If you only hear this song, and never ever watch any kind of performance of it, you may think it's not half bad. But alas. This is the kind of song that makes you wish that the ESC was a radio show. Scroll down ...
It's important to understand the context of this entry - that Portugal is in a lot of difficulties right now because of the financial crisis and their government is struggling to deal with it. This song is a protest, basically. So ... there's a reason, there really is. This makes sense to them. But that doesn't change the fact that this is by far and away the most messed up entry this year.
I quite like Portugal ... they always sing in their own language, and I like that a lot. They've sent some good songs. Some clunkers too, but there are some gems in the pile. But regardless of the quality, they never get anywhere ... !! :-) I really feel for them, because they just soldier on and they never win, or even come close to winning. So I want to like them, I really do. But they're making it awfully hard this year.
There really isn't much I can say about this entry that's positive. It's just all crappy. Really. It's all bad. There will be applause when they're done, though ... because people will want to stave off the awkward silence that will be hovering in the arena. Ouch, I'm dreading it already.
If you watch this entry performed a few times and you really genuinely like it, then get help. There is help for you out there, you don't have to live like this.
This is Homens da Luta performing A luta é alegria by Vasco Duarte and Nuno Duarte. They will be competing for Portugal on Tuesday, May 10th. Brr.
Widescreen here.
Lyrics with translation here.
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1 comment:
I thought this should have won Eurovision myself! It is a wonderful, joyful protest song - the performance is vibrant and colourful and it is very relevant to the crisis across Europe. I suspect many people agreed with your assessment - the band's singing could be better (they are satirists, not musicians), and the fact that it is in Portuguese doesn't help with getting votes across Europe. But it was refreshing to have a celebratory, political song in Eurovision for once - even if it did come second from last in the semi final.
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