Portugal picks its Eurovision act in a nail-biting finale»
The band NAPA, with their song «Deslocado», has won the 59th Festival da Canção, held at RTP studios in Lisbon. In a nail-biting grand final, the show, hosted with charm and wit by Filomena Cautela and Vasco Palmeirim, featured twelve acts spanning genres from fado to heavy metal, including funky and bossa nova. It was a night full of emotions, surprises, and plenty of laughs, thanks to the host’s comedic flair.
And the winner is…
After an interval performance by Expresso Transatlântico, Ana Lua Caiano, and The Legendary Tigerman, the moment every Eurovision fan had been waiting for arrived: the voting.
The regional jury awarded points as follows:
- Diana Vilarinho – «Cotovia» (12 points)
- Jéssica Pina – «Calafrio» (10 points)
- Fernando Daniel – «Medo» (8 points)
- NAPA – «Deslocado» (7 points)
- Margarida Campelo – «Eu sei que o amor» (6 points)
- JOSH – «Tristeza» (5 points)
- Emmy Curl – «Rapsódia da paz» (4 points)
- Marco Rodrigues – «A minha casa» (3 points)
- Bombazine – «Apago tudo» (2 points)
- Peculiar – «Adamastor» (1 point)
However, the public vote told a different story:
- HENKA – «I Wanna Destroy U» (12 points)
- NAPA – «Deslocado» (10 points)
- Fernando Daniel – «Medo» (8 points)
- JOSH – «Tristeza» (7 points)
- Bombazine – «Apago tudo» (6 points)
- Diana Vilarinho – «Cotovia» (5 points)
- Marco Rodrigues – «A minha casa» (4 points)
- Peculiar – «Adamastor» (3 points)
- Jéssica Pina – «Calafrio» (2 points)
- Bluay – «Ninguém» (1 point)
Final standings:
- NAPA – «Deslocado» (17 points)
- Diana Vilarinho – «Cotovia» (17 points)
- Fernando Daniel – «Medo» (16 points)
- Jéssica Pina – «Calafrio» (12 points)
- JOSH – «Tristeza» (12 points)
- HENKA – «I Wanna Destroy U» (12 points)
Despite the tie, the Azores-based band will represent Portugal in Basel, thanks to their higher public vote. They follow in the footsteps of Iolanda, who finished tenth last year with «Grito». Portugal will perform in the first semi-final on Tuesday, 13 May.
