Welcome to January, or as it’s known to fans of the Eurovision Song Contest, the beginning of the season. During the months leading up to the competition, numerous nations will hold competitions to select their song for Eurovision. More often than not, these preselections don’t have a lot of musical diversity, opting for a safer, radio-friendly option. This usually means that there aren’t a lot of songs that stand out in a good way. However, this year has seen one of the most exciting songs that is in the running to go to Eurovision. 

Rakky Ripper is an artist from Granada who has been leading the charge of Spanish hyperpop ever since she released her debut album, Neptune Diamond. The aforementioned album helped to establish her footing in the industry, but it was her 2021 release of “donde stas??” that launched her to the face of Spanish hyperpop. She also began to reach fans outside of the Spanish-speaking world when she performed on stage with Charli XCX in one of Charli’s concerts in Madrid. Charli is someone who Ripper has cited as an inspiration to her several times, and that inspiration is easy to hear in “TRACCIÓN.” “TRACCIÓN” hits all of the same beats that hyperpop artists tend to in their music, with a pulsing synth leading Ripper’s autotuned vocals to our ears. Elements of breakbeat sneak its way into the verses. Once the chorus hits, the synth gets crunched and begins to pulsate, like a truck starting on a cold day. While the track doesn’t take the elements of her hyperpop sound to the same extremes that we get on tracks like “Faceshopping” by the late great SOPHIE, that’s also to be expected of a song from the style that’s competing for an intranational competition title. Ripper is currently in the running to represent Spain in the 2023 edition of Eurovision, which is to be held in Liverpool. 

Since 2010, Spain has been a competing force at Eurovision. During that span, the nation — which automatically gets a free pass to the final — only managed to place in the top ten a total of three times; a pair of tenth places in 2012 and 2014, and a third place in 2022. Something changed within the delegation in 2022, as the method of selecting their entry underwent a massive change. Prior to then, the nation would choose their artist, and then have them write a song that fits what they were looking for, only changing this method twice. In these two alternative selections, the show Operación Triunfo, which can be likened to American Idol, had a special show where the participants made a song that would go to Eurovision if selected. 

The selection method was changed to become a competition more in line with selections elsewhere in Europe. This selection was christened Benidorm Fest. Even in the first edition, a number of very unique artists were selected to compete to represent Spain in the Eurovision 2022, which was held by Italy after Måneskin — yes, the band behind “Beggin’” — won the 2020 edition with their song “Zitti e buoni”. Some of these artists include: Luna Ki, an artist who’s on the forefront of the blossoming hyperpop scene in Spain; Azúcar Moreno, a duo who burst onto the scene in the 1980s and have still kept up their popularity in the 40-or-so years since then; Tanxugueiras, a Galician trio that melds traditional Galician music and modern influences; and Chanel Terrero, a musical actress. The second edition has large shoes of musical diversity to fill, but I would dare to say that they have been filled. In the 2023 edition, you have the likes of Alice Wonder, a nonbinary balladeer; Megara, a band that invokes the likes of Set It Off and Falling In Reverse with their sound; Sharonne, a drag queen; Karmento, an artist who performs new interpretations of the traditional flamenco style; and Rakky Ripper, our hyperpop darling.

Eurovision has shown that more unorthodox styles will do better in the as of late, with half of the songs that placed in the top five in the past two editions being from styles that you wouldn’t often hear played on a stereotypical pop radio station, with glam rock, chanson, a folk-techno fusion, folk-rap, and art pop all finding their way to the top of the contest. Hopefully, Rakky Ripper will be the next in a long line of alternative artists who find success at Eurovision. 

Rakky Ripper is slated to perform on Feb. 2, 2023 in the second semifinal at Benidorm Fest. The final is set to be held two days later.