Introduction

There has been a national final called “Festival da Canção” in Portugal this year. The competition was extraordinary strong with a lot of previous ESC performers like Simone de Oliviera, Adelaïde (1985) and Jose Cid (1980). There was even Simone de Oliveira taking part, who has sung twice for Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest before: “Sol De Inverno” in 1965 (13th place) and “Desfolhada Portuguesa” in 1969 (15th place). Unfortunately, this grand lady did not make it into the super final with her song “À Espera das Canções”

And there was another strong entry, which would have done very well in Vienna “Outra Vez Primavera” by Yola Dinis. At the end the young singer Leonor Andrade could gain the majority of the televotes of all twelve entries for this year with her contemporary song.

Leonor Andrade was born in Palmela (close to Lisbon), Portugal in 1994. In the age of four she attended piano lessons and later on she joined her brothers’ band “Mariacaffe”. Additionally she went to a music school for then years. In 2014 she took part in „The Voice Portugal“ and came 13th. Leonor was also acting in the telenovela “Àgua De Mar” by RTP. She is now studying law at the University of Lisbon.

The song “Há um Mar que nos Separa” (There is a sea that separates us) is modern composition, which has slightly been amended from the original version with a better rhythm and arrangement. The melody is catchy and dreamy. It’s about two lovers which are separated by the sea. Portugal will start in the Semi Final 2, which is mighty stronger and more difficult one this year in Vienna. Let’s not hope that the big favourites will probably take all the 10 spots for the Grand Final. It all depends on Leonor’s stage performance. Good luck!

History

Debut: 1964
Participations: 48
Finals: 40
Top 10: 9
Chance for Top 10: 19%

Portugal has joined the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 with the debut song “Oração” by António Calvário came last with zero points unfortunately. This should not been taken as a bad omen, but Portugal is a country which has never won the ESC. Portugal has made it 40 times in the Grand Final, out of 48 participations, and reached the Top10 only 9 times. So there is a 19% chance to reach the Top10 for Portugal.

It’s a pity that Portugal never made on the first place, there were many great and outstanding songs in the past. Especially in the 80’s there were strong songs. But the juries were never generous with Portuguese entries. The songs from Portugal have often been very folkloristic in the beginning, but became more modern over the years, sometimes the Portuguese even send fado. But a lot of emotion and drama can mostly be found in the Portuguese entries.

The enthusiasm for the ESC in Portugal changes from year to year. The Portuguese are used to the fact that whatever they send will probably not be successful.
Since the Semi Finals have been introduced in 2004, Portugal only made it three times into the Grand Final.