Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Portugal's Festival da Canção 2025 also reached the final after two semi-finals. The winner was chosen by 50/50 regional juries and televotes. For me once again one of the best and most interesting national finals, a true contrast to Melodifestivalen's polished boredom and playing it so safe also here it seemed beforehand a duel between two: for international fandom Josh vs national popular Fernando Daniel with Henka in for a possible surprise. And yes, Portugal did Portugal and unlike San Marino and Sweden where things went as scripted - except Sweden did the unthinkable finish against all odds - chose Napa that no one abroad saw coming.... nor in Portugal I guess watching those votes going everywhere and so different from the juries and televotes Napa (ex Men on the Couch) is a Portuguese indie rock pop band since 2013. Francisco Sousa, João Guilherme Gomes, João Rodrigues, Diogo Góis and  João Lourenço Gomes are from the island of Madeira. Switch from English to Portuguese,...

Last but not least, we have a winner in Portugal! Festival da Canção 2023 was won by Mimicat and she goes to Liverpool's Eurovision song contest for Portugal hoping to continue the success Portugal has enjoyed the past two editions. It looks like the juries and televote didn't agree on nothing but the top-2 that were very clear. The jury even tied them giving both of them 12 points.  Results (jury/tele vote) 1. Mimicat - Ai coração (12 + 12) 24 2. Edmundo Inácio - A Festa (12 + 10) 22 3. Claudia Páscoal - Nasci Maria (8 + 4) 12 4. Bárbara Tinacvo - Goodnight (3 + 6) 9 5. Ivandro _ Povo (6 + 3) 9 6. Dapunksportif - World needs therapy (0 + 8) 8 7. Voodoo Marmelade - Tormento (0 + 7) 7 8. Tou can't win, Charlie Brown - Contraste mudo (7 + 0) 7 9. Churky - Encruzilhada (0 + 5) 5 10. Neon Soho - Endless world (5 + 0) 5 11. Esse Povo - Sapatos de cimento (4 + 0) 12. SAL - Viver (1 + 2) 3 13. Inés Apenas - Fim do mundo (2 + 1) 3 I can't believe I did review and watch each and...

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 ...

The songs keep dropping and today also Portugal has revealed the songs for the coming Festival da Canção 2023. Once again RTP invited 15 composers and gave them free hands to choose the song and the artist, and it seems most everyone this time around is singing their own song instead of choosing someone else to sing it. Additional five songs were selected among the 667 open call submissions. Or maybe that was their purpose in the first place? Get the big ones involved big time. Including Cláudia Pascoal who sung for Portugal at home soil in Lisbon 2018. There will be two semi-finals with ten songs. Six of them will reach the final. Five simply by 50/50 televote/jury vote and one additional one by second round of televoting only. In the final there are seven regional juries and televote on 50/50 basis. The televote opens right after second semi-final. Semi-final One - February 25 April Ivy - Modo voo Bolha - Sonhos de liberdade Churky - Encruzilhada Cláudia Pascoal - Nasci Maria Esse Po...

Portugal's method of choosing composers for Festival da Canção and giving them free hands gave them their long awaited first victory, a couple of very different entries with variable success and the masterpiece that was Saudade, saudade this year so there's no point of changing it. FdC has turned out to be one of the most interesting and innovative national finals, something that Eesti laul used to be, if not the best in the past few years. Also this year promises everything from fado to rock and indie and everything in between. Can't wait! The names are out as are the dates: two semi-finals on February 25 and Match 5 and the grand final on March 11. Among the composers Claudia Pascoal, who represented Portugal at home in 2018 and fan favorite Bárbara Tinoco from FdC 2020. Some names from various talent shows like Ivandro, Edmundo Inácio And five of them are from open submission that received over 700 entries: Inés Apenas, Edmundo Inácio, Mimicat, Moyah and Woodoo Marmelad...

After disappointing Nordic finals last night it was worth staying up for Festival da Canção and see one of my favorites Elisa win it with beautiful Medo de sentir, while for a moment it looked by other favorite I thought had no chance whatsoever taking the price, namely Filipe Sambado when he won easily the regional juries vote with his song that echoes Franco Battiato. Then the votes were transformed into Eurovision points and he got 12 from them while the televoters placed him only seventh gaining 4 points and the job was done. Fan favorite Bárbara won the televote but the juries left her fifth so the runner up with both juries or Elisa won. Good. Elisa Silva (20) is a fairly unknown singer-songwriter so far, picked up by Marta Carvalho to perform her song.  1. Elisa - Medo de sentir (jury 10 + televotes 10) 20 2. Bárbara Tinoco - Passe-partout (6 + 12) 18 3. Filipe Sambado - Gerbera amarela so sul (12 + 4) 16 4. Kady - Diz só (8 + 7) 15 5. Jimmy P...

Portugal has had a quite an Eurovision ride lately: after string of non qualifications a year off only to come back and win it for the first time in over 50 years. Then coming last at home and last year non qualification again. But RTP didn't change a thing. For Festival da Canção 2020 they again invited composers who got free hands to create the songs and pick up the artists. Two semi-finals where 16 entries became 8 for the final. There will be 50/50 televote/jury vote to determinate the winner. Festival da Canção that used to be stuck in the past has got a real make over after their win and every year some visually or musically stunning original and bold performances come up - like last year's winner Conan Osiris. This time we have Filipe Sambado. And finally an enjoyable rap by Jimmy P. Amonsgt others. Bárbara seems to be the fan favorite but I'd go for Elisa's better version of their home entry two years ago, or extravagant Filipe with a song that sounds l...

Festival da Canção 2020 composers have been revealed by RTP. As in previous years that has brought Portugal its long lost first victory and also a couple of not so succesful but very memorable entries the chosen composers have a full artistic freedom to create the song and choose the artist, even themselves. There will be two semi-finals (February 22 and 29) and the grand final is set for March 7 (along with Sweden, Finland and Denmark so far!). The songs and artists will be announced in due time.  Click the names below for hints of their styles and possible chances as performing the songs themselves... Rui Pregal da Cunha Tiago Nacarato Filipe Sambado  MEERA Pedro Jóia Throes + The Shine Eliza Rodrigues Marta Carvalho António Avelar Pinho João Cabrita Hélio Morais Dino D’Santiago Jimmy P Blasted Mechanism Dubio ft. +351 (Open Submissions selected song) Cláudio Francisco António (Antena 1’s Masterclass show)

Fan favorite Con Osiris won the Portuguese national final with Telemòveis last night. He scored full points from the jury and televoters alike. How the idea of Portuguese Eurovision has changed in just three years! From sending an old fashioned "we don't care what others think" ballad and winning to rather alternative modern pop song that came last to very alternative something....  I just have to look and admire. Conan, aka Tiago Miranda (30), ex-porn shop assistant has released three albums since 2011. 1. Conan Osíris - Telemóveis (12+12) 24 2. NBC - Igual a ti (10+8) 18 3. Matay - Perfeito (7+10) 17 4. Madrepaz - Mundo a mudar (7+6) 13 5. Surma - Pugna (8+4) 12 6. Calema - A Dois (4+7) 11 7. Mariana Bragada - Mar doce (3+5) 8 8. Ana Cláudia - Inércia (5+3) 8

Portugal has really benefitted from winning the contest finally. Last year's and this year's Festival da Canção has given us interesting, alternative stuff with the old traditional in a lovely mix. This year is no exception. Eight songs have made the final after two semi-finals in RTP studios. The final takes place in Portimão Arena in Portimão hosted by Eurovision hostess extraordinaire, fabulous Filomena Cautela with Vasco Palmeirim. Below are the finalist in ranking order in semi-finals giving precedence to televotes in case of a tie. Conan Osiris is the big fan favorite but how this year is going he won't win lik most every fan favorite in any country.....? NBC - Igual a ti **** Matay - Perfeito *** Conan Osiris - Telémoveis ** Calema - A dois **** Surma - Pugna * Madrepaz - Mundo a mudar *** Mariana Bragada - Mar doce ** Ana Cláudia - Inércia **

Portugal seems to have found a new fresh look to the their national selection after winning with the most old fashioned song imaginable the whole Eurovision song contest in 2017 for the very first time. Last year they were more modern and experimental than ever, and this year the progress continues. Not forgetting though the old times. First hearing instant favorites were Calema and NBC, but several other songs sounded promising.  First semi-final, February 16, 2019 Calema – A Dois  **** (jury 10+televote 8) 18 FINALIST (Calema) Conan Osíris – Telemóveis  *** (7+12) 19 FINALIST (Conan Osíris) Ana Cláudia – Inércia  ** (8+5) 13 FINALIST (D’Alva) João Campos – É O Que É  ** (6+7) 13 LIVE (D.A.M.A) Filipe Keil – Hoje  *** (4+4) 8 LIVE (Filipe Keil (Public submissions candidate) Ela Limão – Mais Brilhante Que Mil Sóis  * (5+6) 11 LIVE (Flak) Soraia Tavares – O Meu Sonho  *** (3+3) 6 LIVE (Lura) Matay – Pe...

Diogo Piçarra's Canção do Fim was one of the finest and most touching songs of the whole Eurovision 2018 national final season. Sadly he withdraw before the final . He has the honor of opening this series of songs that never made it all the way to Lisbon stage. 

  Cláudia Pascoal in absense of Diogo Piçarra has won the Portuguese Festival da Canção final late last night. But it was a close call as Catarina Miranda - as I expected - scored well, too. They both ended with 22 points but as Cláudia got the televotes 12 she was declared the winner. Peu Madureira came third and Janeiro 4th, so I got all my favorites in top-4 :-) Cláudia's performance is very simple and featured composer Isaura sitting next to her and just sings a few lines with her. It's veery intense 3 minutes but let's see how European wide audiences will have patience and concentration come May.... 1. Cláudia Pascoal - O jardim (jury 10 + televote 12) 22 2. Catarina Miranda - Para sorrir não preciso de nada (12 + 10) 22 3. Peu Madureira - Só por ela (8 + 8) 16 4. Janeiro - (sem título) (6 + 6) 12 5. Rui David - Sem medo (4 + 4) 8 6. Anabela - Para te dar abrigo (0 + 7) 7 7. Joana Barra Vaz - Anda estragar-me os planos (7 + 0) 7 8. Lili - ...

  Portugal is choosing tonight for Lisbon 2018 Eurovision song contest and instead of  RTP's tv-studios like in the semifinals the show moves to an arena, the Pavilhão Multiusos in Guimarães.  Now that the superfavorite Diogo Piçarra is sadly out of the picture (he got top marks from both televoters and jury in the second semifinal (being the only one doing so) before he was accused of plagiarism, read more here ) the contest is wide open.  Cláudia Pascoal scored 10 with both jury and televotes in the second semifinal while Susana Travassos got 8 from the jury but zero from televotes. This however was enough to make her Diogo's replacement in the final. Peter Serrado got 8 from televoters but only 1 from the jury - will they change their mind? Peu Madueira was the clear winner in the first semifinal with 12 from the televoters and 10 from the jury. The jury preferred Janeiro but the televoters gave him only 4, maybe they will award him more now? On...

  Rarely any Eurovision news leave me so disappointed as this one, when I heard it late last night. When my faves don't win a national final: sh't happens. When Finland doesn't qualify: sh't happens and I move on. But somehow this one left me rather disappointed and even sad.  Canção do Fim was my clear favorite in the Portuguese selection Festival da Canção and on top of that Diogo Piçarra is one of my favorite Portuguese artists I never dared to dream of participating. So, it was all a bit too good, and I was hoping Portugal could do very well in their own contest in Lisbon, as theere's no way he wouldn't have won the final and be there. Now I'm not so sure.... So, what happened? Once he performed his song last Sunday it didn't take long he was accused of plagiarism. The song in question would be Abre os meus olhos by certain Walter McCallister, a clergyman and founder of New Life Christian Church. A song from 1979. A chaos started online with...

  Portugal's Festival da Canção had its second semifinal last night and as expected Diogo Piçarra took an easy win, and also the highest score in both semis when getting full marks. Maria Inês Paris - Bandeira azul (jury 7 + televote 5) 12 Dora Fidalgo - Arco-íris (0 + 0) 0 Sequin - All Over Again (0 + 0) 0 Diogo Piçarra - Canção do fim (12+ 12) 24 David Pessoa - Amor veloz (5 + 4) 9 Tamin - Sobre nós (6 + 2) 8 Cláudia Pascoal - O jardim (10 + 10) 20 Minnie & Rhayra - Patati patata  (4 + 6) 10 Rita Ruivo - Anda daí (0 + 1) 1 Susana Travassos - A mensageira (8 + 0) 8 Lili - O vôo das cegonhas (3 + 7) 10 Daniela Onis - Para lá do rio (2 + 3) 5 Peter Serrado - Sunset (1 + 8) 9 And here's the full line up for the final. It's inteeresting to see how al top marks went basicly to same acts, with the expceptions on Anabela's  and Peter Serrado's televoting success, and Janeiro's jury success... Diogo Piçarra - Canção ...

  Portugal's first Festival da Canção semifinal went by, and today we got news about the mistake in the voting changing the final line up ( read more here ) but it's time to look ahead to next weekend and here are the snippets of the second semifinal songs. The overal feeling is this one has a bit more modern sounds that the first one, still being purely Portuguese. Even super favorite Diogo Piçarra goes for the slow Portuguese ballad, at least judging the snippets instead of something more uptempo and modern. Besides him I'm curiously waiting for Lili, Paris and Onis in this semi... The two non Portuguese language songs are also both in this one and feel totally out of place and useless as they aren't any good.  Maria Inês Paris – Bandeira Azul Lili – O Voo das Cegonhas Dora Fidalgo – Arco-Iris Cláudia Pascoal – O Jardim David Pessoa – Amor Veloz Susana Travassos – Mensageira Rita Ruivo – Anda Daí Paulo Flores, Minnie & Rhayra – Patati Patat...

  The reigning Eurovision champion starts its search for the follow up entry at home soil in Lisbon 2018 Eurovision song contest. tonight As usual, RTP invited composers to create a song, choose a singer and tonight half of them, 13, will perform and a jury will pick up seven for the final. Actually, RTP invited 22 composers, one was chosen by Eurovision winner Saldavor Sobral (Janeiro), one got the ticket by a contest organized by a radio station (Daniela Onis, in 2nd semi) and two were chosen among the open submissions: Rita Diaz and Peter Serrado (in 2nd semi) The jury includes singers and composers, radio hosts and journalists and some familiar names: last year's winning entry's composer Luisa Sobral and Eurovision veteran Sara Tavares among others. Among artists another Eurovision veterans, Anabela and Jose Cid. Judging the snippets (click below) I'm most looking forward to Peu, Janeiro, JP, Catarina, Beatriz, Maria and Rita.... Peu Madureira – Só Por E...