La Década Prodigiosa
Encyclopedia
La Década Prodigiosa also known as La Década, is a Spanish
music group formed in the mid-eighties
that participated in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest
.
La Década Prodigiosa came up in 1985 as a project directed by Javier de Juan (drums
), Manel Santisteban (piano
) and Manuel Aguilar (bass
) to produce an album of medleys
of popular Spanish songs from the sixties
. Several session singers
collaborated in this first album, "Los Años 60, Vol. I". Due to the success of the album, a band of eight members was formed in 1986 for the second album ("Los años 60, Vol. II"): Manolo Rodríguez, Cecilia Blanco, Ana Nery, Carmelo Martínez and Jose Subiza joined the three creators. The band toured Spain with their own show.
In 1988, La Década was internally chosen by broadcaster TVE
to represent Spain at the 33rd Eurovision Song Contest
in Dublin with one of their first original songs, "La chica que yo quiero (Made in Spain)
". As only six people were allowed on stage by EBU
rules, Javier de Juan directed the orchestra
and Manolo Rodríguez stayed backstage. La Década finished eleventh out of 21 entries.
Since then, the group has survived many replacements of members, even though in the mid-nineties
their popularity began to decline. The artists that have been part of the several lineups of the groups include Paco Morales (1986-1987, 1991-1994), Mikel Herzog
(1989-1991), Paloma Blanco (1991-1997) or Carlos Santamaria (1991-1998). As of 2009, the group consisted of Kike Navas, Jose Zapata, Carmen Miriam and Cristina Conde.
The group participated at the 1996 Benidorm Festival
with the song “Las ganas de vivir” and got the third prize. In 2001 they achieved the second place, named Hi Priority for the occasion, in the Spanish preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest
with the song “A nadie como a ti”, and they participated at the Benidorm Festival as “Karma” with the same song. In 2005 and 2007 they tried to represent Spain at Eurovision again , and in 2006 they finally won the Benidorm Festival with the song “A ti”.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
music group formed in the mid-eighties
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
that participated in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
.
La Década Prodigiosa came up in 1985 as a project directed by Javier de Juan (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), Manel Santisteban (piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
) and Manuel Aguilar (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) to produce an album of medleys
Medley (music)
In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks...
of popular Spanish songs from the sixties
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. Several session singers
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
collaborated in this first album, "Los Años 60, Vol. I". Due to the success of the album, a band of eight members was formed in 1986 for the second album ("Los años 60, Vol. II"): Manolo Rodríguez, Cecilia Blanco, Ana Nery, Carmelo Martínez and Jose Subiza joined the three creators. The band toured Spain with their own show.
In 1988, La Década was internally chosen by broadcaster TVE
Televisión Española
Televisión Española is the national state-owned public-service television broadcaster in Spain. TVE's activities were previously financed by a combination of advertising revenue and subsidies from the national government, but since it's been supported by subsidies only.TVE belongs to the RTVE...
to represent Spain at the 33rd Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1988
The Eurovision Song Contest 1988 was the 33rd Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 30 April 1988 in Dublin. The presenters were Pat Kenny and Michelle Rocca...
in Dublin with one of their first original songs, "La chica que yo quiero (Made in Spain)
La chica que yo quiero (Made in Spain)
"La chica que yo quiero " was the Spanish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1988, performed in Spanish by La Década Prodigiosa....
". As only six people were allowed on stage by EBU
European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
rules, Javier de Juan directed the orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
and Manolo Rodríguez stayed backstage. La Década finished eleventh out of 21 entries.
Since then, the group has survived many replacements of members, even though in the mid-nineties
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
their popularity began to decline. The artists that have been part of the several lineups of the groups include Paco Morales (1986-1987, 1991-1994), Mikel Herzog
Mikel Herzog
Mikel Herzog Herzog is a Basque singer-songwriter of Jewish descent, known for his participation in the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest....
(1989-1991), Paloma Blanco (1991-1997) or Carlos Santamaria (1991-1998). As of 2009, the group consisted of Kike Navas, Jose Zapata, Carmen Miriam and Cristina Conde.
The group participated at the 1996 Benidorm Festival
Benidorm International Song Festival
The Benidorm International Song Festival or Festival Internacional de la Canción de Benidorm is an annual song contest which takes place each summer, since 1959, in the city of Benidorm, Spain. The contest, based on the Italian Sanremo Music Festival, was born to promote Benidorm and the Spanish...
with the song “Las ganas de vivir” and got the third prize. In 2001 they achieved the second place, named Hi Priority for the occasion, in the Spanish preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest
Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001
Spain participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 with an entry selected through a national preselection called "Eurocanción 2001", hosted from Madrid by Jennifer Rope and Sandra Morey. David Civera with the song "Dile que la quiero", composed by Alejandro Abad , was chosen to represent Spain...
with the song “A nadie como a ti”, and they participated at the Benidorm Festival as “Karma” with the same song. In 2005 and 2007 they tried to represent Spain at Eurovision again , and in 2006 they finally won the Benidorm Festival with the song “A ti”.
Discography (Albums)
- Los Años 60, Vol. I (1985)
- Los Años 60, Vol. II (1986)
- Los Años 70 (1987)
- Los 80, Vol I. (1988)
- Los 80, Vol II. (1989)
- Lo mejor en vivo de los 60, 70 y 80 (1990)
- Licencia para bailar (1991)
- La Década (1993)
- Baila con La Década (1994)
- Disneymania (1995)
- Las Ganas de Vivir (1997)
- Lo Mejor de La Década Prodigiosa (1999)
- Seguimos de fiesta con los 80 y 90 (2002)
- Una década latina (2003)
- Technostalgia (2006)