We continue the Eurovision Top 100 countdown with number 41, Ruth’s Lorenzo’s “Dancing in the Rain” from Spain in 2014.
Here we have an underrated song with booming vocals that was passed over by the juries and the fans watching at home. One complication is that there was another song with excellent vocals that stole the show (and if you make it to the end of this list, you will see it).
I’m not pressed about it, however: one of the main reasons I prepared this top 100 list was to share the songs I felt were best, regardless of the voting.
Vital Information: “Dancing in the Rain”
| Song | Dancing in the Rain |
| Performed By | Ruth Lorenzo |
| Written By | Ruth Lorenzo, Jim Irvin, & Julian Emery |
| Country | Spain |
| Year | 2014 |
| Language(s) Performed In | Spanish & English |
| How It Fared | 10th Place (74 points) |
| Was It Fair? | Not really, no |
What I Liked
Ruth has a beautiful voice; that much is undeniable. It should not surprise you that this scored well in my vocals category. She got up there for those bigger notes and she hit them with ease. Her singing electrified the Copenhagen crowd that night with a lot of raw power that we just do not see in Eurovision as much anymore. In terms of a downside, I did not love all the backing vocals, but Ruth’s primary performance more than made up for it.
The staging was solid as well. I liked the understated simplicity of the rain falling all around her. I am a big believer that the staging should match the tone of the song, and I think she accomplished it.
Lyrically, the song was simple but its message was clear: Even though the rain (symbolizing the challenges that come with life) is falling, you keep dancing – which is to say, moving forward with joy.
Other Facts
- Ruth Lorenzo went 19th in the Grand Final running order back in 2014. She finished 11th in the jury vote and just 15th in the televote. A great disgrace if I’ve ever heard one.
- Unfortunately for her native España, they have not won the Eurovision Song Contest since 1969 (the infamous four-way tie).
- Lorenzo also happens to be a Guinness World Record holder (Fuster, 2016) and a former contestant on the British edition of The X Factor.
- Ruth is still active in the Eurovision sphere. In 2024, she was co-host of Junior Eurovision in Spain, as well as hosting Benidorm Fest, Spain’s national final.
Time for “Dancing in the Rain”
But leave your phone or tablet indoors when you watch on YouTube. Your manufacturer probably won’t give you a free replacement for rain damage.
References
Fuster, L. (2016, October 21). Ruth Lorenzo breaks Guinness World Record by performing in eight cities in 12 hours. Wiwibloggs. https://wiwibloggs.com/2016/10/21/ruth-lorenzo-breaks-guinness-world-record-performing-eight-cities-12-hours/153957/
