Introduction

• Participant(s): Elisa
• Song: Medo De Sentir
  
• Writer(s): Marta Carvalho
  
• Composer(s): Marta Carvalho
• Broadcaster: RTP 
• Social media:     
  
• Team review: 

The Portuguese national final Festival da Canção has brought Elisa Silva as a winner with the song “Medo de Sentir. Both jury and public vote had another favourite, so Elisa was the lucky third and profited from that situation. Due to the Corona crisis there won’t be a Eurovision Song Contest. It’s not decided by the Portuguese broadcaster RTP if Elisa will have the right to go 2021 or another singer will be chosen. It must definitely be another song, that’s the rule stated by the EBU.

Elisa Silva was born on the beautiful island of Madeira in 1999. She was interested in singing since her early childhood. Elisa took part in several contests and festivals. At the age of 17, she studied jazz in Madeira, later on she moved to Lisbon and studied music and could sign her first record contract. She has been asked by the Portuguese composer Marta Carvalho to sing her song “Medo De Sentir” and take part the Portuguese national final.

The Portuguese song “Medo de Sentir” – which means “Afraid To Feel”, is about questioning her feelings about love. The ballad has been accompanied by a grand piano and it sounds more like a duet. The beautiful singer performs her song with passion and indulgence. The melody does not click by first time hearing. This song is not a winning song and a qualification for the Grand Final would have not been easy. But next year there must be another song.

History

• Debut: 1964
• Participations: 52
• Victories: 1
• Finals: 42 (5 since 2004)
• Top 10: 10
• Chances for Top 10: 19%
• Chances for Final: 33%

Portugal has joined the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 with the debut song “Oração” by António Calvário and 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 before, it all changed in 2017, when Salvador Sobral could achieve the first victory for Portugal with “Amar Pelos Dois”. Portugal has made it 42 times in the Grand Final, out of 51 participations, that’s a chance of 33%. Portugal reached the Top10 only 10 times. So there is a chance of 19% chance to achieve a top place in the Grand Final.

There were so many great and outstanding songs in the past. Especially the 80’s were packed with outrageous songs, which would probably have shaped better nowadays. Especially the juries have always been strict and not very generous with the points for Portuguese songs. The songs from Portugal have often been very folkloristic. Sometimes the Portuguese even send traditional Fado to the ESC, which is a great cultural enrichment. The Portuguese songs have become more modern in the recent years. A lot of emotions and drama can also be found in songs from nowadays. Salvador Sobral is the best example that calm and emotional music will also be heard and awarded.

Let’s hope that the general interest and the enthusiasm remains in Portugal, a national final is still being kept.

Biggest successes

• 1x 1st place
  “Amar Pelos Dois” |Salvador Sobral (Kiev 2017)
• 1x 6th place
  “O Meu Coração Não Tem Cor” | Lúcia Moniz (Oslo 1996)
• 2x 7th place
  “A Festa Da Vida” |Carlos Mendes (Edinburgh 1972)
  “Um Grande, Grande Amor” |José Cid (The Hague 1980)
• 2x 8th place
  “Lusitana Paixão” |Dulce (Rome 1991)
  “Chamar A Música“|Sara Tavares (Dublin 1994)
• 2x 9th place
  “Menina Do Alto Da Serra” |Tonicha (Dublin 1971)
  “Sobe, Sobe, Balão Sobe”| Manuela Bravo (Jerusalem 1979)
• 2x 10th place
  “Tourada” |Fernando Tordo (Luxembourg 1973)
  “A Cidade Até Ser Dia” |Anabela (Millstreet 1993)

Video Nostalgia

• “E Depois Do Adeus “|Paulo de Carvalho
  Rank 14, Brighton 1974
  
  
• “Portugal No Coração” | Os Amigos
  Rank 14, London 1977
  
  
• “Bem-bom” | Doce
  Rank 13, Harrogate 1982