Portugal - Homens de Luta - A luta e alegria

PORTUGAL

Homens de Luta - A Luta e Alegria

The Portuguese national selection process provided much interest this year which a close online voting process followed by a tight national final. Despite placing only 4^th the juries, Homens da Luta proved popular with the televoters and thus narrowly won the right to represent Portugal in Dusseldorf.

In recent years the nation has been on a strong run in the contest with three qualifications for the final after missing out at the semi final stage for 4 consecutive years. Vania Feranades was a huge fan favourite when coming 13^th in 2008 , followed by the folksy Flor-de-Lis the year after coming 15^th and the sultry ballade from Filipa Azevedo last year coming 18^th. All the songs had followings among Eurovision fans and gained votes but sadly this year Portugal find themselves in a very different position.

What they are sending to Eurovision in the form of Homens Da Luta is a Street theatre/musical street show/improvisational comedy act that essentially has no place in a music contest. The song itself is nothing really but a street chant, it has no major hooks and feels massively out of place at Eurovision. Given the variety inherent in the contest that is really saying something but “A luta e alegria” really will not work on stage in Dusseldorf.

Indeed, I forsee that despite having a good draw in the Semi this could well finish last and has virtually no chance of qualifying. If this was outside on the streets of Dusseldorf entertaining passers by I am sure it would raise a few smiles a garner a few watchers, but this is Eurovision and on the big stage with millions watching in the vast arena this will not work.

Failure to qualify and potential last place!