Team Reviews: Portugal 2025 (Part 2)

DISCLAIMER: All the opinions stated in this post represent the views of the person quoted and do not represent ESCUnited as a whole. We are an opinionated lot with conflicting opinions, for which we take full responsibility.

Welcome back to ESCUnited Reviews! Last week we checked out the offerings from Semi Final 1 of Festival da Canção, so naturally we’re returning this week to finish off our reviews of Portugal with the 10 songs participating in Semi Final 2.

Today we again have 5 participants who will share their thoughts with us:

• Alexandros: his favourite will be very clear when you see it 
• Boris: verbose and sassy all rolled into one
• David: didn’t even pretend to enjoy this selection
• Rebecca: finally found a reason to bust out the literature knowledge
• Sam: too tired to beat around the bush today

Okay, we all know what you really want, and that’s to get on with the reviews!

A Cantadeira – “Responso à Mulher”

Alexandros – 7.5 – “This is the epitome of Portuguese music. I’m captivated by how powerful this song is without a dance beat, yet its traditional elements evoke a sense of chills. It’s heartwarming to witness Portugal selecting songs that reflect their language and culture, a tradition that has the potential to resonate and transcend the boundaries of the world.”

Boris – 8.5 – “It certainly takes a lot of cojones to enter a music competition and refer to yourself as “The Singer”.  Fortunately, she brings folk fado teeming with personality. In a sense, a cantadeira provides a more traditional take to the same musical ideas as Xico. “Responso à mulher” sounds universally European thanks to its percussion and copious bagpipes (where Ai Senhor could pass as Serbian, Responso could pass as Bulgarian). The song is grounded in Portugal’s Celtiberian heritage, and that makes it authentic.”

David – 4 – “Something rather unusual from Portugal I must say. The flute after the chorus is enticing, and there’s quite a lot of drum instruments in use here. Can’t underestimate how creative and captivating this is. Yet, I do fall off eventually, mostly thanks to its very similar style throughout the song. It’s interesting, but only for a short time.”

Rebecca – 4 – “I feel like something is getting lost in translation here, because I’m really not understanding what the lyrics are trying to convey to me beyond the idea of feminine ancestry. It’s not bad, it’s actually very interesting, but I want to like it a lot more than I actually do. Some creative staging could potentially save this for me.”

Sam – 7 – “Very interesting song that lends itself to potentially interesting staging. It reminds me somewhat of a Portuguese version of “My Sister’s Crown.””

Highest Score: 8.5 (Boris)
Lowest Score: 4 (David & Rebecca)
Total Score: 31/50 (6.2 Average)

Tota – “á-tê-xis”

Alexandros – 5 – “I must admit, this is the first time I’ve encountered someone who embodies the voice I envision him to have simply by observing his artwork. It’s a minor observation, but I wouldn’t want to assume that the song has the necessary energy for Eurovision. Nevertheless, I would still enjoy listening to it if it were played on shuffle.”

Boris – 6 – “What TOTA sings here is a pedantic EU.CLIDES composition that lacks the charm of  Volte-Face. “A-tê-xis” is too tame and too meandering to really count as captivating, and the sudden maniacal bridge (complete with laughter!) cannot fully remedy its glaring weakness (the lack of a grounding moment). It’s a temporally messy song with some redeeming features that it cannot seem bring together into a cohesive whole.”

David – 1 – “Very intriguing start, but eventually the song fails to deliver to that expectation it gives me. Instead of building up more tempo, it goes the opposite direction. A soft and calming voice I must say, but the song also just jumps a bit too much around, and I have no idea what the point is, after the 2 minute mark to suddenly switch style momentarily.”

Rebecca – 5.5 – “This song has a very interesting idea that kind of falls apart the longer it tries to sell me on it. We go from poetic lines about the overexpansion of humanity to “technology bad everything bad” and although I completely agree with the sentiment, I don’t need yet another person to tell me that we spend too much time on our phones. At least do me the courtesy of telling me in a way that hasn’t been done before. The silver lining is that Tota has an amazing voice, and he does a couple of chesty growls in there that really impress me. Otherwise, I’m not really into this.”

Sam – 6.5 – “He has a lovely voice, and the blend of traditional and modern production is compelling. I kept waiting for the song to pick up and it never quite does – it’s more of a musical stream of consciousness than a cohesive song, which is difficult to pull off – especially in a song contest.”

Highest Score: 6.5 (Sam)
Lowest Score: 1 (David)
Total Score: 24/50 (4.8 Average)

bombazine – “Apago tudo”

Alexandros – 5.5 – “I appreciate the complexity of this song. While it may not be immediately apparent, it has a nostalgic touch that I find particularly appealing in songs. I must also say that Portuguese is a beautiful language to hear throughout the songs, and I’m glad they’ve retained it for their national final. I hope they never consider revamping it into an English version, as Albania has done.”

Boris – 7.5 – “A fine city pop tune in its own right. Comparing Bombazine to their predecessors, Perpétua always ends poorly for them. “Apago tudo” is adequate at what it does (it’s a bop), but it lacks an edge – its track is a bit monotonous in terms of instrumentation and that lessens the impact it has as an anthem. It’s good, but with some adjustments could be made even better.”

David – 2 – “Oh dear, we’re going a few decades back here. There is some charm here, the guys are creating their own experience with this song. The song is quite a happy and cozy one, but nowhere near a hit. I always appreciate how some artists bring their own style to a general public, but I’m just not part of this target audience.”

Rebecca – 8.5 – “Wow, so retro and funky! I love me a funky beat that has complex lyrics attached to it, the dissonance between a simple, fun tune and a thought-provoking message is just brilliant. I get the sense that the lyrics can be interpreted a few ways, but to me they seem to speak of being out-of-step with the world around you. Whatever the interpretation, I’m enjoying the hell out of this. It reminds me a lot of LPS’s song “Disko”, mainly because of its chill, happy vibes, but also because it doesn’t exactly have a climax. Personally I don’t mind much in this instance, but I know for a lot of people it can make it directionless and boring. So, definitely something to keep in mind when staging.”

Sam – 4 – “Aww, look at Portugal trying to be fun. It’s okay, Portugal, we don’t need to hear yet another milquetoast attempt at disco – your usual artsy-fartsy offerings will do.”

Highest Score: 8.5 (Rebecca)
Lowest Score: 4 (Sam)
Total Score: 27.5/50 (5.5 Average)

Emmy Curl – “Rapsódia da Paz”

Alexandros – 2 – “I attempted to listen to it more than once, but I can’t seem to do it. I’m not sure why, but her high-pitched voice makes me feel uneasy, and I can’t enjoy the song. The melody is still nice, though.”

Boris – 9.5 – “Alice Curl takes me by the hand, and leads me into her rhapsodic Wonderland. “Rapsódia da Paz” is A Lot to take in – the high-pitched chanting, the menacing strings, the constant pitch AND tempo changes. It’s much, you know? Fortunately, the Much Of It is very well-executed. Rapsódia is a delightful art piece describing the transition from War into Peace, via the mobilization of Emmy’s tribe of lovers. This is the type of entry that makes Festival da Canção an exciting selection to follow, and could very well contend for the win in Basel should it be good enough to beat the introverted, lyric-heavy slow songs.”

David – 1 – “I’m quite confused about what I’m listening to here. Far too much is going on. What bothers me the most, is how vocally, it’s way too loud and obnoxious. Then the song itself is very messy and switches in style far too often. I’m not able to follow along, and I’m wondering what I’m just listening to. An absolute mess.”

Rebecca – 3 – “I appreciate this for what it’s trying to do, but I’m not really vibing with it. It feels like a lot of complicated pieces that don’t quite slot together perfectly. The vocals are great, the harmonies work really well, but as a whole song I’m just not quite sure about it.”

Sam – 8 – “Oh wow. This is a huge swing. If the songs in this lineup were films, this one is the sweeping three-hour historical epic. Needless to say there’s some theatre kid energy here, but not in an irritating way. Very curious to see the live staging.”

Highest Score: 9.5 (Boris)
Lowest Score: 1 (David)
Total Score: 23.5/50 (4.7 Average)

Inês Marques Lucas – “Quantos Queres”

Alexandros – 3 – “This song, in my opinion, serves as a filler track. It lacks any distinctive features or memorable elements, except for its pleasant melody.”

Boris – 7 – “Inês doesn’t quite stand out in semi 2 – following Fernando and HENKA has that effect- but I will have it recorded that I like her quirky, ambient song. It’s beautifully arranged, even if it doesn’t contend for anything meaningful.”

David – 2 – “This song, is just in its own unique world. As I listen to it, it just sounds and even feels like, that the song creates its own place for itself, and doesn’t bother with anything around it. Sweet in a way, but I also feel like an intruder, who don’t quite want to be involved with whatever that is going on throughout the song.”

Rebecca – 6.5 – “The kalimba makes this stand out so much. It’s very chill and peaceful-sounding. I could fall asleep to this, and I mean that as the highest of compliments in this instance. The message is a bit of a basic one but the package its wrapped in makes it feel a little more special and personal. Very nice!”

Sam – 6 – “Very pleasant to listen to, but feels a little lost in the shuffle. Then again I did just listen to Emmy Curl…”

Highest Score: 7 (Boris)
Lowest Score: 2 (David)
Total Score: 24.5/50 (4.9 Average)

Fernando Daniel – “Medo”

Alexandros – 6 – “Although I wouldn’t be as fond of the ballads I’m so in love with this year, the biggest plus for me is the voice. It gives you the colors of the entire song, like the key to the song.”

Boris – 9.5 – “It takes Herculean effort to make *this* f-word root for some dude over a camp woman, but Fernando Daniel may have pulled it off. “Medo” is nothing sort of excellent, a touching, brittle song about the fear of dying alone AND the fear of improving your life. However, as he states – he’d rather live in fear than without the love of his life, and so he finds the courage to confront himself, with her by his side. It’s a poignant, delicate struggle where Fernando’s voice – equal parts potent and vulnerable – pulls no punches as he plays his poorly tuned guitar. It works exactly how it is supposed to. I haven’t been this excited for a slow song since Hold Me Closer!”

David – 5 – “Nice composition, very simplistic and easy for the ears to deal with. It’s not pushing itself too much, and manages to stay in line with how the song should sound like. Very charismatic voice, which elevates the song as well. It’s an easy going song, which I absolutely don’t mind. Very in the middle of its lane, I would say.”

Rebecca – 2 – “Another song about love and relationships that just screams “Honey please just go to therapy you’ll feel so much better.” As poetic as the lyrics are at points, I just keep coming back to this thought. Maybe I just don’t know what it’s like to love someone to this extent, but I’m fairly confident it shouldn’t make you this scared to imagine life without them?”

Sam – 6 – “Okay, vocals! Unfortunately those are the best thing about this song, which I do feel has a lot of potential to be more musically compelling than it is. Some more time in the lab would have done wonders.”

Highest Score: 9.5 (Boris)
Lowest Score: 2 (Rebecca)
Total Score: 28.5/50 (5.7 Average)

Luca Argel ft. Pri Azevedo – “Quem foi”

Alexandros – 7.5 – “This is an old-time classic. It’s like you’re instantly transported to a different world where everything is perfect, peaceful, and devoid of any problems. I absolutely adore this feeling and the essence of it. Do I need to elaborate further?”

Boris – 5 – “ ’PORTUGESE PEOPLE SHOULD TREAT BRAZILLIANS BETTER’ is the general message behind Luca Argel’s little protest song, as he cheerfully lists all Brazillian things the Portuguese take for granted over Pri’s casual , slow accordion, arranged to vaguely sound like Amar Pelos Dois. It’s a mood. But it’s not a Eurovision song.”

David – 1 – “This is more poetry than a song. I’m unable to spot the chorus, and clueless about what’s going on, I’m waiting for more to happen, which never happens. This could create a REALLY romantic setting, with the Eiffel Tower in the background, while at a café with your lover… but I’m single, so I’m unfamiliar with those emotions.”

Rebecca – 5 – “The context behind this song is absolutely wild, and I can’t see it winning purely for that reason. Beyond that, it’s a cute little accordion song with a melody that has strong echoes of “Amar pelos dois” (and honestly, knowing about the context, I would hazard a guess that it was intentional to some extent?) Personally I think it’s nice enough, but I can’t say that it’s the right fit for a Eurovision entry.”

Sam – 6.5 – “Very pretty. Very Portuguese. Very Salvador Sobral.”

Highest Score: 7.5 (Alexandros)
Lowest Score: 1 (David)
Total Score: 25/50 (5.0 Average)

NAPA – “Deslocado”

Alexandros – 3 – “I’m feeling bored with this song. The melody lacks any energy or excitement. It’s a suitable song for radio play and could potentially perform well nationally, but it wouldn’t be a strong contender for Eurovision. The song’s tone is too relaxed and lacks the captivating energy of Sodade.”

Boris – 6.5 – “NAPA, like the cabbage? If “Deslocado” was a vegetable, it certainly could be cabbage. Loads of fiber, strong cellular structure, plenty of uses, a staple in cooking. But like cabbage, it’s difficult to be excited by a “Deslocado” which is a fairly tame soft-rock ballad carried heavily by lyrics nobody outside of the Iberian peninsula will understand. This is one for the locals, much less for for an international audience. Far from a bad song, but if I compare the rest of the field, not quite as suited for Eurovision as the other realistic options.”

David – 1 – “A very touchy melody, but also very slow. I do enjoy the instrumentation, but I just struggle to care enough to stay with the song overall. It’s fresh that it contains a bit of musical variety and somehow sticks to what it wishes to present. On the other hand, this is not in range of what I’m personally seeking to listen to.

Rebecca – 4 – “This seems to be a running theme with some of these Portuguese songs: pretty but kind of plain.”

Sam – 7.5 – “The 70s soft-rock sound may not be to everyone’s taste and I don’t see it doing especially well in competition, but it’s certainly making my playlist.”

Highest Score: 7.5 (Sam)
Lowest Score: 1 (David)
Total Score: 22/50 (4.4 Average)

Diana Vilarinho – “Cotovia”

Alexandros – 7 – “First and foremost, I’m delighted for women in Eurovision in general, as they bring this unique, nerve-wracking, and talented energy to the stage. What a beautiful classic song for Eurovision! The vocals are impeccable, the melody is delightful, and this traditional instrumentation sends shivers down my spine. I love how the song builds up a bit faster at the end and then gradually slows down again.”

Boris – 7 – “A classical Fado with a good use of the backing vocals. No complaints about entries like this – they’re always good, and I always like them. There little that separates Diana from her peers however, making “Cotovia” feel a bit unoriginal.”

David – 5 – “There’s an adventure going on with this song. It comes out like a story, which takes me audible on a journey. I’m enjoying it, while being cautious, because there are bits in the song where I’m not quite enjoying it, but as the drums get bit harsher beat, then my interest is reclaimed. In a way, I just wish the story was sung in an understandable language, for a foreign listener like me.

Rebecca – 4 – “There’s some excellent metaphors in there and a generally important message underpinning it all, but the song itself is a bit samey. The vocals need to be a lot more powerful and there absolutely needs to be more of a climactic moment to tie it all together. I’m left sadly underwhelmed.”

Sam – 8 – “Enchanting. It literally sounds like she’s casting a spell. The pacing and production do an excellent job of creating a real sense of drama and gravitas. A possible dark horse?”

Highest Score: 8 (Sam)
Lowest Score: 4 (Rebecca)
Total Score: 31/50 (6.2 Average)

Henka – “I Wanna Destroy U”

Alexandros – 5 – “Maybe I read too many comments about this song, but I don’t understand the hype. I’m not a fan of this kind of music. When she’s not shouting, I like the song, but otherwise, it gives me a headache. Also, will Portugal send its first-ever English entry? I doubt it, but let’s see.”

Boris – 8 – “Laughing. My. Arse. OFF. Particularly at the contrast of Medo’s fragility into HENKA’s fanwank nonsense <3 Heavens bless Portugal for allowing this screamy metal piece in their selection, where it’s an effective palate cleanser and a cat amongst the pigeons. It’s definitely the song for the vapid to latch on to. I’m not sure if “I wanna destroy u” can even work in a live setting – the grunge screams into high-pitched harmonies seem impossible to pull off. But IF it works, HENKA might  become a dark horse in this field of sentimental ballads and experimental fado.”

David – 7 – “Holy fuck, this is actually badass! Alright… this is quite brave, especially for Portugal. I actually appreciate that this is fully in English, since it has my curiosity, so yes, I wish to know what I being sung. This is also it’s main problem, the lyrics are quite bad, and just hard to memorize, when it comes to order. It’s cool yea, but lyrics are all around and messy.”

Rebecca – 7 – “… Wow. Just… Wow. I was not expecting that at all. For a metal song entered into a National Final, this is really damn solid. The chorus gives it a pop-rock flavour à la Evanescence and Paramore, and honestly if the stage show is impressive enough this could absolutely clean up at Eurovision. It’s not my favourite in this lineup and I can’t see the Portuguese public voting for it, but I would be pleasantly surprised and happy to see this take the top spot.”

Sam – 8.5 – “Outing myself as an Elder Emo™ here, but I am a huge fan of this and I especially love seeing an entry like this from self-serious Portugal of all places. I’ll admit the song isn’t groundbreaking for the genre, but it’s very well done for what it is.”

Highest Score: 8.5 (Sam)
Lowest Score: 5 (Alexandros)
Total Score: 35.5/50 (7.1 Average)

The Final Results

We’ve now reviewed all 20 songs from both Semi Finals, so let’s see where our team’s final rankings stand. Has the top 5 changed at all?

1. Peculiar – “Adamastor” (7.8 Average)
2. Henka – “I Wanna Destroy U” (7.1 Average)
3. Josh – “Tristeza” (6.7 Average)
4. Xico Gaiato – “Ai Senhor” (6.4 Average)
5. A Cantadeira – “Responso à Mulher” (6.2 Average, Highest Score 8.5)

Peculiar holds onto the top spot from last week, with “Adamastor” getting an impressive 7.8 average. Jumping into second place is Henka with “I Wanna Destroy U”, leapfrogging over Josh’s “Tristeza” who now slides down to third place. Xico Gaiato may not have made an impression on Portugal, but “Ai Senhor” certainly made an impression on the ESCUnited team and hangs onto fourth place despite being eliminated in Semi Final 1. Fifth place was a close call, but A Cantadeira’s “Responso à Mulher” won a tiebreak with Diana Vilarinho’s “Cotovia” by having the highest individual score from a reviewer.

Festival da Canção 2025 continues tonight with Semi Final 2, starting at 10:00pm CET.

Agree with our ranking? Think we’re completely wrong in every way? Let us know what #YOU think on our socials (@escunited), Discord or at our forum.