Vivo cantando


"Vivo cantando" is a song recorded by Spanish singer Salomé with music composed by María José de Ceratto and lyrics written by Aniano Alcalde. It in the Eurovision [Song Contest 1969] held in Madrid, and became one of the four joint winning songs and the second song from Spain—and last to date—to win.
Salomé also recorded the song in Catalan, Basque, English, French, and Italian.

Background

Conception

"Vivo cantando" was composed by María José de Ceratto with lyrics by Aniano Alcalde. It is a very up-tempo number, sung from the perspective of a woman telling her lover about the positive changes he has had on her, specifically that she now lives her life singing.

Eurovision

On 20–22 February 1969, "Vivo cantando" performed by both Salomé and competed in the of the Festival de la Canción Española, the national final organized by Televisión Española to select the song Salomé –who had already been internally selected– would perform in the of the Eurovision Song Contest. The song won the competition so it became the for the contest.
In addition to the Spanish language original version, Salomé recorded the song in another five languages to promote the candidacy: in Catalan as "Canto i vull viure", in Basque as "Kantari bizi naiz", in English as "The Feeling of Love", in French as "Alors je chante", and in Italian as "Vivo cantando".
On 29 March 1969, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at the Teatro Real in Madrid hosted by TVE, and broadcast live throughout the continent. Salomé performed "Vivo cantando" third on the night accompanied by Los Valldemossa –brothers Rafael, Tomeu, and Bernat Estaràs– as backing singers, following 's "Catherine" by Romuald and preceding 's "Maman, Maman" by Jean Jacques. Augusto Algueró –the event's musical director– conducted the live orchestra in the performance of the Spanish entry.
Two memorable aspects of Salomé's performance were her costume –a blue pantsuit designed by Manuel Pertegaz covered in long strands of porcelain resembling beads that weighed –, and the fact that the singer chose to dance on the spot during certain parts of the song. Dancing was against the contest rules at the time; Salomé was not penalized, however, as the performers from Ireland and the United Kingdom had done the same that year as well.
At the close of voting, the song had received 18 points, the same number of points as the 's "Boom Bang-a-Bang" performed by Lulu, the ' "De troubadour" by Lenny Kuhr, and 's "Un jour, un enfant" by Frida Boccara. As there was no tiebreaker rule in place at the time, all four countries were declared joint winners. "Vivo cantando" was succeeded as a Spanish entry at the 1970 contest by "Gwendolyne" by Julio Iglesias.

Aftermath

"Vivo Cantando" was included in Salomé's studio album of the same name. On 14 February 1970, she guest performed the song at the final of the of the Festival de la Canción Española, the national final organized by TVE in Barcelona to select the song and performer for the following Eurovision.

Chart history

Weekly charts

Legacy

Cover versions

Salomé performances singing "Vivo cantando" were recreated several times in different talent shows:
  • In the eighth episode of the first season of Tu cara me suena aired on 16 November 2011 on Antena 3, impersonated Salomé singing "Vivo cantando" replicating her performance at Eurovision.
  • In the sixteenth episode of the sixth season of Tu cara me suena aired on 2 February 2018 on Antena 3, impersonated Salomé singing "Vivo cantando" replicating her performance at Eurovision.
  • In the opening number of the first episode of the twelfth season of Tu cara me suena aired on 4 April 2025 on Antena 3, Àngel Llàcer impersonated Salomé singing "Vivo cantando" dressed as her at Eurovision.