The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — continue our tour through the amazing decade that has been the 2010s at the Eurovision Song Contest. Next up we land in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv to witness Portugal finally snatching their Eurovision title courtesy of Salvador Sobral and his songwriter sister Luisa with their throwback ballad “Amar Pelos Dois”.

When “Amar Pelos Dois” was announced as an entry for Festival da Canção in 2017, not many could have predicted it would win Eurovision, let alone that it would get the highest score ever. The physical quirks of the way Salvador composes himself mixed with a genre not seen at the contest in decades made for a controversial entry, dividing the fandom firmly in two camps. However, the simple staging and stunning vocals won both the televote and jury vote by a landslide and Salvador ruled victorious. Do the Wiwi Jury agree with this level of adoration two years later? Let’s find out…

Salvador Sobral – “Amar Pelos Dois”

“Amar Pelos Dois” reviews

Robyn: There are dozens of theories about what makes a winning Eurovision entry, but no one ever said “send an improvisational jazz singer with a sentimental 1950s-style ballad in Portuguese, performing it on the stage island with nondescript trees on the distant LED wall”. But yet that’s what Portugal did and it worked. “Amar pelos dois” was a breathe of fresh air in 2017 and it continues to be a lovely peaceful moment amongst the decade’s heavy hitters. Sometimes less is more.

Score: 8/10

Angus: “Amar Pelos Dois” is a song you can respect and the performance matches up to that. The whole three minutes transport you to a magical world, where you are enchanted by Salvador and taken back to that magical night in Kyiv. But somehow that moment has always stayed there for me, like a time capsule, except I’ve never had the urge to reopen it. Watching it back, it is a unique performance in the true sense of the word, but I’m not sure I enjoy it. One can respect it, but it also feels quite earnest, and for that reason less enjoyable than other entries from the last decade.

Score: 6.5/10

Bernardo: This is the best winner of the decade, period. I say that as a Portuguese, I say it as a pop music lover but above all I say it as someone who believes in the magic of words and melody and the impact they can have in our lives. It was true magic in 2017, it is true magic in 2019 and it will be forever. “Amar Pelos Dois” has a message that will resonate through the years. Love with no barriers, love unconditionally. And Salvador Sobral only adds to the already hauntingly enchanting universe the song transports you to.

Score: 10/10

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Obrigado!!!! ??????

A post shared by Salvador Sobral (@salvadorsobral.music) on

Oliver:  Back in 2017, I was passionately opposed to this entry and even more so to its emergence as the winner of Eurovision.  However, in recent times I’ve had to swallow my pride and accept the fact that this entry really is a piece of magic and art as well as a deserving winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.  Listening to its simple, gentle and flowing melody makes one want to sway from side to side and imagine they are sat in a colourful field of flowers. Alas, I digress — but that’s what this song does to you: it takes you on a calming and beautiful journey that you don’t want to end.

Score: 9/10

Florian: Not the most memorable Eurovision winner but definitely worthy of its title back in 2017. And that comes by the simplicity of the track. Just like “Arcade” this year, songs that put emphasis on music can still land on top in a contest that sometimes focuses too much on the performance. But regardless of that, it is also Salvador’s character and the way he sang the song that many fell in love with.

Score: 6.5/10

Julian: “Amar pelos sois” and Salvador climbed my personal list from being last place at the beginning to be my favourite of the whole contest. It was so different, so quiet, so emotional. It didn’t scream “I want to win Eurovision!” but was Salvador just standing there, being in his own little world. I get goosebumps every time I watch the live performance. Such a special winner!

Score: 9.5/10

In the Wiwi Jury we have 24 jurors but only have room for six reviews. The remaining scores are below:

William: 9/10

Antranig: 1/10

Pablo: 8/10

Lucy: 8 /10

Sebastian: 9/10

Jonathan: 6.5/10

Deban: 7.5/10

Calvin: 4/10

Luis: 10/10

Kristin: 8.5/10

Edd: 10/10

Lukas: 3.5/10

Barnabas: 8.5/10

Steinunn: 8/10

Natalie: 7.5/10

Katie: 9/10

Tom: 8.5/10

Charlotte: 5/10

We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a low of 1 and a high of 10.

Wiwi Jury verdict: 7.73/10

What do you think of this song? Share your own score and review below!

See all of our Wiwi Jury of the 2010s rankings here

87 Comments
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Jake
Jake
4 years ago

I think this song is timeless and will stand the test of time. It’s not a song you listen to all the time or you play on the radio. It’s not feel good. It’s not repeatable. But no Eurovision winner in the last 20 years has been covered as much as this song and in a language that only one European country speaks. That is truly stunning. It reinforces the amazing melody of the song and all the feels it gives someone. Haters can’t look at this song without their feeling for Salvador cloud their judgements. And yes, amazing that… Read more »

Jinbeizaki
Jinbeizaki
4 years ago

The first (and only) time the country I was rooting for actually won. This alone makes this song even more important to me than it was before. When I first heard it, despite not understanding the language, despite not knowing Salvador Sobral or the story behind the song, I cried. This shows how powerful this song was but also how amazing Sobral’s interpretation gets right into your heart. If that song has been sung by someone else it might have not hit this powerfully. Yet I didn’t think it would win, after all, all the winners those past years had… Read more »

Alan Duncan
Alan Duncan
4 years ago

Macedonia and Serbia were pushed.

Mr X
Mr X
4 years ago
Reply to  Alan Duncan

Both were typical ESC-trash…..

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago

A beautiful song, on its own. And a unique performance too.
But, put together with the statement from Salvador about music, it becomes elitist and disquieting. The most divisive winner, for sure.

Elsa
Elsa
4 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

He told the truth

Trash KAN
Trash KAN
4 years ago

He’s my first placer in 2017 lol

Mr X
Mr X
4 years ago

My personal hit list of Eurovision entries in this decade

Portugal 2017
Italy 2019
Latvia 2015
Estonia 2012
Albania 2012
Hungary 2013
The Netherlands 2013

Alaska
Alaska
4 years ago
Reply to  Mr X

I love your list.

Mr X
Mr X
4 years ago

I absolutely agree – I even had the pleasure to enjoy a concert with Salvador during his tour. He´s incredible !

Mr X
Mr X
4 years ago
Reply to  Mr X

I love the portuguese language, but so much more difficult to learn than Spanish. But I can sing along with “Amar pelos dois”.

Fatima
Fatima
4 years ago

I still don’t understand why this won, so for me this will be forever filed with I Wanna

Lodovica1617
Lodovica1617
4 years ago
Reply to  Fatima

Same. Most disappointing winner of the last five years.

HBau
HBau
4 years ago

Hum three bars of Arcade? Sorry, no can do – it’s forgotten. Hum the whole of Amar Pelos Dois? Easy.

Not the only thing that matters, but one of the songs is memorable and will live long in the Eurovision memory; one won’t.

Alan Duncan
Alan Duncan
4 years ago
Reply to  HBau

I mean…lies but you do you

Ursula
Ursula
4 years ago

Very undeserving winner, a song that sounds like many others in the first half of 20th century. The fact that is like no other song in ESC, is embarrassing. That means ESC is 100 years behind real world.

James
James
4 years ago
Reply to  Ursula

Can you cite an example of a song from “the first half of the 20th century”?

James
James
4 years ago
Reply to  Ursula

That actually sounds great for a song from that era. It definitely aged like fine wine if you ask me.

Isabel
Isabel
4 years ago
Reply to  Ursula

Things in common: both are slow songs which use string instruments
Differences: different melody, chord progression and lyrics

Bart
Bart
4 years ago
Reply to  Ursula

I agree it is inspired by the sound of 20th century music but firstly it does not make it bad and secondly this very 21st century because we live in a era of vintage and inspiration from the past

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
4 years ago

Probably the best piece of songwriting to ever grace the contest. Never have I seen a Eurovision arena so captivated than during this performance (you could hear a pin drop).
What an entry.

Jo.
Jo.
4 years ago

A slap in the face of many Eurofans.
Great song btw…

Chei
Chei
4 years ago

I agree with most positive reviews. As a portuguese, this is such a hard choice. Loreen and Salvador are the best winners (in my opinion). I can’t choose one. They did magic on that stage.

Arrivederci
Arrivederci
4 years ago

The fact that this is above toy gives me faith in society.

Ana
Ana
4 years ago
Reply to  Arrivederci

Lol, it’s not. Check again, Toy got 8.5

Arrivederci
Arrivederci
4 years ago
Reply to  Ana

Salvador got 7.73, Netta only got 7.52.
Learn to read, bitch.

Kat
Kat
4 years ago

I really loved this song and was always singing its praises during pre-season and hyping it up during the contest itself! I sent it to everyone I knew and it was able to even impress my grandparents and grouchy oldtimey aunt :p I was devastated Italy lost but I understood why, and was ready to happily congratulate Portugal, but …. Salvador’s comments are the podium felt like such a betrayal. I was rooting for you! I was cheering you on!! And then you go and say such insulting things!!!! That moment stunned and shocked me so much that it’s unfortunately… Read more »

Sabrina
Sabrina
4 years ago

As a native Portuguese speaker, I have a connection to “Amar pelos Dois” that I’ll probably won’t have with any other Eurovision winner. It’s a great showcase of how beautiful the language sounds and how the Portuguese melancholic identity works. But what it makes it an incredible entry is how it was able to grab people’s attention, even those who had no idea what Salvador was singing about. I remember holding my breath when I watched he performing it for the first time. I’m glad that so many people felt the same magic.

Hoe
Hoe
4 years ago

This song was the worst Eurovision song that won in a long time. It’s was a very boring and barely deserved a spot in the final that year. Not to mention he didint show up to rehearsals and was very rude and disrespected the other contestends during his victory speech. He also insulted Netta the next year even tho her song was catchy fun and a deserving winner.

Isa
Isa
4 years ago
Reply to  Hoe

He didn’t show up to rehearsals because of medical reasons, and that is why EBU allowed his sister to take his place!

Jinbeizaki
Jinbeizaki
4 years ago
Reply to  Isa

Let them, they are clearly a hater/troll. Everyone knows why he wasn’t in the rehearsals so for that person to say that only shows how salty/hateful they are. Better to ignore them and let them stay in their hatred bubble.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago

it was necessary to bring back diversity to the contest. never again shall we experience a year of mediocre pseudo radio friendly songs in english (like 2016) thanks to salvagod slaybral

Cesar's salad
Cesar's salad
4 years ago

I remember the early morning of March 5, 2017, when I for the first time listened to this song. My first impression was “Oh this song is really boring”. 10 seconds later I cracked up and cried like a little girl. I love this song so much and I always loved Portugal so much. This victory excited me even more than our own. I get so emotional even when I just think about this song.

stevan
stevan
4 years ago

crap

Kosey
Kosey
4 years ago

The travesty in this year was how badly Norma John did. If we are talking about deeply felt emotion, then she wins hands down. But then I have always felt much more affinity with the dark side of the human experience.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

Norma John is the name of the group/duo. The singer’s name is Leena Tirronen.

Kosey
Kosey
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Was I explicit in saying the singer was called Norma? Or John for that matter? If I was to refer to Madonna, would you also point out that was not her real name? It would be great if you didn’t go around pulling other people’s posts down for no particular reason.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

No, you were not explicit. You were implicit. Was I explicit in saying you said her name was Norma?

Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll take it under advisement.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Also, Madonna actually is Madonna’s real name…

Ursula
Ursula
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

It’s Maria, She lied.

Sleep
Sleep
4 years ago

What is wrong with some of the juries? 1/10 ?? Whatever you think about the song, whether you like it or not , that’s like…not an objective scoring, like, not at all. You didn’t enjoy it, or you are part of the angry mob of eurofans that have been pissed 3 years about a winner song for no valid reason other than their likes. Okay, but the song was still technically competent and complete as a performance, and scoring it a 1 is just plain stupid

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
4 years ago
Reply to  Sleep

Another way to look at it as that people who get angry at other people’s tastes and opinions are part of that angry mob they are complaining about. Everyone is entitled to give the scores they want and personally, I am more stunned by 8s, 9s and 10s often being doled out like they’re being given away for free. “Technically” really is a “great” argument when it comes to taste. “Technically I can’t stand it but it won, so I’m going to give at least an 8.” Yeah, erm, no.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago
Reply to  Sleep

it’s meant to be subjective tho

Chei
Chei
4 years ago
Reply to  Sleep

It’s pretty obvious that the speech that he gave about eurovision is still in some peoples minds, even though he apologized.

Jinbeizaki
Jinbeizaki
4 years ago
Reply to  Chei

How is that supposed to influence a score that’s about the song/performance?

Elsa
Elsa
4 years ago

Salvador is the best interpreter that ever entered Eurovision and “Amar pelos dois” is a timeless and classic masterpiece that will stand the test of time. I must say it is the only Eurovision entry that I liked, during the past decade and that says a lot.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Elsa

If you only like one song from the last decade, why are you a Eurovision fan site?

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Why are you “on” a Eurovision fan site, I meant…

Elsa
Elsa
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Because this post is about that one song that I love and because I like what Eurovision used to be: a music show that represented the European culture. Unfortunately, it isn’t that anymore.

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
4 years ago

Oh, this is difficult ^^ It was a touching moment, full of intimacity. But I would NEVER have expected “APD” to win and I remember how our whole group in front of the TV was surprised. I was like “yeah, nice song, but that’s all” and then POR got all the votes and me like “Really? THIS song?” 😀 I was rooting for Bulgaria (Italy’s song was amazing, but the live performance let Francesco down). And I have to say that for me the best ballad of 2017 was “Never Give Up On You” and I say this as Non-British…… Read more »

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
4 years ago
Reply to  ESCFan2009

Oh, and I forgot France in my last sentence. Need to add a shotout for Alma here, flawless performance 🙂

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago

I agree with all of the positive sentiments here. I also loved that the songwriter got rightful recognition, for once…Luisa & Salvador’s reprise was heart-warming and will be long remembered as a special moment in the contest’s history.

Loin dici
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Exactly. It might also be because of bloodline bias, but it’s the only time in 2010s where a non-performing songwriter was introduced to the limelight.

Skiwalko
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

Luisa is by far my favourite Sobral sibling – she’s crazy talented and I love her songs (like “Para ti”, “Maria do Mar”, “O Meu Cau”, “Joao”). She’s so cool, humble and intelligent, and I’m pretty convinced that if she had performed “Amar…” at Eurovision, she would have won just as well. And their winning performance to me is even better, than Salvador’s alone – it’s so joyful and sweet, and you can see how much they love each other.

Sabrina
Sabrina
4 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

Totally agree. Their winning performance was a great moment and Luisa’s body of work is very interesting. I’m glad that she had a lot of recognition, it bothers me how songwriters are many times forgotten.

KESC
KESC
4 years ago

One of my favourite winners!! Love the melody and his voice. I could imagine this song playing in a Disney movie.

Preuss
Preuss
4 years ago

Salvador was a deserved winner. I preferred runner-up Bulgaria going into the competition but the staging didn’t light my fire at all although Kristian’s a great live-singer. My favorite track and my most listened to this day ever since it was released was Blanche and Belgium. The fact that it still came 4th despite “that” performance really makes me think that it could’ve been significantly closer to challenge Portugal with a better performance, although I think Portugal was destined to win that year as the rehearsals began and Italy (a country that should’ve won by now) fell back. Not my… Read more »

Wouter
Wouter
4 years ago

Absolutely deserved and in my Top 10 best Eurovision winners of all time. When it won Festival da Cançao I knew it would either win or at the very least finish in second place.

JackOfAllTrades
JackOfAllTrades
4 years ago

I love the fact Portugal ?? won and the song is a beautiful ballad but I don’t care for Salvador annoying self righteous millennial hipster personality or his comments on things.

allex
allex
4 years ago

This is in the top 10 of the decade. The fact people think it didn’t deserve to win is absurd and makes me question the fandom’s taste in music, especially when there are people saying LITHUANIA deserved to win more… Just because it it wasn’t poppy or rocky or it didn’t have a massive stage show with confetti, lazers, pyro fireworks or some weird prop doesn’t mean it wasn’t deserving. Personal I think that this along with Euphoria, 1944 and Arcade is one of the MOST deserving winners as it firmly put Eurovision in the spectrum of being something serious… Read more »

Indiana07
Indiana07
4 years ago
Reply to  allex

But I like Lithuania’s song more. At least it isn’t so dull, slow and boring. It served something new, unlike Portugal, which used just old melodies from last century we’ve all heard before

Indiana07
Indiana07
4 years ago

I agree with Antranig. Even Lithuania’s Fusedmark deserved to win more.

Gonçalo
Gonçalo
4 years ago
Reply to  Indiana07

lol

Ryan
Ryan
4 years ago
Reply to  Indiana07

I think that saying fusedmarc deserved more is a bit much, but winning I don’t think Salvador deserved. Sure, getting to the final was very much deserved and even maybe left hand side of the scoreboard, but I believe there were plenty more songs that deserved better than Salvador..

Indiana07
Indiana07
4 years ago
Reply to  Ryan

Absolutely, 2017 was such a great year, we had so many songs that deserved the 1st place more (Italy, Bulgaria, Belgium, Romania, Croatia, Sweden, etc).

Antranig Shokayan
Editor
4 years ago
Reply to  Indiana07

I never thought of it that way but I can get behind this sentiment lol.

Indiana07
Indiana07
4 years ago

Great =}

Ana
Ana
4 years ago

Boring with 0 creativity. It’s one thing to take inspiration from a genre from decades ago, but making a song that sounds exactly like thousands of songs from that time? This is just lazy. And oh, it’s about love. How f*cking refreshing. One of the worst winners alogside with Azerbaijan

Gonçalo
Gonçalo
4 years ago
Reply to  Ana

it sounds like nothing I see in eurovision 😀

Ana
Ana
4 years ago
Reply to  Gonçalo

Really? Go to the first Eurovisions and tell me if there’s nothing similar

James
James
4 years ago
Reply to  Ana

There weren’t a lot of jazz ballads in the early years of ESC, just actual pop ballads that were popular that day.

Isa
Isa
4 years ago
Reply to  Ana

Ana, have you listened to the first Eurovisions’ contests? I doubt it very much.

Ana
Ana
4 years ago
Reply to  Isa

I just did, briefly, and found in less than 3 minutes a great example of a very similar song. I’m sure if I would listen to a couple of whole first Eurovisions I would find much more similar examples. But you get the point. This song is NOT original, not even for the Eurovision itself.
https://youtu.be/-4NaART4w7Y?t=1580

Loin dici
4 years ago
Reply to  Ana

“But making a song that sounds exactly like thousands of songs from that time? This is just lazy.” I doubt your definition of ‘lazy’ is anywhere sensible here. Orchestrated numbers are harder to work with, and even if it’s that beautiful, it’s not a popular genre anymore — I don’t even think it’ll win in the current days, but voila. 2010 is typical bubblegum pop, 2011 is generic ballad, 2012 is typical dance, 2013 in typical pop, 2014 is Bond, 2015 is typical dance, and 2019 is a pop ballad. They’re not exactly creative either, but they could stand out… Read more »

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
4 years ago

I never cared for him or the song and never will. I was still happy for Portugal because an underdog victory is always a joyful thing to witness and I loved how happy the very endearing Luisa was, but in my opinion, that Portuguese victory should have come nine years earlier to Vania Fernandes who fascinated me the way Sobral seems to have fascinated so many others. In 2017, there’s no doubt in my mind that the winners should have been either Belgium, despite the underwhelming performance, or The Netherlands, despite the underwhelming song. Best song, respectively best performance of… Read more »

maria
maria
4 years ago

This is the best song and the best performance, not only of the decade, but of the whole history of Eurovision. The impact it has had on people from all over the world (while sung in Portuguese), the amount of covers you find on the internet (from people who dont even speak the language), the international acclaim that the artist is having in his carrear (which is based very outside of the Eurovision fan base) makes Amar Pelos Dois and Salvador Sobral a very special moment in Eurovision. Is is the only entry in recent decades that managed to appeal… Read more »

Skiwalko
4 years ago

Sobral was surely an important winner – he made a lot of buzz with the famous words “music is feeling”, he finally brought the trophy to Portugal, which waited 53 years to get one, he beat Rybak’s highscore and he was the first winner in a long time that caused many people (including ones that I know) to change their opinion about the contest. Was it all deserved? I guess – “Amar pelos dois” is a cute, gentle tune with elegant lyrics, modest staging, enchanting vocals and magical performance. My only critcism is the “I drank too much coffee” manner… Read more »

Mr. Vanilla Bean
Mr. Vanilla Bean
4 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

“I drank too much coffee” manner. Haha I’ve never heard that expression before. When I drink too much coffee, I just get very jittery and can’t stop smiling.

Ana
Ana
4 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

This ”manner” was the reason I could never take him seriously. Everything about this guy is just blah. And then he started to speak after his victory, which didn’t help to like him

James
James
4 years ago
Reply to  Ana

Well, he was expected to make a speech so it’s not like he had something planned in his head, much like Portugal expected to even win at all.

Loin dici
4 years ago

But, on its season, it seems to be the only jazz number. That would probably count to its winning factor.

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

The best winner of the 2010s, hands-down. A decade ago, you couldn’t imagine a song as quiet and introspective as “Amar pelos dois” coming in and not only bringing Portugal their first victory ever but also winning both the jury AND the televote, but such is the magic of modern Eurovision. His voice is pure and unique, the staging is perfectly simple and makes an arena of fans feel as cozy as a jazz cafe, the lyrics are evocative, and the instrumental is tearjerking and timeless (anyone else think it sounds like something out of a Pixar movie, like the… Read more »

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe

I think the best is 1944 but no one can take away the achievement of winning both jury votes and televote from Salvador 🙂

Joe
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Roy Moreno

1944 is up there. My top five is basically the last four winners and Satellite, but really the only one that wasn’t excellent was Running Scared.

Jonas
Jonas
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Right? The Azerbaijan “victory” sticks out all the more now.

Thunder and lightning it's getting exciting
Thunder and lightning it's getting exciting
4 years ago

This song is very specific and I’m not really sure if I like it but I must say that it’s beautiful!!! And I like Salvador Sobral!!!