Portugal National Selection Review (First Semi-Final) - James Lindley

Festival da Canção 2021 – SEMIFINAL 1

The selection process for the Eurovision 2021 started in Portugal on February 20th with the first semifinal of Festival da Canção. 

Ten acts competed for five of the places in the grand finale. The show took place in the RTP studios and was hosted by Sónia Araújo and Jorge Gabriel having Inês Lopes Gonçalves in the Green Room, like usual. But this time, with the current pandemic, there was no public and the juries were in a different room.

Voting was 50% jury + 50% public. Among the juries we have Rita Guerra (ESC 2003), Paulo de Carvalho (ESC 1974) and Marta Carvalho (composer of the song that won Festival da Canção in 2020).

#1 The Black Mamba - "Love Is On My Side"

With B&W visual effects, Takanka and his distinct voice provides a very competent performance of one of the few entries in English. “It is a great ballad, that flows nicely and grows till the end.

RESULT: QUALIFIED

#2 Valéria - "Na Mais Profunda Saudade" (in the deepest Saudade)

A typical Portuguese song, about Fado and “Saudade”, that unique word so difficult to translate (*). A very strong performance with a nice background of the Portuguese Guitar. Maybe not for the Eurovision stage… but for sure Fado lovers will enjoy this.

RESULT: QUALIFIED

#3 Mema - "Claro Como Água" (clear as water)

It is not clear what this song is doing here… it goes nowhere, and even though there was an effort to make the performance interesting, it does not stand out.

RESULT: NON-QUALIED

#4 Nadine - "Cheguei Aqui" (I have arrived here)

Pure ballad by Nadine, for sure one of the best voices of the night. It has also the Portuguese guitar appeal, but it stands out much better than song#2. It is all about one’s life, the will to be happy and move on. Watch out, Fado lovers.

RESULT: NON-QUALIFIED

#5 Miguel Marôco - "Girassol" (sunflowers)

Miguel was selected from the free submissions stage, not by invitations RTP sent to composers. It is a catchy little song about life and the need to be optimistic (again…). Not a strong performance and after a while it gets a little boring.

RESULT: NON-QUALIFIED

After this, we had Inês with the usual chat in the Green Room.

#6 Fábia Maia - "Dia Lindo" (beautiful day)

Another ballad. Piano and strings on stage with Fábia singing about this beautiful day that will come. Lyrics point to some happiness but looks like she is suffering a bit… her vocals are not the best. If they wanted us to fall asleep, maybe she should have performed last?!?!

RESULT: QUALIFIED

#7 Irma - "Livros" (books)

Another snooze feast but a much better performance than song#6. Broken relationship and the will to move forward, all written in her books. “Livros” brings a cool feeling, it just needs a bit more of a crescendo to go with Irma’s performance.

RESULT: NON-QUALIFIED

#8 Karetus & Romeu Bairos - "Saudade"  (*)

The big favourites to win. A box with lights and the traditional masks and costumes from Podence, the “Caretos”, on stage. A qualifier for sure, but the performance lacks a bit of strength and excitement. It screams Portugal and tradition all over and it is, once again, about that unique feeling that is Saudade.

RESULT: QUALIFIED

#9 Sara Afonso - "Contramão" (contraflow)

Very quiet song with a nice flow. Sara is alone on the stage, delivering a strong performance. One of the best of the night.

RESULT: QUALIFIED


#10 IAN - "Mundo" (world)

Second song mostly in English of the night. The is for sure different. IAN gives it all in this “fight for love and against what is wrong” song, but her voice could have been a bit more in key.

RESULT: NON-QUALIED.

And again, as usual, the show went on with: green room interviews, Elisa (winner of FC 2020) with her new song and Dora (ESC 1986 & 1988) with “Não sejas mau p’ra mim”, her 1986 song. And then… we had results!