Gala 6 of Operación Triunfo has been the farewell of Max, one of the most charismatic and authentic contestants of the edition. The percentage of votes regarding Lucía Casani has been surprisingly unequal, with 70 percent of the votes counted in favor of Lucía.
Although perhaps Lucía’s popularity is not so surprising. Max, who has sung ‘You Will Be Found’, is a good vocalist, but his sentimental “theater kid” proposal was not enough. Lucía has a narrative: an insecure girl who, on stage, grows and makes the audience empathize with her. In addition, his choice of song, ‘Your lack of wanting’ by Mon Laferte, has been better.
Lucía has been saved from the nomination thanks to her good performance of ‘Your lack of wanting’, which started off dull, but has gained strength in the most powerful vocal moments. Unfortunately, Laura once again faces expulsion unfairly: she is the prototypical winner of Operación Triunfo and the one who has provided texture and depth to Rihanna’s performance of ‘Diamonds’, which in María Cruz’s voice has been flatter. Cruz, proposed for nomination, has been saved by her colleagues.
The other nominee, Olivia, has not shone in ‘The Beginning of Something’ from La La Love You, not even in the company of the “amulet” Guillo Rist, who has also been proposed for nomination, but has been saved by the teaching staff. While Olivia has room for improvement, but also – and it is true – a special image, it is evident that the jury does not know very well where to go with Rist, a performer with quite a bit of experience already, about whom little bad can be said, except for the issue of his tense and nasal voice, which precisely this song requested and who has worked at the Academy.
Crespo rapping on ‘Can’t Hold Us’ was the worst of the night, despite what the jury says. Surely his rap looks spectacular in front of the mirror, but not on set. I also do not agree with Téyou’s assessment: where Leire sees a voice “true to herself”, I see a singer allergic to versatility and who can hardly be considered an interpreter. His indie singer affectation is the real vocal mania of this edition, and not what Guillo is supposed to do. Along with a correct Tinho, who turned 22 during the gala and was chosen as a favorite as a birthday gift, his ‘Water’ was watered down.
The best performance of the night could have been that of Cristina, who is also the only contestant of this edition who has openly expressed her desire to participate in Eurovision. Her performance of ‘Je me casse’ has been a declaration of intentions: this is the performer that Cristina wants to be. And the role of cute and sexy girl fits her like a glove, as if she were a Sabrina Carpenter or a Spanish-style Kylie. This is where you should go and, I hope, if you participate in the Benidorm Fest, you do so with a song that really brings out the showgirl inside you.
But the jewel in the crown has been ‘Dos gardenias’, performed by Guille Toledano and Claudia Arenas. Accompanied by Manu Guix on the piano, they have sung the song with great taste and feeling. Toledano, especially, is a pure interpreter: he attacks each style with transparency, without prejudices about what he supposedly is. It has been refreshing to hear him say at the Academy that he does not write or compose, but that he is a “wonderful performer.” The truth is, it is. And Claudia too: her airy timbre of voice is unique and she makes every song she tackles sound interesting.
And, with forgiveness from the contestants, the performance of Abraham Mateo and Ana Mena, who have recovered their 2022 single ‘I want to tell you’ as a result of going viral, has left the public with their mouths open. Performed first in an acoustic key and then in eighties style, Mateo and Mena have given a lesson in vocal control and interpretation that is absolutely impressive and aspirational. Mena has been wonderful, and it’s a shame not to have heard ‘Lárgate’ live, but Mateo’s performance has been scandalous.
Gala 6 has actually started with the group ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music’ by Cass Eliot, probably the best song that has been played opening the contest, with forgiveness for ‘It’s a Sin’, and has continued with a memory of the 24th anniversary of the debut of Operación Triunfo, which premiered on October 22, 2001. There, Chenoa took the opportunity to remember the late Álex Casademunt.
@operaciontriunfo PFFF @Abraham Mateo and @Ana Mena ♬ original sound – Operación Triunfo 🎤
