The official Cádiz Carnival band competition, better known as COAC, ended this Friday, February 17. More than a dozen chirigotas, comparsas and choirs have participated in their temple, the Gran Teatro Falla and, like every year, they have chosen the best verse with which to celebrate the nine days of “little carnival” that are announced in their streets.
Within one of those groups that have struggled to be recognized as the best of this 2023 there was a famous journalist and presenter: José Yélamo. The Cadizan, passionate about carnival and copla, participated this year with Los mi alma, la chirigota del Bizcocho.
The Yélamo group, from Seville, aspired to be the first outside the province of Cadiz to win the first prize in this competition, but in the end, finished fourth, behind Amoscuchá, illegal chirigota; The Vinanos; and Misfortunes (which were in first position).
Today, I realize a dream that I never thought I would realize. I sing in the Grand Finale of Falla with this family that has already made me the happiest in the world.
Now to enjoy this magical night and then the street.
Thank you all pic.twitter.com/yJQgBSdjN4
— Jose Yelamo (@jjyelamo) February 17, 2023
He claimed to be “the happiest man in the world”. “Today I realize a dream that I never thought I would realize. I sing in the grand finale of Falla with this family that has already made me the happiest in the world. Now let’s enjoy this magical night and then , from the street. Thank you all ” .
José Yelamo and Roberto Leal, brotherhood chirigotera
On February 13, for World Radio Day, Carles Francino and Andreu Buenafuente wanted to discuss a topic that moves mountains in La Ventana de Cadena SER: friendship. There they were visited by José Yélamo and Roberto Leal, two professionals and great friends whose relationship is closer to brotherhood than friendship. “For me, it’s a source of pride,” said Yélamo, admitting that there are people who think of themselves as brothers.
There, the current Pasapalabra presenter said he met Yélamo during his years as a journalist for España Directo and has considered him a brother ever since. Both, like good Andalusians by birth, love the carnivals of Cádiz and, during his radio speech, Roberto confessed that four years ago he wrote a joke “that couldn’t be worse. The one of the worst in the world,” he joked. However, his friend José supported him unconditionally, “defended tooth and nail” to make it a success.