17 posts tagged “spain”

...the eventually, all dictators eventually lose the plot, today's Telegraph is reporting Franco's plans to invade Portugal after its peaceful revolution against the repression of Salazar's Estado Novo.

Crazy.

Carlos Arias Navarro, the last Spanish prime minister to serve under Gen Franco, met with US officials to garner support for such a move, according to documents held in the American National Archive and made public on Monday.

The declassified documents, released to Spanish daily newspaper El Pais, revealed that Gen Franco's government was "deeply concerned" by events across the border following the Carnation Revolution of April, 1974.

The event, a bloodless coup by the Left which effectively put an end to Portugal's authoritarian regime and set the nation on the path to democracy, sparked fears that Gen Franco's own regime could go the same way.

Mr Arias privately assured the Americans that "adequate precautions" were being taken to prevent "the events in Portugal from spilling over the Spanish border," a report from the time claims.

Six months before Gen Franco's death in November 1975 his prime minister met with the US deputy Secretary of State to express Spanish concerns and win backing for military intervention.

"Portugal posed a serious threat to Spain, not only because of the way the situation there was developing, but because of the foreign support it might ultimately receive, which could be hostile to Spain," wrote diplomat Robert Ingersoll to the then Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, in a report on the March 1975 meeting.

"Spain would fight the anti-communist battle alone if necessary," he summarised. "But it hoped that it would have the cooperation and understanding of its friends, not only in the Spanish interest but in the interest of all who thought the same."

I'm just so craptacular sometimes. Please excuse the lack of postings of late... I've been enjoying my holliers abroad, terrorising the gentry of Portugal and Spain. Two and a half weeks in Lisbon, Saville, Madrid and Mallorca... it was bliss. But now it's over and I'm back in sticky icky London.

Normal service will resume shortly. In the meantime, enjoy this tune that was on every single Spanish radio station while I was there.

...was superb and a much-needed break from gloomy London. Five days of unrelenting Mallorcan sunshine, poolside lounging at the in-laws, and the imbibing of much quality beer and food. However, it just wasn't enough, and so we're heading back to the continent in just a couple of weeks. Lisbon, Seville, Madrid each for three days and then back to Mallorca for eights days of sitting on my fat arse, clooking slowly in the sun.

And if that image doesn't put you off your dinner, I don't know what will.

But back to the drinking. Check out these pictures of the *biggest* bottle of beer I have ever enjoyed. A ginormous bottle of Grolsch, next to other objects to indicate its size. Yum yum.

...for a while now. Sorry, I'm in Spain and it's just too lovely outside to even contemplate blogging for an extended period.

Updates when I return. Until then, I will leave you with this thought: I believe there is a negative correlation (an inverse relationship, if you will) between the number of tattoos a British tourist in Spain has, and his general IQ.

More on that anon.

So... it's all over for another year (and no, I don't count the Junior Eurovision Song Contest or the Eurovision Dance Contest... yes, they exist!).

How did it all shake down on the night?

Let's cut to the chase - I was supremely disappointed by the result. There was no way Russia deserved to win with that song and that performance. However, before you all scream (both of you, that is) at once, the UK didn't deserve to win either. It was a lackluster song, badly performed on the night. Russia's act couldn't keep in tune and the skater frankly deserved to be shot. Don't take my word for it, check this out:

I had such high hopes for Sweden and couldn't believe it when Charlotte did so badly in the voting. Perhaps it was a backlash against her more-obvious-by-the-day cosmetic surgery? In any case, she deserved to be in the top 5. Poor thing... I bet she got on the first flight home and opened up a fresh bottle of Botox.

The presenters hadn't improved one iota since the semi-finals... I have ever in my life seen such stilted and awkward hosts. Seriously, couldn't Serbia muster up at least one person with a personality? I have to say it - they were even worse than the threesome that turned Eurovision 1999 in Israel into a meltdown. You don't remember? Oh well, here you go...

(Don't you just *love* YouTube?)

Anyway, I digress. We had a party. And there was drinking.

More specifically, the annual Eurovision Drinking Game. At the random picking of countries, I was so lucky and got Finland. Why lucky? Well, they sucked so I didn't have to take any shots of random Russian vodka (thanks Henrik) when they scored 12 points. Other people weren't so fortunate and left our place in quite a disheveled state. Tired and emotional, as they say. And quite, if I may add, pissed.

Despite the poor result for talent and music, we had a ball, laughing at some of the weirdest acts I've ever seen. Bosnia was particularly memorable. The falling dancer during Spain's performance? Laugh out loud funny. You missed it? Here you go...keep an eye on the beauty in puce pink.

And Saint Terry of the Wogan was a funny as ever. Though even he couldn't hide his bitterness at the way the voting panned out. He's even threatened not to do the show again, which would be an absolute disaster. Come on Tel, don't let us down. Promise you'll be in Moscow next year?

And let's all pray the Russians can put on a better show than their Serbian cousins. That is, find two people with stage presence, teach them how to pronounce commonly used English words, and accept direction through a little speaker in their ear.

Simple as that.

Considering the true awfulness of Spain's entry for this year's Eurovision (see here, as I've previously mentioned), here's a blast from the past, when Spain used to enter songs...with real singers. And incredible costumes.

This is 1969's Salome, with "Vivo Cantando".

Do you think she had too much sugar, in too many coffees?

Then there's the previous year's winning entry, Massiel with (the imaginatively titled) "La la la la". Seriously. But it won, and was a hit all over Europe. Ah, they don't write them like that anymore.

The there was 1995's entry: Anabel Conde, with "Velvue Conmigo". It didn't win, but she could sing. I recall Terry Wogan making explicit reference to her lungs on the evening in fact. What? You mean...? But that's shocking.

How rude.

So, why the sudden interest in Spanish Eurovision entries from years gone by? Today (April 6th) is in fact the 40th anniversary of Massiel's win. This was significant in that it was Spain's first win at the Eurovision.

Also, she beat the UK's Cliff Richard into second place. And for that alone, she will always have a special place in my hear. Bless you Massiel, bless you.

I was reading the other day about how crack has become a real problem in Spain. Apparently, entire families sit at home on a Saturday evening, passing the family-sized pipe from mama to papa to the kids.... high as kites, they sit back and watch primetime Spanish TV, seeing and hearing what they will...

No. That's not true.

I'm sorry. I just needed to rationalise the Spanish viewing public's choice of Eurovision entry this year. Truly, it make's Ireland's "Dustin the Turkey" look like a polished and professional entertainer. Can the entire nation have been off their heads yesterday evening? Is there something in the water?

If you're at all queasy or nauseous, you may want to look away now. For it's the incomparable "Rodolofo Chikilicuatre" and what appears to be two aged prostitutes, singing "Baila el chiki chiki".

Oh Spain.... How the mighty have fallen...

From this morning's Daily Telegraph:

"Spain no longer lost for words

Lyrics have finally been chosen for Spain's national anthem, to the relief of Spanish sporting heroes who for generations have been forced to hum awkwardly as their tune was played across pitches and podiums.

The winning verse was chosen from 7,000 entries in a competition launched by Spain's Olympic Committee to find words to accompany a military march that has been used as an anthem since the 18th century.

But the four short stanzas, which have yet to be approved by parliament, are unlikely to find favour with everyone.Those in the regions of Catalonia and the Basque Country, which have their own distinct languages and cultural identities, are certain to be upset at the phrase "ama a la patria" - love the fatherland.

Others have already expressed reservations about the opening line "Viva España" a phrase associated with Franco's dictatorship."

Aside from the inherent humour of an anthem without lyrics, it set me thinking about the difficulty of choosing lyrics in the 21st Century. Many national anthems contain rather un-PC phrases or sentiments - not a surprise, considering then some of then were written.

Most refer to vanquishing foes or historical victories over enemies, others contain mawkish references to stunning landscapes and nature. They set their nation apart from others, emphasising its difference and superiority over others. After all, anthems are supposed to instill patriotism and pride in those who sing it.

But if we were starting over now, would we attempt to be more sensitive to our neighbours? Would we acknowledge modern attitudes to the environment, sustainability, equality of the sexes? Or is it more comfortable to hide behind bloodthisty, sexist and violent 17th century lyrics, referring to their antiquity as rationale for their continuing use?

And for those of you who are interested, here are some national anthems. The Spanish one, in reference to the above news, the Irish one, because I grew up singing it, and the Italian one because I like it.