I am told it's a snoozefest (I have not yet had the pleasure) but nonetheless here comes an overview of Portugal's Festival da Canção 2021, scheduled to begin this Saturday at 9:05 WIM. It is the 55th edition of the Festival. The format is the same as every year: two semifinals and a final, to take place on consecutive Saturdays starting tomorrow.

Each semifinal will feature ten competing entries, from which five will advance to the final from each show. These will be determined, as usual, by votes from a jury panel appointed by RTP and votes from the public. In the final, the winner will be determined by the votes from regional jury panels and a public voting.

RTP has once again, for the fifth consecutive year, abolished the language restrictions, so that artists may submit songs in any language(s), even without Portuguese at all. Regardless, I only spy three English titles. Of the twenty participating composers, eighteen were invited by RTP, and two were selected from 693 submissions received during an open call for songs.

Here are the songs, in running order.

Semifinal One (watch here)
1. The Black Mamba – Love Is on My Side
2. Valéria – Na mais profunda saudade [In the deepest yearning]
3. mema. – Claro como água [Clear as water]
4. Nadine – Cheguei aqui [I arrived here]
5. Miguel Marôco – Girassol [Sunflower]
6. Fábia Maia – Dia lindo [Beautiful day]
7. Irma – Livros [Books]
8. Karetus & Romeu Bairos – Saudade [Yearning]
9. Sara Afonso – Contramão [Contraflow]
10. IAN – Mundo [World]

Semifinal Two (link to follow)
1. Da Chick – I Got Music
2. Tainá – Jasmim [Jasmin]
3. Ariana – Mundo melhor [Better world]
4. EU.CLIDES – VOLTE-FACE
5. Joana Alegre – Joana do mar [Joana of the sea]
6. Pedro Gonçalves – Não vou ficar [I won’t stay]
7. Ana Tereza – Com um abraço [With a hug]
8. Carolina Deslandes – Por um triz [By a whisker]
9. Graciela – A vida sem acontecer [Life without happening]
10. NEEV – Dancing in the Stars