The Plau d’Esports l’Illa de Benidorm begins to fill little by little with the arrival of the public attending the first semi-final of the Benidorm Fest 2024. The nerves are palpable in the atmosphere to know which four artists will get their pass to the big end of Saturday, February 3. Songs and dances fill the venue while waiting for Ruth Lorenzo, Marc Calderó and Ana Prada to enter the scene to start the gala.
The opening ceremony, where a series of drums resounds throughout the stadium, brings the audience to their feet. Just then, an empowered Lorenzo appears in a white dress reminiscent of the one she wore in her performance at Eurovision 2014. A detail excites more than one Eurofan located in the stands.
This is how the musical event of the year in Spain began, which has resulted in the victory of Nebulossa, Angy Fernández, Sofia Coll and Miss Caffeina, who have managed to overcome the screening and will fight for the bronze microphone. In turn, this has meant the end of the dream for the other four participants: Mantra, Noan, Lérica and Quique Niza.
Without a doubt, the most tense moment of the night was when the telephones that decided the televoting score were closed and the counting began. The first to give their votes were the professional jury, followed by the demoscopic vote and televoting. At that same moment, the public remained completely silent until the results were revealed. And, as expected, there was no shortage of boos.
But if we return to chronological order, what Benidorm Fest fans have been looking forward to have been the performances that have competed in this semi-final, which until the last moment have remained practically a secret. Lérica has been in charge of opening the gala with a spaceship trip that has taken the viewer to zero gravity. The audience present has collapsed with the moment in which the members of the duo have driven their vehicle through the universe. And with a final toast, with an alien drink reminiscent of mouthwash, they closed a performance that garnered 82 votes.
Right after it was Noah’s turn. With an impeccable voice, the multi-instrumentalist has moved the stage to his very room. The aged filter chosen for his performance and the role of his band in the staging has been combined with his vocal strength that has generated a standing ovation among those present. This same audience has gone out of control when the singer has released his highest note. Even so, he has not advanced to the final, collecting only 96 points.
It is not surprising that the Catalan was one of those classified for the grand final. And Sofia Coll has been at the top of the stakes since day one, and she has done everything possible to live up to it. The singer has performed Here to stay through a performance in which things have not stopped happening: from strange dances, to acrobatics, and has even come down from the sky itself. Something that has made the entire stadium surrender at her feet. Therefore, she has achieved 116 votes and a pass to the grand final.
And from the hypnotic movements of Coll to the combined costumes of Mantra. The group formed by Carlos Marco, Paula Pérez and Charly Weinberg has followed the line of its competitors and also wanted to bring a structure to the large oval stage: scaffolding of colored lights. The complicity between them has caused the audience present to burst into applause. Even so, it seems that he has not convinced enough, being left out with 98 votes. At that moment, the public could not contain the boos.
The well-known group has set out to demonstrate that it is one of the most consolidated in the music industry of this edition. Perched on a structure that could be a shelf in a well-known furniture store, Alberto Jiménez, the vocalist, has shown that he knows how to do much more than sing. Some very thoughtful plans and pertinent lighting have placed Miss Caffeina in Saturday’s final with 105 votes.
The youngest of Benidorm Fest 2024 has managed to keep everyone present glued to his performance, even though his voice has not accompanied him. The singer’s vocal adjustment problems have been present in the reactions of the spectators in the stands. Such has been the artist’s discouragement, that he could be seen leaving the stage with his face completely decomposed. Even so, elements such as fire, which have predominated throughout the show, have surprised many. However, he came last with 81 votes.
If at the time of her announcement she was the artist most applauded by the public, now she has done it again. And Angy Fernández has been accompanying the Spanish through the small screen for many years and she wanted to show that, after her retirement, she has returned stronger than ever. Being one of the best performances of the night for both the jury and the public, the Mallorcan has impacted with the play of lights, smoke and fans, exciting everyone present. Therefore, she has achieved 137 votes.
And it is no coincidence that the organization wanted to leave one of its highlights for last. And the duo has left the entire stadium chanting “bitch, bitch, bitch”, turning a word, which could be profane, into an entire anthem. Taking the viewer to a clandestine club, María Bass, vocalist, has shown to have a good voice while she has interacted at all times with her dancers. Climbing onto a large central circular sofa, she finished a performance with which she achieved her place in the final with 149 votes, being the most voted.
After this, the performances of Beret, Mr. Rain, Abraham Mateo and Vicco have kept the public entertained until the moment of revealing the votes. But if there is something that has caught the attention of the attendees in the stands, it has been hearing the participants receiving their teammates between screams and applause behind the scenes, demonstrating that, despite being a competition, they have forged a strong connection.
