Mexico in the OTI Festival 1990


Mexico was represented at the OTI Festival 1990 with the song "Un bolero", written by Francisco Curiel and Pedro Alberto Cárdenas, and performed by Carlos Cuevas. The Mexican participating broadcaster, Televisa, selected its entry through a national televised competition with several phases. The song, that was performed in position 18, placed first out of 21 competing entries, winning the festival. This was the fifth entry from Mexico that won the OTI Festival, after winning in 1973, in 1975, in 1985, and in 1989.

National stage

Televisa held a national competition with two televised qualifying rounds and a final to select its entry for the 19th edition of the OTI Festival. This nineteenth edition of the National OTI Festival featured eighteen songs in the qualifying rounds and ten in the final. The top-three entries were awarded. In addition to the general competition, awards were also given for Best Male Performer, Best Female Performer, and Best Musical Arrangement.
The shows were held at Teatro de la Ciudad in Mexico City, with Yolanda de la Cruz presenting the second qualifying round and Raúl Velasco the final, and were broadcast on Las Estrellas. The musical director was, who conducted the orchestra when required.
SongArtistSongwriterConductor
"16 diciembres"Cristian CastroSergio EsquivelPedro Alberto Cárdenas
"Adelante y buena suerte"José CantoralJosé Cantoral
"Enhorabuena"Sergio EsquivelSergio Esquivel
"Enséñame a vivir sin ti"Francisco XavierFrancisco Xavier
"Guitarra por un día"
"Hacerte amor"Magdalena ZárateJosé Manuel Fernández
"Mujeres"Carlos LaraCarlos Lara
"Nacerá"Aída CuevasPedro Alberto Cárdenas
"No te cambio"Alejandro FilioJesús Medel
"Olvídalo"Antonio de Jesús
"Por cantar"Pedro FernándezJesús Medel
"Porque tú no estás"Crystal
"Puede ser"José María NapoleónJosé María Napoleón
"Sálvalo"Mario Pintor
"Sofía está bien"Gil Rivera
"Tócame"Óscar Athié
"Un bolero"Carlos CuevasPedro Alberto Cárdenas
"Viernes primero"Alejandra ÁvalosPedro Alberto CárdenasPedro Alberto Cárdenas

Qualifying rounds

The two qualifying rounds were held on Saturdays 20 and 27 October 1990. Each round featured nine entries, of which the five highest-scoring advanced to the final.
SongArtistResult
1"No te cambio"Qualified
2"Guitarra por un día"
3"Adelante y buena suerte"José CantoralQualified
4"16 diciembres"Cristian Castro
5"Nacerá"Aída Cuevas
6"Porque tú no estás"Crystal
7"Por cantar"Pedro FernándezQualified
8"Puede ser"José María NapoleónQualified
9"Enséñame a vivir sin ti"Francisco XavierQualified

SongArtistResult
1"Sálvalo"Mario Pintor
2"Sofía está bien"Gil Rivera
3"Un bolero"Carlos CuevasQualified
4"Olvídalo"Antonio de Jesús
5"Hacerte amor"Magdalena ZárateQualified
6"Mujeres"Carlos LaraQualified
7"Enhorabuena"Sergio EsquivelQualified
8"Tócame"Óscar Athié
9"Viernes primero"Alejandra ÁvalosQualified

Final

The ten-song final was held on Saturday 3 November 1990.
SongArtistVotesResult
1"Enhorabuena"Sergio Esquivel
2"Hacerte amor"Magdalena Zárate
3"Mujeres"Carlos Lara
4"Por cantar"Pedro Fernández
5"Viernes primero"Alejandra Ávalos
6"Adelante y buena suerte"José Cantoral43
7"Enséñame a vivir sin ti"Francisco Xavier
8"Puede ser"José María Napoleón
9"Un bolero"Carlos Cuevas91
10"No te cambio"82

Merit awards

In the final, the jurors voted for the Best Male and Female Performer, and Best Best Musical Arrangement among the shortlisted artist in each category. Carlos Cuevas received the Best Male Performer Award; Aída Cuevas the Best Female Performer Award; and Pedro Alberto Cárdenas the Best Musical Arrangement Award for "Viernes primero".

At the OTI Festival

On 1 December 1990, the OTI Festival was held at the Circus Maximus of the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, United States, hosted by Univision, and broadcast live throughout Ibero-America. Carlos Cuevas performed "Un bolero" in position 18, with Pedro Alberto Cárdenas conducting the event's orchestra, placing first out of 21 competing entries, winning the festival. This was the fifth entry from Mexico that won the OTI Festival, after winning in 1973, in 1975, in 1985, and in 1989.