"Zorra" (pronounced[ˈθora]; transl. Vixen) is a song by Spanish husband and wife synth-pop duo Nebulossa. The song was written and produced by both members of the duo and released on 15 December 2023 as part of their upcoming EP, Virturrosismo. It represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, where it placed in 22nd with 30 points at the grand final.
The song was self-described by the band as an attempt of reclaiming the word "zorra", which is widely used in Spain as a derogatory slang term to call a woman a "bitch" or "slut". It was met with a heavily divided reaction amongst Spanish society. "Zorra" received some praise from both Spanish and international outlets on its attempt to reclaim the word as an empowering term for women. However, it was met with harsh criticism from multiple members and groups of the Spanish feminist community, with the idea of reclaiming a word via repetition in an "empowering" song being challenged. "Zorra" drew commercial success, peaking at number five in its native country of Spain.
Background and composition
"Zorra" was written and produced by the members of Nebulossa: Mery Bas and Mark Dasousa.[2] The title of the song, repeated multiple times in the lyrics, literally means "vixen" (i.e. a female fox) but is also connected to vulgar connotations, as it is more often used to mean "bitch" or "slut" in Spanish slang.[3] It was therefore brought into question as potential infringement of Eurovision regulations. However, the European Broadcasting Union, in charge of organising and supervising the contest, stated in a public statement to El País that the use of the word did not constitute a breach of the rules.[4]
The word zorra was explained by Wiwibloggs as "one of the most blatant cases of built-in sexism within the Spanish language"; the euphemistic meaning of the male equivalent zorro has positive connotations, while zorra is most often used as a misogynistic insult.[5] The song – with its theme of women's empowerment – uses this and attempts to reappropriate the insult; the lyrics criticise a society that views women negatively for everything, and embrace the attributes of female independence that may be called zorra.[5] The last line of the first verse is "Cambiar por ti me da pereza" (transl. "Can't be bothered changing for you").[5][6]
On 7 February 2024, Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) announced that the official English title of the song would be "Vixen", with Nebulossa releasing a music video of the song with official English lyrics that translates zorra as "vixen" throughout the video.[6] Official translations of the song were also released in French, German, Italian and Swedish.[7]
Music video and promotion
Manuela Trasobares (pictured in 2023) was mentioned in the music video for "Zorra"
A music video for the song features references to transgender singer and politician Manuela Trasobares, who has been tagged with the negative stereotypes of a zorra, and the recreation of a moment from the 1990s where Trasobares threw a drinking glass on the floor during a talk show while calling for women's liberation.[5][6] Nebulossa also referenced this moment after their performance in the final of Benidorm Fest.[6]
To further promote the song, the duo performed their song on numerous occasions in the months heading into Eurovision 2024, including at the Eurovision pre-parties: Pre-Party ES on 30 March,[8] the Barcelona Eurovision Party on 6 April,[9] the London Eurovision Party on 7 April,[10] Eurovision in Concert on 13 April,[11] and the Nordic Eurovision Party on 14 April.[12] They also performed the song at the Swedish embassy in Madrid on 10 April[13] and at a Rome nightclub 26 April.[14]
Critical reception
Spanish media and personalities
Reception amongst Spanish society was heavily divisive. Upon learning about the song, Trasobares praised it for attempting to reclaim "zorra",[15] stating in Eurovision Fam, "it is an empowerment of women after so many years... Now we take the reins of our lives and anticipate the patriarchy, we ourselves are the ones who empower that word."[16]Rigoberta Bandini, a previous competitor in Benidorm Fest, gave positive remarks toward the song, stating that she thought it was "a very brave proposal [and] very funny.... I hope it works at Eurovision and that they understand the bitches that we are."[17]Pedro Sánchez, the current prime minister of Spain, admitted that while the "fachosphere" would have preferred another competing song to win Benidorm Fest 2024, he personally preferred "Zorra".[18] Regarding the song's performance, Carlos Marcos of El País proclaimed, "Nebulossa is among the best... they have managed to get the audience... to shout: 'I'm even sluttier'. Good for Nebulossa."[19]
Criticism was levied against "Zorra" by feminist personalities. Najat El Hachimi, a columnist writer for El País, wrote a heavily negative review on the song, writing that she found the song's attempt at reclaiming "zorra" useless, calling it a "banal deformation of feminist demands".[20] Another reporter for El País, Laura Freixas, stated that she thought the idea of reclaiming a slur was "delulu, not [the] solulu".[21]Carmen Calvo, a former Deputy Prime Minister of Spain, stated that the song was "a song to win money and votes".[22]Ángeles Álvarez and Laura Berja [es], two Spanish politicians known for their advocacy of feminism, proclaimed their thought that the repetitive usage of "zorra" within the song did not empower women.[23]Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE)'s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion delegate, Montserrat Boix, resigned in the wake of Nebulossa's victory, proclaiming on Twitter, "'Zorra' is neither empowerment for women, nor feminism".[24] In a February 2024 survey conducted by El Mundo, the majority in both men and women surveyed did not think that "Zorra" empower women.[25] In response to criticism, Nebulossa stated that "we did not intend to make an anthem, the surprise has been that people have appropriated the message".[26]
Eurovision-related and other media
In a Wiwibloggs review containing several reviews from several critics, the song was rated 7.2 out of 10 points,[27] earning 12th out of 37 songs on the site's annual ranking.[28]ESC Beat's Doron Lahav ranked the song 24th overall, writing that while he thought it was "100% enjoyable synth pop", he admitted that "[I think] the vocals towards the end should improve."[29] Erin Adam of The Scotsman rated the song seven out of ten points, admitting that while "itt's not going to win", it was "a cult favourite in the making".[30]National Public Radio's (NPR) Glen Weldon included it in his list of 10 overall favourites to win the contest, writing that "Nebulossa does solid work not only reclaiming [zorra], but luxuriating in it."[31]
Spain's broadcaster for the Eurovision Song Contest, Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE), organised a 16-entry competition, Benidorm Fest 2024, the third iteration of the national final. It consisted of two semi-finals consisting of eight songs, with the top four songs in each semi-final qualifying for the grand final. The results of each show were determined through a combination of public televoting, a demoscopic jury, and an expert jury. The categories made up of 25%, 25%, and 50% of the total vote, respectively.[32][33]
"Zorra" was announced as a competing song in the competition on 14 December 2023.[34] It was placed into the first semi-final,[35] where it was drawn to perform eighth.[36] It qualified from the first semi-final, winning with 149 points.[37] It was later drawn to perform fifth in the grand final.[38] "Zorra" proceeded to win the competition with 156 points, earning the top position in both the public televote and the expert jury.[39][40] As a result, the song won rights to represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.[40]
At Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 took place at the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 7 and 9 May and the final on 11 May 2024. As Spain was a member of the "Big Five", Nebulossa automatically qualified for the grand final.[41] They were drawn to be positioned in the running order via the producer's choice;[42] they proceeded to place them eighth in the running order, ahead of Lithuania's Silvester Belt and before Estonia's duo of 5miinust and Puuluup.[43]
Nebulossa performing "Zorra" at a dress rehearsal before the Eurovision 2024 grand final.
For its Eurovision performance, Israel Reyes and Juan Sebastián Domínguez were appointed as staging directors.[44] Before the contest, the band stated that they would refuse to change the song in any way despite pushback against the song along with looming threats of a potential rewrite request given by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).[45] The performance featured Mery Bas in a Michael Costello-designed black corset adorned with rhinestones, meant to represent a dominatrix.[46][47] Two backing dancers and a backing singer were also appointed to accompany Nebulossa.[44] The usage of red sofas and lamps were applied, which was meant to apply a "cabaret atmosphere" towards the performance.[48][49][50] Visuals of Venus de Milo, a red lock and a background inspired by the 1927 film Metropolis were also shown to represent classical feminity, a liberated society, and the city of Benidorm, respectively.[48][49]
After the results were announced, they finished in 22nd with 30 points, with a split score of 19 points from juries and 11 points from public televoting.[51] No countries gave a set of the maximum 12 points in either category for the song. Regarding the former, the most a country gave was a set of seven points, awarded by Italy. In the public televote, the most a country gave was three, awarded by Finland and Portugal.[52] In response to their result, band member Mark Dasousa responded that "[it is not true] that we didn't care about the score... but we are not competitive people and we have learned a lot".[53] The result was met with mixed reception. On Spanish talk show La Roca, host Nuria Roca, applauded Nebulossa's efforts at the contest, stating, "regardless of the position, which is not good, it is a hit song, it is an anthem... The performance she gave was what was expected." In contrast, Juan del Val, another host on the show, expressed disappointment, proclaiming that "the position is shit... it is a festival where it is about placing first before second and second before third, and we have finished in 22nd."[54]El País' Carlos Marcos stated on 12 May, "[the result was a] little less than expected. But we liked their performance... for better or worse, they control the situation, they are back from everything, [and] they went there to enjoy and no one was going to ruin their moment of exposure and glory".[55]
^Hachmi, Najat El (9 February 2024). "No me llames zorra" [Don't call me a bitch]. El País (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
^ abSolano, Cristhian (29 April 2024). "Te contamos el día a día de Nebulossa en Malmö" [We recount you Nebulossa's daily schedule in Malmö]. ESCplus España (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
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