Words Proposed for Spain Anthem Scrapped

MADRID — A set of lyrics proposed only last week for Spain's wordless national anthem were yanked Wednesday amid criticism that they smacked of the country's right-wing past and did not reflect its rich cultural diversity.

Alejandro Blanco, president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, which in June organized a contest seeking proposals for lyrics and got 7,000 entries, said four stanzas announced Friday as the official candidate were being shelved because of a "lack of consensus."

"The lyrics have generated controversy and, in some cases, rejection," he said. "I have to accept reality, but this does not mean I no longer believe in the idea."

The proposed lyrics started off with the "Viva Espana!" rallying cry of the late Gen. Francisco Franco's dictatorship and called on Spaniards to "love the fatherland."

That drew criticism from many Spaniards, who said the words seemed to hark back to Franco's obsession with Spain as a unitary state fending off the independence-minded zeal of regions like Catalonia and the Basque country.

A gala event scheduled for Jan. 21, at which Spanish tenor Placido Domingo was to sing the lyrics for the first time, has been canceled, Blanco said at a news conference.

Blanco said the search for words to accompany the 18th century military march that serves as Spain's national anthem would continue.

For centuries, Spaniards have only been able to hum along to the song, whose author is unknown. It made for awkward moments at official ceremonies and sporting events.

"It is something I have always felt disappointed and frustrated about," Domingo said Wednesday in Milan, Italy, where he is performing. "If there is an important event, you cannot sing along."

But the tenor acknowledged that "for something as important as a national anthem of your country, we need to have consensus."

The lyrics had been selected by a six-member jury that included a musicologist, a history professor, a former judge and an Olympic athlete, sailor Theresa Zabell. Zabell said the panel felt its choice "could not offend anyone and contained 'Viva Espana'" as an expression of national pride.

The idea had been to collect at least a half million signatures and present the lyrics to Parliament for debate and approval that would end the anthem's wordlessness.

The news was certain to be a crushing disappointment for Paulino Cubero, the Spaniard who soared to fame when it emerged that his entry had won the lyrics contest.

Cubero is a 52-year-old unemployed engineer who dabbles in writing songs and poetry. His last job was running a small photocopy shop, which he gave up to take care of his ill mother. At the news conference at which the lyrics were announced, he described himself as "a loser."

Cubero said earlier that he had not meant to write divisive lyrics, just show pride in Spain. Indeed, his words addressed the plurality of a country with four official languages, saying: "Let us all sing together, with different voices and one heart."

"I could have written lyrics that spoke of generals and the military, but I hope the Spain of 2008 is one of respect and understanding," Cubero said.

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Associated Press writer Colleen Barry in Milan, Italy, contributed to this report.

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