Portugal’s search for their Eurovision 2021 act comes to a conclusion on Saturday 6 March. After two semi-finals, we’re down to the final ten acts competing in Festival da Canção 2021. They’ll take to the stage once again for the grand final with the aim of being selected as Portugal’s representative for Eurovision this year in Rotterdam.
Before then, we want to know who you would like see walk away as the winner.
You can review all the finalists and their live performance from the semi-finals below. Then be sure to vote in our poll. You can choose as many acts as you would like, but you can only vote once. So choose wisely!
Festival da Canção 2021 – Grand final songs
Carolina Deslandes – “Por um triz”
EU.CLIDES – “VOLTE-FACE”
Fábia Maia – “Dia lindo”
Joana Alegre – “Joana do mar”
Karetus & Romeu Bairos – “Saudade”
Pedro Gonçalves – “Não vou ficar”
Sara Afonso – “Contramão”
The Black Mamba – “Love Is On My Side”
NEEV – “Dancing in the Stars”
Valéria – “Na mais profunda saudade”
Poll: Who should win the grand final of Festival da Canção 2021?
[crowdsignal poll=10759362]Festival da Canção 2021 – Show details
Festival da Canção utilises a 50/50 voting system. In the grand final, the decision will be split between the public televote and seven regional juries. If there is a tie for first place, the act who scored the most points from the televote will prevail and be crowned the winner.
This year, the grand final will be hosted by Eurovision 2018 host Filomena Cautela as well as Vasco Palmeirim. Meanwhile, Inês Lopes Gonçalves will be the green room host.
The grand final is set for this coming Saturday 6 March. The show starts at 21:00 GMT / 22:00 CET and is scheduled to run until 00:45 GMT / 01:45 CET.
Who do you want to win Festival da Canção 2021? Let us know in the comment section below.
I´ve been following NEEV since he did “Breathe” with norwegian group SEEB a few years ago.. It was so refreshing and one of my favorite songs that year.
Welldone NEEV, you did it again! Dancing in the Stars is such a amazing song…I really hope we can all listen to it in Rotterdam.
Really happy to see some love for Sara Afonso – a beautiful song from a brilliant artist! Whilst there are a few songs in this selection that would all have a great chance of qualifying from Semi 2, Sara has the only song with the potential to win the whole thing. Please vote for her, Portugal!
It’s Carolina for me.nHer song has been playing in my head ever since I watched her performance for the first time on Saturday.
The only Portuguese gem since 2017 is contramao, Sara Afonso.
Neev has the best composition. Language is a minor obstacle. Major obstacle is the lack of intimacy with the viewers through the camera and the dark, static staging. Work to do..or he will fail.
I think that NEEV doesn’t have any chance in a semifinal with Gjon’s Tears that probably will have a similar song and staging. Karetus give me Conan vibes and everyone knows how that turn out. Pedro Gonçalves I think that would be lost in a semifinal full of uptempo songs. I think that the best options maybe are Valéria, Sara, Eu.clides or Joana. I don’t know if they have any chance of win FdC, but seems that the result will be very divided, so… fingers crossed
We’ve no idea about Gjon. They can’t do any better then Répondez-moi. Neev would get portugal a top ten finish.
Répondez-moi was my favourite song last year! I am hoping great things by him, but that doesn’t mean two ballads can’t go to the final… xD
Even if it is just to shake FdC a bit i think it would be positive for the contest to show to the artists invited that it’s ok to bring something true to yourself, i always have the feeling that they try to fit FdC to much instead of bringing something that made them famous in the first place.
was my fave too!!
Would like to say that for me Portugal this year is excellent in their national selection.
And my personal favorite is Eu.clides, from the first note. His live performance need to be a bit improve (basically for everyone except Pedro, he sounds the same good as in record, and he’s my 2nd favorite, he will be great for Eurovision). And yes, Volte Face, it’s really touching song despite the fact that I even don’t know the translation. Good luck any way.
Sara or Euclides! Amazing songs and voices
It’s between Karetus & Valéria for me.
whatever Portugal picks–please please please–they need to get someone who can actually stage these songs better–they really need help in this area–they really squandered a good song like Telemoveis with horrible staging…just because it might work on the little FdC stage, it doesn’t mean it can work on the big Eurovision stage…it worked for Salvador cause they literally took him from the big stage and put him in the little stage at Eurovision and there was no other song like it that season….I still think Karateus have had better songs compared to this song, but that staging is so so… Read more »
I like ALL the songs….apart from the one by Neev, which I fear will win
That’s my fear too. Hopefully the jury will downvote him and upvote something more authentic.
Pedro Gonçaslves or NEEV. Karetus if they need somthing more “Portuguese”
My plan A is still “Saudade”, but Romeu needs a boost of confidence and the whole presentation needs to improve a lot, even more now that we know they will open the show. So, I would probably go with Carolina or Sara. In my opinion, those are the best written songs in the competition. Deslandes tends to win the televote, so the jury will decide her fate. I believe Sara and Valéria can do very well with the jury, but maybe won’t have a televote push. If I were a Portuguese viewer trying to be strategic, though everybody’s focusing on… Read more »
Carolina has a huge fan base here in Portugal if they get behind her in the televote then i dont see any other act winning the televote so then its up to the jury. Karetus could be in with a chance but it needs improvement on the live performance. As popular as NEEV seems to be i really dont see Portugal sending a song in English.
I just read some comments… God! so much disrespect.
Music is subjective, you can have a favorite song without having to talk s*** about the others…
Hope NEEV can improve his performance and it will have my vote.
By the way, this will be the performance order on the NF:
1 –Karetus & Romeu Bairos
2 – Joana Alegre
3 –Fábia Maia
4 –Valéria
5 –Carolina Deslandes
6 –NEEV
7 –Pedro Gonçalves
8 –Sara Afonso
9 –EU.CLIDES
10 –The Black Mamba
For once a NF with a draw which does NOT seem biased 🙂
I am bit scared, cause Sara Afonso #8 is placed on the position that if we look to both semi-finals belonged to the favourites…
Does that mean was the winner of semi 1 and maybe jury + televote wise the grand favourite? I mean i like the song a lot, however it’s not my favourite to go to eurovision…
I’m happy for Pedro, he seems to be sandwiched between a lot of ballads / slow tempo songs. Here’s hoping he stands out!
I am happy to see him returning, however this song does not do anything for me. I am more a Childish Gambino, Glass Animals(Zaba), Jungle kind of guy sooo the song i will spotify the must is the song made by Pedro da linha, voice by EU.CLIDES. However i dunno how it would be received on ESC…
With that being said, even if could be for the worse it’s time for an english song, i think it could have a positive outcome, shaking things a bit on FdC.
I think that Portugal will have a beautiful final next Saturday. These 4 songs I like most:
1.Carolina Deslandes – “Por um triz”2.Pedro Gonçalves – “Não vou ficar”3.Sara Afonso – “Contramão”4.NEEV – “Dancing in the Stars”
I hope one of them will win the ticket to Rotterdam
Let’s be honest Portugal: send the song Saudade or stay in the semi final.
My winners are “Saudade” and “Por um triz”, so I hope one of them will take the crown. I predict Carolina will win so I’ll be very happy if she does.
“Contramao” and “Na mais profunda saudade” are also great.
I like Neev’s song too, but I would prefer the other 4.
It seems that only my contemporaries enjoy Neev xD I really don’t think it’s anything special for Eurovision.
Karetus and Saudade but it is repetitive so they need to have a very good staging, if there is budget/
please do not repeat the past mistakes (see 2019 performance)
Saudade and maybe my opinion Carolina Deslandes the song has a movie feel
Either Karetus or Pedro are my favs
“Contramão” speaks to me the most. Also “Joana do mar”. Some others are acceptable too.
Hoping the winning song will be in portuguese language.
I hope so too! So few countries bring their native languages. It’d be a shame if Portugal brought English to a contest saturated with English ballads.
I love teh song of EU.CLIDES but it’s not likely to win; It doesn’t matter, All the song Portugal produced this year are way much better than what I’ve heard so far from the countries that have already chosen. So Portugal should have a big chance of winning again!
I don’t see much chance of winning the whole contests, but i also believe that this is the best FdC to date, and that most of the songs are way better than the already selected for eurovision (and even from most of what we ve heard on the nf season)
I am sorry, but this, together with Norwegian MGP, is the national final of the season for me. The quality is sky high, and I would be happy with at least 5 songs winning. Thanks for giving us music (and not fireworks!) Portugal. Not that I am against fireworks, I just think we had enough of it from other countries this year, it is good to have something a bit different….
Why would the Portuguese send Neev? Simple, it’s as sensitive a song, if not more, as Amar pelos Dois, and we have 50 years of poor results. Also, we are one of the most proficient countries at English. For all the naysayers, mind yourselves with lack of identity of all countries in the North and now spreading to countries like Switzerland, Cyprus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Serbia and others.
Nah. Não é de todo melhor ou mais sensível que Amar Pelos Dois. Estás a tripar, dude. E o sermos proficientes em inglês não significa nada. É preferível levar algo em português que seja original do que algo mais que feito na ESC.
Ana, why reply in portuguese? I want everyone to understand and in this point exactly is the answer about Neev. And this song is about loss /death, in a year that almost everyone knew it, you don’t think this is more sensitive than the love lost of APD i feel sorry for you.
I’ve just listened to Neev for the first time and it’s beautiful! And a song in English for Portugal! That never happens!
Por Um Triz, Ne Mais Profunda Saudade, Joana do Mar and Contramao are my favorites. I hope one of them wins, but this is such a strong selection that I’d be happy with anything except Dancing In The Stars
Same!
Festival Da Cançao is my favourite national selection. The Portuguese are the worlds finest songwriters and composers. They’re always contemporary, yet distinctively Portuguese, which is something I applaud as artists from non-English speaking countries sometimes try their hardest to mimic anglophone trends *cough VICTORIA cough*, however, Portuguese artists keep their unique Portuguese sound whilst following trends, which I LOVE! I would be happy with anyone other than NEEV or Black Mamba, they’re too generic and lacklustre.
Just for curiosity sake, do you think that Danny Saucedo or Arvingarna should win Melodifestivalen?
no
Charlotte Perrelli then? Still Young is in English, but at least the musical style is recognizably Swedish.
Your problem is that you think I prefer non-English songs. I prefer GOOD songs. NEEV’s song isn’t good. If FDC has a decent song in English next year, I would support it.
Your comment is written in a way that this is the most logical conclusion from it. I mean, you also say that The Black Mamba (the only other song in English) is ”generic and lackluster”. Then you also criticize other artists for ”mimicking anglophone trends”. Is ”Dia Lindo” really that better, for example? I mean, it builds like a field in Slavonia, with a climax of the Divergent movies. Of course, tastes differ, but your comment definitely sounds like ”as long as it sounds distinctively Portuguese, it’s fine”.
There are five standouts in this selection, they all happen to be Portuguese.
And that is perfectly fine to say. But if you re-read your initial comment, you’ll see why I pulled the conclusion I did.
Dia Lindo at least has some emotion. Which The Black Mamba doesn’t. And Neev’s song isn’t original at all, neither is his staging. So yeah, I prefer a portuguese-speaking song this time. And when we do create something good in english, then sure, I’ll vote for it.
I don´t like NEEV, sorry. I prefer some more typical for Portugal like Karetus and Euclides.
Period. Why would Portugal send an anglicized boring ballad when they have all these amazing alternative and contemporary Portuguese artists? We’ve seen thousands of songs like NEEV’s at Eurovision, and unless they’re outstanding, they don’t usually qualify.
Yes, we don’t need another generic ballad in english. If it was in Portuguese I’m pretty sure everyone would be saying it’s boring and NQ.
Unfortunately my compatriots are blind and fanatics whenever a mediocre english song appears in FdC. He sings well but the song is so passé and overdone.
agree, i don’t get the hype with neev.
Here’s another Portuguese who doesn’t like neev’s song. It feels like music by numbers – too perfect and predictable for it’s own good. I don’t have a clear favourite. Carolina’s song might be the most emotional for me so I’ll be happy if that’s the one chosen, although I feel Sara’s song is the better one to win festival da canção. Not so sure about Eurovision though… I like a couple of others too.
NEEV had a wonderful live performance, but the song leaves much to be desired.
Anyone but Neev and Black Mamba
Go cry to other countries as well why don’t you. Moan at Sweden to send a swedish song, then I will take you seriously. But you won’t. Cause only Portugal isn’t allowed to play by the same rules as everyone else.
Sorry but I am the first to complaint for every country sending a song in english. Sweden/Denmark and many other countries are a shame to Eurovision and have a lot of responsibility for having turned Eurovision into an english fest.
Why Portugal would send the 36th song in english ?
I think that Portugal don´t send a song in English.
I absolutely agree with you !
NEEV’s song wouldn’t even make the cut for the semi-finals of Melodifestivalen, MGP or even Dora. It’s a lacklustre ballad we’ve heard thousands of times already.
Dora doesn’t have semi-finals. I did some time during the 2000s, but not anymore. Also, a less exciting ballad in English called Blind came 5th there, so this theory of yours might not be as bulletproof.
ok xenophobia
Xenofobic. You’ve truly proved you’re the stupid person here. Wiwibloggs please block this guy from commenting.
Ganha vergonha, chegófilo. Xenophobia bullpoop doesn’t belong here or in Portugal. You’re a blind fanatic and you should me ashamed of what you wrote.
Black mamba are actually decent though
I voted for Pedro Gonçalves’ song (I just like it slightly more than the others) but I would like to ask, is there anyone here from Portugal? Is Carolina Deslandes the one to beat? Do Karetus stand any chance?
It would be enlightening if we had someone with information from within the country.
Yes, Carolina is the one to beat, no doubt about it. If her fanbase comes through, televote victory might as well be impossible for the others. This would then essentially mean that she would need to be outside the top 2 of the jury, but her song is very much jury bait, at least here in Portugal. Is it possible for her to lose? I suppose, but I very much doubt so. The televote would have to rally behind whoever the jury places first and hope Deslandes gets 3rd or lower with them, but we have no clue who it… Read more »
Thank you very much for the info! And good luck to your country, whichever song decides to send!
Yes, Carolina Will most likely win the televote, even though Neev could pull it through, it will be close. The juries will probably backup Val]eria and maybe Neev in 2nd. I-m hoping they give Carolina a 3rd place.
Actually, it’s very much wide open. Don’t actually listen to DDRaven who has been spouting hateful and xenophobic comments here. Any song stands a chance because the quality of almost all the songs match. Does Carolina have an advantage with the public: yes. Is her song jury bait: absolutely not. And who knows, Fabia passed to the final when no one thought she would. Field is wide open people.
definitely karetus or joana should win, their songs have the portuguese mood written all over them and i love it so much, neev would be quite a basic choice looking at the whole competition here
I’m going to answer the question who SHOULD win. In my opinion, the best song is “Na mais profunda saudade”. The best arrangement is also “Na mais profunda saudade”. The best vocal performance was Valéria’s.Portugal are going to go with Carolina but that wasn’t the question you were asking. 😉
I like all of these songs except for The Black Mamba’s, which I am neutral on, and Dancing With The Stars, which is so cheesy and cliche. At this point, I’m happy with any of the other songs (though my favs are Saudade and Volte-Face), just please not the other two. I am bracing myself for a Neev win, however.
Just say that you want Portufal to stay in the semis in Roterdam and stop pretending you care.
just say that you hate anyone having a different opinion to you and stop pretending you care about your country’s placement
it’s funny how I am part of Australia’s general public and yet u say my opinion is worthless. I’d love to hear more about this musical knowledge you say you posess. notice how I never once said your opinion is worthless, because I have basic respect and decency? and I never said Salvador was indie so I have no idea why that is suddenly into the conversation
anyway I’m gonna stream volte-face just to piss you off xx
ok I get that u like Neev’s song, and I like eu.clides’. that’s fine, it’s called different opinions. but can you stop saying I want Portugal to fail, pls. I truly don’t, I think volte-face or saudade would bring respectable results. just bcos my opinion is different to yours doesn’t mean it is wrong.
its clear that u won’t be mature for this conversation, so its over. thanks for your time.
no I want you to be mature and state your opinions in a respectful way. you are not doing that, so we are done
Hey, moderators, can you block their ass? They’re harassing multiple people here and not being respectful to other people, including making xenophobic comments.
You give us portuguese fans a bad name. Go back to the basement, troll.
Sara Afonso
I think that this must be the strongest final ever of Festival da Cancao… I don’t dislike any of the songs and I would be happy if almost all of the songs won. Having said that, I thing Carolina has the best overall package. Originality, good staging (which is not difficult for this song), professionalism, charisma. Close second, Neev. Would really like to see how this song would do score-wise. Third Karetus – but please please with a better staging, the one on SF1 was a disaster. But the best song for me is “Volte-face” by EU.CLIDES but with no… Read more »
u are all sleeping on volte-face 🙁
YES! Volte-Face is a contemporary masterpiece.
Se eu descubro quem tu és, levarás com a vergonha toda em cima no Tugavision. Xenophobic idiot.
p
I kind of wished there would have been more diversity among 10 songs. Don’t get me wrong I’m not a ballad hater, but when most of the contestants sing a slow song while standing or sitting completely still it gets a little boring. None of the songs are bad but I think Karetus stands out to me the most.
Plz Portugal send neev to Rotterdam
Portugal deserves better than NEEV. It’s such a lacklustre, anglicized and boring song.
OMG GO AWAY
He’s crazy, just ignore the guy.
It’s an underrated selection.
There are so many options here!
Maybe my preferred choices will be valeria, karetus, neev, pedro and carolina.
It’s easily NEEV or Karetus for me.
I can’t imagine Portugal singing entirely in English for the first time in Eurovision history, but since a lot of Portuguese singers sing in English and can speak the language fluently, NEEV gets my vote here. English – whether you like or not, it’s the money-making language.
As for Karetus, I love the idea of them mixing fado with EDM. Romeu Bairos is a respected fadista in Portugal, so mixing these two genres is a brilliant idea.
Carolina, neev, pedro, sara, karetus are my faves <3
A strong final by Portugal. I’d personally replace Love Is On My Side and Dia Lindo with Claro Como Agua and Girassol, but okay. The other eight songs are all good in their way, but my top two would be Valeria and Neev. Traditional vs international. I enjoy both songs about the same and I’d cheer on Portugal either way. A strong third option is Pedro, a 90s style radio friendly song with saxophone. My 4th would likely be Carolina and I see the appeal of her gentle ballad, but I’m afraid it would easily get lost on ESC unless… Read more »
Contramão would be my first choice . I think it’s honestly a beautiful song and Sara Afonso really makes you feel something. Otherwise I would be happy with Carolina Deslandes or Valeria winning!
NEEV with Dancing in the stars. Beautiful voice and perfect live vocals
This is going to be a very intriguing final, Portugal has lots of good options. My top 5 would be as follows: 1. Pedro – I just love the emotion in this song. Pedro is an accomplished performer and one of the more energetic in this final so stands out for me. 2. Karetus ft Romeu Bairos – I love the relaxed but purposeful vibe of this song and it’s presentation was everything that I was expecting and more. 3. NEEV – a very polished vocal performance with deep, emotional content 4. Joana – I love the chorus especially, it… Read more »