Boa noite! Portugal just held the first semifinal of their traditional Festival da Canção tonight, and seven acts made it to the final. A total of thirteen entries were competing and in the end Peu Madureira, Janeiro, Catarina Miranda, Anabela, Beatriz Pessoa, Joana Barra Vaz, and Joana Espadinha have made it!
Tonight’s show was a marathonian showcase of Portuguese culture, gorgeous voices and well… rather sleepy songs. Nothing we’ve never seen before, honestly.
Peu Madureira came on top of the voting, with his song “Só per ela”. In the end, Peu got a total of 10 points from the jury, plus the 12 from the televote, making a total of 22 points.
Peu Madureira – “Só per ela”
Next was Salvador Sobral’s chosen artist Janeiro, with 16 points (12 from the jury and 4 from the televote). Rounding the top three was Catarina Miranda, who sang “Para sourrir eu não preciso de nada”, and received 16 points (8 from the jury plus 8 from the televote).
In fourth place there was Eurovision veteran Anabela, who sang for Portugal in 1993. This time, her entry “Para te dar abrigo” didn’t quite convince the jury, apparently. They awarded her three points, however “Para te dar abrigo” was quite popular within the audience, who gave her 10 points.
Janeiro – “(sem titulo)”
Therefore, the qualifiers are:
- Peu Madureira – “Só per ela”
- Janeiro – “(sem titulo)”
- Catarina Miranda – “Para sorrir eu não preciso de nada”
- Anabela – “Para te dar abrigo”
- Beatriz Pessoa – “Eu te amo”
- Joana Barra Vaz – “Anda estragar-me os planos”
- Joana Espadinha – “Zero a zero”
And the six songs that don’t proceed to the final are:
- Rui David – “Sem medo”
- José Cid – “O som da guitarra é a alma de um povo”
- JP Simoes – “Alvoroço”
- Rita Dias – “Com gosto amigo”
- Bruno Vasconcelos – “Austrália”
- Maria Amaral – “A mesma canção”
Surprise! Salvador Sobral was there
One of the highlights of the night was last year’s winner Salvador Sobral, who made a surprise appearance when the jury awarded the 12 points to Janeiro.
He was there talking to the host while his friend… was eating a banana. Like, the typical thing you do when a jury awards you 12 points in a national final.
Lo bueno del #festivaldacancao: ¡Salvador Sobral apareció! Y a Janeiro le dieron los 12 ??????
Lo malo: ¿En serio el público le dio apenas 4 puntos a Janeiro y 6 a José Cid? pic.twitter.com/DMLIdRewHr
— Salvador Sobral En Español (@hispanicsobral) February 19, 2018
These are the seven acts we’ll see on the final on March 4. Hungry for more? Join the fun next Sunday, when another thirteen songs will battle it out for the last seven spots in the final. One of them will succeed Salvador Sobral and defend Portugal’s victory on home soil.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfW6OHPDey8/?taken-by=festivaldacancao.rtp
Do you agree with the results? Have your favourites qualified? Who would you have put in the final? What do you expect from next week? Tell us in the comment section below!
I love the song of Catarina Miranda. Is the best. A piece of art.
My favorite too. It has the best music (Júlio Resende’s quality), best staging and most charismatic singer. Catarina Miranda is one of the most successful youtubers in Portugal, under the pseudonym “Emmy Curl”. The song “Para sorrir eu não preciso de nada” has interesting lyrics too. It is a very naive love song, but at the very end, when she says “today I do not need anything to smile, because she is my girlfriend”, we understand that love has no gender. It’s cute, without trying to be a lesbian anthem. Very cute. Still, “Anda estragar-me os planos” has the best… Read more »
Peu reminded me of Viva La Diva from last year. It’s just as old-fashioned.
Janeiro has a good song. But I felt that he had a disregard for the audience and where he was. The episode with the banana confirmed my fears.
We must wait for Piçarra’s song.
I dont understand how Madureira got 1st place from the televoting..
Please JANEIRO WIN THIS! I’m with the juries SORRY!!
I’ll agree that this semi had many ballads. However, I really enjoyed Peu, Janeiro (though there are similarities here with Salvador) and Anabela.
@Rut @Tiago (Two profiles of the same person who is surely sick)
Haters try everything, even invent absurdities. The composer and author of the lyrics for the song Só Por Ela is politically left-wing, and was publicly supportive of António Costa, the socialist prime minister who governs with the support of the communists and another small leftist party. Peu himself is a personal friend of the composer who is responsible for the singer’s choice.
Pedro, I don’t understand how you can connect me with Rut. What you are saying is what I defended all along. Please read what I wrote carefuly and take back what you said about me.
I ask for my sincere apologies, I guided myself by another comment that associated it and I made a diagonal reading. Eurovision greetings.
PS: I was very annoyed by those absurd statements.Sorry mate.
Apologies accepted. You were actually smart not to have read the all thing. This is my goodbye to Eurovision on social networks this year for me. The slandering and viciousness is just too much.
Maybe a smart decision.
I personally know Diogo Clemente and Peu. They are humble and creative people. They deserve no hatred.
I have listened only to the two songs posted above and well, Janeiro sounds good, but Peu seems to come from the 60s. I suppose this are the standards for Portugal. Please, Portugal step in the 21th century.
That’s my taste, thought the Portuguese seem to like the idea of staying in the 60s. So I think it’s fine for them to send that guy. I hope some things I’m reading here about him are false.
I second your comment Héctor.
Sad that the song of Catarina Miranda is no longer here. By far is the best. Try to listen to it on youtube 🙂
I think Portugal is not aiming for victory this year but rather wants to showcase its musical heritage. I really enjoyed listening some nice Jazz and Fado pieces in this semifinal. My Top 3 is the same with the scoreboard. I really like Peu’s song. I don’t know anything about his political inclinations but nothing can change the fact that he has an angelic voice. Janeiro is great too, a very strong contender. I wouldn’t mind him winning in the final either. And Catarina is also amazing and so sweet. Her song makes me feel good but I don’t think… Read more »
A MAGIC song: Só Por Ela. Again timeless beauty.
@Rut – ”Concerning PEU, it’s a very salazarist song. Hence why he got so many votes. I dont support fascist right. It’s made for bullfighting lovers, salazar generation, etc.”
@Tiago S – ”shows us the lyrics and how you interpret a love song as fascist. I’m eagerly waiting, popcorn in hand, for you to reveal us your psychotic (and very dangerous) self.”
I guess Rut was talking about certain people liking certain genres. Just like LGBT likes Suzy, Carola, Saara Aalto, no matter what they sing about.
This is what I understood from all this conflict, maybe I’m wrong.
I don’t have a big problem with that, Wendy, but Rut implied on earlier comments that the singer was fascist himself. Rut went so far as saying that he belonged to a fascist “club” of sorts. Rut should consubstantiate the accusations or excuse him/herself for the reckless, reputation-damaging, behaviour. Calling someone fascist is very serious and hurtful. Calling the voters of this song fascists is just idiotic, by the way. Real people, like me, voted for it. Not the bogeyman.
Please choose Janeiro, Portugal! What a beautiful song.
The overall quality of this semi-final was indeed very good and the the final qualifyers are fair. I would just trade Anabela (sorry darling) for JP Simoes, which for me personally was the best song. However, I have an issue with the chosen singers. I would have perfered that the song of Beatriz and the two Joanas would have been sung by the composers. These songs are very specfic to the tone of voices and stylings of the singer-songwriters who wrote them. These ladies, while they can obviously sing, were not able to capture the mood of the songs. I… Read more »
Oh yes and Catarina I adored. All in all the best act of the night, actually.
Peu winner? What a joke Portugal! xD I like you as a country, don’t disappoint me like this way.
Don’t like that kind of music either, hope he doesn’t win. Catarina Miranda (emmy Curl) is so much better!
Nice show and nice songs. Portugal continue singing in their own language, presenting their own culture. They don´t try to be like all the others. Big respect for that. I am sure we will have the best and most well organised Eurovision Song Contest in years. Good luck Portugal and all others.
Perhaps, you should be paying more attention to our festival this year. We will have some songs in english, one of them was chosen by RTP.
‘Tiago’
The fairy lady Catrina and zero a Zero all the way.
“ Nothing we’ve never seen before, ” Right!! Portugal is an island in music. Only they are able to produce their songs many of them without rymes or make sense. More 64 years to win ESC again.
‘Withour rymes’
says it all about your knowledge of music. And trust me, Portugal doesnt wanna win again, and has never wanted to. Waste of money.
@Marios Concerning PEU, it’s a very salazarist song. Hence why he got so many votes. I dont support fascist right. It’s made for bullfighting lovers, salazar generation, etc.
Ana bacalhau has performed together with Janeiro btw. Luisa has known him for years, janeiro is salvadors best friend.
The two judges said in an online radio that they wanted Peu to win.
It’a unprofessional of them, at least they should wait until semi final 2 is over.
Peu has a HUGE lobby around him.
And ask yourself why he’s being protected by the huge lobby, and old judges.
I dind’t notice the lyrics can you show me the lyrics of Peu’s song? ew I dont want fascist song representing my country.
Welp, it’s not about the lyrics. It’s the background of the meaning of song and how corrupt his p0litical party is.
Yes, please, shows us the lyrics and how you interpret a love song as fascist. I’m eagerly waiting, popcorn in hand, for you to reveal us your psychotic (and very dangerous) self.
I really don’t get how you could get Fascist vibes from this song… I didn’t find anything on the lyrics that could suggest that, so I can only assume that you’re bothered by the old feeling of the song. From there to call it salazarist is just plain stupid. If you care about anti-fascist ideas, like I (and most of us) do, please don’t use them lightly because it doesn’t help.
I guess you support the lobby that is favoring him…i dont. Every singer has the same rights.
honey please…read some book..Salazar was not even a fascist
Fascist in Portugal were Nacional Sindicalismo from Rolão Preto
Read some books honey, read some books
Janeiro has a really cool song. I hope he is be the host act in Lissabon!
I agree, it is a masterpiece!
”Só Por Ela” is the best, very beautiful.
Janeiro is my favorite
A sea of boredom and imitations of last year winner. All the same thing again and agin from Portugal. Zero inspiration.
Another shocking thing: Julio Isidro and another judge said that no other song will be able to get more votes than Peu. Shocking. They will do everything they can to send their favorite. Corruption at its best…god help us.
Im not shocked that the most voted song by the audience was a fascist song with a right wing singer. The old audience fell for him…as expected, our country is still very conservative.
Everything was disappointing to me. Btw, Luisa and one of the other judges know Janeiro personally. I dont think it was fair to put them as judges, he had an advantage. Anabela gave us some happiness and good vibes, but still…My fav didnt go through, so i’ll wait for semi 2 and root for diogo.
So much crap in so little words. First Portugal is very small, the music industry smaller yet. So of course everyone knows everyone, and rtp trusts Luisa to be impartial and so do i. Secondly, if this is a fascist song than last year was a socialist song? I make this joke but that s not even funny, we are voting songs not política. For Last, I think neither Júlio Isidro nor Tozé Brito will be judge on the final. There is no corruption to what they said.
Even in a small music intustry, like Greece, yes, you can find some people with no relation to the entrants. There should be a minimum of transparency.
What’s all this story with fascism and right wing singer?
No story. I suspect that this person doesn’t like the style of the music or even the way the singer dresses (all very classical) and made this very hurtful comment without even knowing the singer. I’m shocked.
Um…your suspicion is ridiculous. It’s all a conspiracy against your faves, sureee! shut up and grow p.
LOOOOOOOOL the way the singer dresses? hahaa. yep.
Please give us the data. You throw all this big words around but you are the anti-democratic fool here. You are not the champion of good taste you think you are. Learn to accept the majority, that’s how everything works. And yes, you should be sued.
You’re the one whos being anti democratic.
Im not the only one whos been saying this. He’s clearly getting favored, did you listen to antena 1? sigh. Whos the majority?
do you already know the results? Thankfully, we live in a democracy, i will choose the option to ignore you and your crazyiness.
Rut, please stop yourself.
Jack, don’t change your name. It’s ridiculous at this point.
Btw Tiago, better keep using your original name. It’s better.
In case you’re a foreigner, i suggest you stop yourself because you have no idea of what Antena 1 is, or what we are talking about.
Dont make a fool of yourself and stop right there, jack/tiago
I never changed my name. You are indeed a very paranoid little creature, aren’t you? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself and your hurtful comments?
Ok, but the song is boring and unispired anyway… 🙂
That opinion, Marios, is valid 😉
Oh noes. Crappy Miguel troll is back, thought you’d only be in youtube comments annoying people. I’m portuguese, idiot. You wanna give me lessons about my OWN country? lulz. Firstly, you didnt get my point. Luisa has a ‘friendship’ with Janeiro. They have known each other for years, and im not talking as acquaintances, like you are. NO SH*T everyone knows each other!!LOL 2. I have friends who know Janeiro, by the way. I aint talking sh*t out of my ass. Secondly, Ana bacalhau Janeiro are actual friends. They have helped each other musically together as well. And LOL why… Read more »
Why would it matter if you are portuguese or not, to discearn that what you are saying is crap? Nothing at all. I certainly think you have a lot to learn about our own country, you sound like a kid. Yes I am aware of the relationship between Salvador, Luísa and Ana Bacalhau. It matters none. Even if Janeiro had got 4 points from the jury he still would have gone through. And I am sure there are relations, be them commercial or personal, between other contestants, rtp and jury members. It doesn’t matter at all. And if you offer… Read more »
Well, i was obviously no troll, but i guess i was wrong.
Facist song? A love song? Hahaha. You’re a very paranoid person and sore looser. (And please, by all means show us the data that connects this person with fascism). Your comment make me sick and you should be sued for difamation.
True. Still, i dont have respect for rich people who watch bullfighting.
“True. Still, i dont have respect for rich people who watch bullfighting.” bitch please, calm down!
the banana wasnt funny, janeiro is trying to imitate sobral’s embarassing and akward behaviors to get attention
If you watch his old interviews he’s always like that.. I’m not surprised they are best friends lol
So, he has always been a jerk. Ok.
Well I guess the host of FDC is a jerk too because he eats every morning on his show a banana too.. ?
it’s just kids ffs. stop taking it so seriously… but i agree he was not polite.
I was surprised that the juries tonight seemed more open-minded than the televote. I’m still mad that the televote left Alvoroço out of the final. I guess that leaves out Janeiro, who is my other favorite even though I do agree he tries way too hard, and if he becomes Portugal’s ESC representative, the internet is gonna have a field day with his “untitled” song; and Peu, who has a beautiful song, but I dunno about his shaky voice.
The juries were young, only 2 of them were old. I was not surprised at all.
Semifinal 1 was quite the jazz fest. Me likey.
Catarina Miranda was the best!
Idk. Janeiro has a nice song, but i wouldnt really take a similar song to Sobrals. I love Catarina and the weird guy jp simoes. Semi final 2 will be MUCH better.
I loved Amar Pelos Dois but I hated to see that Salvador and his friend Janeiro persist in disregarding Eurovision and Festival da Canção. To eat a banana in front of the TV cameras while he despised the 12 points that the juri had attributed to him, I think is a lack of respect, arrogance and tremendous immaturity.
Ditto.
Janeiro did say he didn’t realize the voting was the real thing, he thought it was a rehearsal, as for Salvador, he didn’t do anything strange or did he?
Even Salvador seemed embarrassed with the stupid behaviour of the banana. janeiro is trying to get noticed but he is not funny. it’s the opposite of Salvador who is spontaneous and always nice.
The banana moment was very Andy Warhol-esque.
Janeiro was eating a banana during the interview, just like Salvador made all those unfunny jokes during esc voting, when he was on screen for getting 12 points.
These people never learn, and Salvador not only that he didn’t became more humble, but he trained his ”student” to do the same.
If Salvador said that being in esc made him feel like he sold himself, don’t you see these people don’t respect your votes?
Off topic : Come on Russia, give as that Mariette song.
ohh also mades “unfunny jokes” during FdC, not only in ESC. please stop with conspiracy drink some tea
Russia? Jokes? you should improve your english skills, 7th heaven.
Your comment made my eyes bleed. Yikes. My 5 year old cousin would do a better job.
On topic: The fact that you only mentioned some jokes and their ‘arrogant’ personalities just shows that you dont really care about music. Which proves why you’re so excited for margaret, who can barely sing live.
Nothing new. Or were you jealous that he had a banana in his mouth and you never will?
Oh mariette, LMAO. Even their ugly ass names sound the same, just like their generic music. It’s odd how yall can never give valid arguments and focus on the music to insult these talented musicians. Says it all really. Go to the circus, ESC aint for ya.
Not insult these talented musicians, but to make a reasonable argument on why you hate it. Its pitiful.
My favourites:
1. Alvoroço (out, unfortunately)
2. Só Por Ela (in, in first place)
I’m both in and out of tune with the general tastes. Pretty happy, in any case.
Go Peu! (JP, your genius will be missed).
Peu? aghhhh…I hate it
Catarina is the best!!!!
Janeiro & JP Simões were the best tonight.
no, no….Catarina, all the way :…
Once again Portugal bets on timeless beauty. Everything is beautiful in Peu song. The end is breathtaking.
Peu is bound to flop, stage presence is non-existent.
Still hoping for Janeiro or Diogo Piçarra
This semifinal showed how variety is super important in a contest. With so many slow songs, some of them coming in a row, it was difficult not to feel that things were too cold. The audience on the studio hasn’t helped either, some people seemed to be there as some sort of a social obligation. And in a show like that, you have to call our attention with talent and charisma. I think the 4 highest ranked were indeed those who could separate from the others on this semi. Peu Madureira showed that his a great singer and that’s why… Read more »
Finally, a decent comment.
Portugal has better fados than “só por ela” 🙁
Justice for Yola FdC 2015
No way. In all criteria, Só Por Ela is much better.
At least Yola’s song was recorded with a proper orchestra, “So por Ela” is very poorly produced with synthesizers instead of strings. A shame, because it’s a beautiful melody. The singer is “love him or hate him”, and I tend to dislike that kind of trembling high pitched fado voice with the head tilting back, dressed for a garden party. It’s all very sacro-pop, but there are loads of preppy 90’s church music fans in Portugal.
Catarina is amazing, definitely my favourite. Pure magic! (nevertheless the music deserved better lyrics )
Janeiro was perfect, thanks juri, the public don’ t know how to vote. My god…only 4 points
I also think that televote was too harsh on him. But I guess being Salvador’s choice turned out to be more like a burden than a help.
Janeiro looked and sounded like a try-hard: the headphones, the headband, the fact that his simple-to-be-seen-as-modest song don’t even have a title (so indie, what a shocker.. not). When he was interviewed live while the public was voting he started eating a banana out of nowhere. Nothing about him transmitted authenticity. For someone who was Salvador’s choice, he definetely likes fireworks.
You have a good point, Episode. I loved his music, but he tried too hard to show or pretend that he doesn’t care.
I absolutely agree with you. His voice is so average imo. But he audience noticed that, trust me. Only 4 points, he thought he had it in the bag….
Só por ela is BEAUTIFUL. Can’t act like it isn’t basically the same thing Portugal did last year but dammit, it works. I’d support it if it was the home entry, but I’m excited to hear the other options.
“Can’t act like it isn’t basically the same thing Portugal”
Fado vs Jazz:
Fado is a music genre that can be traced to the 1820s in Lisbon, Portugal, but probably has much earlier origins.
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and developed from roots in blues and ragtime
Thank you for that!
Peu Madureira will flop, crossing fingers for jury save us one more time.
Mesmo…
I just adore it.
Janeiro, this song is pure beauty.
Don’t get how the public does not agree to that.. let’s see in the final..
Because Janeiro’s a try-hard and people could see right through him.
Huh, interesting point..
Or just an introvert.
An introvert wouldnt start eating a banana out of nowhere in that moment.
source: i am one.
I can say that this is complete bullsh*t lol. I don’t think you know what an introvert is…
Oh well, I didn’t read your comment correctly, pleae try to ignore me completely 😀
Not every introvert is the same.
Boa sorte com essa memória.
Definitely, the Portuguese are classics in the good sense of the word. The melodic line of Só por Ela is dazzling and beautiful. The voice is even more beautiful than Salvador Sobral, but it lacks charisma. I do not know how it would work in the ESC, but it would represent Portugal well … In Lisbon.
Portuguese is indeed a very beautiful language when sung softly.
The song needs to be recorded with a proper orchestra, it sounds VERY cheap with synthesizers which is an absolute shame, as it’s a beautiful melody. The singer is quite stiff, he will need to loosen up a bit and drop the church choir soloist act he’s used to.
Janeiro received 4 points from the televote because he is a copycat of Salvador and the Portuguese people knows this. You don’t win Eurovision twice with the same formula.
Only Sweden can do it
Just a little correction. Peu Madureira’s song is called «Só POR ela» and not «Só per ela»
Catarina blew me away. Def the best of the night. Such a beauty as well.
Portugal let out an extraordinary song: Alvoroço. Played safe and for the beauty: Peu Madureira. I’ve read somebody saying it’s fado. Very beautiful. But the singer needs to relax a bit. A dream voice that deserves to be heard.
What makes you think he wasn’t relaxed?
It could be my mistake of perception, but he seemed a little nervous and tense.
The fact that the voice “shakes” is very typical in fado.
Still, can’t understand how he won the semi
Peu Madureira doesn’t need to relax, he needs charisma. From that fu**ing haircut to the way he held the mike to the dishevelled suit to the dated song to his voice full of mannerisms to… honestly, i don’t know what people saw in this song…
People (12) AND jury (10).
Is quite obvious that Peu is aiming for 4th place and so he’s taking a page from ESC17’s Blanche: “No relax takes you f(ou)ar!”
Janeiro is just amazing.
What about Catarina singing about not needing anything more cause she is her girlfriend! So sweet!
Not ‘she’ as herself, but other girl. Didn’t express myself corretly :p
I loved that. I don’t know if it was intentional, since the composer is a guy. But it worked very beautifully, because this comes on a later part of the song and it’s almost as a twist, giving that message that love is love and no matter if she’s singing to a guy or a girl, she’s just happy that she loves someone!
They put this show late at night to help people with insomnia problems.
So predictable. Salvador won last year, this year we have a lot of copycats in Festival da Canção. As a portuguese i was watching it on tv and even after the many multiple recaps to make the show last the full night, i can’t remember a single song….
I hope the second semifinal has better songs.
Oh dear. 🙁
Sleep well.
??? The songs are complety different. Both great! Ganha juízo…
Pues yo no soy portugues y recuerdo alboroco la de malu anda estragarme os planos la de peu madureira …… y Janeiro me gusto
Beatriz with Eu te amo. So f*cking addictive! In love with her song! Janeiro is just AMAZING. Love this 2 entries so MUCH! Anxious to see what Diogo Piçarra is going to do next Sunday!