Introduction

• Participant(s): MARO
• Song: Saudade, Saudade
  
• Writer(s): MARO
  
• Composer(s): MARO, John Blanda
• Broadcaster: RTP 
• Social media:      
  
• Team review: 

In the Portuguese national final ‘Festival da Canção 2022’ there have been ten finalists with very different music styles. A smooth and sentimental, but also swinging song could get the highest votes both from the juries and the Portuguese public: “Saudade, Saudade” sung be the lovely singer and songwriter Maro. She will be following last year’s cool band The Black Mamba, who made a good 12th place in the Grand Final with “Love Is On My Side”.

Maro, whose real name is Mariana Secca, has Italian roots and was born in Lisbon 1994. She is a graduate of the famous Berklee College Of Music in Boston. Maro wanted to continue writing songs, went to Los Angeles and started to compose songs for six (!) albums. She released several songs such as "Mi condena" (with Vic Mirallas) (2020) , "Tempo" (with Nasaya) (2021)  and "I See It Coming" (with Nasaya) (2021) . The style of her music is varying a lot, from electro to calm, dreamy songs. The Grammy winner Jacob Callier noticed her talent and invited her on his tour. Maro is also brings a lot of musicians together to make music. Interesting examples can be found on her YouTube Channel e.g. ITSA ME, MARO! - Calling Gian Correa .

For the Portuguese the word “Saudade” is very important and it means yearning or missing. This word can be heard in many Portuguese songs. This is also the song title of the Portuguese entry 2022, Maro is going to present in Turin. It’s another soulful song, about a lost friend, the sadness – there are no other words than: Saudade.

And now nothing makes sense, I lost my best friend
And if it‘s not too much to ask, I ask for a sign
Only one word left to say
Saudade, saudade

There is also a very nice acoustic version with various singers in Avinyó . With this entry Portugal is showing its tradition, but also a moment of silence and contemplation. This one can do very well.

History

• Debut: 1964
• Participations: 53
• Victories: 1
• Finals: 43 (6 since 2004)
• Top 10: 10

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 44 times into the Grand Final, out of 53 participations. Despite of that fact Portugal reached the Top10 only 10 times, the Semi-Finals have been introduced in 2004. So there is a chance of 19% chance to achieve a top place in the Grand Final for Portugal.

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 up 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 and nostalgic and they had be sung in the beautiful Portuguese language, when the language rule still applied. 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 called “Festival da Canção”. We could witness the wonderful Eurovision Song Contest from Lisbon 2018. For the first time the Portuguese capital has been in real Eurovision spirit, banners could be seen all over the city, a big Eurovision Village on the main square close to the water was spectacular.

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) 

Video Nostalgia

• “Portugal No Coração” | Os Amigos
  Rank 14, London 1977
  
• “Penso Em Ti, Eu Sei” | Adelaïde
  Rank 18, Gothenburg 1985
  
• “Há Sempre Alguém” | Nucha
  Rank 20, Zagreb 1990
  
  

First Rehearsal