Zorra (Nebulossa song)

"Zorra"
Single by Nebulossa
LanguageSpanish
English title"Vixen"
Released15 December 2023
GenreSynth-pop
Length3:13
Label
  • Atomic
  • Indica
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Mark Dasousa
Music video
"Zorra" on YouTube
Eurovision Song Contest 2024 entry
Country
Artist(s)
Languages
Spanish
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
  • Mery Bas
  • Mark Dasousa
Entry chronology
◄ "Eaea" (2023)

"Zorra" (pronounced [ˈθora]; Spanish for 'Vixen')[1] is a song by Spanish synth-pop duo Nebulossa. The song won Benidorm Fest 2024 and will represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö.

Eurovision Song Contest

Main articles: Benidorm Fest 2024 and Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024

Benidorm Fest 2024

"Zorra" competed in Benidorm Fest 2024, a song festival organised by RTVE to select Spain's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2022. It took place at the Palau Municipal d'Esports l'Illa de Benidorm in Benidorm, Valencian Community.[2] Sixteen artists and songs competed over three shows: two semi-finals on 30 January and 1 February and the final on 3 February 2024. Each semi-final featured eight songs and four qualified for the final. The results of each show were determined through a combination of public voting, a demoscopic jury and an expert jury.

"Zorra" won the first semi-final with 149 points, and subsequently won the final with 156 points. In the semi-final, "Zorra" received the most points from the expert jury, while in the final, "Zorra" received the most points from the demoscopic jury and televote, and tied on point with "Dos extraños (Cuarteto de cuerda)" by St. Pedro in the expert jury.[3]

Lyrical content

The title of the song, repeated multiple times in the lyrics, literally means "vixen" (i.e. a female fox) but is also used with vulgar connotations, and was thus brought into question as potential infringement of Eurovision regulations. However, the European Broadcasting Union, in charge of organising and supervising the contest, explained in a public statement to El País that the use of the word does 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"/"Can't be bothered changing for you".[5][1]

On 7 February 2024, RTVE announced that the official English title of the song would be "Vixen", and Nebulossa released a music video of the song with official English lyrics, in which "zorra" is translated as "vixen" throughout.[1]

Music video

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 an iconic moment from the 1990s of Trasobares throwing a glass on the floor during a talk show while calling for women's liberation.[5][1] Nebulossa had also referenced this moment after their performance in the final of Benidorm Fest.[1]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart performance for "Zorra"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[6] 5

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Vayá, Elian (7 February 2024). "De 'Zorra' a 'Vixen': así ha traducido Nebulossa la canción al inglés para presentarla a Eurovisión 2024" [From 'Zorra' to 'Vixen': Nebulossa has translated the song to English to present it at Eurovision 2024]. Cadena SER. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  2. ^ Finalizado el escenario del Benidorm Fest, así se ha transformado el Palau d'Esports l'Illa
  3. ^ Canto, Jesús (3 February 2024). "Nebulossa con «Zorra» gana el Benidorm Fest 2024 y representará a España en el Festival de Eurovisión" [Nebulossa with "Zorra" wins Benidorm Fest 2024 and will represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest]. ESCplus España (in European Spanish). Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  4. ^ Farren, Neil (5 February 2024). "Spain: EBU Greenlights 'Zorra' Lyrics". Eurovoix. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Fuster, Luis (27 December 2023). ""Zorra!" Nebulossa reappropriates an insult for her empowering Benidorm Fest anthem". wiwibloggs. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Weekly charts - Charts - Promusicae - Productores de Música de España". www.promusicae.es. Retrieved 12 February 2024.

External links