Mexico was represented at the OTI Festival 1981 with the song "", written by Felipe Gil, and performed by Yoshio. The Mexican participating broadcaster, Televisa, selected its entry through a national televised competition with several phases. The song, that was performed in position 16, placed third with 22 points, tying with the entry from the United States, out of 21 competing entries. In addition, Televisa was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the National Auditorium in Mexico City.
Televisa held a national competition with four televised qualifying rounds and a final to select its entry for the 10th edition of the OTI Festival. This tenth edition of the National OTI Festival featured forty songs, of which ten reached the final. In addition to the general competition, awards were given for Best Male Performer, Best Female Performer, Best Musical Arrangement, and Breakout Artist among all the competing artists.
The qualifying rounds were held at Teatro de la Ciudad, while the final was held at the National Auditorium in Mexico City, all presented by Raúl Velasco. The musical director was , who conducted the orchestra when required. Hermanos Zavala, the single mixed backing choir, were credited on the songs they accompanied.
The four qualifying rounds were held on Saturdays 15, 22, and 29 August, and 5 September 1981. Each round featured ten entries, and the ten highest-scoring entries among the forty competing advanced to the final. Several expert jurors present in the hall and five remote provincial juries scored all the entries in each round.
The final was held on Sunday 20 September 1981. The winner was "", written by Felipe Gil, and performed by Yoshio. The festival ended with a reprise of the winning entry.
In the final, the jurors voted aloud for the Best Male and Female Performer, Best Musical Arrangement, and Breakout Artist among the three shortlisted artist in each category.
Yoshio received the Best Male Performer Award, Yuri the Best Female Performer Award, Rodolfo "Popo" Sánchez the Best Musical Arrangement Award for "", and and José Alberto Fuentes the Breakout Artist Award jointly.
Las 10 finalistas del Festival OTI 81 is the official compilation album of the tenth edition of the Mexican National OTI Festival, released by RCA Victor in 1981. The vinyl LP features the studio version of the ten songs qualified for the national final.
On 5 December 1981, the OTI Festival was held at the National Auditorium in Mexico City, hosted by Televisa, and broadcast live throughout Ibero-America. Yoshio performed "" in position 16, placing third with 22 points, tying with the entry from the United States, out of 21 competing entries.
Each participating broadcaster assembled a jury who awarded 5âÂÂ1 points to their five favourite songs in order of preference.