Semi-final 2 of Festival da Canção (FC) 2021
On February 27th 2021 we had the second semi-final of FC 2021, held at the same RTP studios and hosted by Tânia Ribas de Oliveira e José Carlos Malato, like last year. Again, no audience allowed, due to COVID-19. Let’s review the remaining 10 acts that performed that night:
Song 1 – Da Chick with "I Got Music" (https://youtu.be/g4N4VDIEpc0)
And the show starts very well with this disco/dance tune. Da Chick, who wrote the song, is very confident on stage and sends good vibes. All is colour and happiness and that is really indeed the effect that music has on all of us, right?
Song 2 – Tainá - "Jasmim" (https://youtu.be/YdryCm8VO8M)
In a completely different style, Tainá brings us a love song. It resembles a bit bossa nova not only for her Brazilian accent but also for the mood of the song. Maybe not a qualified, but a good addition to this FC 2021.
Song 3 – Ariana - "Mundo Melhor" (https://youtu.be/LHfPy6SThQg)
This bilingual song talks about a better World. Once again, change of musical style! We are taken to chillout place, with a bit of kizomba in the mix, and Ariana and her dancers give us a quite rexaling and nice performance.
Song 4 – Eu.Clides - "Volte-Face" (https://youtu.be/8IRI3-0aTdE)
This is very relaxing but does not stands out, in my opinion. Eu.Clides is sitting there… almost like talking and the way the performance goes it is difficult to understand what the message “Volte-face” (turn… twist?) wants to pass.
Song 5 – Joana Alegre - "Joana Do Mar" (https://youtu.be/Q-srHsmMq8w)
Joana Alegre is the daughter of Manuel Alegre, who wrote the lyrics for “Uma Flor de Verde Pinho” (ESC 1976). In “Joana from the sea” she talks about herself and her self esteem and brings us again another change in musical style: it is traditional Portuguese folk with modern arrangements. Joana’s performance is very strong and, due to her unique voice, very pleasant.
Now we have our first break. Time to visit the Green Room, where Inês Lopes Gonçalves is going to talk to the first five performers.
Song 6 – Pedro Gonçalves - "Não Vou Ficar" (https://youtu.be/skNhuNp-LPg)
Pedro also wrote his own song. Modern pop (this semi-final turned out to be much better than semi-final 1 with so many different musical genres!). He talks about a love/relationship, something that did not worked out, but the somehow sadness of the lyrics have nothing to do with his strong performance.
Song 7 – Ana Tereza - "Com Um Abraço" (https://youtu.be/75--t6H8OhE)
Ana sings about how the World has change and things are strange now. But “With a hug”, everything gets better. She has a very pleasant voice and, even though the message is not really anything new, “Com um abraço” is nice. Another modern folk song.
Song 8 – Carolina Deslandes - "Por Um Triz" (https://youtu.be/2HCGIVYzFts)
Carolina, with her strong performance, talks about a relationship that was “almost” perfect. This is a pure Portuguese ballad. She is one of the favourites to win FC 2021.
Song 9 – Graciela - "A Vida Sem Acontecer" (https://youtu.be/KPc89TJjQhc)
Graciela’s great voice would let us believe we were going to listen to some kind of Fado… but no! We are watching semi-final 2 of FC 2021, the show of 1001 musical genres 😊 “Life without happening” is an electro-pop song, and it is pretty cool! It is all about life, and the mysteries of it, but the main thing is the amazing tune.
Song 10 – NEEV - "Dancing In The Stars" (https://youtu.be/1cOLa384DFo)
If there is a God, in my opinion, this will be the first Portuguese entry at the Eurovision totally sung in English. NEEV has an excellent voice, the song is such a nice love ballad, sad as well as it talks about the loss of the loved one. NEEV is alone on stage playing the piano, playing this amazing song he wrote himself.
And… Green Room where Inês talks with the remaining five performers. … Lúcia Moniz performing her 1996 ESC entry … Agir, Paulo de Carvalho’s son (ESC 1974) performing an homage to his father with some well-known songs that did not win FC but became classics… waiting a bit more (it is FC after all 😊) …
And we have results! The five songs qualified for the final (with 50% jury and 50% televote) are:
Song 4 - Eu.Clides - "Volte-Face"
Song 5 - Joana Alegre - "Joana Do Mar"
Song 6 - Pedro Gonçalves - "Não Vou Ficar"
Song 8 - Carolina Deslandes - "Por Um Triz"
Song 10 - NEEV - "Dancing In The Stars"