Portuguese broadcaster RTP have announced that Elisa, winner of Festival da Canção 2020 will be performing during the first semi final of this year’s selection show this coming Saturday.
During the show Elisa will be performing her new song “Na Ilha” as a guest during the show. The song is written by both herself and Mikkel Solnado and is dedicated to her home of Madeira.
Elisa won Festival da Canção 2020 with the song “Medo de sentir”. The song would have represented Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam however the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With her absence from Festival da Canção as a contestant, Elisa is one of now several artists that were selected for Eurovision 2020 who will not be returning for the 2021 contest.
Elisa’s new song will be available on all digital services this Friday, the day before she performs it at the contest.
Festival da Canção 2021 begins this Saturday with the first semi final. The following Saturday will be the second semi final, with the grand final of the contest then taking place on Saturday the 6th of March.
This weekend’s show will be hosted by Jorge Gabriel and Sónia Araújo and will see five of the following ten entries advance to the final:
- The Black Mamba – Love Is on My Side
- Valéria – Na mais profunda saudade
- mema. – Claro como água
- Nadine – Cheguei aqui
- Miguel Marôco – Girassol
- Fábia Maia – Dia lindo
- Irma – Livros
- Karetus and Romeu Bairos – Saudade
- Sara Afonso – Contramão
- IAN – Mundo
Image Source: ESC Bubble | Source: ESCPortugal
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.
