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Part two
Introducing the 2009 entries: Portugal
Basic information
| Performers: | Flor-de-Lis |
| Song: | Todas as ruas do amor (All the streets of love) |
| Language: | Portuguese |
| Music: | Pedro Marques |
| Lyrics: | Pedro Marques, Paulo Pereira |
| Draw: | 16th in the first semi final |
The song
Todas as ruas do amor is a mid-tempo ballad that mixes pop music with folk elements. The style reminds of the days of the flower power, a theme that was also reflected in the stage performance. The romatic lyrics are a declaration of love full of metaphores referring to nature and the world in whole:
Beija o mar
O vento e a lua
Sou um sol
Em neve nua
Em todas as ruas do amor
Serás meu
E eu serei tua
Kiss the sea
The wind and the moon
I am a sun
In sheer snow
In all the streets of love
You will belong to me
And I will belong to you
The band
Flor-de-Lis were founded in 2004 as a musical project whose object it was to mix traditional Portuguese music with musical styles from other countries and continents, especially South America and Africa. During an esctoday.com interview, the band described their music the following way: "Our music is happy, relaxed and dreamy. The traditional sounds that compose it give you a hint that any Portuguese can feel as their own."
When the band heard about the call for songs by RTP for the Portuguese national final, they decided to submit Todas as ruas do amor: "After composing the song, we though this would be the right one. This is a topic in a set of songs we have composed and agreed that it would be the right choice for the Festival da Canção."
The band currently consists of seven members: Daniela Varela (vocals), Paulo Pareira (wind instruments), José Camacho (guitar and Portuguese guitar), Jorge Marques (guitar and cavaquinho), Ana Sofia Campeã (accordion), Rolando Amaral (bass) and Pedro Marques (drums and percussions). Of course, only six of them will be allowed to perform on stage at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow.
National selection
Once again, the Portuguese entry was chosen through the Festival da Canção. Twelve acts qualified for the final through an online voting. In the final, the winner was chosen by regional juries and televoting. Luciana Abreu, who already represented Portugal in 2005 as one half of the duo 2B, was the favourite of the televoters but gut only four points from the juries so that Flor-de-Lis could win the national final, as they were the favourites of the juries and the second favourites of the televoters.
Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest
Portugal took part in the Eurovision Song Contest the first time in 1964 and immediately finished last with nil points. It later indeed turned out to be a bad omen as Portugal is one of the least successful countries to date never having finished in the top five of a Eurovision final. However, Vânia Fernandes managed to finish second in the second semi final last year and brought the country for the first time to the final since 2003. The highest placing in a final came in 1996, when Lúcia Moniz finished sixth with O meu coração não tem cor.
Desejamos a Portugal e aos Flor-de-Lis muita sorte e um bom resultado em Moscovo!
Videos
[NEW VIDEO] Flor-de-Lis speak to esctoday.com before and after the Portuguese final
Flor-de-lis live in the national final:
Extended version of Todas as ruas do amor:
The winners' reprise:
Other parts of this series
Tomorrow, we will take a look at the Romanian entry.
Related polls
- POLAND: Your favourite song in the national final?
- ARMENIA: Your favourite song in the national final?
- The Netherlands decided: How much do you like Ik be verliefd (Sha la lie)?
- Cyprus decided: How much do you like Life looks better in spring?
- Iceland decided: How much do you like Je ne sais quoi?
- Denmark decided: How much do you like In a moment like this?
- Norway decided: How much do you like My heart is yours?
Go directly to the reactions
Recent news about Portugal
Festival da Canção 2010 running order decided 56
Filipa Azevedo wins Portuguese online voting 90
Online voting in Portugal ends tonight 130
Leading song disqualified from Festival da Canção 47
[UPD] RTP revealed the 30 participants 269
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Carla
The first semi final will have 18 entries and the second 19...Portugal is in the first semifinal 
All the best for Flor de Lis! I hope they do well =D16th in the first semi sounds good, how many entries will the semis have?
Very fresh song, very charming.
We've had an opportunity during 80's and 90's to hear many Portuguese entries which were nothing but - Portuguese, promoting their country, culture, in a recognizable way. I wasn't fan of those same old same melodies (exept for 1991 and 2008)..
..and 2009 as well.
This year Portugal gave us fresh, original entry also acceptable not just for the domestic public but for all the otehrs in Europe. That quality is very valuable.
The song itself is bit repetitive. This could be its weakness, but the catchy and sweet tune will stay longer in people's mind than the feeling of repetitiveness, I hope.
Sunny, fresh, summer, lovely - what else? 
For the 2nd year in a row I strongly have to support my country. It seems that after so many years of participation we are learning about the songs we send.
Good Luck Flor-de-Lis.
@ Fabio (hi )
You will have also my vote
12 points from France
@sara taor
jokes? I never made any jokes here, just comments...or if you mean the comment about my photo? well, who cares? not me...I'm 41 yrs old and believe me, am having the time of my life right now...still handsome, intelligent and full of energy!!
mr Paul C. you have bad taste in Jokes
@Richard F
no, I'm not "as old as him", nor has anyone ever said I look like him! however, people have said that I'm still a good-looking guy, despite my "age", and I believe that "you're only as old as you feel"! besides, I still have a good time, believe me, despite my age!! jeje..hope to see your photo one day soon..as for Portuguese entry, all coments I sent below, nothing more to add, handsome or not handsome...
Paul - well that is a challenge, i'll upload a picture one of these days. You have the same shaped face as Ian Botham but, no, you do not look as old as him!
Portugal have never ever been in the lead in any Eurovison contest ever
This seems to be true. I looked into the 1991 and 1996 contests and although Dulce Pontes showed up on the scoreboard a few times, Portugal was never anywhere near the lead. In 1996 however, Portugal was joint second with Croatia after Norway had voted, and sole second after France had voted. They stayed in second place until the Netherlands gave Norway 10 points and sent us ahead of Portugal. Ireland then allowed Sweden and Croatia both to pass Portugal by giving Lucia Moniz 0 points, Finland brought Portugal back up to a joint 4th, Poland sent them back to 5th, and finally Bosnia stationed Portugal at #6 where they eventually ended up. This, along with last year's semi final, must have been Portugal's closest encounter with Eurovision victory.
@ Richard F
Ian Botham?! LOL! I mean I know I'm old but please!, besides I absolutely DETEST cricket!..(this comment will have no relevance whatsoever to 99% of contributors here..!)
besides, where's your photo? or do you look like Geoff Boycott(?) or something?..
Anyway, last year's Senhora do mar was, for me, by far, my favourite. This year, Portugal is the third:
1) Lithuania - beautiful, beautiful ballad
2)France - SEXY
3)Portugal, fresh and happy
4)Estonia - really different
5)Hungary - great house dance music
6) Norway - nice folk/childish song
that's what I said, Richard, for short while...
viriathus - sorry to be an anorak, but Portugal have never ever been in the lead in any Eurovison contest ever - not even in 1991. They may have appeared on the 'leader board' for a short while, but not in the first place. Let's hope in 2009 they do.
And Paul C - are you sure you're not Ian Botham?
lovely! One of my favourites this year, just like last year. Simple, uplifting, beautiful. All the best!
wow im shocked at how low Turkey is and how high Russia is in those statisics 
Yes, and that's one of the downsides to this way of generating a chart. Back in the 70s and 80s there were only around 20 countries or less competing, naturally the average scores were lower than now when more than 40 countries give out points. Luxembourg suffers from this: generally considered a very successful Eurovision country, yet only receiving a 49 point average here. Countries which did participate in the 70s and 80s but with limited success (Turkey, Finland, Norway, Portugal) are also at a disadvantage because not only does their participation count, but their low scores pull their average down considerably. The chart is not perfect, but it does give Portugal's perceived lack of success some credibility.
@Hansjörgen: I think your reflections are spot on, except the presumption that a lack of interest will spawn dull songs. I don't necessarily think there's a connection. And Senhora Do Mar was a great song (despite the alleged low interest), perhaps their best ever, and again this year they have selected a song which is popular with many fans.
As a Norwegian I can say this: Everything changed after we won the contest. Prior to 1985 we were the butt of the joke, the infamous Nil Points, the Jahn Teigens and Mattis Hættas of Eurovision. Then we won, and since then we've competed on equal terms with everyone else. At least that's how it feels for us. That has given the game a whole new meaning. We're not just showing up anymore, we're there to contend. It's quite another level of entertainment. I really wish Portugal, after all their efforts, would also be lifted to this level. As far as flag voting goes (i.e. not considering the music), I think no one deserves to win more than Portugal.
More than thinking about going to the final the most important is to see the positive comments about Portugal. Since we don't have the receipe to succed in ESC we have to be happy to read so nice ideas and thoughts about Portugal. A big thank you to you all.
I think you're absolutely right and I'm glad you focus on the positive! It confirms my impression that the Portuguese are warm, friendly and positive people! 
@Paulo sorry but greek rythms are not folk? is not good to speak like that for a countrey's folk music
Paulo Coelho RULES!
Well people, it's time for ESC to get back to basics, to its european roots! Portugal's entry this year does just that! Enough of pop-rock songs , sahara/greek rythms and opera/classical blues! Folk is the answer this year!
@joao ferreira
well,I agree completely with your comments..but those are for here and eurofans, and I'm not sure they will necessarily correspond with the average voters in Europe...personally, my heart hopes so, but my head says "probably not" anyway please see my comments below re 
ortugal and I can tell you that one of my most successful parties ever was the guests dancing to:
Bem Bom, Playback and Dora's 1st song (1986) and 90% non-eurovision fans! but they really had a good time!
Portugal is a bit like Slovenia, in one way: the ugly duckling. one of the western europe. one of the eastern europe. truth is that I have been to A LOT of countries in Europe and Slovenia was, by far, the best surprise. I mean, yes, Italy had a LOT of things to see. all the art stuff Venice and Firenze and so on. very beautiful. Greece had the famous Partenon and the Caryatides (already much more beautiful than the Partenon itself), but it was a disappointment in the whole. France had nice museums. still, Slovenia had something else, others didn't. something you can't get or work on. it's natural. and Portugal... Portugal is magic, just like Slovenia but even better cause it's hotter lol and it's not just the beaches. oh no. it's everything. I can't explain it in words. It has to be felt. and portuguese are not the only ones to know that feeling. turists know it, too. they know that feeling of wanting to come back.it's unique. There's nothing like Portugal and there's nothing like a portuguese production (book, music, dance). it may be the best and it may not be better than others, but it is portuguese and that is something you know and feel just like that. I guess most countries can't really say that, can they? and still, I don't hate other countries. I don't think, reluctantly that Portugal is THE best country. I love Slovenia, I love the UK, I love Germany, I love Italy, Greece was nice, too. I bet a lot of people will know what I am talking about. it's simple. Portugal is..... Portugal thanks for all your support. I am amazed at the number of people supporting us! Special people Don't ever doubt on the possibility of winning this contest. we can do it. If you support us, then vote for Portugal. I bet if all those who like it, vote for it, we will be able to win and then, I can throw a party at my house to all those who loved this song and come to see live the Lisbon 2010 ESC! ahaha it's true
@viriathus
exactly! that is the point of the anecdote I sent..that Portugal is the most westernly point on the European continent, yet never considered neither western or southern Europe, my anecdote was NEVER my own opinion! take care, (full of more lemons!)paul c
And, mark my words, even if we don't win ( or become top3, 5, 10) this year - and they flor de lis deserves it, although I prefer France and Lithuania this year -, next year or in the year after ( if we don't refuse to continue in this festival like, very wise, Italy did) with a good or bad song, Portugal WILL win the contest. It is something necessary for the Eurovision, and last year's russian victory is an example. Oh and Malta will too.
I apologise again, Paul . and Fabio, nevertheless, at the Otitis Festival, it is true we never won but we received several times, if I recall, second or third places. Anyway, my friends, I am sorry but nobody till now will convince me that the eurovision festival gives more importance to the quality of the songs ( despite the country, despite the language) than to political issues. The only reason I am here, is that I put aside all the stupid voting system that always happen in order to chat and meet interesting people that argue ( peacefully) about a pan european matter. Sincerely, I give much more importance to the voting in these polls,than to the festival voting itself. Thank you for your comments
so let me explain..I work for a multinational here in Spain (Barcelona), my nationality is British, during my working day I deal with several nationalities (Catalan, Spanish,Portuguese "Iberia" they call it, French and of course English...), with Portuguese we now speak English (not Spanish cause not official company language, but I realise some of my colleauges would prefer to speak Spanish), why not, for me? because "Well those Portuguese should speak Spanish" etc etc so I said "no"!, and so we'll speak English next trip to Lisbon..my anecdote was not my joke, it was the perception of people's idea of what is "Western Europe" and, if people are honest here, would they have considered Portugal "western Europe"..fighting for Portugal's rights! paul c..
Well, Fabio, in the case of the Oti festival - or Otitis as we called it here - the reason was that the songs ( and not only ours) were really bad. And, anyway, even despite the size of Brazil, we were only 2 countries singing in portuguese, even the USA use to send songs only spanish...lol
As a side note, I'd like to add that in the OTI Song Contest (that ran from 1972 to 2000, when it was cancelled) Portugal never won either. They had more chances to win there, because the contest was made of only Iberoamerican (South America + Spain + Portugal) countries. Most of the songs were in Spanish. And there was even another Portuguese-speaking country in there, Brazil, that could have vote for Portugal as they speak the some language.
Spain and Mexico won 6 times each, Argentina 4 times... but Portugal never did. I think they are just underrated, or ignored most of the times. I couldn't care less, Portugal is still one of my favourite ESC countries, and it won't change!
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