Festival da Canção (FC) 2020, the Portuguese national selection for the Eurovision this year in Rotterdam, started on February 22nd with the first semi-final.
If you watched Festival da Canção in the last year and a couple of years before, you would recognize the format that practically did not change. The venue was the RTP studios in Lisbon and the hosts two of the usual presenters: Tânia Ribas and Jorge Gabriel. In the green room, once again, Inês Gonçalves.
Even the process to select the entries was almost the same: the sixteen songs came from invitations to song writers, the radio show Master Class and the public submission. Each semi-final has eight songs from which four advance to the final, this year being held in Elvas, Alentejo. All the postcards were then filmed in Alentejo, the south central/southern region in Portugal which means "beyond Tagus", Portugal's main river.
During each semi-final, voting is 50% from the jury (this year’s jury has, among others, Anabela - ESC 1993 - and Conan - ESC 2019) and 50% from the public. But, as opposed of previous years, the semi-finals results will only be revealed after the final results.
SONG #1
Meera with "Copo de Gin"
Meera brought us this glass of gin which is a light pop and relaxing song that gives you a good feeling. Meera, the band from Oporto, usually sing in English but this time, with a song co-written in Portuguese by Isaura (ESC 2018), were the opening act for FC 2020. A very nervous performance that only got more loose and fun when the lead singer went and jumped on the drums. The public reaction at the end of the song was nothing to write home about.
SONG #2
Filipe Sambado with " Gerbera Amarela do Sul"
Filipe, who comes from Elvas where the final will take place, brings us a very catchy song with some traditional Portuguese sounds. His voice resembles a lot the brothers Vitorino and Janita Salomé, famous Portuguese singers from Alentejo. It is a game of words well constructed but the song looses a bit of the catchy effect when it becomes more repetitive towards the end. Still, a confident performance and, one cannot deny, with a very unusual dark look, making a great contrast with the fact that the song title is simple "yellow gerbera from the south".
SONG #3
Ian Mucznik with "O Dia de Amanhã"
Ian was born in Paris and has a very extensive list of several musical collaborations. This is a nice song about the future, about life and Ian delivers it very well. A very classic performance. Public doesn't go crazy but if there is some justice, this should qualify.
SONG #4
Bárbara Tinoco - Passe-Partout
Passe-Partout is one of the big contenders to represent Portugal in Rotterdam. Tiago, who is in stage at the beginning, wrote a very retro and sweet song about a relationship that did not worked out because the guy simply ignored all the good things in life she taught him. How come he couldn't even become a fan of Piaf? :) The performance is a bit shy, though. From the lyrics, one could assume Barbara would be a bit "mean" about what happened. An improvement is needed here. The choreography needs to be more "wow" too. Great reaction from the public, a qualifier for sure.
SONG #5
Blasted Mechanism with "Rebellion"
Blasted, formed in 1995, best Portuguese act from MTV's EMA in 2006, need no introduction. The group that brought us so many great songs, like Karkov, were listed as another big contender to win the whole FC 2020. The performance was a bit of a disappointment though. The group were all over the stage but not giving the amazing feeling we are used to experience when they perform live. Maybe because the idea of mixing medieval and fado sounds with a somehow metal theme. Not very convincing and we could see that by the reaction of the public at the end.
SONG #6
Elisa with "Medo de Sentir"
What is Festival da Canção without a snooze fest? “Fear of feeling” has nice lyrics but Elisa just stands there waiting for the three minutes or so to end. Her voice is not the greatest and the backing singers just add nonsense to the whole thing. This was boring. Still may qualify as it has great reviews pre-show.
SONG #7
JJaZZ with "Agora"
"Now" is the proposal from the duo JJaZZ. The lead vocalist is nervous since the beginning and looks like she is trying hard to beat Elisa in the snooze fest competition. Maybe they were getting ready for the Carnival in Rio, which happened two days after, judging by their outfits. The choreography looks like it was not even prepared in advance and no, this is not qualifying.
SONG #8
Throes + The Shine with "Movimento"
Angolan Kuduro rhythms meet rock with this collaboration. Kuduro is very popular in Portugal and this could appeal to the viewers and jury. It has a good rhythm and it can get people engaged and dancing. And it may work in Rotterdam. They're having fun on stage and it is a great way to end the performances tonight.
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In between the songs and after, we had Inês talking with the performers in the green room. We had also the hosts talking to the juries and an homage to the great José Mário Branco, who sadly left us in 2019. José Mário Branco was a key singer and composer especially during the dictatorship and the years around the Carnation Revolution (1974). But even after that, his contribution to the Portuguese music scene cannot be forgotten, and an example of that is my favourite song from José: "Eu vim de longe" (I cam from far away).
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Several recaps after... we had results!
Qualified for the final:
SONG #2 Filipe Sambado with " Gerbera Amarela do Sul"
SONG #4 Bárbara Tinoco - Passe-Partout
SONG #6 Elisa with "Medo de Sentir"
SONG #8 Throes + The Shine with "Movimento"