Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015

Festival da Canção 2015 was the 49th edition of Festival da Canção, the music competition that selects Portugal's entries for the Eurovision Song Contest.[3]

The format of the competition consisted of three shows: two semi-finals on 3 and 5 March 2015 and the final on 7 March 2015, all taking place at RTP's studios in Lisbon. The competition featured twelve competing songs written by composers who RTP invited for the competition. The composers both created the song and selected the performer for their entry. Each semi-final featured six competing entries from which three advanced to the final from each show. Results during the semi-finals were determined by a jury panel and votes from the public. The songs first faced a public vote from which two advanced to the final. The jury then selected an additional qualifier from the remaining entries to advance. The winner in the final was determined over two rounds of voting: in the first round, the songs first faced a public vote from which two advanced to the superfinal. The jury then selected an additional superfinalist from the remaining entries. In the superfinal, the winner was determined solely by votes from the public.[3]

12 entries participated in the 49th Festival da Canção. The competing entries were announced on 19 February 2015. Among the competing artists were former Eurovision Song Contest entrantsSimone de Oliveira, who represented Portugal in 1965 and 1969 contests, and Adelaide Ferreira who represented Portugal in the 1985 contest.

The first semi-final took place on 3 March 2015, hosted by Joana Teles and Jorge Gabriel. In the first semi-final six entries participated, and of these six, three advanced to the final. The competing entries first faced a public telephone vote where the top two songs advanced. An additional qualifier were selected from the remaining four entries by the jury.

The second semi-final took place on 5 March 2015, hosted by Sílvia Alberto and José Carlos Malato. In the second semi-final six entries participated, and of these six, three advanced to the final. The competing entries first faced a public telephone vote where the top two songs advanced. An additional qualifier were selected from the remaining four entries by the jury.

The final took place on 7 March 2015, hosted by Júlio Isidro and Catarina Furtado. In the final six entries participated. The winner was determined over two rounds of voting. In the first round, The competing entries first faced a public telephone vote where the top two songs advanced to the superfinal. An additional superfinalist were selected from the remaining four entries by the jury. In the superfinal, the winner, Leonor Andrade with the song "Há um mar que nos separa", was determined entirely by the public televote.[4]

Leonor Andrade at a dress rehearsal for the second semi-final

Leonor Andrade took part in technical rehearsals on 13 and 16 May,[11][12] followed by dress rehearsals on 20 and 21 May. This included the jury final where professional juries of each country, responsible for 50 percent of each country's vote, watched and voted on the competing entries.[13]

The stage show featured Leonor Andrade dressed in a black leather outfit with flowing trains performing at a microphone stand with a wind machine special effect. Four backing vocalists were lined up on Andrade's side also dressed in black: Pedro Mimoso, Ricardo Quintas, Tânia Tavares and Carla Ribeiro.[14] The background LED screens displayed images of a large city which transitioned to waves in blue, black and white.[11][12]

At the end of the show, Portugal failed to qualify to the final and was not announced among the top ten nations.[15] It was later revealed that Portugal placed fourteenth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 19 points.[16]

Voting during the three shows consisted of 50 percent public televoting and 50 percent from a jury deliberation. The jury consisted of five music industry professionals who were citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency. This jury was asked to judge each contestant based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act. In addition, no member of a national jury could be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member were released shortly after the grand final.[17]

Following the release of the full split voting by the EBU after the conclusion of the competition, it was revealed that Portugal had placed thirteenth with both the public televote and the jury vote in the second semi-final. In the public vote, Portugal scored 24 points, while with the jury vote, Portugal scored 23 points.[18]

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Portugal and awarded by Portugal in the second semi-final and grand final of the contest, and the breakdown of the jury voting and televoting conducted during the two shows:[16][19][20][21]