Costa Rica in the OTI Festival 2000


Costa Rica was represented at the OTI Festival 2000 with the song "Como la marea", written by Luis Fernando Piedra, and performed by Piedra himself and Hernán Corao. The Costa Rican participating broadcaster, Repretel, selected its entry through a televised national final. The song, qualified from the semi-final, was one of the finalists. Luis Fernando Piedra had represented Costa Rica in 1993.

National stage

Competing entries

The broadcaster opened a song application period between 17 August and 17 September 1999. Of the 151 songs received, nine were shortlisted for the televised final. The six-member selection committee was undisclosed to ensure the transparency of the election.
Among the competing performers were Luis Fernando Piedra, who had represented Costa Rica in 1993; Duvalier Quirós, who had represented Costa Rica in the [OTI Festival 1998|Costa Rica in 1998] along Ana Yancy Contreras; and Omar Briceño, who placed second in the national finals in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1988.
SongArtistSongwriter
"Esta locura es por tí"Enrique DoderoMario Campos Sandoval
"El Amor"Grace AbarcaGrace Abarca
"¡Qué vivan los sentimientos!"Elena UmañaJuan Carlos Rojas
"Hacia el amanecer"Raúl Villalta
"La Negra"Duvalier QuirósGiovanni Barrantes
"Como la marea"Luis Fernando Piedra and Hernán CoraoLuis Fernando Piedra
"Más allá de la Tierra"Omar BriceñoJuan Carlos Rojas
"Así me siento"Luis Ángel CastroLuis Ángel Castro
"Bolero"Alexis GuzmánJorge Villalobos Leitón

National final

Repretel held the National OTI Festival on Monday 11 October 1999, beginning at 21:00 CST, at El Greco hall of the San José Palacio Hotel in San José. It was presented by Verónica Bastos and Enrique Rodríguez; and was broadcast on Repretel 6. Florcita Motuda,, Ana Bárbara, and Noelia made guest performances.
The jury was composed of Orlando Bertarini, Antonio Varela, Florcita Motuda, Héctor Carranza, and Juan Carlos Mena.
The winner was "Como la marea", written by Luis Fernando Piedra, and performed by Piedra himself and Hernán Corao; with "La Negra", written by Giovanni Barrantes, and performed by Duvalier Quirós placing second; and "Así me siento" written and performed by Luis Ángel Castro placing third.
SongArtistResult
1"Esta locura es por tí"Enrique Dodero
2"El Amor"Grace Abarca
3"¡Qué vivan los sentimientos!"Elena Umaña
4"Hacia el amanecer"Raúl Villalta
5"La Negra"Duvalier Quirós2
6"Como la marea"Luis Fernando Piedra and Hernán Corao1
7"Más allá de la Tierra"Omar Briceño
8"Así me siento"Luis Ángel Castro3
9"Bolero"Alexis Guzmán

At the OTI Festival

On 19–20 May 2000, the OTI Festival was held at the Salón Teotihuacán of the in Acapulco, Mexico, hosted by Televisa, and broadcast live throughout Ibero-America. Luis Fernando Piedra and Hernán Corao performed "Como la marea" in position 7 in the semi-final, with Willliam Porras conducting the event's orchestra, and qualifying to the final. In the final, they performed in position 5. At the end, only the top three places were announced, and the Costa Rican entry was not one of them, remaining with the title of finalist.