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      ANDORRA      

Song : "Casanova"
Performer : Gisela
Music & lyrics : Jordi Cubino

Running Order : #12 in the first semi-final 

 Audio file
Preview video

THIS YEAR'S ENTRY

After a a run of three three female soloists performing their first three Eurovision entries in Catalan, to increasingly disappointing results,  Andorran broadcaster RTVA chose a dramatic change in style when choosing its 2007 entrants. Teenage punk band Anonymus scored a best ever result for the tiny Pyrenean country, finishing 12th in the semi-final in Helsinki.

This year RTVA once again had an internal selection to choose its entry and again looked to the neighbouring Spanish province of Catalonia for its performer and songwriter, with Gisela performing songwriter Jordi Cubino's song "Casanova". 

Gisela (Gisela Lladó Cánovas) was born in Barcelona on the 1st of January 1979. Ever since she was a child she was mad about music and was determined to one day become a famous singer. When she grew up she started to sing in a group and considered the possibility of becoming a professional singer, but she was aware of how difficult it was to succeed in the music world and so she decided to enrol at the Universidad Autonómica de Barcelona to study journalism.She left her studies during her second year when she was chosen to participate in "Operación Triunfo", the Spanish version Fame Academy.

In 2001 she tried out for "Operación Triunfo" and after passing many castings was chosen to enter the academy. She was also chosen by Disney to sing on the Spanish soundtrack of "Peter Pan: Return to Never Land". This fact led her companions at Operación Triufo to affectionately call her "Tinker Bell". In the end, Gisela finished in 8th place, in the show which sent Rosa to Eurovision in Tallinn. However Gisela managed to make it to Eurovision as one of Rosa's backing singers.

Later in 2002, Gisela launched her first album "Parte De Mí" winning a triple platinum record. After the success of the soundtrack of Peter Pan, Disney offered her the possibility to collaborate on a new Spanish version of the main theme of the film "The Beauty and the Beast", a film which sold more than a million DVDs. She was cast to play Wendy in the extremely successful Peter Pan musical which was staged in both Madrid and Barcelona. Famous Spanish musical stars took part in this project and with Gisela playing the main role, the musical broke box office records.

Gisela was chosen to represent Spain in the Viña del Mar Song Contest in Chile in 2003, with the song "Este Amor Es Tuyo" composed by Chema Purón. At this contest, Gisela was awarded with two awards for the best singer and the best song. Gisela went down in the history of the contest to be the first singer to win both awards. After her great success in Chile, her first album was re-released in order to include the winning song from the contest. This helped her to launch her career in Chile where she achieved another double platinum record. During the summer of 2003, she went on a tour with her companions from "Operación Triunfo" and later that year second album, "Mas Allá", was released. This album was recorded in Stockholm, Milan and Madrid and provided her debut as a lyricist. She achieved another huge success with another double platinum record.Gisela took part in her second musical in 2004 with the renowned producer Jose Luis Moreno. This musical was one of the most seen during the two years that it was on stage. In 2004 Gisela also took part in the dubbing and the Spanish soundtrack of the film "Barbie" which sold more than half a million copies.

Gisela is well known throughout South America and she sings the main theme of the Brazilian soap opera "Kubanacan", a version of the bolero "No Me Plactiques Más". She has also sung a version of F.C. Barcelona’s anthem which was chosen as the best of the 2003-2004 season by the public. She has also done the "Fantasia" concerts, where she sings Disney songs accompanied by an orchestra of more than thirty musicians. In 2006, she launched her album "Ni Te lo Imaginas", produced by Jordi Cubino, winning a gold record. In Christmas of 2007, Disney offered her the possibility to participate in the dubbing and the Spanish soundtrack of the film "Enchanted". Gisela returned to the world of theatre thanks taking the main role in the spectacular play "Into The Woods", written by Stephen Sondheim. This play is currently being performed in Barcelona.

The songwriter of "Casanova" is Jordi Cubino, who is also known as David Lyme, one of the most successful performers of Italo-Disco music from Spain. Jordi underwent classical training to sing opera and discovered Italo Disco by accident. That accident changed the course of his professional career. Jordi collaborated in various projects with prominent artists like Silvio Pozzoli and his hits were featured on Best of Italo Disco series by German label ZYX. During late 80's David Lyme had some success in Japan followed by a few appearances on TV shows. Today Jordi Cubino owns a recording studio and dedicated himself to produce and write music for other artists and produced Gisela's third album.

For the second year in a row bookmakers' odds suggest that the Andorra song will qualify rfrom the semi-final, however unlike the 2007 entry, "Casanova" is getting more modest recactions on most internet fan polls. 

 

SAMPLE LYRICS

Oh Casanova
I thought love would last forever
That we'd always stay together
Can't you feel it in your heart?

 

BROADCASTER

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Eurovision history

Runnning order
Fan Poll
Webmaster

LAUNCH PAD

  1. Gisela's website
  2. Andorran television website
  3. The song's lyrics (from Diggiloo.net)

 

ANDORRA AT EUROVISION

First entry: 2003 
Number of previous entries: 4
Best result: 12th in the semi-final (2007) 
Worst result: Last in the semi-final (2006)  

TEN YEAR FORM GUIDE

WEBMASTER REVIEW

Like almost everybody else, the first time heard this song was as a sample of just over a minute of the song which was presented when Gisela was announced as Andorra's 2008 artist. That sample left me cold and I didn't expect much from the song, however in its longer form it is a lot better. The only resevation I would have is that we still have to hear the song being sung live and while Gisela has lots of live performance experience more established performers have been found wanting on the Eurovision stage. However all going well I could just about see this making the final in Belgrade.  

REVIEWS

"Could this be the song that breaks Andorra’s duck and finally takes them to the final? I hope so – it’s poppy, happy and upbeat, and doesn’t claim to be the best song in the world but it’s just my cup of tea." - John Withers (U.K.)

"It is kind of nice. The music is interesting (it so totally schlager!), the lyrics nicely combined, everything seems to work. However, the small clip was promising a better overall result." - Atmantas (Greece)

"Once again a country goes for scandischlager in hopes of improving their fortunes, only to be disappointed." - John Egan (Canada)

"Gisela has a great entry but could suffer because she follows Dustin. I do think it needs a big key change to help it qualify. Unfortunately I cant see it qualifying." - Aidan O'Connor (Ireland)

"Catchy fast paced number. The better the dance routine, the better this entry will do."- David Berlinger (Israel)

"I had high hopes after Gisela was internally selected for Andorra cause her performance at last years Spanish national final was simply amazing. But the song - a simple,old fashioned schlager, which wouldn't even make it to the MF these days - won`t probably be strong enough to qualify for the final. A given away chance cause Gisela can do better than this." - Paul Hutter (Germany)

"Once again a very good and catchy song from Andorra. Gisela is a very talented singer and deserve to do well. I hope that "Casanova" qualifies for the final as it is without a doubt the best entry from Andorra in the Eurovision." - Nicky Peeters (Belgium)

"An entry without any soul which is sung too quickly, as it was a waste of time. Please give us Anonymous back." -  Yom (France)

"Personally, I find this a lot catchier and more energetic than its Swedish counterpart. If it's supposed to be cheesy, this is the way to go. Shameless,straight-forward and trashy. This should easily qualify based on its instant throwaway appeal alone, but I think it will be as usual for Andorra, awfully performed and bomb in the end." - Thomas (Germany)

"I can't help but remember Gisela's performance of "Tu voz se apagara" in Mision Eurovision last year and how great she was in it. That being said I'm glad she decided to go with a song that is definately in a league of its own. There is no other song like it in the contest, and although a bit 90s bubble pop Gisela will set the house on fire and more importantly will finally take away Andorra's curse of being stuck in the semis."- Ilton Kosta (USA)

"After last year's high profile song, this is very good, but as I haven't see the live performance I don't see it in the final.It has a chance but still I don't see it qualifying.The country is really trying to make the final and they will eventually get there but not this year. Still I give them a chance if they are chosen from the jury (but this is highly unlikely)." - Iggy (Croatia)

"Pleasant candyfloss music that veers tyo far towards cheesiness, that really doesn't go anywhere and knowing Andorra's history of over-egging the pudding, it will probably turn out like a dog's dinner on stage. (Is that too many food references)."- Ian Carson (Ireland)

"If they couldn't qualify last year, how can they this year? The song is old-fashioned, cliched and sounds like an MF song from 1987. Still, there is a air of charm to it, it's jumpy and "goodnatured". Doesn't pretend to be anything else than a typical Eurovision song. As such, it's not that bad." - Steinar (Norway)