United States in the OTI Festival

Univision, formerly SIN (Spanish International Network), the biggest Spanish speaking TV channel of the US, was the OTI member station that organised the American participation in the OTI Festival. The network, whose main audience was the Spanish speaking community of the United States, debuted in the contest in 1974 in Acapulco with Rosita Perú and her song "Pero...mi tierra" (But... my homeland), which ended in the 17th place. Although the American broadcaster withdrawed from the event some years after its debut, Univision returned to the event and participated till the last edition in 2000 which was held again in Acapulco.

United States
Member stationUnivision
National selection eventsOTI Nacional USA
Participation summary
Appearances17
First appearance1974
Best result1st in 1986
1st in 2000
Worst result17th in 1974
External links
Univisión Website

History

The American representants in the OTI Festival were mainly American born Latino performers and bands, but sometimes, Univision opted to select famous singers from other Latin American countries. The country won the event for first time in 1986 with a trio composed by the performers Dámaris, Miguel Ángel Guerra and Eduardo Fabiani who performed the song "Todos" (Everybody) which sent a message of unity between the Latin community in the country. Univision got the second victory for the United States in Acapulco with the Chirino Sisters and their song "Mala hierba" (Bad grass) which turned into the very last victory in the history of the song contest before its defunction.[1]

Apart from their victories, the United States managed to get two consecutive second places in 1977 in Madrid with Lissette Álvarez and her song "Si hay amor vendrá" (If there's love, he will come) and in 1978 in Santiago de Chile with Susy Lemán and her song "Ha vuelto ya" (He has already returned). Univision got another second place in 1992 in Valencia with Carlo de la Cima and his song "No te mueras, América" (Don't ever die, América).

In 1983 the American broadcaster got the third place with Laura Hevia and her song "Que equivocado" (How wrong).

Univision, hosted the OTI Festival on three occasions, the first one in 1983 in the Constitution Hall of Washington DC, which was presented by the Cubans Rafael Pineda and Anna Carlota. This edition of the festival was famous because the ceremony was opened by a message by the president of the US, Ronald Reagan sent to the Spanish speaking community which hailed their contribution to the cultural diversity of the United States of America.

The American broadcaster also hosted the event in 1989 in Miami having the James L. Knight Convention Center as the venue and in 1990 in the Caesars Palace of Las Vegas.

Contestants

Table key
  Winner
  Second place
  Third place
  Last place
Year Artist Song Place Pts
2000 Hermanas Chirino Hierba mala (Bad grass) 1
1998 Carlos Abab Un ángel en mi habitación (An angel in my bedroom)
1997 Luis Damón Piel de azúcar (Sugar skin)
1996 Raffy Basta ya (Stop now)
1995 Silvia Bezi Secreto de amor (Love secret)
1994 Héctor Galaz Ganas de gritar (Feel like scream)
1993 Alma Rocío Esperanza, capricho o viento (Hope, whim or wind)
1992 Carlo de la Cima No te mueras, América (Don't ever die, America) 2
1991 Elsa Ozuna Que poca fe (What a little faith)
1990 Daniel Recalde Tu amor es mi adicción (Your love is my addiction)
1989 Iris y Margie Hazme sentir (Make me feel)
1988 Marco Antonio Mejía Así somos, así soy (We are like this, I'm like this) 14
1987 Felo Bohr Sabes lo que yo quisiera (You know what I would like)
1986 Dámaris, Miguel Ángel Guerra and Eduardo Fabiani Todos (Everybody) 1
1985 Frank y Zobeida El canto de mi raza (The melody of my race)
1984 Alberto Ruiz Señora, mi madre (Woman, my mother)
1983 Jorge Baglietto Has vencido (You have won)
1982 Laura Hevia Que equivocado (How wrong) 3 25 pts
1981 Aldo Matta Y fuiste mujer (You were woman) 3 22 pts
1980 Ramiro Velasco El extranjero (The foreign man) 13 9 pts
1979 Mario Alberto Milar Y una esperanza más (And one more hope) 9 16 pts
1978 Susy Lemán Ha vuelto ya (He has already returned) 2 46 pts
1977 Lissette Si hay amor volverá (If there's love he will return) 2
1976 Carmen Moreno Sangre Antigua (Old blood) 19 0 pts
1975 José Antonio Para ganar tu corazón (To win your heart) 5
1974 Rosita Perú Pero... mi tierra (But... my homeland) 17
1973 Did not participate
1972 Did not participate

References

  1. "Espectaculos". wvw.nacion.com. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
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