 |
|
|
Support Scooch!
Download 'Flying The Flag (For You)' at iTunes and help get Scooch back into the UK singles chart!
|
|
|
|
|
About Portugal...
|
 top of page
|
|
2004 Result
Points in Semi Final: 38
Position in Semi Final: 15th
Points in Final: Failed to qualify
Position in Final: Failed to qualify
2005 Contest: Must compete in Semi Final
|
top of page
|
|
History (1956 to 2003)
Portugal's previous appearances: 37 year(s) out of 48
Years participated: 1964-1969; 1971-1999; 2001; 2003-
Best result: 6th (1996)
Portugal's record at Eurovision is spookily similar to that of Finland, with the same number of entries (37) and the same of lack of success (never finishing higher than 6th place). In Portugal's case, its high point came in 1996, when it achieved a strong 6th place thanks to Lucia Moniz - better known today as Colin Firth's Portuguese maid in the film 'Love Actually'. In fact, Portugal had a flurry of good results in the early 1990s (8th in 1991 and 1994, 10th in 1993), brought only to a grinding halt by scoring nothing at all in 1997. Since then, a series of rather old-fashioned songs has resulted in Portugal doing no better than 12th, in 1998. The country missed 2000's contest through relegation, and after another poor result in 2001 (17th), declined to take part in 2002. Interestingly, Portugal's absence gave a reprieve to the Latvians, who had finished one place below the Portuguese in 2001 and would otherwise have missed the 2002 contest. Marie N went on to represent Latvia that year, winning the contest for her country in the process. Portugal came back in 2003 with Rita Guerra's beautiful ballad, 'Deixa-me sonhar'. However, despite being sung partly in English, the song scraped a disappointing 22nd place, meaning that Portugal must compete in the Semi Final in 2004.
|
top of page
|
|
This year's entry
Position in Semi Final draw: 7
Position in Final draw: Failed to qualify
What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"Portugal has tried a new procedure for selecting its entry this year, using the 'Fame Academy' format favoured by Spain and Ireland. The result of this is Sofia, singing the rather scary 'Foi Magia'. If this was the best Portugal could come up with, you do have to wonder about the songs that were rejected, though the studio version is some improvement on the earlier live recording. Sofia certainly puts a lot of energy into the song, but her delivery is rather aggressive, and the song itself is a bit of a racket."
|
top of page
|
|
What I predicted...
My prediction for Semi Final: 20th to 22nd
My prediction for Final: Will not qualify
What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"Portugal need to do better than this if they're ever going to take the Eurovision Song Contest to Lisbon. This is one of the few songs I can predict with some certainty won't be going to the Final on 15 May - there are just too many songs much better than this. Portugal's song is worth keeping an eye on, if only for the fact that it could deliver another 'nul points'."
|
top of page
|
|
What you thought...
Final Poll Ranking: out of 36 ()
(Updated 15 May 2004; change refers to movement over final week)
In the run up to the Contest, over 5,000 visitors to this site voted for their favourite song in the Soult.com Eurovision Poll.
|
top of page
|
|
What actually happened
I had always been rather rude about 'Foi Magia', probably with good reason. Nevertheless, Sofia managed to do more than most by giving a performance that was in tune and really quite good. She also looked stunning, resplendent in a pink dress that looked like it had got caught in a shredder prior to her going onstage.
Consequently, Sofia didn't do as badly as expected, finishing 15th (I predicted 20th to 22nd) with a respectable 38 points, including - bizarrely - 8 from Romania. Since when did Romania share a border with Portugal? Andorra liked it too, lavishing Sofia with its 12 points - the large number of Portuguese living in Andorra is just a coincidence, of course. My prediction for Portugal is on the borderline of 'close' and 'wrong' - so I'll opt for the 'close', given that so many of my other predictions are REALLY wrong.
|
top of page
|
|
What the bookies thought...
 | Portugal to win: | 15/05/04 (prior to Final) | - |
| | 13/05/04 (after Semi Final) | - |
| | 11/05/04 | 200-1 |
| | 08/05/04 | 150-1 |
| | 06/05/04 | 125-1 |
| | 04/05/04 | 100-1 |
| | 31/04/04 | 100-1 |
| | 24/04/04 | 66-1 |
| | 17/04/04 | 66-1 |
| | 07/04/04 | 25-1 |
| | 24/03/04 | 25-1 |
|
|
After opening the betting at a rather optimistic 25-1, Portugal's odds slipped to 200-1 prior to the Semi Final, with the country's failure to qualify not being much of a surprise.
(Odds quoted here were those offered by Coral.co.uk. 'F' indicates favourite, 'JF' joint favourite.)
|
top of page
|
|
Links
 http://operacaotriunfo.clix.pt/sofia/index.html
 http://www.rtp.pt/
|
top of page
|
|
Notes (see 'History' above)
- The 1956 Contest (where each country had two songs) is counted as a single appearance;
- Countries eliminated in the 1993 preliminary heat (EE, HU, RO, SK) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 1996 preliminary heat (DE, DK, HU, IL, MK, RO, RU) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Semi Finals ARE counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest.
|
top of page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Your comments (40)
From João Velada, PORTUGAL
Added 15:57:28 2004-5-15
;-( ;-( ;-(
Once again, we didn't deserve this humiliation!
38 points...
15th place...
Estonia and Finland with more points than us...
;-( ;-( ;-(
38 entrances in Eurovision in 40 years and 0 victories! It's not fair! But we'll be back soon! Be prepared because next time we'll win Eurovision! Portugal is constantly injured in Eurovision, but we never give up! Never! See you again soon! Very soon! >:)
:-( :-( :-(
From malena, SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
Added 8:51:38 2004-5-13
Great song...! Well done!
From Adam, POLAND
Added 13:0:50 2004-5-12
Britanny- Foi magia is not better than Deixa-me sonhar, but the truth is Foi magia is very different than all of these euro-pop songs this year! I saw that many of foreign people (like me) support Portuguese entry and many Portuguese don't support it. I know that it's very strange but... they might have voted for Francisco or Goncalo and now they are nerved because your representant is SOFIA VITORIA. But too cheer up all Francisco and Goncalo fans- they will be in Istanbul too :P
Unfortunately i won't vote in the semi because my stupid Polish TV don't broadcast the semi but i wish you all luck and a place in the top 10. If you reach it i will vote for you in the final for sure!
From Brittany, PORTUGAL
Added 10:48:47 2004-5-12
You people should have more faith in this country! Portugal may not have the greatest song ever but how are we even going get near qualifing with no support from our people? What the hell is wrong with you! This song is better than our entry last year so we should be supporting it not dissing it! Come on people!
Viva Portugal!
From Adam Naruszewicz, PORTUGAL
Added 21:30:19 2004-5-8
Hey! This song is just fantastic. I have no idea where you are taking these bets from! Actual William Hill bet is 66-1 You give the worst bet's from Coral!. About the version- yes- change it- especially give the link to magnificient instrumental version!
From Jorge, PORTUGAL
Added 13:48:49 2004-5-8
oh, this is probably the weakest entry from us in years. what a mass : (
From António Oliveira, PORTUGAL
Added 9:28:11 2004-5-7
Graham I'll give you a break when and if you have the guts to change the links to allo the songs in order so that we can all listen thee real versions that go to the contest.
ALL OTHER SITES HAVE DONE THIS; WHY DIDN'T YOU ???
It's unfair and i'll say it the nr. of times I find necessary.
I'm talking also about other countries's songs, not only the portuguese.
So, please step down from the clouds, make a little effort, and make newer links to audio versions of the songs.
Is this procedure so transcendent to you ??
Oh my !!
From Graham Soult, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 8:46:14 2004-5-6
Hey Antonio, give me a break!
If you read what I've said about the song, I have admitted that "the studio version is some improvement on the earlier live recording". However, live or not I still think it's a poor song, that's all. We'll see - if I'm wrong I will admit it! :)
From António Oliveira, PORTUGAL
Added 23:46:9 2004-5-5
Well, opposite to the owner of this site, who doesn't like the song, and wants everybody to know his oppinion (based on an old life version of the song...the actual one seems nonexistent to him...), I think "Foi Magia" will suffer the effect Sanomi: so cursed before the contest...and so voted during the same contest!
Would be a great slap in some faces!
From Joana Lagunas, ANDORRA
Added 15:30:46 2004-5-4
ANDORRA will vote for Portugal, 100% guaranteed. Why? Simple. The Portuguese are the 2nd largest foreign community there. In fact, many Portuguese who live in Andorra tried to sing for Andorra this year!
From Martin de Roo, NETHERLANDS
Added 17:24:15 2004-4-29
The song is nice, but unfortunately nothing more. And without France to vote in the semi-final, this could well be a "nil"-pointer, if Spain gives nothing.
From António Oliveira, PORTUGAL
Added 22:47:59 2004-4-27
Well Mark (Germany), before you make such a statement, you should listen to the studio version, available on www.esctoday.com and then judge correctly !!!
As for the instrumental version of the song, visit the ESCPortugal site:
http://mdonline.no.sapo.pt/eurosc.htm.
ESC Salutations from Lisbon.
That would be nice !!!
;)
From Mark, GERMANY
Added 20:17:12 2004-4-27
I hope it was the first verison i've just heard. Becuase that sounden like they are in the middle of its production!
Mama Mia, why doesn't Portugal sends such a trashy Title while it has such a wonderful Fado-Tradition, which would have a 100 % more Winning Chance.
From madeinport, UNITED STATES
Added 0:31:35 2004-4-27
Sofia will be in the Final May 15
will see a great and profissional woman like sofia in the top10 semi-final.
Last year Europe was sooo bad with Rita Guerra enough is enough
From António Oliveira, PORTUGAL
Added 23:30:31 2004-4-26
We'll see who's right!
Spanish Esc fans thought the same until they saw Sofia in a live show in Spain.
Now they understand why we care so much about her.
Last year, Sanomi was 22 in 25 countries in the polls.
Look where Sanomi went : 2th place.
So, until the votes, I believe in Sofia and her song.
By the way Demmy, did you listen the actual studio version of "Foi Magia" or you are just talking about life version presented in this site ???!!!
Sofia is powerful on stage.
She is mature, sensual and the song improved a lot in the studio version, so Demmy, oppinions like yours just don't make any scare.
Good luck with your "shaky" Sakis, who, by the way, didn't deserve to be representing Greece.
He was not the winner of the greek final.
From Demmy, GREECE
Added 22:16:4 2004-4-26
Portugal need to do better than this and Without France voting in the semi finals has no chance at all to qualify.
From António Oliveira, PORTUGAL
Added 24/04/2004 18:10
Well Graham, I see you read my oppinion but still you didn't update the version of the song to be downloaded.
The actual version in the link here provided is from 18 February (2 months old !!!) and has no studio quality.
How do you want to have a correct veredict from the voters if the version of the song isn't already that one ??!!
From Graham Soult, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 24/04/2004 12:07
Hey Antonio, there's no need to be quite so agressive... :)
The idea of this site is for me to review the entries, and predict how they'll do. I don't make any claim to be neutral, as there are songs which I think are good, and ones which are bad - but I at least aim to give a fair review of all of them.
The point of having the poll and comments is so people can agree or disagree - and people are very capable of having their own opinions, regardless of anything I say.
As for the MP3s, I just link to another site - so don't balme me! There are so many different versions going around it's impossible to keep up anyway.
From António Oliveira, PORTUGAL
Added 24/04/2004 10:45
By the way, the version of the song which is available in here is from 18th February and not the song which studio quality available, for instance, in www.esctoday.com (just click on the flag of Portugal and a new window will appear with the choice of song/video).
Shame on you again, who don't have the care to update all versions and put the final ones available in here... :p
P.S. : By the way, Sofia is slowly climbing in this poll: 16/36.
From António Oliveira, PORTUGAL
Added 24/04/2004 10:37
Well I must say I am surprised with the really distasteful choice of the owners of this site.
Where's your supposed neutrality ???
This is supposed to be a poll, so your comments on each song are in fact NOT IMPORTANT !!!
Keep your oppinions to yourself and let the others judge.
That's how statistics works: without biased influences.
From Bleeding Kut, MOZAMBIQUE
Added 21/04/2004 18:21
Hello...
Anyway... i just wanna say that i really like the english version of Foi Magia... at least the lyrics r better... i think :P
If Portugal gets to the final we r gonna have a party here while watching the final... hehehe... with mexican food... witch is 1 of the reasons i want it to qualify.. lol .. just jokin'
PS: If the voting was by continents (dream on, dream on) Portugal would get 12 points from africa... why? 1- Angola, Cabo Verde and Mozambike... 2- Almost all of Africa has acess to Operacao Triunfo...(but now its over :'[ )
ok... whatever... "adeus"
From João Velada (Jomafeve), PORTUGAL
Added 21/04/2004 17:49
Have you translated your text from english to portuguese in some search engine (like Altavista or any other)? Usually, search engines translations don't work very well in the translation of some words! Anyway, I understand what you said and I never thought that you could find my translation of your comments in Clix's forum! And about the portuguese song for Eurovision in 2004, I hope, of course, that my country wins the song contest this year or, at least, that Portugal reaches a good place in the event (5th place or more in the final)! Of course, that's my opinion as portuguese! One more thing: have you listened the english version of our song «Foi Magia» yet? The english version (called «So Magic») is actually better than the portuguese one, I think! Listen it at http://web.pdx.edu/~yair/shoot_angels/ and then tell me if you see some diferences between both the portuguese and the english versions! Maybe you wouldn't like it anyway, but try it! Peace! :-)
From Bleeding Kut, MOZAMBIQUE
Added 20/04/2004 17:58
Dammm... ur portugues is pretty bad... oh well... at least u kan understant it!
Anyway... nice site uv got here... ok... whatever...
From Graham Soult, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 20/04/2004 12:56
Nice to see my comments being discussed at http://forum.clix.pt/op2/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=sofiot2004&Number=206051&page=0&
view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&part=all&vc=1
Here's my feeble attempt at a reply...
Hello! Este é Graham Soult no reino unido. Obrigado a Jomafeve traduzindo meus comentários no português de modo que todos possa compreender. Eu sou imprimido muito! Eu espero que Portugal ganhe em Eurovision um dia, mas eu penso de você necessidade selecionar as canções que têm mais apelação ao descanso de Europa. Em todo o caso, sorte boa a Sófia em Portugal! Eu olho para a frente a vê-lo todo em meu Web site - você é muito bem-vindo! Apologies para meu português terrível...
From Bleeding Kut, MOZAMBIQUE
Added 19/04/2004 19:05
Man do I luv this song...
It's much better then the boring UK entry...... at least Sofia can actually SING!!
I have a feeling Portugal will do very well this year...(finally)
|
|
top of page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portugal
![Official 2006 Double CD now available to order at Amazon.co.uk [external link in new window]](/eurovision/images/furniture/2006cd_120x215.gif)
![[external link in new window] Valid CSS!](/eurovision/images/w3c/vcss.png)
![[external link in new window] Level A conformance icon, W3C-WAI Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0](/eurovision/images/w3c/wcag1A.png){kind=small}
