United States in the OTI Festival 1979

United States in the
OTI Festival 1979
OTI Festival 1979
Participating broadcasterSpanish International Network (SIN)
Country United States
Selection processNational OTI–SIN Festival
Competing entry
Song"Y una esperanza más"
ArtistMario Alberto Milar
SongwriterMario Alberto Milar
Placement
Final result9th, 16 points
Participation chronology
◄1978 1979 1980►

The United States was represented at the OTI Festival 1979 with the song "Y una esperanza más", written and performed by Mario Alberto Milar. The participating broadcaster representing the country, the Spanish International Network (SIN), selected its entry through a national televised competition. The song, that was performed in position 20, placed ninth out of 21 competing entries, tying with the song from the Netherlands Antilles with 16 points.

National stage

The Spanish International Network (SIN) held a national televised competition to select its entry for the 8th edition of the OTI Festival. This was the second edition of the National OTI–SIN Festival. In the final, each song represented a SIN affiliate, each of which had selected its entry through a local pre-selection.

Los Angeles pre-selection

On Sunday 12 August 1979, KMEX-TV held a televised pre-selection at its studios in Los Angeles. This first edition of the Los Angeles Local OTI Festival featured twelve songs. It was broadcast on Channel 34.[1]

The jury was composed of Claudio Román, Orlando López, Lupita Morán, Catarina Schindler, and Eduardo Quezada.

The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "Sólo sueños", written and performed by Yari Moré.

  Qualifier
Detailed Vote of the Local OTI Festival – Los Angeles 1979
R/O Song
Claudio Román
Orlando López
Lupita Morán
Catarina Schindler
Eduardo Quezada
Total
1 "Canto a la vida" 6 6 10 7 8 37
2 "Sólo sueños" 10 10 8 9 7 44
3 "Es hora de partir" 6 5 6 6 9 32
4 "El hoy te pertenece" 6 7 5 5 8 31
5 "Nací para ti" 9 8 7 9 7 40
6 "Caminador" 7 8 5 10 9 39
7 "Soledades" 7 5 4 6 7 29
8 "Te quiero demasiado" 7 5 7 4 8 31
9 "Hoy es el primer día" 5 7 7 7 7 33
10 "Sentimiento tristeza" 4 4 2 9 10 29
11 "Que viva la vida" 5 6 6 9 8 34
12 "Canto el canto de la vida" 6 6 8 8 5 33

Central California pre-selection

On Sunday 12 August 1979, KFTV also held a televised pre-selection at the KMEX-TV studios in Los Angeles. This second edition of the Central California Local OTI Festival featured three songs. It was held on the same show as the Los Angeles pre-selection, and used the same jury. It was broadcast live on Channel 21.[1]

The winner, and therefore qualified for the national final, was "Tú, yo y el amor", performed by Antonio López.

Detailed Vote of the Local OTI Festival – Central California 1979
R/O Song
Claudio Román
Orlando López
Lupita Morán
Catarina Schindler
Eduardo Quezada
Total
1 "Esposa" 6 5 3 4 8 26
2 "Con hilo azul" 5 6 3 8 7 29
3 "Tú, yo y el amor" 10 10 9 9 9 47

Final

The final was held in Miami. It was broadcast live on all SIN affiliates. The winner was "Y una esperanza más", written and performed by Mario Alberto Milar.

  Winner

At the OTI Festival

On 8 December 1979, the OTI Festival was held at the Theatre of the Military Academy in Caracas, Venezuela, hosted by Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), Venevisión, Televisora Nacional (TVN), and Venezolana de Televisión (VTN), and broadcast live throughout Ibero-America. Mario Alberto Milar performed "Y una esperanza más" in position 20, placing ninth out of 21 competing entries, tying with the song from the Netherlands Antilles with 16 points.[5]

Voting

Each participating broadcaster, or group of broadcasters that jointly participated representing a country, assembled a jury who awarded 5–1 points to their five favourite songs in order of preference.

Notes

  1. ^ Incomplete list of the competing entries.

References

  1. ^ a b "Se certifica la legalidad del Festival OTI de KMEZ, canal 34". La Opinión (in Spanish). Los Angeles, United States. 17 August 1979. p. 10 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ I Festival OTI Los Ángeles 1979 (Television programme) (in Spanish). Los Angeles, United States: KMEX-TV. 12 August 1979.
  3. ^ II Festival OTI California Central 1979 (Television programme) (in Spanish). Los Angeles, United States: KFTV. 12 August 1979.
  4. ^ Final del II Festival Nacional OTI–SIN 1979 (Television programme) (in Spanish). Miami, United States: SIN. 1979.
  5. ^ VIII Festival de la canción OTI 1979 (Television programme) (in Spanish). Caracas, Venezuela: RCTV, Venevisión, TVN, and VTN. 8 December 1979.