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At Tivoli Theater in Lisbon
Gala to honour 45 years of Festival da Canção
In 1964, Portugal sent the first representative to the Eurovision Song Contest. António Calvário was the first winner of the then called Grande Prémio TV da Canção Portuguesa. Only in 1979, the national final gained the designation Festival da Canção. Many were the titles and selection processes used throughout the almost five decades. One thing is for sure, Festival da Canção has had a very important role in the history of Portuguese music and television.
The list of artists that will step the stage of Teatro Tivoli in Lisbon ranges from singers, authors and hosts of the Portuguese national final. Such names as António Calvário (1964) Tonicha (1971), Maria Guinot (1984), Nucha (1990), Sabrina (2007), Vânia Fernandes (2008) and Flor-de-Lis (2009) will perform. Connecting the fathers of the event with the new generation, it will be a night of memories.
The gala will have some special moments with the delivery of three Prestige Awards to Maria Guinot, Tonicha and Doce. Also a special tribute will be payed to personalities that have passed away: Cândida Branca-Flor and Carlos Paião (singers); José Calvário, José Marinho, Thilo Krassman and Fernando Correia Martins (maestros); Henrique Mendes, Fialho Gouveia and Alice Cruz (hosts); Melo Antunes (producer).
The show was organized by Eurovision fans whose aim was to signal the 45 years of Eurovison in Portugal. The tickets cost € 10 and the proceeds of the show wil go to Casa do Artista, a place where retired artists can spend their golden years.
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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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Yeah in all these years never once were Portugal in my top 10, maybe its not about voters, Its song quality.
Portugal would have won if they would have sent, Helena or Alexander Ryback...
So for 2010 maybe the most famous Portugeese singer (if there is one) should try eurovision like Patricka Kass represented France and maybe Gary Barlo will compose for the UK
45 years in esc and never a top 5? shame!!!! they surely deserve better than this.
Great for Portugal 45 years in The EUROVISION S C. and they never won! Congratulations, you deserve it!
Unfortunately, Nucha wil not be present at the gala...
Eu amo todas as suas entradas
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O melhor nação de Eurovision xD
If only we had 1 vote per phone it would make a significant difference, but the chance of getting that is 0 as it's all about €£$
1 vote per phone. Yup. 
I agree with both Togravus and Daniel,.... But things won't change. The 50/50 rule is an imrovement but there is still room for improvement. Like 1 vote per phone per country......
Mr. Sir 
I'm still working on it!! 
No problem, Daniel. Just clearing up something.
Hey how come you stopped at 1959? 
togravus ceterum
I agree that Mor ve Ötesi had a strong entry, it's one of the few Turkish entries that I actually like in recent years. My point really is that rock music is largely rejected, unless it comes from a particular country. If Lordi had dressed 'normally' I very much doubt that they would have won.
Daniel
I agree with almost everything you say, but let me add one comment relating to your rock song analysis: Anonymous had a decent song and performance, Lovebugs had a great song and a weak performance, but Mor ve ötesi had a fab song and a brilliant performance. Thus, it seems a bit unfair to compare those groups' results. In fact, Turkey should have won last year imo ... if we lived in a world that knew any justice ...
Back to Portugal: Thanks, RTP for so many great entries. Only France has more songs in my I absolutely love it category. Favs from Portugal: Simone de Oliveira (both songs), Tonicha, Carlos do Carmo, Carlos Paião, Maria Guinot, Dulce Pontes, Lúcia Moniz, Rita Guerra, and Vânia Fernandes.
@ Mr. Sir
Thanks for the explanation, now I understand. Portugal was one of the countries that boycotted the contest in 1970, not sure why the had the festival in 2000 though, as according to wiki Portugal was ineligible to participate that year.
Portugal also declined to enter in 2002 and that enabled Latvia to enter (and win) instead. If Portugal had entered, Malta may well have had their first win instead.
You mean if everyone else agreed with you, it would have got a better placing.
The point isn't about my taste, but about how some countries just get stitched up in this contest, because so many people vote for countries and not for songs.
Isn't it strange how in 2008 Portugal came second in the semifinal and managed to get 120 points from just 18 countries and then in the final, when the voters all have access to their usual favourite countries, Portugal slips down to 13th position with just 69 points from 42 countries? Denmark drops from 4th place with 112 to 15th place with 60 points. Meanwhile Russia comes 3rd in the semi with 135 and jumps to first place in the final with 272. Turkey comes 7th in one semifinal with 85 points and then also comes 7th in the final with 138. Finland comes 8th in the other semifinal with 79 and then comes 22nd in the final with 35 points. Turkey sent a rock band – as did Andorra in 2007 and Switzerland this year, but neither of those qualified, how strange!
Even with some juries showing the same bias as their televoters this year, the difference in the voting is still stark:
Armenia: Televote 118, Jury 71
Turkey: T 203, J 114
Russia: T 118, J 67
Denmark: T 40, J 120
Israel: T 15, J 107
France: T 54, J 164
Here is the video of Dana International on The BBC's 'Beautiful People.'
http://www.youtube.c(...)ayer_embedded#at=191
Daniel, the festival still happened even though Portugal missed the contest those 2 times. So it has been going on for 45 years. Not 45 ESC participations, but 45 years still.
http://en.wikipedia.(...)C3%A7%C3%A3o#Winners
This sounds interesting. Good Luck Portugal for 2010 i thought the 2009 entry was beautiful 
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If there was any fairness in this contest Senhora do mar would have achieved a much better placing
You mean if everyone else agreed with you, it would have got a better placing. I know of several people who were not fans of this song. I haven't personally thought Portugal has sent a winning entry myself, but their best in my opinion have been 1980, 1984, 1996 and 2009, but everyones welcome to an opinion
As for this concert itself, there's many good artists in the line up, and if I were in Portugal, it would be worth a look definitely.
I agree Daniel, I love Portugal and lots of their entries :
Sobe, Sobe, balao sobe (79), Silencio e tanta gente (84), Penso em ti (85), Voltarei (88), Lusitana paixao(91), Amor d'agua fresca (92), A Cidade (93), Chamar a musica (94), O meu coracao nao tem cor (96), Deixa me sonhar (2003 MY FAVORITE), Senhora do mar (2008)....
All great songs and so undervalued...... Best position ever 6th !!!!!!!!!! What a shame
Sorry, it was actually 7 points, I missed the 3 from Ukraine. Still a shameful total though.
I'm a bit confused as Portugal has entered the contest 'only' 43 times. What is astounding is that they have never made the Top 5. If there was any fairness in this contest Senhora do mar would have achieved a much better placing but with so many western votes going to diasporas and in some cases to neighbours and with the song being almost completely ignored by eastern Europe (just 4 points!), it didn't stand a chance.
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