Spain’s 2024 Eurovision entry ‘Zorra’, which can be literally translated as an anti-female slur, but it can also be interpreted in more general way of a female temptress is causing a furore in its host country since winning the contest to represent Spain.

The song, sung by Valencian group Nebulossa consisting of singer Maria “Mery” Bas and keyboardist and producer Mark Dasousa was among sixteen entries which competed over three shows of the Bendorm Fest to choose Spain entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in May.

Over two semi-finals on 30 January and 1 February and the final on 3 February 2024 with each semi-final featuring eight songs, of which four qualified for the final which Nubulossa won.

The results of each show were determined through a combination of public voting, a demoscopic jury and an expert jury.

“Zorra” won the first semi-final with 149 points, and subsequently won the final with 156 points. In the semi-final, “Zorra” received the most points from the expert jury, while in the final, “Zorra” received the most points from the demoscopic jury and televote, and tied on point with “Dos extraños (Cuarteto de cuerda)” by St. Pedro in the expert jury.

On winning the song went viral with the music platform Spotify reporting it as No.3 listened to song in Spain.

The Feminist Movement of Madrid filed a complaint about the song this week with Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE calling for its withdrawal from Eurovision, saying it insults women.

One Spanish bishop, José Ignacio Munilla, said the song ‘denigrates’ women and was evidence of a cultural crisis in Spain.

Spanish National Television (RTVE) and the duo have decided to translate the title ‘Zorra’ as ‘vixen’ in English for the contest, although the Spanish word is more commonly associated with slurs.

Nebulossa singer María Bas has argued that the song is in defence of women. Its lyrics describe how a woman is referred to as a ‘zorra’ regardless of what she does, and the song uses the word almost as a protest chant.

‘I have often felt marginalised and mistreated, and that word has accompanied me for a long time until I decided to take control and let go all I kept inside,’ Bas told state news agency Efe.

A video of the group performing the song, which includes the lyrics ‘If I go out alone, I’m the slut. If I’m having fun, I’m the sluttiest’ — can be viewed below via YouTube.

Both RTVE and the European Broadcasting Union, which organises the contest, have approved Spain’s entry.

The European Broadcasting Union issued a statement saying that: ” The EBU understands that there are many interpretations of the title of the song presented by RTVE to represent Spain in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Taking into account its intended use in the context of the lyrics and message of the song, as explained to us by RTVE, we have concluded that the song is eligible to participate in this year’s contest.”

To add to the potent pot, Spanish Prime Minsiter, Pedro Sánchez praised the song and joked about how right-wing critics might have preferred the anthem of the former dictatorship of Franco as Spain’s Eurovision submission.

The ‘fascistsphere’ would have preferred for it to have been the Cara al Sol” – (the anthem of the Spanish falangist movement) ‘Feminism can also be fun,’ he said.

You can decide what you think with the lyrics reproduced below:

Ya sé que soy solo una zorra
(I know I’m just a bitch)
Que mi pasado te devora
(That my past devours you)
Ya sé que soy la oveja negra
(I know I’m the black sheep)
La incomprendida, la de piedra
(The misunderstood, the one made of stone)
Ya sé que no soy quien tú quieres – Lo sé
(I know I’m not who you want – I know)
Entiendo que te desespere – Lo sé
(I understand that I despair you – I know)
Pero esta es mi naturaleza
(But this is my nature)
Cambiar por ti me da pereza
(Change for you makes me lazy)

(…)

Si salgo sola, soy la zorra
(If I go out alone, I’m the slut)
Si me divierto, la más zorra
(If I’m having fun, I’m the sluttiest)
Si alargo y se me hace de día
(If I go out and it’s daylight)
Soy más zorra todavía
(I’m the sluttiest)
Cuando consigo lo que quiero – Zorra, zorra
(When I get what I want – Bitch, bitch)
Jamás es porque lo merezco – Zorra, zorra
(It’s never because I deserve it – Bitch, bitch)
Y aunque me esté comiendo el mundo
(And even though I’m eating the world)
No se valora ni un segundo
(It’s not valued for a second)

The Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will take place in the Malmö Arena on Saturday 11 May, with Semi-Finals on Tuesday 7 and Thursday 9 May 2024.