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Operación Triunfo
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Operación Triunfo is a reality-show talent contest which first aired on Spain's TVE network in 2001. A kind of cross between Pop Idol, Voces en Función, Star Search, and Big Brother, the show aimed to find the country's next solo singing sensation, putting a selection of hopefuls through their paces by getting them to sing a variety of cover versions of popular songs (mainly in Spanish and English, but also sporadically in Italian or Portuguese), with tutoring from various professionals, and a headmaster like a school (first 3 series, Nina, 4 and 5 Kike Santander, 6 Àngel Llàcer).
During the first three series hosted by TVE, the show was used to select the singer and song that represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest.
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Encyclopedia
Operación Triunfo is a reality-show talent contest which first aired on Spain's TVE network in 2001. A kind of cross between Pop Idol, Voces en Función, Star Search, and Big Brother, the show aimed to find the country's next solo singing sensation, putting a selection of hopefuls through their paces by getting them to sing a variety of cover versions of popular songs (mainly in Spanish and English, but also sporadically in Italian or Portuguese), with tutoring from various professionals, and a headmaster like a school (first 3 series, Nina, 4 and 5 Kike Santander, 6 Àngel Llàcer).
During the first three series hosted by TVE, the show was used to select the singer and song that represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest. The three finalists sang three songs each, and the public voted the song they liked the most.
The show was not an instant ratings-winner, but later ran to at least three series. Finalists were whittled down by a combination of votes from "industry figures" and the general public. The first series participants soon became media stars, but the success dismished with subsequent editions. The show became a worldwide brand known as Star Academy.
Most Representative Participants
In 2006, Telecinco compiled a list of the top 12 most successful contestants ever from Operación Triunfo. It was compiled by the teachers and judges from previous series, and the list is as follows:
- David Bisbal - 1st series 2nd (due to success in America)
- Chenoa - 1st series 4th (due to winning Eurobest in 2003)
- Natalia - 1st series 12th (due to having more albums than everyone else, and being big in the UK)
- Manuel Carrasco - 2nd series 2nd (due to having 2 multi platinum albums and success in South America)
- Rosa - 1st series 1st (due to her success in Eurovision, and 3 successful albums)
- David Bustamante - 1st series 3rd (due to 3 successful albums)
- Soraya Arnelas - 4th series 2nd (due to winning the World Song Contest with Mi Mundo sin Ti)
- Mai Meneses - 2nd series 17th (Spain's artist revelation in 2006 with her group Nena Daconte)
- Vega - 2nd series 9th (due to having 2003's biggest selling single in Spain (Grita!)
- Gisela - 1st series 8th (due to winning the Viña del Mar Song Contest and her contract with Disney Spain)
First series (2001-2002)
Finalists:
- Rosa López
- David Bisbal
- David Bustamante
- Chenoa
- Manu Tenorio
- Verónica Romeo
All three finalists of the first series released debut albums, but while Rosa (accompanied by some fellow contenders as backing singers) scored seventh place in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Europe's Living a Celebration", and had notable success with her albums, it was Bisbal who went on to international success, even winning a Latino Grammy as best newcomer for his album Corazón Latino.
Although coming 14th in this series, one of the most succeessful ever contestants to come from Operación Triunfo has been Natalia. With 14 singles, and 5 albums, no singer from the show has ever managed to match her. Also, she was the first ever artist from Operación to both receive a record contract and have a single released in the United Kingdom.
Other participants of this first edition (Chenoa, Verónica and Manu Tenorio) have also launched successful solo careers. Also, Gisela, got a contract with Disney Spain and has started a career in musical theater.
Second series (2002-2003)
Finalists:
- Ainhoa - Her vocals are praised by many, hailed as one of the best vocalists ever to come out from Operacion Triunfo, as well as one of the most genuine people.
- Manuel Carrasco - The most successful (sales-wise) singer of this edition.
- Beth - She was sent to the Eurovision Song Contest, where she scored 8th place with the song Dime, and has experienced better success than the contest's winner.
The second series of Operación Triunfo became an anomaly in the category of popular reality TV music shows. First of all, although being the second series, it ended up becoming more popular than the preceding series. Second of all, the winner had very little success after the show. Last of all, many contestants who didn't do well had massive success across Europe and South America, not just in Spain:
The first person out of the show, Mai Meneses, shocked the music world in 2006 when herself and a childhood friend formed the group Nena Daconte. They released the album, He Perdido Los Zapatos, which some critics hailed as "one of the best albums in Spanish of all time". The album has sold over 200,000 copies in Spain alone, an amazing feat as an average album to get to number 1 in Spain needs around 20,000 sales.
Vega, who came 9th, managed to release the best selling single of 2003 in Spain with her own composition, iGrita!, with over one million copies sold.
Lunae, a pop group consisting of Elena Gadel, Tessa Bodi and Marey, (who came 11th, 12th and 13th respectively), released the second most successful single of 2003 in Spain, with the song Hipnotizadas, which was written and produced by Xenomania, who produce for Girls Aloud and Sugababes. It also had massive success over Europe, getting into the Top 10 in France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal. It was set for release in the United Kingdom, but nothing ever came of it.
Third series (2003-2004)
This was the last series hosted by TVE, and the one with the lowest ratings.
Finalists:
- Vicente
- Ramón - He was sent to the Eurovision Song Contest. He scored 10th place with the song Para llenarme de ti.
- Miguel Cadenas
- Davinia
Fourth series (2005)
TVE refused a fourth series, choosing to select its Eurovision Song Contest entry using a national final. The show was then offered to Telecinco, who bought it. This fourth edition started airing on June 2005 and it got better audiences than the third one, but it never reached the awesome results that the first one achieved.
Winners:
- Sergio Rivero
- Soraya Arnelas
- Víctor
Finalists:
- Idaira
- Fran Dieli
- Edurne
Others:
- Lidia Reyes
- Sandra Polop
- Guille Barea
- Guillermo Martín
- Mónica Gallardo
- Dani Sanz
- Héctor
- Jesús de Manuel
- Trizia
- Janina
Sergio, Soraya, Victor, Idaira, Edurne and Héctor have already recorded their first solo albums. Guillermo Martín, Sandra and Fran Dieli released an album together called "Generacion OT" in July.
Fifth Series (2006-2007)
Telecinco announced in May 2006 that the fifth series of the program was to be released in October 2006.
In July, 25 Telecinco release a TV Show called "Operación Triunfo 2006: Otra Vez en Marcha". In this show some former OT artists (Rosa, Soraya Arnelas, Sergio Rivero, Natalia Beth,...) performed and the new generation of contestants to participate in the new edition was presented.
The fifth series started on Sunday October 8, 2006 with 18 finalists, but two finalists had to leave and they didn't enter the academy. It created some controversy as one of first two people out that night was the first black person, Claritzel, ever to be on the show (she had to pull out of last year's show).
Winners
- Lorena
- Daniel
- Leo
Finalist
- Saray
- Moritz
- Jose
Others
- Ismael
- Jorge
- Eva
- Vanessa
- Mayte
- Mercedes
- Cristina
- José Antonio
- Xavier
- Encarna
Sixth Series (2008)
Castings started in Barcelona for the new series on February 18th, 2008. The sixth season began on April 8th, 2008, with 18 candidates to enter the academy (two of them didn't). This season has been the most polemical of all because many of the critics over OT comment that this edition has the worst vocal capacity.
Contestants
Winners
- Winner: Virginia
- Second Place: Pablo
- Third Place: Chipper
Finalists
4. Manu
5. Sandra
6. Mimi
Evicted Contestants
- Iván - Evicted on Gala 11 - 7th place
- Noelia - Evicted on Gala 10 - 8th place
- Anabel - Evicted on Gala 9 - 9th place
- Tania S - Evicted on Gala 8 - 10th place
- Reke - Evicted on Gala 7 - 11th place
- Esther - Evicted on Gala 6 - 12th place
- Tania G - Evicted on Gala 5 - 13th place
- Ruben - Evicted on Gala 4 - 14th place
- Paula - Evicted on Gala 3 - 15th place
- Ros - Evicted on Gala 2 - 16th place
- Patty - Quit on Gala 1
International
Operazione Trionfo Italy
In the summer of 2006, the US television network ABC started airing its own version of Operación Triunfo, but cancelled it after the second week's result show due to low ratings. The premiere episode was one of the lowest rated premieres in years. It was shown Tuesdays (live concert) and Wednesdays (live results show) at 10PM ET/PT.
Fame Academy/Eurovision: Your Country Needs You UK
In 2002, the United Kingdom created its own version of Operacion Triunfo called Fame Academy. Like Operación Triunfo, it was created to both find new talent in the United Kingdom but also to find a contestant for Eurobest (in Series 1 which was Lemar) and the Eurovision Song Contest (in Series 2) which was James Fox.
After 2 series, the show was axed (in 2004). However, its celebrity version remained popular and stayed on British TV until 2008.
In 2009, Fame Academy was revived under the name Eurovision: Your Country Needs You. With Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lulu and Diane Warren involved, it is hoped that the UK will return to its winning Eurovision formula after years without success.
See also
External links
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