Portugal decided: Elisa to Eurovision 2020

The late nights for the Eurovision fans are officially a wrap with Portugal's Festival da Canção 2020 coming to an end.

The three hour show culminated with Elisa and the song Medo de sentir being selected to go all the way to Rotterdam and represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Nonetheless, Elisa ended up not winning nor the public nor the jury vote.

Medo de sentir is written by Marta Carvalho.

Elisa

Elisa Silva was born in Madeira, Portugal and is 20 years old.

Her passion for music started early in her life with the participation in multiple music festivals to make her name known.

Five years ago, she attempted her luck in Portugal's version of American Idol but failed to make it through the live show. It was only in 2018 that Elisa moved to Lisbon to study music.

Her Festival da Canção participation has got her a record deal with Warner Music Portugal.

The Show

Filomena Cautela - former Eurovision host - and Vasco Palmeirim were the hosts of Festival da Canção's Grand Final. Inês Lopes Gonçalves continued in charge of the green room.

The show was also a celebration of RTP's 63rd anniversary which was reflected in the opening act that paid tribute to the Portuguese public broadcaster.

The voting lines had been opened since 2 March and were only closed a few minutes before the results were announced.

For the interval acts, Joana Espadinha (Festival da Canção 2018), NBC, Surma (Festival da Canção 2019) and D'Alva paid homage to Portugal's music.

Lena D'Água (Festival da Canção 2017) was also part of the surprise guests.

Conan Osíris (Portugal 2019) performed his Eurovision song right before the votes were announced.

Portugal in Eurovision Song Contest

Portugal has participated 51 times since 1964. It was a very bad start, as they managed to get Zero Points in the debuting year.

Before Eurovision 2017 they have never won the contest, and never made the top-5. In fact Portugal held the record for most appearances in the contest without a win!

But that changed in 2017, where Salvador Sobral won with "Amar Pelos Dois".

Since the introduction of Semi-finals in 2004 Portugal only qualified for the Grand Final 5 out of 14 times.