View source for Antes muerta que sencilla

{{Short description|2004 song by María Isabel}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Antes muerta que sencilla
| cover      = Maria_isabel_antes_muerta_que_sencilla_single.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[María Isabel]]
| album      = [[¡No me toques las palmas que me conozco!]]
| released   = 2004
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      =
| length     =
| label      = [[Universal Music Group]]
| writer     = María Isabel
| producer   =
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = ¡No me toques las palmas que me conozco!
| next_year  = 2006
| misc       = {{Infobox song contest entry | embed=yes
| junior         = yes
| song           = {{Flagicon|Spain}} "Antes muerta que sencilla"
| image          =
| caption        =
| year           = 2004
| country        = Spain
| artist         = [[María Isabel]]
| as             =
| with           =
| language       = Spanish
| composer       = María Isabel
| lyricist       = María Isabel
| place          = 1st
| points         = 171
| lyrics         =
| prev_year      = 2003
| prev           = Desde el cielo
| prev_link      = Desde el cielo
| next           = Te traigo flores
| next_link      = Te traigo flores
| next_year = 2005
}}
{{External music video|header=Official performance video|{{YouTube|rY5B5BX5A1g|"Antes muerta que sencilla"}}}}
}}

"'''Antes muerta que sencilla'''" ([[English language|English]]: "I'd rather be dead than plain") is a song composed and written by Spanish singer [[María Isabel]] in 2004, when she was nine years old. It {{esccnty|Spain|J|t=represented Spain}} in the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2004]] held in [[Lillehammer]], winning the competition with a then record total of 171 points. It became a huge hit in Spain, Latin America, Japan, and it was also a top ten hit in France, and a top twenty in Switzerland. It was the first single of her first album ''[[¡No me toques las palmas que me conozco!]]'' released on 2 November 2004.

A cover version titled "Antes muertas que sencillas" was recorded by [[Regional Mexican]] band [[Los Horóscopos de Durango]] and became popular among the [[Duranguense]] scene, gaining huge success in the United States and Mexico. The same title was used for their 2006 album.

== Background ==
=== National selection ===
Between 7 and 21 September 2004, "Antes muerta que sencilla" performed by [[María Isabel]] competed in ''{{esccnty|Spain|Junior|y=2004|t=Eurojunior 2004}}'', the national selection organised by [[Televisión Española]] (TVE) to select its song and performer for the {{escyr|2004|J|2nd edition}} of the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest]]. The song won the competition becoming the {{esccnty|Spain|J|t=Spanish entrant}}, and María Isabel the performer, for Junior Eurovision.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://vertele.eldiario.es/verteletv/actualidad/TVE-1-ofrece-fase-final-Eurojunior_0_513248671.html|title=TVE-1 ofrece la fase final de "Eurojunior 2"|date=7 September 2004|newspaper=[[elDiario.es]]|accessdate=5 July 2019|language=Spanish}}</ref> On 2 November 2004, she released her first album ''[[¡No me toques las palmas que me conozco!]]'' of which "Antes muerta que sencilla" was the first single.

=== Junior Eurovision ===
On 20 November 2004, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest was held at the [[Håkons Hall]] in [[Lillehammer]] hosted by the [[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation]] (NRK), and broadcast live throughout the continent. María Isabel performed "Antes muerta que sencilla" fifteenth on the evening.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2004|episode-link=Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2004|series=Junior Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Junior Eurovision Song Contest|network=[[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|NRK]] / [[EBU]]|date=20 November 2004}}</ref> At the close of voting, the song had received 171 points, winning the competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://junioreurovision.tv/event/lillehammer-2004/final|title=Official Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2004 scoreboard|website=[[Junior Eurovision Song Contest]]}}</ref>

=== Aftermath ===
On 26 November 2005, the {{escyr|2005|J|3rd edition}} of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest was held at the [[Trixxo Arena|Ethias Arena]] in [[Hasselt]] hosted by [[Radio Télévision Belge Francophone]] (RTBF) and [[Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep]] (VRT). María Isabel performed a medley of "Antes muerta que sencilla" and her new single "Pues va a ser que no" from her second album ''[[Número 2]]'' as part of the interval act. She also presented the prize to the winner of the competition.<ref>{{cite web |date=20 November 2012 |title=Remember the 2005 Junior Eurovision Song Contest? |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/remember-the-2005-junior-eurovision-song-contest |access-date=30 May 2019 |website=junioreurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}</ref>

On 20 November 2010, the {{escyr|2010|J|8th edition}} of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest was held at the [[Minsk-Arena]] in [[Minsk]] hosted by the [[Belarusian Television and Radio Company]] (BTRC). María Isabel performed "Antes muerta que sencilla" in a medley with all the previous winners of the contest as part of the interval act. They also presented the trophy to the new winner at the end of the show.<ref>{{YouTube|rY5B5BX5A1g|All previous winners together}} at the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2010]]</ref> On 11 December 2022, the song was also performed at the {{escyr|2022|J|20th edition}}'s interval act as part of the 20th anniversary winners medley, in this case by the [[Diocese of Tavush|Tavush Diocese]] Children’s Choir.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-02 |title=Junior Eurovision 2022: 11 Champions will perform in Yerevan! |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/junior-eurovision-2022-11-champions-will-perform-yerevan |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=junioreurovision.tv |language=en}}</ref>

==Charts==
"Antes muerta que sencilla" became a huge hit in Spain, Latin America, Japan, and it was also a top ten hit in France, and a top twenty in Switzerland.

===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2004)
!Peak<br>position
|-
!scope="row"| Belgium (Wallonia Singles Chart)<ref>{{cite web |title="Antes Muerta que Sencilla", Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/1c9fb/Maria-Isabel-Antes-muerta-que-sencilla |publisher=Ultratop |language=French |accessdate=4 February 2010 |archive-date=22 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022033230/http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Maria+Isabel&titel=Antes+muerta+que+sencilla&cat=s |url-status=live }}</ref>
|align="center"|36
|-
!scope="row"| France (SNEP Singles Chart)<ref>{{cite web |title="Antes Muerta que Sencilla", French Singles Chart |url=http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Maria+Isabel&titel=Antes+muerta+que+sencilla&cat=s |publisher=Lescharts |language=French |accessdate=4 February 2010 |archive-date=25 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025181717/http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Maria+Isabel&titel=Antes+muerta+que+sencilla&cat=s |url-status=live }}</ref>
|align="center"|6
|-
!scope="row"| Germany ([[German Singles Chart]])<ref>{{cite web |title="Antes Muerta que Sencilla", in various singles charts |url=http://acharts.us/song/3892 |publisher=Acharts |accessdate=30 July 2010 |archive-date=25 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025113059/http://acharts.us/song/3892 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|align="center"|89
|-
!scope="row"| Italy ([[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|FIMI]])<ref>{{cite web |title="Antes Muerta que Sencilla", Italian Singles Chart |url=https://italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Maria+Isabel&titel=Antes+muerta+que+sencilla&cat=s |publisher=[[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana]] |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=6 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506085552/https://italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Maria+Isabel&titel=Antes+muerta+que+sencilla&cat=s |url-status=live}}</ref>
|align="center"|34
|-
!scope="row"| Switzerland (Swiss Singles Chart)<ref>{{cite web |title="Antes Muerta que Sencilla", Swiss Singles Chart |url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Maria+Isabel&titel=Antes+muerta+que+sencilla&cat=s |publisher=Hitparade |accessdate=4 February 2010 |archive-date=10 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110185611/http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Maria+Isabel&titel=Antes+muerta+que+sencilla&cat=s |url-status=live }}</ref>
|align="center"|18
|-
|}

== Legacy ==
=== Los Horóscopos de Durango cover===
A cover version titled "Antes muertas que sencillas" was recorded by [[Regional Mexican]] band [[Los Horóscopos de Durango]] and became popular among the [[Duranguense]] scene, gaining huge success in the United States and Mexico. {{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} The same title was used for their 2006 album.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{María Isabel}}
{{Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2004}}
{{Spain in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{List of Junior Eurovision Song Contest winners}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Junior Eurovision Song Contest winning songs]]
[[Category:Los Horóscopos de Durango songs]]
[[Category:2004 singles]]
[[Category:Spanish songs]]
[[Category:María Isabel songs]]
[[Category:2004 songs]]
[[Category:Universal Music Group singles]]