Portugal began its search for a Eurovision star on Saturday. Festival da Canção 2024 commenced with semi-final 1, where 10 acts took to the stage.
Six of them managed to secure a spot in the grand final, including fan favourites Iolanda and João Borsch.
Festival da Canção 2024 semi-final 1
Results
Voting took place over two rounds. An initial combination of 50% televoting and 50% jury votes determined the top five acts of the night who advanced to the grand final.
- Nena – “Teorias da Conspiração”
- Perpétua – “Bem Longe Daqui”
- Rita Rocha – “Pontos Finais”
- João Borsch – “…Pelas Costuras”
- Iolanda – “Grito”
The public then had another chance to vote from the remaining five artists, ultimately selecting one to secure the final qualification spot. This was:
- Noble – “Memory”
Non-qualifiers
- Mela – “Água”
- Mila Dores – “Afia a Língua”
- Left – “Volto a Ti”
- Bispo – “Casa Portuguesa”
Do you agree with the results? Who was your favourite of the night? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Do you guys think Portugal has a chance of qualifying in their semi, since all the countries that usually gave them points are in the other semi (Spain, France, Switzerland…)?
When in bed, Portugal brings us – Romanians – a lot of luck!!! #FANCY
I found Jolanda really impressive and a good candidate for the win in FdC. Jo?o Borsch is cool but his performance might be too out there for Malmö.
Iolanda is on another level. The song, the perfomance…just wow. Portuguese language Is pure magic!
Top 10 for sure in Malmö!
From Italy, go Portugal!!!
Although I love Leo and Doce Mistério, the competition should stop here. Iolanda nailed it! I can’t remember seeing something so finished already in the semis… Great job!
This must be a record of ongoing show…
When will it end the show???
Iolanda was incredible, not expecting this level tbh
so who qualified? i think the writer has given up ^^
Five initial qualifiers:
Song 1 Nena – “Teorias da Conspiração”
Song 2 Perpétua – “Bem Longe Daqui”
Song 6 Rita Rocha – “Pontos Finais”
Song 8 João Borsch – “…Pelas Costuras”
Song 9 Iolanda – “Grito”
One additional qualifier (public vote:
Song 7 Noble – “Memory”
thanks.
Songs 1, 8 and 9 are top notch here
i’m ok with songs 6 and 7, but kinda bored
#2 is just bad and extremely dated
Is it still going on?
Ok João didn’t disappoint me, it was pretty good, it is the most interesting song of this semi imo with all respect for the others. Iolanda has nice vocals but I don’t manage to connect with the song, something in the instrumentation that don’t click with me. That big note at the end is really good but it doesn’t sell the entire song for me, moreover we’ve seen that in Eurovision thousands times already, in others words, it’s nice, classical, Iolanda is overtalented but it lacks a bit of originality, a bit of spice so I still think João would… Read more »
Ioooolaaaaandaaaaa! I wasn’t ready for that!!
Perfect!!
Let’s see Filipa!! Feeling it will be good!
But Iolanda was insane today!!
Congratz to Rtp, amazing show, good staging , good camera work … well done!!
Iolanda has to go to Malmö. Amazing song with an amazing voice. That long note near the end does it for me.
Iolanda was excellent. She could be a moment in Malmö. Wow!
All of my top 5 of the night being the first Qs
My least fave being the final one….
May FdC never go televote only ever again
?
:DDD
And finally, congratulations to song 7. (My least favourite, but congrats all the same. A lot of others apparently like it.)
It’s just a semi
The best 4 songs qualified, as did Perpetua. Shocked Bispo was left behind. I think the staging was cheesy and the lack of lyrics in the last 30 seconds hurt. I think there’s lots to tweak in these stagings for the finale. Especially Nena who has a gem of a song , a sweet voice and an arresting beautiful look—but needs to have a bit of a concept in the stage or background graphics.
That is António Calvário, who represented Portugal at the ESC in 1964!
A very dear personality in Portugal. Impressive how joyous and lucid he sounds at 85 years of age.
Ok so we have our 5 with the jury. So the televote wildcard is next. Rooting for Mela – Àgua
So am I… but I guess that Noble will be probably chosen
Told ya…
The first 5 were chosen by both jury and televote, each counting 50%. The 6th qualifier will be decided 100% by televote.
That’s what i meant: the 5 in which the jury were involved. I can read lol
Congratulations to songs: 6, 1, 2, 9, 8 and…
That Iolanda power note has the potential to be a stand-out moment in Malmö. It’s obvious to me that this should qualify. The rest is up to Portugal. Here we go… Results.
I sense Iolanda will get the top points from both jury and televote in FdC’s final. The performance is also pretty much ready for Eurovision. I would just tweak some parts in the choreography, that appears a bit too overdone at times.
Don’t sleep on João Borsch! Their performance was pretty cool and song the most fantastic and modern thing I’ve ever heard from Portugal! João reminds me of an older version of Nicholas Alves from Junior Eurovision 2022!
João’s song is by far the most interesting this year. It represents a prolific niche of experimental genre-bending music which is quite strong in Portugal, despite not being featured so often in Festival da Canção, with the exception of some notable acts like Conan Osíris. I would really love “…Pelas Costuras” to be my country’s representative this year in Eurovision, but I don’t really think there’s any competition to Iolanda.
Good to see Suzy again! It has been many years since I last saw her. She still looks great. 🙂
no matter who Portugal pick its an up hill battle for them for many reasons
1. Their in a really tough semi
2. Literally everyone who traditionally vote Portugal is not in this semi
3. They have to pick Iolanda to even be in a talk to qualify.
so ya I love Portugal but shaping out to be not their year this year
Don’t forget Luxembourg, who votes in the same semi. 14,5% of the country’s population is Portuguese!
Oh, that’s tough.
Sincerely I don’t even care, don’t mind if Portugal sends Borsch – totally different and way better than most crap that is being sent – but if they choose Iolanda, that IS a work of art, and if people don’t realize that, it is their problem
Iolanda pretty much sealed the whole competition. I don’t think there’s any other competitor who can beat her in the final.
Since ther are six qualifiers, I suppose it would be faster to list the ones I think should nq lol. In running order:
Nena – “Teorias da Conspiração”
Perpétua – “Bem Longe Daqui”
Left – “Volto a Ti
Noble – “Memory”
I could live with that outcome.
Noble ( although not my cup of tea) will have the vote of romantic old-classic ballads fans
It’s not a bad song, but it’s probably my 10th choice today. And not because it’s in English. It’s just not standing out at all. I mean, it stands out here for obvious reasons, but put it in any other line-up – MGP, Melfest, Luxembourg, Germany… It just drowns in. But again, not a bad song.
I would go with Noble, Bispo, Mela, and Left.
Iolanda and Borsch for sure, followed by Mela… the others were just ok for me
So, six go through. It will be hard. My choices are probably Iolanda, Bispo, Joao Borsch, Perpetua, Mila Dores, in no particular order. Then Mela or Rita as a last qualifier. I wouldn’t mind Left to qualify either.
10. Bispo (“Casa Portuguesa”) – A rap song for musical theatre. Well, this is different. There are a lot of touching lyrics that are lost because of the lack of a melody (which is why I find it difficult to feel anything with pure rap). I like the instrumental arrangement, but the staging is a bit out of context. Feels like three minutes were taken out of a much longer story.
Bispo’s staging is actually completely in context with the lyrics of the song. Even the hay on stage is a nod to the word for burden in Portuguese. It’s sad that the meaning of his song doesn’t really translate, because it is quite deep and meningfy.
We end on a high note. Bisbo held my attention throughout. I’m usually less keen on rap when it doesn’t have a strong melody, but the staging and the message here really come across as strong. The song is also cool.
Bispo amazing
Last song reminds me of “In new yoooooork”
Iolanda was miles better than anything else tonight. It bought vocals and a solid stage concept. It was definitely the one I could most imagine on the Eurovision stage.
Ok… I spoke to early, 2024 has the bed and the entire house on the stage :DDD
Iolanda is another candidate to win this semi. When you hear that Portugal likes atmospheric ballads sung by big voices, this is what you have in mind. Bravo!
Iolanda tem o meu voto…uma voz incrível
9. Iolanda (“Grito”) – A capella at the start, impressive. Theatrical, and super-dramatic. This might be my favourite. Really moving musical motifs and lyricism throughout. An incredible performance, bravo.
Iolanda was …STUNNING!!!!!!!
Damn, Borsh did not dissapoint, looove the dark-vampire-like thing about it ( don’t really know if I prefer this or if he dad been more dynamic on stage…)
Joao stands out a lot! Not only that it’s the first mid-tempo (not slow) song so far, but the styling, instrumentation, and the whole vibe are quite unique. He was great. Might win this semi.
I would love for him to go! Portugal needs a song with some rock in!
8. João Borsch (“…Pelas Costuras”) – More gory lyrics, wow! I actually like how this song suits the vocal really well; there is some surprisingly beautiful writing here. However, the lyrics are extremely unsubtle. I feel creeped out.
What are they about?
For adults only. Here:
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/joao-borsch-pelas-costuras-english
Noble has a very nice voice, nice spelling but the song is too much Johnny Logan for me… now comes one of those I am really curious to see live
Noble – A pretty 90s ballad, well performed. Misses an oomph to make it competitive.
Rita was nice too, btw. An interesting staging with the harp and the rain.
7. Noble (“Memory”) – English lyrics? (Was that supposed to happen?) Oh dear. I really don’t like the closed eyes and screwed up face style of singing – it’s just a personal thing: When performing, please open your eyes. This song is also rather basic. I’m afraid this was my least liked so far (sorry).
Rita was a good surprise ( everything having an harp is my thing)… is she 17 years old??
Rita, not the harp lolololol
Yes, she is 17.
6. Rita Rocha (“Pontos Finais”) – I’ll be harping on about this one. 🙂 What a beautiful voice! The choice of black & white to colour at the start worked. I like how this song develops a little in the third minute, but overall this song isn’t strong enough for the ESC, because it languishes around and doesn’t really have a “moment” to remember. But Rita has a really beautiful voice, and I hope we can see her return in the future with a more memorable song.
É outra experiência quando posso entender o que dizem! Já tenho mais de um ano praticando o meu português e viajei para Portugal o agosto passado. Boa sorte a todas as artistas <3
5. Left (“Volto a Ti”) – I really like this song. 3/4 waltz time underneath, but the melody on top is completed rhythmically disconnected to it. It is longing for the missing lover through the music. Bravo to the singer, as that’s not an easy song to sing well, and it went well tonight.
I mean the melody is completed by* being* rhythmically disconnected to the time signature. That’s an expression of the emotion of the lyrics, which is why I really like it. (Sorry about the typos.)
2023: sofa on the stage
2024: bed on the stage
2025: the kitchen
Anyway it is an interesting song but definitely not for Eurovision
We didnt need to wait for 2025 to get the kitchen lol
Left – Amazing staging and performance. A bit monotone song. But overall pleasant.
Volto a ti had such a memorable opening, but it doean’t feel like they went anywhere with it