Diogo Piçarra the winner of the second semi-final of Festival da Canção 2018 has been accused of plagiarising Universal do Reino de Deus.
The winner of the second semi final of Festival da Canção 2018, Diogo Piçarra has been accused of plagiarising Portuguese artist Universal do Reino de Deus. Diogo’s song “Canção do Fim” is accused of plagiarising “‘Abre os Meus Olhos”.
The singer responded on Facebook this afternoon saying;
Simplicity has these things and only those who do not create art will never be in this position. It’s part of a composer’s life and it’s something we’re all gonna “suffer” our whole life.
The idea for the ” Canção do Fim” appeared in 2016, along with many others from my latest album ” do=s “. I kept it saved for finding something special, however, its simplicity and its chord progression It’s not something that wasn’t invented, just like everything in music.
And it’s funny how life has these things, divine coincidence or not, and realize that the internet is the true judge of modern times. But it also destroys.
My conscience is quiet to the extent that I myself am who is most surprised in the middle of all this: I was born in 1990, I am neither believer nor religious, and now discover that an evangelical song of 1979 from the Universal do Reino de Deu resembles something you’ve created, it’s something amazing and at least ironic. I was completely unaware of the subject and I will continue to defend my music because I believe it was created without ulterior motives.
As I said, simplicity has these things, and melodies in music are not limitless. I would never participate in a national contest with the conscience that I was plagiarizing a universal church music. I would have grabbed the guitar and done something else.
After all people “when they look, they see everything”, however, only the bad side they seek to destroy. But unfortunately i inform you that this will never happen.
Thanks to this giant family that supports me always.
You can watch Diogo’s performance from the second semi-final below:
Source: ESC Portugal
Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest
Portugal debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 represented by António Calvário, the country finished last scoring nul points. Prior to 2016, the best result of Portugal in the contest was 6th place. This 6th place came in 1996 when Lúcia Moniz performed “O meu coração não tem cor” on stage in Oslo, Norway. She scored 92 points receiving 12 points from both Norway and Cyprus. Since their debut in 1964 Portugal has missed a total of five contests, the latest being in 2016. After their spectacular win last May, in Kyiv, Portugal will host the 2018 edition of the contest in the capital, Lisbon.
