Last month, the 20 entries of the Portugal’s Festival da Canção 2021 were released. Today, RTP have revealed the running orders for the semi finals of the festival, due to begin on February 20.
Each of the semifinals (taking place on February 20 and 27) will have 10 participants (9 by direct invitation from RTP and 1 from public submission), with the 5 most voted by the jury and the public of each semifinal winning the qualification for the Grand Final of the contest, scheduled for March 6.
Here are the entries:
The draw
Like last year, Festival da Canção 2021 will take place over three nights:
- Semi-final 1 – February 20th, hosted by José Carlos Malato & Sônia Araujo.
- Semi-final 2 – February 27th, hosted by Tânia Ribas de Oliveira & Jorge Gabriel
- Grand Final – March 6th, hosted by Filomena Cautela & Vasco Palmeirim.
Inês Lopes Gonçalves will be the host of the green room of the two semifinals and the Grand Final.
The running orders for each semi are as follows:
Semifinal 1 – February 20
- The Black Mamba – “Love Is On My Side” (Tatanka)
- Valéria – “Na Mais Profunda Saudade” (Helder Moutinho)
- Mema – “Claro Como Água” (Stereossauro)
- Nadine – “Cheguei Aqui” (Anne Victorino d’Almeida)
- Miguel Marôco – “Girassol” (Miguel Marôco)
- Fábia Maia – “Dia Lindo” (Fábia Maia)
- Irma – “Livros” (Irma)
- Karetus & Romeu Bairos – “Saudade” (Karetus)
- Sara Afonso – “Contramão” (Filipe Melo)
- IAN – “Mundo” (IAN)
Semifinal 2 – February 27
- Da Chick – “I Got Music” (Da Chick)
- Tainá – “Jasmim” (Tainá)
- Ariana – “Mundo Melhor” (Virgul)
- Eu.Clides – “Volte-Face” (Pedro da Linha)
- Joana Alegre – “Joana Do Mar” (Joana Alegre)
- Pedro Gonçalves – “Não Vou Ficar” (Pedro Gonçalves)
- Ana Tereza – “Com Um Abraço” (Viviane)
- Carolina Deslandes – “Por Um Triz” (Carolina Deslandes)
- Graciela – “A Vida Sem Acontecer” (João Vieira)
- NEEV – “Dancing In The Stars” (Neev)
Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest
Portugal was once seen as one of the most unlucky Eurovision countries, holding the record for the longest period of participation without a win (49 attempts). Of course, this ‘curse’ was broken in 2017 when Salvador Sobral won the contest with “Amar Pelos Dois”. Not only was this their first win, but it was also their first and only top 5 placing in the contest to date.
Unfortunately, since this victory, Portugal haven’t been able to replicate this success in the past two contests. In 2018, as the host nation, Portugal got its fourth last place finish with Cláudia Pascoal’s “O Jardim”. After performing 15th in semi final 1 in Tel Aviv in 2019, Conan Osiris didn’t qualify for the Grand Final.
In 2020, Elisa won Festival da Canção 2020 but unfortunately didn’t get a chance to represent her country at the Eurovision due to the pandemic. RTP later confirmed that Festival da Canção 2021 would go ahead.
Are you excited for Festival da Canção 2021? Who’s your early favourite? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our reactions to the news in the run up to Rotterdam!
