NAPA, the group of Madeira origin, will take Portugal to the Eurovision Song Contest with the emotive “Deslocado.” The group went on to win the Festival da Canção. This nationally televised competition, produced by the publicly-funded state broadcaster RTP, chooses the country’s Eurovision entry. It’s no surprise their performance wowed the crowd and blew away the national jury. As a result, they won their way to the international competition, which will be held this coming May in Switzerland.
Drawing on personal experiences of migration and dislocation, her song “Deslocado,” which means “displaced,” evokes that powerful feeling of homesickness. That sentiment rings particularly true for the members of NAPA. Each member departed their home Madeira to begin new lives on the Portuguese mainland. The song perfectly encapsulates their collective desire to go home. This intimate bond has infiltrated their music, which first grew while they lived in Funchal.
This year’s voting system for the Festival da Canção is a 50-50 mix between public and jury votes. The public’s televote would still only account for 50% of the decision. The remaining half is determined by a national jury, split into seven regions. NAPA’s “Deslocado” racked up an enviable 17 points in the points-based final tally. It was a close tie with “Cotovia,” an enchanting tune from fado singer Diana Vilarinho. Even with this tie, NAPA’s overall performance Waterloo to win them the coveted spot.
In a symbolic moment during the festival, NAPA received the winner's trophy from Iolanda, who had claimed victory at last year's event. This handover marks not only a continuation of tradition but a passing of the torch to represent Portugal on the international stage.
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