As they are designed to achieve much the same thing, there are numerous parallels between national finals and Eurovision itself. Some of the most ironic this year, in more ways than one, are those between the changes implemented to the contest for its 53rd edition and the way in which this year's Spanish entry was chosen. The introduction of two semi-finals, each with a jury wildcard, is widely seen not only as a response to the ever growing number of EBU members wishing to compete but also to the tendency for certain countries to qualify without their entries enjoying broad appeal, leaving more 'deserving' songs to languish among the also-rans. Spain's national final, designed to reverse the country's fortunes in the contest and allay the resulting disenchantment, was easily the season's most innovative and contentious selection process, being hijacked in the end by a song that was voted to victory just as partially as any in Eurovision from the likes of FYR Macedonia. And despite being deliberately the lowest common denominator in musical terms, Baila El Chiki Chiki has the potential to deliver Spain its best result in quite a while.2008 is seen as the Year of the Joke in Eurovision, and no country is celebrating it quite as comprehensively as Spain. Of all of the 'novelty acts' gracing the stage in Belgrade, self-styled and fan-labelled alike, only one really deserves the title, and that is Baila El Chiki Chiki. Compared to the sheer silliness of Estonia's Leto Svet, the wacky artistry of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Pokušaj or the cartoon capers of Latvia's Wolves Of The Sea, the Spanish entry stands out for being all of those things and more. Less too, as it has none of the cynicism of Ireland's Irelande Douze Pointe. More important than the fact that it is greater than the sum of its parts though is that it has better aim than any of the other entries it is being shoehorned into the same pigeonhole as: completely see-through from start to finish and immediate from the off, those willing to take the bait are likely to be hooked within seconds of it hitting the airwaves.
Given we're talking about a Saturday night Eurovision audience here with Spain performing fourth from last, the chances are there will be more than enough people in the right frame of mind and/or with a sufficient amount of alcohol on board for Baila El Chiki Chiki to do well. It has everything you want in a joke entry: a caricature for a performer; a dance routine crying out to be copied by those watching; a simple and repetitive melody, made all the more ridiculous and therefore effective in this case by sounding like it was written and produced on one of those Casio keyboards you regret giving your precocious niece for Christmas as soon as she unwraps it and starts pressing random buttons; and a complete lack of agenda. There will still be horrified purists and those who shake their heads at it, but for your average viewer it is very much a laugh with it rather than a laugh at it song, which makes all the difference when it comes time to vote.
Having said all that, I don't actually like Baila El Chiki Chiki. To me the joke wears thin long before the song reaches its conclusion; I would much rather they had kept it at half the length, which is how it originally appeared. I will be happy for Spain if it does well, so at least one of the Big Four does, but I can't see it going all the way, and I wouldn't really want it to lest it establish even more of a precedent for the future of Eurovision than has already been set. Its victory would be in perfect keeping with the direction it is taking, but completely ironic in terms of it being a song contest.
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