Finland and Portugal have a similar history in Eurovision: a lot of failures and a very little to cheer for even if the songs haven't been generally that bad. Finland managed to break the spell in 2006 after 45 years but Portugal is still waiting after 47 years thus breaking the previous Finland's record. And this year both countries send a brunette to the competition with a ballad sung in the native language. This match ends with 1-1 result.
Portugal - Filipa Sousa - Vida minha ***
Portugal's entry is a mix of local fado and Slavic melancholy thanks to composer Andrej Babic. Filipa delivers with gusto and passion this melodrama which may not open to televoters with the first hearing. For me this song doesn't quite open no matter how much I would like it to. Usually I'm a sucker for the Portuguese songs and would love to see them win but this year isn't the year either. A borderline qualifier.
Finland - Pernilla - När jag blundar ***
Finland's entry is a mix of Finnish melancholy and something else. Pernilla sings it with emotion. No wonder, it's written for and about her mother by her brother. This suffers from the same hic up as the Portuguese entry: it needs several listenings to open up and may fail to make impression on televoters who have a patience of a canarybird. The song also lacks any climax and just moves on, or rather stays on the same spot all three minutes. Yet, there is something hauntingly intriguing about it. On the other hand it all lays on Pernilla's broad handballer's shoulders. Also a borderline qualifier.
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