"Voy a quedarme" was written by Dan Hammond, Leroy Sanchez, Dangelo Ortega, and Blas Cantó. Its composition was prompted by losses in Cantó's life, including the death of his grandmother in 2020 followed by his father's death. He said in an interview that the song was a sort of reconciling with these losses. The death of his father came as RTVE was announcing its decision to re-confirm him to represent Spain in the contest. He also said that the song was like a miracle and healing process. "I needed to perform on that stage. I needed to share my music, my soul", he said.[2] The song was released as a digital download and for streaming on 10 February 2021.
Eurovision
On 20 February 2021, "Voy a quedarme" and "Memoria" competed in a two-song national final organized by RTVE, and aired on La 1 of Televisión Española, to select the song Cantó would perform in Eurovision. "Voy a quedarme" won the competition so it became the Spanish entry for the contest.[3]
On 8 March 2021, RTVE premiered the promo video of "Voy a quedarme", where Cantó dances with his "grandmother".[4] On 23 April 2021, he also released the English language version of the song titled "I'll Stay".[5] On 17 May 2021, he released a duo version of "I'll Stay" featuring James Newman, the representative of the United Kingdom.[6]
On 20 May 2021, the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest was held at the Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam hosted by the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO), Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), and AVROTROS, and broadcast live throughout the continent. A short interview with Blas Cantó and a short clip from the dress rehearsal of "Voy a quedarme" was featured in the show, as Spain, as a member of the "Big Five", automatically advanced to the final.[7]
On 22 May 2021, the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest was held. Cantó performed "Voy a quedarme" thirteenth on the night, following Iceland's "10 Years" by Daði og Gagnamagnið and preceding Moldova's "Sugar" by Natalia Gordienko.[8] Cantó was dressed in a black outfit by Jaime Álvarez,[9] and the staging, featuring a big moon, was designed by Marvin Dietmann.[10]
At the close of voting, it had received 6 points, placing twenty-fourth in a field of twenty-six.[11] The song was succeeded as Spanish entry at the 2022 contest by "SloMo" by Chanel.[12]
