PORTUGAL 2013 - not taking part

[mikept]

Festiva do cancao have beautiful songs, but unlaky the portugese chosen the worst song for examaple in the 2006 in Athens have send 5 out of tune, but in the festival don cancao in the 2 place is arrived a wonderful song played by a wonderful girls with 4 wonderful boys.

you are absolutely right!!

 

[mikept]

I'm very sad will not take part in this year esc. I think Portugal has had some really nice songs in past but also has some significant mistakes in choosing songs (especially highlight in 2010.).
Let's hope it will be back in 2014.

I hope not!!

 

[evilperson]

I'd like to see them back if RTP decide to take a different approach to the contest and actually send a song worthy of getting a good place. Imo, every result they've gotten has been more or less deserved. Nothing was really outstanding enough to actually win.

We just keep getting the same Portuguese knock offs year after year. They should venture out into new genres. If not, I wont really miss Portugal at all. And if anyone else does, just listen to their ESC history, we probably would've gotten some version of a song they already sent some time ago.

 

[i anixi]

I'd like to see them back if RTP decide to take a different approach to the contest and actually send a song worthy of getting a good place. Imo, every result they've gotten has been more or less deserved. Nothing was really outstanding enough to actually win.

We just keep getting the same Portuguese knock offs year after year. They should venture out into new genres. If not, I wont really miss Portugal at all. And if anyone else does, just listen to their ESC history, we probably would've gotten some version of a song they already sent some time ago.

I believe we had a good entry in 2008 which deserved at least a top 5 placement. It was sort of daring in a way, as the subject of death and mourning had never been seen before at ESC. Besides, we were 2nd in the semi and usually when that happens you are always top 10 if not top 5 in the final.

There were also very good entries in 1971 and 1974 but by then I wasn't even born -just, and can't really judge. That waterloo came up in 1974 is the only other thing I know, lol.

Other than that, I totally agree with you. Our participation has been lazy and meek, we haven't taken risks, we haven't surprised and we've stuck to old fornulas which were never fruitful in the first place. Quite incomprehensible. We deserved all we've got, and sometimes a litle less.

Withdrawing after almost 50 years of not even a top 5 for being poor was the cherry on top of the cake as far as gross humilliation is concerned.

 

[toinou03]

Portugal is the most underrated country. But I think the main problem of Portuguese entries in the past is that most of them speak about... Portugal or speak to Portuguese... In the 70s most entries were dealing about political situation. And maybe there were songs too sophisticated for Eurovision like "Menina do alto da serra", sublime song written by a true poet. Well 80s weren't that good, like almost every countries, but 90s were full of great entries, Lusitano paixão, A cidade; Chamar a musica, O meu coração não tem cor, Se eu te pudesse abraçar... Which went high.

But Senhora do mar was the cherry on the cake. It should have won back then. It was my favourite.

Actually, I can't imagine problem with Portuguese language as it is so melodious and beautiful, even more beautiful than spanish with vowels modulation and all the "sh" :-) And we love Portugal so much here in France ! Plus, there is a Portuguese "diaspora" but it only made it in the late 90s with us (lol 1999 was... well...)

And it's ironic that Portugal withdraws while the hit of the year is a song in Portuguese (boring though ! ) Ai se eu ti pego, and while in any country was sung the Lambada... But it's the same thing with Spain. While the whole world sung "Un dos tres" and all, Spain kept loosing, and sent the one hit band Las Ketchup with a song that can't appeal non spaniards...

Maybe the emerging of Brazil will put Portuguese into glory and will at least make Eurovision en as ruas de Lisboa !

Anyway, we are all missing Portugal here. There even was big newspaper articles dealing with the withdrawal of Portugal, while nobody cared about Turkey !

 

[i anixi]

Portugal is the most underrated country. But I think the main problem of Portuguese entries in the past is that most of them speak about... Portugal or speak to Portuguese... In the 70s most entries were dealing about political situation. And maybe there were songs too sophisticated for Eurovision like "Menina do alto da serra", sublime song written by a true poet. Well 80s weren't that good, like almost every countries, but 90s were full of great entries, Lusitano paixão, A cidade; Chamar a musica, O meu coração não tem cor, Se eu te pudesse abraçar... Which went high.

But Senhora do mar was the cherry on the cake. It should have won back then. It was my favourite.

Actually, I can't imagine problem with Portuguese language as it is so melodious and beautiful, even more beautiful than spanish with vowels modulation and all the "sh" :-) And we love Portugal so much here in France ! Plus, there is a Portuguese "diaspora" but it only made it in the late 90s with us (lol 1999 was... well...)

And it's ironic that Portugal withdraws while the hit of the year is a song in Portuguese (boring though ! ) Ai se eu ti pego, and while in any country was sung the Lambada... But it's the same thing with Spain. While the whole world sung "Un dos tres" and all, Spain kept loosing, and sent the one hit band Las Ketchup with a song that can't appeal non spaniards...

Maybe the emerging of Brazil will put Portuguese into glory and will at least make Eurovision en as ruas de Lisboa !

Anyway, we are all missing Portugal here. There even was big newspaper articles dealing with the withdrawal of Portugal, while nobody cared about Turkey !

Yes, all those songs you mention from the 90s were quite OK, but not outstandingly so and that's the point. Menina is the entry I was talking about from 1971, and it's really very good, even by today's standards I feel.

Ai si eu ti pego is very Brazillian, there's nothing like that in Portugal. In fact, the only thing Brazillian and Portuguese music have in common is the language really. And even that sounds very different to us

I can understand that news of Portugal withdrawal were stronger there than that of Turkey's. After all, Portugal was the older country in ESC and it's closer to you. But Turkey was very much alive in this contest offering almost always valid, interesting and exciting contributions. I for one will miss it a lot.
We were already half dead instead anyway.

 

[NemesisNick]

I would like Portugal to return in 2014 with a song that has a realistic chance of qualifying to the final and reaching a top 5 final position. Hopefully even win, if they return and win the final next year 2014, they will have taken 50 years (half a century) to achieve a first time win. My suggestion, try singing entirely in English. Maybe that will help. Most winning songs from 1999 to 2012 inclusive (bar 2004 and 2007) were entirely in English. That, in my opinion, is how Turkey, Greece and Finland managed to get their first time wins after years and years of entering; I bet they'd still never have won had they still been forced to sing in their native languages.

 

[DanielLuis]

The problem about all of this is RTP doesn't care. They are broadcasting a documentary-series on RTP 2 about Festival da Canção and they haven't mentioned hte ESC once! Not even once! They simply don't care anymore!

 

[euronut]

I will definitely miss Portugal, like I would miss many countries that have participated over many years. I loved the Portuguese entries of 1994,1996 and 2008. I really hope to see Portugal competing again.

 

[cegs5]

It's a pitty that Portugal is not taking part of ESC this year. Even if the chances of winning are very low, at least it was an genuine oportunity to show part of the Portuguese culture and also give the chance to show their artists. It was not only unfair in 2008, I would say that Flor de lis should be in top 10 or even top 5 in 2009 ...and Filipa didn't deserve that bottom place...Crossing fingers we will have Portugal back next year.

 

[ethn]

i will miss Portugal too!Most of the time, it brought along genuine sounds,maybe not tailor-made to win the contest but still, it was nice to have Portugal participating...However, if things are as DanielLuis says,and RTP is soooo indifferent, chances are not good for next year either....Hope I'll be proven wrong!

 

[i anixi]

I don't think it's only RTP who doesn't care, it's the people too. The vast majority of TV viewers wouldn't give up their usual soap to watch eurovision.
If you ask 10 random people if they know we are not participating this year, chances that none of them has heard about it are high. They will turn a blank face at you, say something like "oh really, i didn't know" in a vague way and start talking about something else that interests them.

I find it amazing when I read here about tabloids and magazines in Norway or Sweden being very enthusiast about their ESC participants. I don't think I ever saw a ESC participant in a magazine cover around here. Idols' faces, Secret Stories' and such, yes, we get them all the time. Eurovision (or Festival da Canção) might get a small paragraph in a back page at best, if it's lucky.

I believe many people even believe Eurovision ended a long time ago and is now only a distant memory from a gone by century. For that reason, I think that now that the actual step has been taken, no one in charge is going to bother to step back so soon, if ever.

 

[kengaIME]

I just want in ESC

 

[DanielLuis]

I just noticed something. The rules say that in order for a broadcaster to enter the ESC, they have to broadcast the previous year final. RTP won't broadcast this year's final, which means Portugal can't return in 2014!

 

[Yamarus]

I just noticed something. The rules say that in order for a broadcaster to enter the ESC, they have to broadcast the previous year final. RTP won't broadcast this year's final, which means Portugal can't return in 2014!

Hmm, not sure about this but did Austria broadcast the 2010 Contest prior to its return the next year? Methinks not. I don't think it's a very strict rule.

 

[hijirio]

I just noticed something. The rules say that in order for a broadcaster to enter the ESC, they have to broadcast the previous year final. RTP won't broadcast this year's final, which means Portugal can't return in 2014!

Doesn't any EBU member have to broadcast the final anyway?
Correct me if I'm wrong. :?

 

[GRE]

I just noticed something. The rules say that in order for a broadcaster to enter the ESC, they have to broadcast the previous year final. RTP won't broadcast this year's final, which means Portugal can't return in 2014!

I think this rule,does not exist any more.
For example Italy didn't broadcast eurovision 2010.

 

[ParadiseES]

Doesn't any EBU member have to broadcast the final anyway?
Correct me if I'm wrong. :?

No. Italy has always been EBU member and did not broadcast the contest during all the years they were out.

 

[i anixi]

I think this rule,does not exist any more.
For example Italy didn't broadcast eurovision 2010.

Then maybe Portugal will be part of the big six next year

 

[DanielLuis]

Hmm, not sure about this but did Austria broadcast the 2010 Contest prior to its return the next year? Methinks not. I don't think it's a very strict rule.

"If an EBU Active Member wishes to participate, they must fulfil conditions as laid down by the rules of the contest (of which a separate copy is drafted annually). As of 2013, this includes the necessity to have broadcast the previous year's programme within their country, and paid the EBU a participation fee in advance of the deadline specified in the rules of the contest for the year in which they wish to participate."

I think this rule was made only this year. I don't agree with it.