Portugal: Maro wins Festival da Canção 2022 – To Eurovision with "Saudade, saudade"

Do you remember the Eurovision slogan back in Eurovision 2018 when Portugal hosted the how: "All aboard"?

Well, it's case to say that the country is now officially aboard of the ship that is sailing towards Turin as the 56th edition of Festival da Canção has come to an end with the selection of Maro and the song "Saudade, saudade" for Eurovision 2022.

This was the last national selection of the season, so we now know all the 40 artist to compete in Eurovision 2022.

"Saudade, saudade" is written by Maro herself along with John Blanda.

The final night of Festival da Canção was long, as expected (almost hit the four hours), and guided by former Eurovision host, Filomena Cautela, and TV host Vasco Palmeirim. Like the semi-finals, the show was broadcast live from RTP's studios in Lisbon and featured several guest performances including last year’s winners, The Black Mamba (Portugal 2021) who performed “Love Is On My Side”.

Tonight's winner was decided by televoting and a regional jury panel each accounting for 50%.

Who is Maro?

After winning Festival da Canção, Eurovisionworld caught up with Maro who confessed she already had many, many ideas for Eurovision:

– I have a lot of ideas but it’s not only up to me, she said, also confirming the choir will be in Turin.

Maro (stylized MARO) is a Portuguese singer-songwriter who took her first steps in the direction of a musical career in Los Angeles in the United States.

In fact, during our conversation, she did tell us a few secrets:

– I actually came to Portugal because of COVID-19. I wasn’t supposed to. In fact, RTP had already invited me last year but I couldn’t make it.

Maro wrote her first song when she was just 11 years old. She is a classical pianist and plays both the guitar and the electric bass.

After releasing multiple albums on her own, Maro was noticed by Grammy award winner Jacob Collier and since then her career took off where she even got to open concerts for British singer, Jessie J.

As for inspirations, it may not be obvious, but Justin Bieber is one of her main icons:

– I am a huge fan! He is an amazing artist and inspires me. I am not ashamed of liking his music. Sometimes, I like some songs better but overall, he’s great.

Festival da Canção 2022

Festival da Canção 2022 marked the 56th edition of the Portuguese music festival.

The three scheduled shows were all broadcast live from RTP's studios in Lisbon. Those were:

• 5 March 2022: Semi-final 1
• 7 March 2022: Semi-final 2
• 12 March 2022: Final

Portugal in Eurovision Song Contest

Portugal has participated 52 times since 1964. It was a very bad start, as they managed to get Zero Points in the debuting year.

Before Eurovision 2017 they 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 6 out of 15 times.