10 songs have been selected for this year's Festival da Canção. The songs are written by invited song writers and composers who are a mix of well-known and upcoming persons. The show will be aired by national broadcaster RTP from the Teatro Camões in Lisbon, and tonight's presenter is Sílvia Alberto. Sílvia Alberto is a popular presenter who has co-hosted Portuguese Idols.
Portugal has never won the Eurovision Song Contest, and the country has yet to qualify for the Final after the introduction of the Semi-Finals in 2004. But last year, Portugal was actually only one spot from qualifying for the Final when Sabrina sang Dança Comigo. Perhaps 2008 will be the year of fortune for Portugal which has been taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1964.
Who will take part?
The line-up for tonight's Portuguese final is as follows:
Marco Rodrigues - Em água e sal
Carluz Belo - Vavaleiro da manhã
Big Hit - Por ti Portugal
Joana Melo - Porto de encontro
Vânia Fernandes - Senhora do mar
Vanessa - Do outro lado da vida
Ricardo Soler - Cançãopop
Alex Smith - Obrigatório ter
Tucha - O poder da mensagem
Blá Blá Blá - Magicantasticamente
The winner of Festival da Canção 2008 will be performing in the second Semi-Final on 22nd of May.
