Portugal: RTP confirms Eurovision 2019 participation and opens submission window for Festival da Canção 2019
RTP , the Portuguese national broadcaster confirmed that Portugal will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 amd has already began its search for the new songs for Festival da Canção 2019.
The Eurovision 2018 host country is certainly not losing time and alongside with the confirmation of participation in the next edition of Eurovision in Israel has started its search to determine the entries of the next Festival da Canção 2019, the event through which the country selects is Eurovision acts and entries.
As in the last year’s edition, a total of 16 entries will be competing to win the golden ticket to Tel Aviv and the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 . RTP has invited 14 composers to submit an original and unreleased song, having the right to pick the singer who will perform their song as well.
Additionally, The broadcaster has predicted two spots in the competition to be determined by public submissions. Acts will be able to go after one of the two spots in the final in two ways: First spot will be determined through the “Master Class” radio program of Antena 1.Composers and authors with no published works can apply to take part in the competition until October 31. The composer selected must present a new song for Festival da Canção 2019.
The 2nd spot in the competition will be taken by a song which will come from an open selection. All citizens of Portuguese nationality or residents in Portugal can apply no matter if they have any published works. These applications can be submitted through the RTP website, with submissions to be sent to the follwing e mail address: festival2019@rtp.pt. In this case too the deadline expires on October 31.
You can find the regulations of Festival da Canção 2019 participation here and all the update on the competition on the RTP’s official Festival da Canção website
The Eurovision Story so Far
Portugal joined the Eurovision family in 1964 when it was represented by António Calvário, who finished last without any points. Since their debut in 1964 Portugal has missed five times the contest, the latest being in 2016. Before 2016, the best result of Portugal in the contest was a 6th placing in 1996 with Lúcia Moniz performing “O meu coração não tem cor” in Oslo. In 2017 the country got out of the list of the remaining countries without victory, as Salvador Sorbal was crowned winner in Kyiv with his song Amar Pelos Dois . Following Salvador’s win the country hosted the 63rd edition of the contest in Lisbon.
In the last Eurovision winners of Festival da Canção 2018, Cláudia and Isaura , represented Portugal with the song “O Jardim”. They finished last in the Grand Final with a total of 39 points.
