Viña del Mar International Song Festival

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Viña del Mar International Song by EPMC Contest or Viña del Mar International Song Festival
Spanish: Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar
Apertura del Festival de Viña 2010.jpg
Overture to the closing night of LI Viña del Mar International Song Festival (2010)
GenreVarious
Dates3rd week of February
Location(s)Viña del Mar, Chile
Years active1960-present
Capacity15,000
WebsiteViña del Mar city website

The Viña del Mar International Song Festival (Spanish: Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar) is an annual international music festival held every 3rd week of February in Viña del Mar, Chile. Started in 1960, it is the oldest and largest music festival in Latin America, and the longest running music festival in the world.[1][2][3] It was cancelled in 2021 and 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic.[4]

The Festival takes place in the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater[5] and attracts over 15,000 spectators. It has been broadcast live on radio and on Chilean television over the years by TVN, Canal 13, Megavisión or Chilevisión, regularly breaking viewing records.[5] The Viña festival features a song competition in two categories: pop music and folk music, interspersed with performances by international music stars encompassing such diverse genres as rock, and pop music in various languages, cumbia, salsa, reggaetón, bachata among others.

History[]

Between 1984 and 1989 Leonardo Schultz and Gary H. Mason, one of the pioneers of the reggaeton movement, teamed up to help revamp the festival and streamline its operations. They arranged for the appearance of artists including: The Police, Air Supply, Eddie Money, Sheena Easton, Jose Feliciano (the pair produced his Grammy-nominated album Escenas de Amor in 1982, as well as the Grammy-winning album Me enamoré in 1983), Andy Gibb, Neil Sedaka, Gloria Gaynor, Mr. Mister to name a few. In 1988 and 1989, Thomas Anders (of Modern Talking fame) was the festival's headliner, one of the first times an artist was invited back to perform two years in a row.

Schultz and Mason also arranged for major international jurors including: George Martin (the Beatles' producer), Maurice Jarre (scored the films such as Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, Witness, A Passage To India, and Ghost), Manoella Torres (Mason produced her hit duet, which was written by Schultz entitled "No me mires así"), Joey Travolta, Connie Stevens and many others.

In the 1990s the broadcast rights to the Festival were given to Televisa and featured prominent Mexican Artists, as well as major Latin Artists.

In 2008, American rock music band Journey played their first concert with new vocalist Arnel Pineda at the festival. The 2008 Viña Festival was hosted by Sergio Lagos and Tonka Tomicic, and headlined by Nelly Furtado, Wisin & Yandel, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

In 2009, artists such as Latin sensation Daddy Yankee and the legendary British band Simply Red captivated the audience of Viña. For its 50th edition, the festival's hosts were the late Felipe Camiroaga and news reader Soledad Onetto.

The event has not been held since 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7]

1970s and 1980s[]

Following the 1973 Chilean coup d'etat the dictatorship headed by Augusto Pinochet came to control the Viña del Mar International Song Festival and used it to promote sympathetic artists, in particular those that were part of the Acto de Chacarillas in 1977.[8] In the first years of dictatorship Pinochet was a common guest at the festival.[9] Pinochet's advisor Jaime Guzmán was also spotted on occasion at the festival.[9] Festival presenter Antonio Vodanovic publicly praised the dictator and his wife Lucia Hiriart on one occasion on behalf of "the Chilean youth".[9] Supporters of the dictatorship appropriated the song Libre of Nino Bravo, and this song was performed by in the first post-coup edition while Pinochet was present in the public.[10][11] From 1980 onward when the festival begun to be aired internationally the regime used it to promote a favourable image of Chile internationally.[8] For that purpose in 1981 the festival spent a big budget on bringing popular foreign artist including Miguel Bosé, Julio Iglesias and Camilo Sesto.[8] The folk music contest of the Viña del Mar International Song Festival had become increasingly politicized during the Allende years and was suspended by organizers from the time of coup until 1980.[8]

"El Monstruo"[]

Traditionally, the Festival's audience openly demonstrates its acceptance or displeasure with the established acts performing there, as well as contestants in the two competitions. As a result, the Chilean media has nicknamed the Festival's audience El Monstruo ("The Monster"). Earning acceptance from El Monstruo usually has a direct impact on an artist's popularity in the rest of Latin America. This is particularly true for Spanish speaking pop stars. Conversely, booing artists off the stage is not uncommon.

Artists compete in the Festival's regular competitions for one of three awards, given in this order: "Antorcha de Plata" (Silver Torch), "Antorcha de Oro" (Golden Torch) and "Gaviota de Plata" (Silver Seagull). However, audience response may demand that one of the three awards - or, progressively, all three- also be awarded to an established act as their performance progresses. An artist who "tames the "Monstruo"" by earning all three awards receives almost instant recognition as a major star by Chilean and Latin American media.

Awards' History[]

Artists perform in the Festival de Viña with the goal of receiving as many awards as possible, which will depend on their success with "El Monstruo." The awards have had multiple changes throughout the festival's history.

The first two awards ever given were the Golden Lyre and Golden Harp in 1961. However, these two awards would be replaced by the Silver and Golden Seagull in 1969.[12]

In 1983, the Festival's commissioners decided to create the Silver and Golden Torch as a "second tier" award. This decision was made in order to add more variety to the awards, and make the Seagull the most prestigious award in the festival.[13]

For over 30 years, no changes were made to the awards. However, in 2015, the production team and Viña's municipality decided to eliminate the Silver and Golden Torch, leaving the Silver and Golden Seagull as the only awards that performers could aspire to get. The reason for this decision was all the critiques that the event was receiving about the high numbers of awards that an artist could receive.[14]

Finally, the Platinum Seagull was added in 2012 as a special award for performers with long influence throughout the festival's history. Only 3 artists have received it up to date.[15]

The Stage[]

Each year the TV companies try to improve on the previous year's set. Millions are invested in creating elaborate stages.

Winner songs[]

International contest[]

Before 1968, the contest only allowed Chilean composers.
In 2000 the contest included the best songs in the history of the festival.
In 2009, the contest included former winners between 2001 and 2008.
In 2010 had a contest with the most representative songs of the participant countries.
Event Country Song Title Composer Artist
I 1960  Chile "Viña" José Goles and Manuel Lira Mario del Monte
II 1961  Chile "Sin tu amor" Óscar Olivares and Gilberto Ávila Los Cuatro Duendes
III 1962  Chile "Dime por qué" María Pilar Larraín Los Cuatro Duendes
IV 1963  Chile "Tan sólo una mirada" Juan Vásquez Marco Aurelio
V 1964  Chile "Está de más" Ricardo Jara Ginette Acevedo
VI 1965  Chile "Como una ola" María Angélica Ramírez Cecilia
VII 1966  Chile "Por creer en ti" Marco Aurelio and Jaime Atria Isabel Adams
VIII 1967  Chile "Cuando rompa el alba" Willy Bascuñán Fresia Soto
IX 1968  Spain "Palabras" Jorge Domingo, Enrique Carnicer and Carmen Pons de Carnicer Luz Eliana
X 1969  Chile "Mira, mira" Scottie Scott Gloria Simonetti
XI 1970  Chile "Canción a Magdalena" Julio Zegers Julio Zegers
XII 1971 Void contest by plagiarism
XIII 1972  Netherlands "Julie" Julio Bernardo Euson Euson
XIV 1973  Chile "Los pasajeros" Julio Zegers Julio Zegers
XV 1974  Italy "Immagina" Giancarlo de Bellis Annarita Spinaci
XVI 1975  Greece "Love Song" H. Ballin, N. Ellineos and Kostas Karagiannopoulos Elpida
XVII 1976  Chile "Una noche de amor" Carlos Baeza Roberto Viking Valdés
XVIII 1977  Israel "Canción de amor" Boaz Sharabi Nava Baruchin
XIX 1978  Chile "El tiempo en las bastillas" Fernando Ubiergo Fernando Ubiergo
XX 1979  Spain "A tu regreso a casa" Braulio Braulio
XXI 1980  Spain "Dudando, dudando" Julio Seijas and Augusto Algueró Juan Sebastián
XXII 1981  West Germany "Esperando" Karl-Heinz Merkel and Cherry Laine Cherry Laine
XXIII 1982  Chile "Ausencia" Juan Carlos Duque Juan Carlos Duque
XXIV 1983  Uruguay "Alma, corazón y pan" Gervasio Gervasio
XXV 1984  Chile "Se te olvida" Héctor Penrós Bañas Cristóbal
XXVI 1985  Australia "Ya no puedo más" K. C. Porter, Chris Turner and Lorenzo Toppano Lorenzo Toppano
XXVII 1986  Dominican Republic "Para quererte" José Antonio Rodríguez and Manuel Tejada Maridalia Hernández
XXVIII 1987  Italy "Kiss me" Antonio and Anna Maria de Salvatore Desà
XXIX 1988  Italy "Senza te" Maurizio Piccoli and Gino Mescoli Marco Del Freo
XXX 1989  Colombia "Te propongo" Fernando Garavito Edna Rocio
XXXI 1990  Italy "Non devi abbandonarmi mai" Angela Tarenzzi Piero Cotto
XXXII 1991  Chile "Tira la primera piedra" Edgardo Riquelme and Sergio Bravo Javiera Parra and Pedro Foncea
XXXIII 1992  Chile "Parece tan sencillo" Juan Carlos Duque Fernando Casas
XXXIV 1993  Italy "In questo mondo" Giuseppe Garibo Claudio Cirimele
XXXV 1994  Argentina "Como ayer" Claudia Brant and Daniel Tarrab Claudia Brant
XXXVI 1995  Chile "Si tú te vas" Cristian Fissore and René Calderón Jossé
XXXVII 1996  Italy "Aria Ario" Paolo Meneguzzi, Dino Melotti, M. Botoni and C. Isgro Paolo Meneguzzi
XXXVIII 1997  Argentina "Para vivir un dulce amor" Víctor Heredia and Carlos Nilson Carlos Elías
XXXIX 1998  Chile "Soy tal cual soy" Álvaro Scaramelli Álvaro Scaramelli
XL 1999  Colombia "El aguacero" Alejandro Gómez Cáceres Carolina Sabino
XLI 2000  France "Laisse-moi le Temps" / "Let Me Try Again" M. Jourdan and Caravelli / Paul Anka and Sammy Cahn Peabo Bryson
XLII 2001  Argentina "Ayer te vi" Víctor Heredia Raly Barrionuevo
XLIII 2002  Argentina "Soy tu ángel" Ricardo Pald and Valeria Lynch Oscar Patiño
XLIV 2003  Spain "Este amor es tuyo" Chema Purón Gisela
XLV 2004  Chile "Tus ojos" Alexis Venegas Alexis Venegas
XLVI 2005  Peru "Mi alma entre tus manos" Jessica Sarango, Jorge Pardo and Andrés Landavere Jorge Pardo
XLVII 2006  Costa Rica "Dilo de una vez" Humberto Vargas Valerio Humberto Vargas Valerio
XLVIII 2007  Spain "Cuando quieras volver" Pedro Fernández and Valderrama Díaz Materia Prima
XLIX 2008  Italy "La guerra dei trent' anni" Domenico Protino Domenico Protino
L 2009  Argentina "Ayer te vi" Víctor Heredia Emiliano Ríos
LI 2010  Italy "Volare" Domenico Modugno and Franco Migliacci Simona Galeandro
LII 2011  Canada "Try Anything" Chris Burke-Gaffney, Christopher Ward and Sierra Noble Sierra Noble
LIII 2012  Italy "Grazie a te" Bruno Rubino, Giusseppe di Tella and Denise Faro Denise Faro
LIV 2013  Iceland "Because You Can" Jonas Gladnikoff, Christina Schilling, Camilla Gottschalck, Örlygur Smári and Hera Björk Hera Björk
LV 2014  Canada "Hypnotized" Jeffery Straker Jeffery Straker
LVI 2015  Italy "Per fortuna" Franco Simone Michele Cortese
LVII 2016  Chile "Te quiero" Lucía Covarrubias Cristián & Lucía
LVIII 2017  Spain "Dónde estabas tú"
LIX 2018  Chile "Cobarde" Gabriela Pulgar Gabriela Pulgar
LX 2019  Peru "Ya no más"
LXI 2020  Chile "Chillán" Vicente Cifuentes Vicente Cifuentes

Winning countries

Folk contest[]

Between 1974 and 1980 this contest was cancelled by the military dictarship of Augusto Pinochet
Before 2000, the contest only allowed Chilean composers.
In 2009, the contest included the former winners between 2001 and 2008.
Event Country Song Title Composer Artist
II 1961  Chile "La consentida" Jaime Atria Olga Escobar and Estampas Criollas
III 1962  Chile "El loro aguafiestas" Manuel Lira and José Goles Silvia Infantas and Los Cóndores
IV 1963  Chile "Álamo huacho" Clara Solovera Los Huasos Quincheros
V 1964  Chile "Qué bonita va" Francisco Flores del Campo Los Huasos Quincheros
VI 1965  Chile "Mano nortina" Hernán Álvarez Los Cuatro Cuartos
VII 1966  Chile "La burrerita" Sofanor Tobar Los Paulos
VIII 1967  Chile "Voy pa' Mendoza" Willy Bascuñán Los Solitarios
IX 1968  Chile "Camanchaca y polvareda" Ricardo de la Fuente Los Ponchos Negros
X 1969  Chile "Cuando tomo la guitarra" Orlando Muñoz and Alsino Fuentes Los Alfiles Negros
XI 1970  Chile "El hombre" Rolando Alarcón Rolando Alarcón and Los Emigrantes
XII 1971  Chile "La torcacita" Óscar Cáceres and Luis Barragán Ginette Acevedo
XIII 1972  Chile "Viejo puente" Ariel Arancibia and Fernando Pavez Los Lazos
XIV 1973  Chile "Mi río" Julio Numhauser Charo Cofré
XXII 1981  Chile "Ay, Fernanda" Ricardo de la Fuente Santiago Cuatro
XXIII 1982  Chile "La tejedora" Sandra Ramírez
XXIV 1983  Chile "En los tiempos de mi abuelo" Roberto Rojas and Juan Castillo Juan Carlos Méndez
XXV 1984  Chile "Chile, una postal" Teresa Rodríguez Los Chacareros de Paine
XXVI 1985  Chile "La reina del Tamarugal" Manuel Veas and Luis Miranda Calichal
XXVII 1986  Chile "Sube a mi lancha" Ignacio Millán Chilote Peñaloza and Los Huillincanos
XXVIII 1987  Chile "Rapa Nui, mi amor" Ignacio Millán and María Teresa Díaz Lorena and Manu Rere
XXIX 1988  Chile "Camino a Socoroma" Danny Rodríguez Los Yanacochas
XXX 1989  Chile "Maja en Aldachildo" Ricardo de la Fuente Ricardo de la Fuente
XXXI 1990  Chile "No habrá verso que me alcance" Yayo Castro and Hugo Castillo Los Surcadores del Viento
XXXII 1991  Chile "De chingana" Héctor Molina Héctor Molina
XXXIII 1992  Chile "Tejiendo está la manque" Cecilia González Leticia and Cantarauco
XXXIV 1993  Chile "Canto del agua" Agustín Moncada Kal
XXXV 1994  Chile "Mirando pa' la bahía" José Luis Hernández José Luis Hernández and Cantamérica
XXXVI 1995  Chile "María Leonor Lucía" Magdalena Matthey Magdalena Matthey
XXXVII 1996  Chile "Cueca tristona" Edson Guerrero Clarita Parra
XXXVIII 1997  Chile "Cartagena" Claudio Guzmán Tito Fernández
XXXIX 1998  Chile "La noche de Chillán" Pablo Neruda and Vicente Bianchi Santiago Cuatro
XL 1999  Chile "Cueca pulenta" Víctor Hugo Campusano Altamar
XLI 2000  Chile "El corralero" Sergio Sauvalle Los Huasos Quincheros
XLII 2001  Chile "Whipala" Danny Rodríguez Danny Rodríguez
XLIII 2002  Peru "Juramento" Carlos Rincón Eduardo del Per��
XLIV 2003  Argentina "Pintadita" Fernando Barrientos Fernando Barrientos
XLV 2004  Argentina "Bailando con tu sombra (Alelí)" Víctor Heredia Abel Pintos
XLVI 2005  Chile "Cueca al sol" Isabel Parra Camila Méndez
XLVII 2006  Chile "Canción de agua y viento" Elizabeth Morris Elizabeth Morris and group
XLVIII 2007  Colombia "Me duele el alma" Leonardo Gómez and Diana Hernández Maria Mulata
XLIX 2008  Peru "Tusuy Kusun" Damaris Mallma Damaris and group
L[16] 2009  Chile "Cueca al sol" Isabel Parra Camila Méndez
LI 2010  Argentina "El cantar es andar" César Isella César Isella
LII 2011  Chile "De Pascua Lama" Patricio Manns Valentina Sepúlveda and Diapazón Porteño
LIII 2012  Chile "Caprichosa" Gogo Muñoz and Lucas Saavedra Mauro Zapata and Fiesta Andina
LIV 2013  Chile "Con el zapatito, con el zapatón" Paula Herrera Paula Herrera
LV 2014  Chile "La retirada" La Pájara Javiera Bobadilla
LVI 2015  Chile "La mejicana" Elizabeth Morris Elizabeth Morris
LVII 2016  Panama "Viene de Panamá" Afrodisiaco
LVIII 2017  Chile "Carnavalito de la esperanza" Juan Andrés Soko and Francisco Flores Trifussa
LIX 2018  Chile Mundo al revés Astrid Veas Astrid Veas
LX 2019  Argentina Justo ahora Destino San Javier Paolo Rogone, Bruno Rogone and Franco Favini
LXI 2020  Argentina Avanzar Manuel Pennisi

Winning countries (since 2001, start of International Folk Contest)

Performing Artists[]

Every year international artists are invited to perform at the Festival. in the 2003 edition the Italian singer-songwriter Franco Simone received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" for having strung together thirty years of success in South America with his songs translated into Spanish,

Festival Queen[]

Every year the festival selects a queen. Popular personalities apply to be queen, often offering outrageous stunts to win.

The queen is chosen by a vote organized by the newspaper La Cuarta.[17] Journalists accredited to the Festival express their preferences through a secret ballot.

The day after the election there is a coronation and the delivery of a band and a ring as a prize by the relevant authorities. Since 2001, on the day of the coronation the Queen of the Festival has to dive into the pool at the Hotel O'Higgins in Viña del Mar in front of the media.[18]

Some of the women chosen as Queen include: Celia Cruz, Diana Bolocco, Thalía, Sigrid Alegría, Yuri, Raffaella Carrà, Tonka Tomicic, and Gloria Trevi.

List of Queens[]

Year Queen Country TV Channel Notes
2018 Betsy Camino  Cuba Canal 13 Logotipo de Canal 13.png
2017 Kika Silva  Chile Canal 13 Logotipo de Canal 13.png
2016 Nicole "Luli" Moreno  Chile Canal 13 Logotipo de Canal 13.png
2015 Jhendelyn Nuñez  Chile Canal 13 Logotipo de Canal 13.png Known for participating in Vedette shows.
2014 Sigrid Alegría  Chile Canal 13 Logotipo de Canal 13.png Film and TV actress
2013 Dominique Gallego  Chile Canal 13 Logotipo de Canal 13.png Star on numerous reality shows
2012 Valeria Ortega  Chile Canal 13 Logotipo de Canal 13.png Journalist.
2011 Andrea Dellacasa  Argentina Canal 13 Logotipo de Canal 13.png Vedette.
2010 Carolina Arregui  Chile Canal 13 Logotipo de Canal 13.png Actress in TV Series, 2010 festival juror
2009 Catherine Fulop  Venezuela Canal 13 Logotipo de Canal 13.png Actress in TV Series, 2009 festival juror
2008  Colombia Reality show participant
2007 Diana Bolocco  Chile Canal 13 Logotipo de Canal 13.png Journalist, Cecilia Bolocco's Sister, TV show host.
2006 Tonka Tomicic  Chile TVN Televisión Nacional de Chile Logo (2004-2016).svg Miss World Chile 1995
2005 Luciana Salazar  Argentina Chilevisión Chv2018icon.png Showbiz Queen from Argentina
2004 Carolina "Pampita" Ardohain  Argentina Benjamín Vicuña's wife.
2003 María Eugenia Larraín  Chile Canal 13 Logotipo de Canal 13.png Showbiz Queen from Chile.
2002 Patricia Manterola  Mexico Artist invited to the festival that year, crowned for the second time.
2001 Natalia Oreiro  Uruguay Artist invited
2000 Celia Cruz  Cuba  United States Invited the same year, as part of the festival show.
1999 Carla Perez  Brazil Dancer of as invited artist.
1998 Sofía Franco  Peru Presenter
1997 Thalía  Mexico Invited artist
1996 Paola Falcone  Chile Miss Chile 1995
1995 Patricia Manterola  Mexico Artist invited
1994 Sofía Vergara  Colombia Presenter
1993 Gloria Trevi  Mexico Artist invited
1992 Lucero  Mexico Had a romance with Felipe Camiroaga
1991 Yuri  Mexico Invited artist
1990 Xuxa  Brazil Invited artist
1989 Myriam Hernández  Chile Invited artist
1988 Marcela "Mache" Sánchez  Peru
1987 Irene Llano  Chile Invited artist
1986 Cindy Valentine  Canada Participated in the "competencia internacional"
1985 María Conchita Alonso  Venezuela Invited artist
1984 Gianina Matei  Romania Participated in "competencia internacional"
1983 Lucía Méndez[n 1]  Mexico Formed part of the festival judging panel
1982 Raffaella Carrà[n 1]  Italy Invited artist
1979 María Graciela Gómez[n 1]  Chile Presenter
Notas
  1. ^ a b c Elección no oficial.

Queens per country[]

Country # Year
 Chile 14 1979, 1987, 1989, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
 Mexico 7 1983, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2002
 Argentina 3 2004, 2005, 2011
 Venezuela 2 1985, 2009
 Colombia 2 1994, 2008
 Brazil 2 1990, 1999
 Peru 2 1988, 1998
 Uruguay 1 2001
 Cuba 2 2000, 2018
 Canada 1 1986
 Romania 1 1984
 Italy 1 1982

See also[]

  • List of historic rock festivals

References[]

  1. ^ CNN México (23 Feb 2010). "Paul Anka cerró con gran éxito, la primera jornada de Viña del Mar". mexico.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-29. El Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar es el evento musical más importante del continente
  2. ^ Floras, Stella (18 Feb 2013). "Iceland: Hera Björk in the final of Viña del Mar International Song Contest 2013". www.esctoday.com. [T]he Viña del Mar International Song Contest [is] the oldest and biggest music festival in Latin America
  3. ^ "Tom Jones 'ruge' en la segunda noche del Festival de Viña del Mar"[permanent dead link] Agence France-Presse, accessed February 23, 2007
  4. ^ "Chilean organizers cancel Viña del Mar 2022 Festival yet again due to COVID-19". 16 Sep 2021.
  5. ^ a b Perasso, Valeria (25 Feb 2009). "Viña del Mar, "El Monstruo" cumple 50". news.bbc.co.uk.
  6. ^ T13.cl (10 Nov 2020). "El Festival de Viña del Mar suspende su edición 2021". t13.cl.
  7. ^ Granger, Anthony (2021-11-07). "