Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox song contest national year

| Year = 1996

| Country = Portugal

| Broadcaster = {{lang|pt|Radiotelevisão Portuguesa|i=no}} (RTP)

| Selection process = {{lang|pt|Festival RTP da Canção|i=no}} 1996

| Selection date = 7 March 1996

| Artist = Lúcia Moniz

| Song = O meu coração não tem cor

| Writer = {{unbulleted list|Pedro Osório|José Fanha}}

| Final result = 6th, 92 points

}}

Portugal was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "{{lang|pt|O meu coração não tem cor|i=no}}" composed by Pedro Osório, with lyrics by José Fanha, and performed by Lúcia Moniz. The Portuguese participating broadcaster, {{lang|pt|Radiotelevisão Portuguesa|i=no}} (RTP), organised the national final {{lang|pt|Festival RTP da Canção|i=no}} 1996 in order to select its entry for the contest. The competition took place on 7 March 1996 where "{{lang|pt|O meu coração não tem cor|i=no}}" performed by Lúcia Moniz emerged as the winner following the votes from ten regional juries.

The song competed in the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 18 May 1996. Performing during the show in position 4, it placed sixth out of the 23 participating songs from different countries, scoring 92 points.

Background

{{main|Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

Prior to the 1996 contest, {{lang|pt|Radiotelevisão Portuguesa|i=no}} (RTP) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Portugal thirty-one times since its first entry in {{escyr|1964}}.{{cite web|title=Portugal Country Profile|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-country/country?country=20|access-date=20 November 2014|publisher=EBU}} Its highest placing in the contest was seventh, which they achieved on two occasions: in {{esccnty|Portugal|y=1972|t=1972}} with the song "A festa da vida" performed by Carlos Mendes and in {{esccnty|Portugal|y=1980|t=1980}} with the song "Um grande, grande amor" performed by José Cid. Its least successful result has been last place, which they have achieved on two occasions, most recently in {{escyr|1974}} with the song "E depois do adeus" performed by Paulo de Carvalho. The Portuguese entry has also received nul points once, in 1964 with the song "Oração" performed by António Calvário.

RTP has traditionally selected its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest via the music competition {{lang|pt|Festival da Canção|i=no}}, with an exception in {{escyr|1988}} when it selected its entry internally. The broadcaster organized {{lang|pt|Festival RTP da Canção|i=no}} 1996 in order to select the 1996 Portuguese entry.{{Cite web |title=OGAE Portugal - FC 1996 a 1986 |url=https://www.ogaeportugal.pt/festival-cancao/festival-cancao-historia-3 |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=www.ogaeportugal.pt}}

Before Eurovision

= {{lang|pt|Festival RTP da Canção|i=no}} 1996 =

{{lang|pt|Festival RTP da Canção|i=no}} 1996 was the 33rd edition of {{lang|pt|Festival da Canção|i=no}} that selected the Portuguese entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1996. Ten entries, created by composers invited by RTP for the competition, competed in the final which took place at the Teatro Politeama in Lisbon on 7 March 1996, hosted by Carlos Cruz and Isabel Angelino and broadcast on RTP1 and RTP Internacional at 20:30 GMT.{{Cite web |title=33º Festival RTP da Canção 1996 – Parte I |url=https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/33o-festival-rtp-da-cancao-1996-parte-i/ |access-date=2023-12-24 |language=pt-PT}} The winner, "{{lang|pt|O meu coração não tem cor|i=no}}" performed by Lúcia Moniz, was selected based on the votes of ten regional juries.{{Cite web |title=PORTUGUESE NATIONAL FINAL 1996 |url=http://natfinals.50webs.com/90s_00s/Portugal1996.html |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=natfinals.50webs.com}} In addition to the performances of the competing entries, among the artists which performed as the interval act included Portuguese Eurovision 1993 entrant Anabela.{{cite web |title=Eurovision Portugal 1996 |url=http://mylittleworld.nfshost.com/edb/portug96.htm}}

class="sortable wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center"

|+ Final – 7 March 1996

bgcolor="#CCCCCC"

! Draw !! Singer !! Song

!Songwriter(s)!! Conductor{{Cite web|title=FICHA TÉCNICA|url=https://festivais2.wixsite.com/1996/more|access-date=2021-02-15|website=1996|language=pt}}!! Points !! Place

1align="left" | Vânia Marotialign="left" |"Start Stop"

| align="left" | Pedro Abrantes, Fernando Abrantes, Maria João Abrantes

align="left" | Carlos Alberto Moniz

| 33

10
2align="left" | Tó Lealalign="left" | "Eu mesmo"

| align="left" | Paco Bandeira, Francisco Rodrigues

align="left" | José Marinho

| 42

8
3align="left" | Patrícia Antunesalign="left" | "Canto em português"

| align="left" | João Mota Oliveira, Rosa Lobato de Faria

align="left" | Carlos Alberto Moniz

| 91

2
4align="left" | Barbara Reisalign="left" | "A minha ilha"

| align="left" | Luís Filipe, Johnny Galvão

align="left" | Johnny Galvão

| 43

7
5align="left" | Elaisaalign="left" | "Ai, a noite"

| align="left" | Dina, Rosa Lobato de Faria

align="left" | Carlos Alberto Moniz

| 49

6
6align="left" | Somseisalign="left" | "A canção da paz"

| align="left" | Thilo Krasmann, Rosa Lobato de Faria

align="left" | Thilo Krasmann

| 76

3
7align="left" | Cristina Castro Pereiraalign="left" |"Ganhámos o céu"

| align="left" | José Cid

align="left" | Mike Sergeant

| 63

4
style="font-weight:bold; background:gold;"

| 8

align="left" | Lúcia Monizalign="left" | "O meu coração não tem cor"

| align="left" | Pedro Osório, José Fanha

align="left" | Pedro Osório

| 95

1
9align="left" | Pedro Miguéisalign="left" | "Prazer em conhecer"

| align="left" | Jan van Dijck, Francisco Rodrigues

align="left" | Ramón Galarza

| 54

5
10align="left" |João Portugalalign="left" | "Top Model"

| align="left" | Nuno Nazareth Fernandes

align="left" | Thilo Krasmann

| 34

9

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center;"

|+ {{nowrap|Detailed Regional Jury Votes}}

Draw

! Song

! {{vert header|nb=1|Coimbra}}

! {{vert header|nb=1|Évora}}

! {{vert header|nb=1|Faro}}

! {{vert header|nb=1|Funchal}}

! {{vert header|nb=1|Lisbon}}

! {{vert header|nb=1|Ponta Delgada}}

! {{vert header|nb=1|Porto}}

! {{vert header|nb=1|Viana do Castelo}}

! {{vert header|nb=1|Vila Real}}

! {{vert header|nb=1|Viseu}}

! Total

1

| align="left" | "Start Stop"

13

| 1

12

| 2

3105533
2

| align="left" | "Eu mesmo"

310

| 6

26

| 4

422342
3

| align="left" | "Canto em português"

512

| 10

77

| 8

1012101091
4

| align="left" | "A minha ilha"

121

| 4

101

| 3

251443
5

| align="left" | "Ai, a noite"

64

| 5

45

| 6

864149
6

| align="left" | "A canção da paz"

85

| 8

1210

| 10

786276
7

| align="left" | "Ganhámos o céu"

46

| 7

68

| 7

5171263
8

| align="left" | "O meu coração não tem cor"

108

| 12

312

| 12

12712795
9

| align="left" | "Prazer em conhecer"

77

| 3

84

| 5

633854
10

| align="left" | "Top Model"

22

| 2

53

| 1

148634

At Eurovision

In 1996, all nations with the exceptions of the host country were required to qualify from an audio qualifying round, held on 20 and 21 March 1996, in order to compete for the Eurovision Song Contest; the top twenty-two countries from the qualifying round progress to the contest.{{cite web |date=18 May 2014 |title=Recalling Ireland's record seventh win in 1996 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/recalling-ireland-s-record-seventh-win-in-1996 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922075802/https://eurovision.tv/story/recalling-ireland-s-record-seventh-win-in-1996 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |access-date=8 October 2022 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} During the allocation draw which determined the running order of the final on 22 March 1996, Portugal was announced as having finished in the top 22 and subsequently qualifying for the contest. It was later revealed that Portugal placed eighteenth in the qualifying round, receiving a total of 32 points.{{cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2020 |publisher=Telos Publishing |isbn=978-1-84583-163-9 |series=Volume Four: The 1990s |location=Prestatyn |pages=255–261}}{{cite news |date=23 May 1996 |title=Suomen Jasmine mukaan euroviisuihin |language=fi |work=Helsingin Sanomat |url=https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000003518286.html |access-date=14 November 2022}} {{subscription required}} Following the draw, Portugal was set to perform in position 4, following the entry from Spain and before the entry from Cyprus. The Portuguese conductor at the contest was the co-composer of "O meu coração não tem cor" Pedro Osório, and Portugal finished in sixth place with 92 points. This was Portugal's best placing at the contest in its history until Salvador Sobral's victory 21 years later.{{cite web |title=Final of Oslo 1996 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/oslo-1996/final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414125200/https://eurovision.tv/event/oslo-1996/final |archive-date=14 April 2021 |access-date=14 April 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

In Portugal, the show was broadcast on RTP1 and RTP Internacional with commentary by Maria Margarida Gaspar.{{cite news |date=16 May 1996 |title=Programmes TV – Samedi 18 mai |language=fr |trans-title=TV programmes – Saturday 18 May |pages=22–27 |work=TV8 |publisher=Ringier |location=Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland |url=https://scriptorium.ch/zoom/321664/view?page=12&p=verso&tool=info&view=0,0,5143,3618 |access-date=8 July 2022 |via=Scriptorium}}{{cite news |date=16 May 1996 |title=Programa da televisão |language=pt |trans-title=Television programme |page=8 |work=A Comarca de Arganil |url=https://www.acomarcadearganil.cm-arganil.pt/a-comarca-de-arganil-10422/ |access-date=29 November 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Eurovision 1996 Portugal: Lúcia Moniz - "O Meu Coração Não Tem Cor" |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/eurovision/1996/portugal |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=Eurovisionworld |language=en-gb}} The Portuguese spokesperson, who announced the top 12-point score awarded by the Portuguese jury, was Cristina Rocha.

= Voting =

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Portugal and awarded by Portugal in the qualifying round and the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to the Netherlands in the qualifying round and to the United Kingdom in the contest.

== Qualifying round ==

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable"
+ Points awarded to Portugal (qualifying round){{cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2020 |publisher=Telos Publishing |location=Prestatyn |isbn=978-1-84583-163-9 |page=259 |series=Volume Four: The 1990s }}
scope="col" width="20%" | Score

! scope="col" | Country

scope="row" | 12 points

|

scope="row" | 10 points

|

scope="row" | 8 points

|

scope="row" | 7 points

|

scope="row" | 6 points

| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Belgium|y=1996}}|{{Esc|United Kingdom|y=1996}}}}

scope="row" | 5 points

| {{Esc|Greece|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 4 points

| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Austria|y=1996}}|{{Esc|Netherlands|y=1996}}}}

scope="row" | 3 points

| {{Esc|Norway|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 2 points

| {{Esc|Slovenia|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 1 point

| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Israel|y=1996}}|{{Esc|Turkey|y=1996}}}}

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable"
+ Points awarded by Portugal (qualifying round)
scope="col" width="20%" | Score

! scope="col" | Country

scope="row" style="background:gold" | 12 points

| {{Esc|Netherlands|y=1996}}

scope="row" style="background:silver" | 10 points

| {{Esc|United Kingdom|y=1996}}

scope="row" style="background:#CC9966" | 8 points

| {{Esc|Sweden|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 7 points

| {{Esc|Switzerland|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 6 points

| {{Esc|Belgium|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 5 points

| {{Esc|Estonia|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 4 points

| {{Esc|France|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 3 points

| {{Esc|Ireland|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 2 points

| {{Esc|Malta|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 1 point

| {{Esc|Turkey|y=1996}}

{{col-end}}

== Final ==

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable"
+ Points awarded to Portugal (final){{cite web |title=Results of the Final of Oslo 1996 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/oslo-1996/final/results/portugal |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414191319/https://eurovision.tv/event/oslo-1996/final/results/portugal |archive-date=14 April 2021 |url-status=live}}
scope="col" width="20%" | Score

! scope="col" | Country

scope="row" | 12 points

| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Cyprus|1960|y=1996}}|{{Esc|Norway|y=1996}}}}

scope="row" | 10 points

| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Croatia|y=1996}}|{{Esc|Iceland|y=1996}}|{{Esc|Switzerland|y=1996}}}}

scope="row" | 8 points

|

scope="row" | 7 points

|

scope="row" | 6 points

| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Belgium|y=1996}}|{{Esc|Netherlands|y=1996}}}}

scope="row" | 5 points

| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|France|y=1996}}|{{Esc|Greece|y=1996}}|{{Esc|Turkey|y=1996}}}}

scope="row" | 4 points

| {{Esc|Sweden|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 3 points

| {{Esc|Finland|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 2 points

| {{Esc|United Kingdom|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 1 point

| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Austria|y=1996}}|{{Esc|Bosnia and Herzegovina|1992|y=1996}}}}

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable"
+ Points awarded by Portugal (final)
scope="col" width="20%" | Score

! scope="col" | Country

scope="row" style="background:gold" | 12 points

| {{Esc|United Kingdom|y=1996}}

scope="row" style="background:silver" | 10 points

| {{Esc|Croatia|y=1996}}

scope="row" style="background:#CC9966" | 8 points

| {{Esc|Ireland|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 7 points

| {{Esc|Netherlands|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 6 points

| {{Esc|Iceland|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 5 points

| {{Esc|Austria|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 4 points

| {{Esc|Sweden|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 3 points

| {{Esc|Cyprus|1960|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 2 points

| {{Esc|Norway|y=1996}}

scope="row" | 1 point

| {{Esc|France|y=1996}}

{{col-end}}

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}