Eurovision 1972 - Portugal

Carlos Mendes performing "A Festa da Vida" ("The Party of Life"), the Portuguese entry at the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest.

One of my biggest favorites from that year, a splendid dramatic song with great lyrics (which could be taken for having a slightly political undertone) and, most of all, a simply amazing, passionate performance by Carlos, in his second appearance at the contest after 1968. Btw, while searching for him, I was quite surprised to find out that one of his first solo recordings (after first achieving fame with the group Sheiks, along with 1974 entrant Paulo de Carvalho) was a cover version of "Penina", a song written for the Portuguese group Jota Herre by no less a figure than Paul McCartney! You can find more on this amazing story at http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0pfrxq9kld6e~T1 .

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Eurovision
• Song
• Contest
• ESC
• 1972
• portugal
• carlos
• mendes
• festa
• da
• vida
• portuguese
• edinburgh
• uk

[gustavomartinscoelho]

Hey Tasos,

This song has more than "a slightly political undertone"; it's fully politically compromised! Some say that's why it didn't win...

[tasosk3]

@gustavomartinscoelho You're probably right - my poor knowledge of both the Portuguese language (I only know the lyrics through translation) and Portuguese political history don't let me understand its full political meaning. I'd actually love it if you told me more about it.

[gustavomartinscoelho]

@tasosk3 My favourite are the last two verses («may the young and the old ones come, but I take advice from none»). I see them as referring to Marcello Caetano's (the dictator in power at the time) «Family talks», a television talk show (if we can call it this way) that he hosted as a way to be directly in touch and «give good advice» to the Portuguese people.

As I said, this is my interpretation, other people (particularly if they actually lived in this period) may have different views.

[tasosk3]

@gustavomartinscoelho Truly fascinating and thorough analysis. Thank you for that!

[Nazabraga]

O Carlos explicou esta semana num programa da RTP a razão porque não ganhou...ao contrário de Franco que comprou a vitória em 68....o nosso ditador fez exactamente o contrário. Não queria a Europa aqui...a "Festa da Vida" era a canção que ía ganhar!!

[niyazivs]

Man, this song is great, how come this was #7 in 1972?

[coquelollipop]

Fala da festa, da alegria, mas a musica pra mim é triste, os coros também são um bocado oscuros. Esta canção é muito especial, consegue dizer demasiadas coisas, mas também oculta algo, um sentimento talvez profundo, ou proibido. Adorei.

[dirkbaeke]

@niyazivs this is indeed a very good song

[ugartinoAB]

Una buena canción para su época

[NEGATIVEPLANET]

@girishajindesu shut the fuck up bitch

[girishajindesu]

ευχαριστω που μού έμαθες αυτό το υπέροχο τραγούδι. Και εμένα είναι από τα αγαπημένα μου.

[midblue2124]

it was #7 that year cause Portugal was the last right wing dictatorship alive at that time,on Europe...the regime existed since 1933,before Hitler and well after second world war...

still...wonderful music,about freedom (read between lines,cause censorship was heavy,at that time) =) well done,mates,magical sound...!!

[list55]

the last chord is a cop-out! spoils a brilliant song.. this is music that can be appreciated by professionals and not grannies .

[SLBtosantos]

Simplesmente espectacular!!