Portugal 1998

Portugal selected "Se Eu Te Pudesse Abraçar" ("If I Could Hold You In My Arms") sung by the group Alma Lusa (it means Portuguese Soul according to Rodrigo Ortigão de Oliveira) in their final seen live on RTP Internacional on March 7th. Lyrics & translation /CD news now below
The picture shows Inês Santos, lead singer of Alma Lusa.

Lúcia Moniz who needs no introduction, after her 1996 performance, and Carlos Ribeiro, more or less famed TV presenter, and Eurovision comentator last year, presented this most glittering evening of fine Portuguese musical talent on March 7th from the São Luiz Theatre in Lisbon.

Lúcia began by coming onto the stage singing, but, unfortunately, she was to stay in her place as presenter through the rest of the show.

We moved quickly into the songs, each one separated by pieces of old Portuguese movies, rather like two years ago.

I was particulary impressed by the winning song from Alma Lusa and that sung by Teresa Radamanto. Both are high-quality, well-written songs (at least melodically!), which sound representative of Portugal, whilst still standing a good chance in Birmingham with the other voters. Both reminded me of Lúcia Moniz's song from 2 years ago which gave Portugal its highest-ever placing at 6th.

The typically long interval - Portuguese TV likes to make it a gala night - featured singing and comedy acts. Amongst those in there was Anabela (Portugal 1993).

The voting deviated from normal. Instead of the usual trip around 20-plus towns, we just had a selection of expert jurors, which included 1994 entrant Sara Tavares, and a member of the local Song Contest fan club.

< Our presenters, Lúcia Moniz & Carlos Ribeiro Second-placed Teresa Radamanto - another fine song >

#	Song Title	Composer(s)	Performer(s)	Pts/Pl	My View
1	Uma Lua Em Cada Mão (A Moon In Each Hand)	Jorge Quintela and José Fanha	Sofia Barbosa	29/ 3rd	Black gospel song.
2	Saudade Que Eu Sou ("The Memories I Am")	João Balula Cid and José Fanha	Carlos Évora	25	Cheerful, but ordinary.
3	Só O Mar Ficou ("Only The Sea Remains")	João Mota Oliveira and Nuno Gomes dos Santos	Teresa Radamanto	32/ 2nd	Slow, beautiful, ethnic.
4	O Encanto da Sereia ("Mermaids' Enchantment")	Eduardo Paes Mamede and José Fanha	Ana Isabel	27	Modern pop song with bagpipes - good
5	Basta Só Um Olhar ("A look's Enough")	Carlos Soares and José Orlando	Ann Rita	8	Pleasing medium paced
6	Aqui Ou Além ("Here Or There")	Janot	Janot	7	Bit repetitive
7	Só, Á Tua Espera ("Alone, Waiting For You")	Jorge do Carmo, Fernando Correia Marques and Carlos Soares	Axel	17	Not outstanding
8	Se Eu Te Pudesse Abraçar ("If I Could Hold You In My Arms")	José Cid	Alma Lusa	50/ 1st	Very catchy, lovely backing. Ethnic - sounding.

Nuno Galopim (one of the judges if I'm not mistaken) gives us some news from Portugal (2nd April):

• Portugal will certainly be using the televote system this year. RTP just confirmed it to me yesterday
  

• There will be no commercial release of Alma Lusa's song, just a promo. José Cid will, though, record his version, for a soap opera soundtrack CD
  
• Lúcia Moniz came 13th on a popularity poll of TV actors that was published last Sunday at Diario de Noticias, the daily newspaper I work at as music editor.

Here are the original lyrics of this year's Portuguese entry "Se eu te pudesse abraçar"("If I Could Hold You In My Arms") supplied here by Rodrigo Ortigão de Oliveira:
Music & Lyrics by José Cid

Every land on earth
has a Portuguese soul
wherever you are wherever you go
the memories are already there

If I could hold you in my arms
and then dream about you
I'd have so many things to tell you
my brother and my friend

wandering wandering
one makes the way walking
motherland homeland
that distance makes cry

sailing sailing
above earth and see
you need to believe
if I could hold you in my arms

every piece of the earth
has Portuguese people
missing someone who left someone
on the other side of the sea

If I could hold you in my arms
and then dream with you
I'd have so many things to tell you
my brother and my friend

wandering wandering
one makes the way walking
motherland homeland
that distance makes cry

sailing sailing
above earth and see
you need to believe
if I could hold you in my arms

Pre-contest background from fellow webmaster Rodrigo Ortigão de Oliveira:

Rodrigo has provided us with news of the 8 songs in the Portuguese selection.
Over to Rodrigo:

The Portuguese entry will be selected next 7th March in the São Luiz Theatre in Lisbon.
7th March is RTP's birthday, and the S. Luis was the venue of the 92, 93 and 94 national final. Presenting the hopefully glittering gala will be Lúcia Moniz, who needs no introduction, after her 96 performance, and Carlos Ribeiro, more or less famed TV presenter, and Eurovision comentator last year.

Many known names, like Jose Fanha composer of the 96 entry; Joao Mota Oliveira, cronichal 2nd place after the unanimous vitory of Sara Tavares in 94;
Nuno Gomes dos Santos, also "habituee" of the nationals, usually teaming up with Jan van Dijk, but not this year; Jorge Quintela one of the "Lusitana Paixão" composing trio; Fernando Correia de Marques, famous for his huge provincial hit "Burrito" ("little donky", and this isn't a joke), and also identified with the worst and lowest quality music made in Portugal, the "pimba" music; and finally Jose Cid, our famous 1980 singer and a usual presence in the festival this decade, but as composer.

Looks like a great final and Thilo Krassman isn't there, and neither is Rosa Lobato de Faria, though we can't really blame her can we?

Please visit Rodrigo Ortigão de Oliveira's Portugal at Eurovision site - its very good, and now has an interview with Axel, one of the above acts.

Thanks to Rodrigo Ortigão de Oliveira!

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