After so many months of waiting, the day had arrived.
One of the staff was talking to me, saying something about having 45 seconds left before the end of the commercial, but honestly I wasn't paying attention to what he was telling me, the only thing I was doing was some breathing exercises to keep me calm. I have rehearsed and practiced hundreds of times, either alone or with the guys. The last thing I wanted was to go out of tune or have a spotlight fall on me, I definitely needed to stop thinking so much and focus.
The melody of the piano combined with violins began to play. The spotlight was on a 12-year-old girl crying in the center of the stage. The camera zoomed in as I began to recite the first few sentences of my song, as if they were a poem.
After all you put me through
You'd think I'd despise you
But in the end, I wanna thank you
'Cause you made me that much stronger
I grabbed the camera to be in focus and started singing loudly and angrily, showing all my feelings, while Damiano and Hugo started playing their instruments.
Well, I thought I knew you
Thinkin' that you were true
Guess I, I couldn't trust, called your bluff
Time is up 'cause I've had enough
I let go the camera and started to perform, letting my feelings and past experiences that led me to write and compose this song.
You were there by my side
Always down for the ride
But your joy ride just came down in flames
'Cause your greed sold me out in shame
I walked over to where the boys were while I kept singing.
After all of the stealing and cheatin'
You probably think that I hold resentment for you
But uh-uh, oh no, you're wrong
'Cause if it wasn't for all that you tried to do
I wouldn't know just how capable I am to pull through
So I wanna say thank you
I held my microphone in its holder and sang loudly, accompanied by the boys who were also my backup singers.
'Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
Makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh, yeah, yeah, yeah ohh
I knelt on the floor while looking at the camera and kept singing. Trying to concentrate but the audience was jumping up and down and singing along with us.
Never saw it coming
All of your backstabbing
Just so you could cash in on a good thing
Before I realized your game
I heard you're goin' 'round playin' the victim now
But don't even begin feeling I'm the one to blame
'Cause you dug your own grave
After all of the fights and the lies
Guess you're wanting to hold me
But that won't work anymore (no more, aha, it's over)
'Cause if it wasn't for all of your torture
I wouldn't know how to be this way now and never back down
So I wanna say thank you
I walked along the walkway that connected the two stages.
'Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter
I knelt in the middle of the stage, feeling the pain of the next refrain.
How could this man I thought I knew
Turn out to be unjust, so cruel?
Could only see the good in you
Pretended not to see the truth
You tried to hide your lies
Disguise yourself through living in denial
But in the end you'll see, you won't stop me
As I sang this part, the little girl from the beginning appeared next to me to reach out to me. This girl symbolized my past self, the youth that was taken from me but is now helping me so that we can both overcome our pain. I stood up and sang with all my energy. I felt how Hugo and Damiano were by my side and the three of us together performed as in rehearsals.
I am a fighter and I (I'm a fighter)
I ain't gon' stop (I ain't gonna stop)
There is no turning back
I've had enough
Makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder (oh)
It makes me that much wiser (oh yeah, oh yeah)
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster (yeah)
Made my skin a little bit thicker (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Makes me that much smarter (yeah)
So thanks for making me a fighter (Fighter)
Now I walked towards Elias, who was standing on some stairs while playing the drums. He watched me walk up the stairs towards him.
You thought I would forget but I, I remembered (ooh-ooh-ooh)
'Cause I remembered (ooh-ooh-ooh)
I remembered
You thought I would forget (ooh-ooh)
I remembered (ooh-ooh)
'Cause I remembered (ooh)
I remembered
I walked down the stairs and finished the song with Hugo and Damiano by my side. They both smiled at me, proud of what we were achieving. Neither of us imagined so much support from the audience.
Makes me that much stronger (ooh-ooh)
Makes me work a little bit harder (ooh-ooh)
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter
After finishing the song we were immersed in a group hug while the only thing we heard were the applause and cheers from the audience.
"Congratulations guys, congratulations Isabel." We were complimented by the host who approached us. "She is one of the possible artists who can represent us in Eurovision. If you want this to be, send an SMS to 90209 with the name of the song below".
"Remember that there is only half an hour left for the end of the televoting, so hurry up! Thank you very much for your performance guys, you can now go to your seats, get comfortable and enjoy what is left of the show" We say goodbye to the audience and go to our seats, a big U-shaped couch where the other contestants are sitting. "Now Milena will be performing with her song ...." Announces the host, but now we focus on greeting the other artists and getting comfy.
@isabelmaese lovesss! you can still vote for us by sending us an SMS to 90209 texting Fighter! lov u <3
@ykaaar bambina sei spettacolare!
@eliaskin ❤️
@hugobass do any of you know where the buffet is, being a rock star is exhausting ✌🏻
@blascanto_es we will have to collaborate in the future my dear!
Online voting had closed, only the recount was left to be done. By now we are the second to last according to the jury's vote, which have not been very generous, something that I expected but still makes me upset.
The jury is composed of: the director of one of the most influential radio stations in the country, a critic (a jerk, which I do not know how he ended up here since everyone dislikes him) and Ruth Lorenzo, our representative of Eurovision 2014, very beloved in our country.
"Isabel" The critic calls me "Your song leaves a lot to be desired, it's not as dynamic as last year's song. It's also a good thing that we are represented by someone who also wins votes for their appearance, and with those clothes you won't get very far. Fighter is boring" He shrugs his shoulders arrogantly.
Imagine having the audacity to say so much nonsense out of his mouth, I don't understand how this man hasn't been sent to hell. But I have to behave myself, the last thing I need is to make a scene by replying to him. Nevertheless, the people in the audience boo him. I feel Damiano holding my hand, giving me his support.
Ruth rolls her eyes "This is a singing contest, not a beauty one, in case you didn't know. For me you have been spectacular Isabel, your staging is emotional and your voice is pure strength, it is incredible that even with how small and delicate you look you have that voice inside you. You are like a lioness and I love that" I smile and thank her for the compliment "I give you my 12 points".
Despite having received the 12 points from Ruth, we only have a total of 19: two from the jerk of the critic and five from the radio director. Blas Cantó is first with 36 points, way ahead of us and we are in second last place in the standings, our last hope is the televotes.
"Everything could change, mia cara, maybe we have all the support of the people at home. After all, these three judges do not represent the whole country, especially that critic, he sure sings like a cat with a cold. "whispers Damiano trying to calm me down and Hugo and Elias agree with him.
"I'm not going to keep you waiting any longer" says the host ""Let's move on to the televote count. The artists will be ranked from lowest to highest according to the points they have obtained. Best of luck guys." As the presenter commented, the artists were named until there were only two artists left, Blas Cantó and us.
The host made us go to his side, on his left was Blas and on his right were us: Damiano and Elias behind and Hugo and I in the front, since we are the shortest, the four of us holding hands. "The time has come, one of us will be the winner of Operación Eurovision and therefore our representative for the festival." He creates hype.
"Next we will show a graphic with the score" On the screen, as the presenter has mentioned, a graphic appears with a series of numbers and the difference between them is abysmal. One of us has scored 46 points, while the other has scored 109 points. They also communicate me that this artist has broken a record, because no one in the pre-selection had ever obtained so many points".
I feel a knot in my chest and it's hard to breathe from excitement and nerves. I am literally one step closer to going to Eurovision or staying here. "I am not going to make you wait any longer! So, the winner of Operacion Eurovision 2021 is .... Isabel Maese with her song Fighter. Congratulations" From here the only thing I heard was the applause from the audience and the jury, but the first thing I did was to hug my team, my friends that I consider as my brothers. Our song was playing in the background. After a few minutes of euphoria, the host wanted me to say a few words.
"First of all, good night. I know this is the typical thing to say, but I did not expect this" I smiled "Tonight has been unforgettable, having the chance to sing on a set a song that I wrote is like touching the sky. I created it when I was at my worst moment, when I felt I was worthless, so this song goes to all those people who struggle every day with themselves, who struggle with their problems and still try to make this a better world. Thank you for being fighters. You are not alone" I tried to hold back my tears.
@ykaaar guess who is going to Rotterdam!🥳
@hugobass where was i when u were taking the picture? 🙄
@isabelmaese probably eating lol
@isabelmaese i still cant believe it, to be able to represent my country in Eurovision is a dream. Thank you for all te support! I hope u are ready bc we are going to rock in the Ahoy Stadium! 🤟🏻
@hugobass u r stunning
@isabelmaese aw thanks babe <3
@hugobass i was saying it to myself lol
@wiwibloggs see u in Rotterdam Isabel! 🇪🇸
@joelhokka has started following you.
author's note
it's getting closer and closer for our boys to appear in our story!!