Portugal: RTP unveils the Festival da Canção 2021 Semi-finals jury

Friday, 19 February 2021

• The Portuguese national broadcaster, RTP, has revealed the panel of judges of the two Festival da Canção 2021 semifinals .

  For one more year RTP has opted for the iconic Portuguese competition,  Festival da Canção, in order to select the country's Eurovision 2021 act. The Portuguese selection will consist of three shows ( two semi-finals and a grand final) scheduled to be broadcast live on 20 and 27 February and the final on March 6. 

  The results of the two semi final shows will be determined by jury and public voting. Thus, RTP unveiled the members that will make up the jury responsible for  50% of the result in the semi finals ahead of Saturday's first semi final round. 

   

  The jury members are: 

  • Maria Carvalho – Winner Composer of Festival da Canção 2020
  • NBC – Festival da Canção 2019 runner up
  • Paulo de Carvalho – Portuguese Eurovision 1974 act
  • Rita Carmo – Photographer
  • Rita Guerra – Portuguese Eurovision 2003 act
  • Vanessa Augusto – T.V presenter

   

  Jorge Gabriel  and Sónia Araujo will host Saturday's first semi final in which the first set of 10 acts will compete in the following order: 

  1. The Black Mamba - "Love Is On My Side"  (Tatanka)
  2. Valéria - "Na Mais Profunda Saudade"  (Helder Moutinho)
  3. Mema - "Claro Como Água"  (Stereossauro)
  4. Nadine -"Cheguei Aqui" (Anne Victorino d'Almeida)
  5. Miguel Marôco - "Girassol"  (Miguel Marôco)
  6. Fábia Maia - "Dia Lindo"  (Fábia Maia)
  7. Irma - "Livros"  (Irma)
  8. Karetus & Romeu Bairos - "Saudade"  (Karetus)
  9. Sara Afonso -" Contramão"  (Filipe Melo)
  10. IAN - "Mundo"  (IAN)

  Unlike the previous editions, instead of 16 acts, in 2021 the competition will have the participation of 20 composers: 18 have been invited directly RTP and 2 selected out of a public submission. This means that five acts will qualify from each semi final rising the number of finalists to 10.

   

  Portugal in Eurovision

  Portugal joined the Eurovision family in 1964 when it was represented by António Calvário, who finished last without any points. Since their debut in 1964 Portugal has missed five times the contest, the latest was in 2016 and has competed in total 51 times in the competition. Before 2016, the best result of Portugal in the contest was a 6th placing in 1996 with Lúcia Moniz performing “O meu coração não tem cor” in Oslo.

  In 2017 the country got its name on the list with the winning countries, as Salvador Sorbal was crowned winner in Kyiv with his song Amar Pelos Dois . Following Salvador’s win the country hosted the 63rd edition of the contest in Lisbon.In 2019 Conan Osiris ,winner of the Portuguese national final Festival da Cançao represented the country in Tel Aviv with his entry Telemoveis. Despite the outstanding alternative performance in the first semi final, Conan failed to qualify to the Grand final.

  Last year Elisa won the national final with "Medo de sentir"  but eventually never had the chance to perform on the Eurovision stage as the contest was cancelled due to the covid-19 outbreak. 

   

  News Source: RTP

  Image :escportugal.pt