Salvador Sobral: The Eurovision Winner Who Prepared for His Own Goodbye

Salvador Sobral, the soulful Portuguese singer who captured the world’s heart with his haunting performance at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, has revealed a deeply personal and emotional chapter of his life. In a poignant interview, Sobral shared that, while awaiting a heart transplant, he drafted his own will in the notes of his mobile phone. With death a very real possibility, he prepared for his final farewell just months after winning Europe’s most prestigious music competition. This is the story of a man who sang about love while coming to terms with his own mortality.

«I Was Not the Most Optimistic Person»

Salvador Sobral’s Eurovision triumph with the song Amar pelos dois marked a historic moment for Portugal. His understated, jazz-influenced ballad broke with Eurovision’s usual flamboyance, touching hearts with its simplicity and emotional depth. But behind the scenes, Sobral’s health was rapidly declining. Diagnosed with a severe heart condition, he was running out of time.

“I wasn’t the most optimistic person,” Salvador admitted during his interview with Daniel Oliveira for the programme Alta Definição. «It was a fatal illness, and there was a real possibility that a heart wouldn’t come in time.» As he waited for the heart transplant that would ultimately save his life, Sobral began making practical arrangements for his own death.

He drafted a will on his phone, showing it to his then-girlfriend (now wife), Jenna Thiam, as well as his parents. In a calm and pragmatic manner, he outlined who would inherit his piano and where his ashes should be scattered. “I wanted my ashes to be spread in the Mediterranean, in Mallorca,” Sobral explained. «That’s where I started singing. I had things set out in an icy and practical way.»

A New Heart and a New Life

In December 2017, just seven months after his Eurovision win, Salvador received a heart transplant. It was a turning point in his life, allowing him to continue his musical career and live the life he had come so close to losing. Today, Sobral is a devoted father and husband, having moved from Lisbon to Barcelona with his wife Jenna and their daughter Aïda. “I feel it’s a place where the three of us can be happy,” he wrote on Instagram. “Barcelona is alive and vibrant, with artistic talent flourishing everywhere.”

Though Barcelona is now home, Salvador reassures his fans in Portugal that he will continue performing and returning for concerts throughout the year. His story is one of resilience, love, and the delicate balance between life and death—a journey that has shaped both his music and his outlook on the world.

Salvador Sobral: A Biography

Born on December 28, 1989, in Lisbon, Portugal, Salvador Sobral was destined for a life in music. From a young age, he was surrounded by creativity, with his sister, Luísa Sobral, also making a name for herself as a singer-songwriter. Salvador first appeared on television in 2009 as a contestant on Ídolos, the Portuguese version of Pop Idol, but it was his breakthrough at Eurovision that truly cemented his place in musical history.

In 2017, Salvador Sobral represented Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Amar pelos dois, written by his sister Luísa. His performance was a stark contrast to the high-energy pop songs typically associated with Eurovision. Standing alone on stage, with no elaborate staging or effects, Sobral’s gentle, heartfelt delivery struck a chord with audiences across Europe. He went on to win the competition, giving Portugal its first-ever victory in Eurovision history.

But behind his success was a man battling a life-threatening heart condition. Salvador’s health had been deteriorating for years, and his Eurovision victory came at a time when he was gravely ill. He was forced to cancel several performances and step away from the spotlight to focus on his health.

After receiving his heart transplant in late 2017, Sobral gradually returned to music. His work, influenced by jazz, bossa nova, and world music, is deeply introspective and emotional. He continues to release albums and perform internationally, captivating audiences with his soulful voice and unique style.

Today, Salvador Sobral is more than just a Eurovision winner—he is an artist who has faced life’s greatest challenges with grace, and a man who has learned to embrace both the fragility and beauty of life. His music is a reflection of his journey, a blend of love, loss, and the quiet hope that endures even in the darkest moments.

Source: Jornal das noticias