Desfolhada Portuguesa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Desfolhada Portuguesa
Eurovision Song Contest 1969 entry
Country	Portugal
Artist(s)	Simone de Oliveira
Language	Portuguese
Composer(s)	Nuno Nazareth Fernandes
Lyricist(s)	José Carlos Ary dos Santos
Place	15th
Points	4
Lyrics	from Diggiloo Thrush

Desfolhada Portuguesa (English translation: "Portuguese Husking") was the Portuguese entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1969, performed in Portuguese by Simone de Oliveira.

The song deals with de Oliveira's love of her country - the first occasion on which this was the theme of the Portuguese entry, but far from the last. She compares the love which results in the conception of a child to this patriotic love.

The song was performed fifteenth on the night (following France's Frida Boccara with Un Jour, Un Enfant and preceding Finland's Jarkko & Laura with Kuin silloin ennen). At the close of voting, it had received 4 points, placing 15th in a field of 16.

Portugal opted out of the 1970 Contest, one of the many countries to withdraw after the chaotic 1969 result where four songs tied for first place. The entry, however, had been selected at the time the withdrawal was made, so the country would have been represented by Sérgio Borges with Onde Vais Rio Que Eu Canto.

Following the return to the traditional set-up in 1970, Portugal returned to the Contest. Thus, the song was succeeded as Portuguese representative at the 1971 Contest by Tonicha with Menina Do Alto Da Serra.