Time has come also to find out who will represent Portugal in Liverpool's Eurovision song contest. Festival da Canção has went through the usual semi-finals (read more here and here) and it's time for the grand final. The finalists are 13 instead of 12 as ín the first semi-final there was some hick up with Esse Povo's voting lines, and they were added to the line up for that.
The favorites seem to be Mimicat, Ivandro and Edmundo Inácio, one of the open call winners in the line up. There will be 50/50 regional juries/televote.
Here's my new take on the songs after initial reviews (links above), now with the stage performance effects added and maybe a couple of further listenings.
Cláudia Pascoal - Nasci Maria **
Already a rather confusing song has been staged to become even more confusing. It's colorful, a bit fun, a bit crazy and rather entertaining. Only that you forget about the song while you wonder what's happening next and what everything has to do with anything?!
Churky - Encruzilhada **
Portuguese Francesco Gabbani isn't he? Pleasant song but very static on stage.
Esse Povo - Sapatos de cimento *
Working phonelines or not, I think they wouldn't have made the final anyways.... Maybe in the 80's with some artsy jury in charge.
Bárbara Tinoco - Goodnight *
Now that was the most ridiculous staging ever, wasn't it? I mean.... what was it? Like from a school in some random play . And the song is just so boring, too.
You can't win, Charlie Brown - Contraste Mudo ****
Not much of staging here but the song is pretty and it's very intense. Lovely atmosphere.
Voodoo Marmelade - Tormento ***
Not much to watch here for the unexisiting staging. But the song is pretty cool and infectious. All stars for the song alone.
Inés Apenas - Fim de mundo *
Oh is she Käärijä's lil sister? Or do they have the same stylist? A bit artsy but meh. No.
Mimicat - Ai coracao ****
This is a bit crazy. Crazy fun. I may not like the song alone so much but the staging lifts it and this is very enjoyable three minutes. Memorable and different, at least in this line up. Things may change in Liverpool if this really gets there.
Dapunksportif - World needs therapy *
Do we want something like this from Portugal, in English? I don't think so.
Neon Soho - Endless world **
They've got the looks alright. This is something you'd expect in some Latvian selection, or Slovenian Ema Fresh. I kinda like this, but not enough that I would want this to Liverpool, and not even on my Playlist in the end.
Ivando - Povo ****
The arrangement in beautiful and after awhile also his way of singing. Not sure about the staging, or lack of it. Is he on top of a sugar mountain, what is this? Ice? City skyline he wants to buy the house in and build a house? I think I'd rather have him in another setting, with the guitarist on stage. This said, this is beautiful, emotional. Would be a worthy quality winner.
Edmundo Inácio - A festa ****
Now this is what we have learn to expect from Portugal. A bit crazy staging, very artistic. Yet catchy song, he's likable even if I first looked he's dressed up as a cardinal. Interesting.
SAL - Viver *
They have thought some gimmicks and sort of choreography but in the end of the day it's just group of men standing in line and then being a rock band. They have their thing but it's just not enough here, nor the song.
All this said I hope the winner is either Ivandro, Edmundo, You can't win Charlie Brown or Mimicat.
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