, Nebulossa returns, Melody & K!ngdom

Those diminishing returns have been reflected in our predictions for the Benidorm Fest wins which saw us back victor Chanel in 2022, plump for the ecstasy of Agoney a year later (2nd) and go Sofia Coll in 2024 (7th).

We’re writing this while listening to the songs in Barcelona and we’re yet to see the all important performances but can reflect our thoughts on their contestants and their songs.

Doce puntos (12): Sonia y Selena Reinas (Queens) (Lorenzo Giner Puchol, Arturo Martínez Marzo) Update: eliminated in semi 1 

Co-writer Puchol is better known as Mark Dasousa, half of last year’s Benidorm Fest winners Nebulossa together with his wife Mery Bas. The electropop duo who sang fan favourite Zorra do not defend their title but Reinas marks the return of a beloved duo who had a big hit with the joyous Yo Quiero Bailar which missed out on representing Spain in 2001. REINAS to give it its capitalised title is as fun as Zorra, female fronted but perhaps destined to a similar result as Nebulossa if selected. We’re still dancing after all these years too though and adore it nevertheless. Sample English lyric: ‘Put on your heels, mascara and gloss, I’ll drop by your home at 12, Lemon and salt, a couple of shots, The QUEENS of the night.’

Diez puntos (10): Melody Esa Diva (That diva) (Alberto Fuentes Lorite) Update: qualified in semi 1 

Melody had her 1st smash aged just 10 with El Baile Del Gorila (Gorilla dance) and has had hits from 6 albums in 15 countries. She has appeared on TV shows including Tu Cara Me Suena (Your face sounds familiar to me) and in Paco León’s series Arde Madrid (Madrid burns). This is female-fronted pop in a similar vein to Sonia y Selena where performance will be key. Sample English lyric: ‘A diva is simple like an ordinary person, A diva doesn’t step on anyone to shine … You’ll see that Diva is me.’

Ocho puntos (8): K!ngdom Me gustas tú (I like you) (Andrea Rada de Luís, Jorge Gomis Marín, Iván Ramírez Hernández) Update: eliminated in semi 1 

In a year when we wonder whether our heads are being turned by acts with familiar pasts, this is a turn we were not previously aware of with uptempo, feelgood pop that we just love. Quite possibly the only group in it and it’s just a good-natured bop. The group includes Ane Rada, Iván Ramírez and Jorge Gomis.

Siete puntos (7): Lachispa Hartita de llorar (Tired of crying) (Claudia Gómez Galindo, Eduardo Figueroa Espadas, Alejandro Páez Lou, Juan Diego Lazo Gonzales, Silvia Expósito Mansilla) Update: qualified from semi 1 

We suspect that this is the song that Spain should enter if it wants a good result because it’s credible and draws on influences a Saturday night audience would associate with the best of our favourite country.

Seis puntos (6): Kuve LOCA XTI (Crazy) (Maryan Frutos, Juan Sueiro) Update: qualified from semi 1 

Singer, songwriter from Murcia. It’s electronic dance music, loving that she’s pictured shoe in hand here and, in a very open competition this year, the fact this is insistent and drawing on the strengths of acts like Charli XCX and Chappell Roan stands Kuve in good stead.

Cinco puntos (5) J Kbello VIP (Jesús Cabello, Ricardo Furiati, Dangelo Ortega, María Parrado, José Otero) Update: qualified in semi 1 

Benidorm Fest 2025’s best songs are by women and this is a rather old school, if banging, rap to remind that there’s something artistic to men although the lyrics are utterly what you would expect from this genre.

Cuatro puntos (4) Carla Frigo Bésame (Kiss me) (Carla Frigola, Amanda Castillo, Benjamín García) Update: eliminated in semi 1 

This is a reasonable song that would benefit a great deal from more commitment from the production and vocal. We again hear Charli XCX brat inflections in the vocal and the 90s dance production.

Tres puntos (3) Celine Van Heel La Casa (The house) (Alfred García Castillo, Celine Van Heel, Pol Álvarez) Update: eliminated in semi 1 

We give you the opening to a very Spanish cabaret-style late night Saturday evening show in the 70s as the last of the Kalimotxos are being necked. Van Heel is a 29-year-old Spanish-Dutch artist, born in Athens and reisdent of cities that have left a profound impact on her, including Berlin, Paris, Stockholm, Los Angeles and Madrid. No additional alcohol needed.

Dos puntos (2) David Afonso Amor barato (Cheap love) (Luis Vicente Ramiro, Alejandro Martínez Valderrama) Update: eliminated in semi 1 

Co-writer Ramiro has been nominated for a Latin Grammy and in a female-dominated year this has a male quality that some may find in short supply and could be propelled to some success.

Uno puntos (1) Henry Semler No lo ves (You don’t see it) (Henry Lardner Semler, José Bernabé Ponsoda) Update: eliminated in semi 1 

Hats off to US-born Semler who was raised in Barcelona and conjures something memorable from obvious chords but in a year when the city’s major festival has gone for Charli XCX, Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter as its headliners we fear this may not quite be his time. Charming nonetheless.

• Picture via Facebook courtesy Sonia y Selena. Watch Benidorm Fest at RTVE
• Have you heard any of these songs or seen any of these shows? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
• Enjoyed this review? Follow monstagigz on Twitter @NeilDurham, email neildurham3@gmail.com and check us out on Instagram and Facebook