Seven music professionals will feature on the jury at Portugal’s Eurovision selection show.
Portuguese broadcaster RTP has revealed the seven jury members that will make up 50% of the results in Festival da Canção 2019. The other 50% will be determined by the public. In the final, the jury votes will be associated with 7 different Portuguese regions.
The jury consists of:
- Júlio Isidro – Radio presenter and TV personality who has featured on the panel two times previously
- Isaura – Singer and songwriter who represented Portugal at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest with Cláudia Pascoal
- Álvaro Costa – Radio presenter, DJ and TV presenter
- Selma Uamusse – Singer from Mozambique
- Pedro Penim – Founder and artistic director of Teatro Praga. He also presented the Blue Carpet event at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest
- Maria João – Jazz singer and director
- Rita Redshoes – Singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, former Festival da Canção songwriter (2017)
The first semi-final will take place on Saturday 16th February from RTP studios in Lisbon, with the second semi-final following a week later. The running order is as follows:
SEMIFINAL 1
- Ana Cláudia – Inércia
- João Campos – É o que é
- Soraia Tavares – O Meu Sonho
- Calema – A Dios
- Conan Osíris – Telemóveis
- Ela Limão – Mais Brillante Que Mil Sóis
- Filipe Keil – Hoje
- Matay – Perfeito
SEMIFINAL 2
- Lara Laquiz – O Lugar
- Dan Riverman – Lava
- Mariana Bragada – Mar Doce
- João Couto – O Jantar
- Madrepaz – Mundo A Mudar
- Surma – Pugna
- Mila Dores – Debaixo Do Luar
- NBC – Igual A Ti
The final will be held on 2nd March in the Portimão Arena.
This year, artists who have written their own songs include Calema, Conan Osiris, Filipe Keil, Mariana Bragada, NBC and Surma. The composers of the remaining entries were all responsible for selecting the artists who will perform their songs.
The winner of the contest will follow Claudia Pascoal and Isaura who represented Portugal on home soil in Lisbon at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.
Source: RTP
Portugal debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964 represented by Antonio Calvario, the country finished last scoring nul points. Prior to 2016, the best result of Portugal was 6th place which came in 1996 when Lucia Moniz performed in Oslo. She scored 92 points, receiving the 12 points from both Norway and Cyprus. Since their debut, Portugal have missed a total of five contests. In 2017, Portugal produced a spectacular win when Salvador Sobral took home the crystal microphone with his song “Amar Pelos Dois.” The 2018 contest was held in Lisbon, Portugal for the first time.
