🇵🇹 Blast from the Past: Portugal 1994

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today we want to honour Sara Tavares, who participated for Portugal in 1994. She passed away last Sunday.

Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest

Portugal started participating in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964. It all started with a zero. This was the starting signal for a long and not easy road for Portugal. The idiosyncratic entries the country had often finished low. Exceptions were Carlos Mendes (1958) and JosĂ© Cid (1980), both of whom reached a seventh place. In 1996, Lucia Moniz finished in sixth place with her “O meu coração nĂŁo tem cor”. But for a victory, Portugal had to wait until 2017.

It was Salvador Sobral who managed to enchant both the televoters and the professional jury with his subdued song “Amar pelos dois”. It turned into a landslide victory for the Portuguese; something they had been waiting for so long. 

photo: EBU/Andres Putting

Festival RTP Da Canção 1994

The national final in Portugal is always called Festival RTP Da Canção. This year, two semifinals were held, on 10 and 17 january. Each of the semifinals contained 10 songs. Among them, Marco Quelhas, who represented Portugal in the 2001 contest as a half of the duo MTM. Eight songs headed to the final:

 

  1. Isabel Campelo, “Malmequer do Campo“, 122 pts, 3rd
  2. Trivium, “Trovas do Demo e d’el Rei“, 84 pts, 5th
  3. Pedro MiguĂ©is, “Todos NĂłs Alguma Vez“, 136 pts, 2nd
  4. Inova Fora Nada, “O Vento Sabe o Que Quer“, 83 pts, 6th
  5. JosĂ© Carvalho, “Lisboa, Minha Linda Cidade“, 92 pts, 4th
  6. Fernanda Lopes, “Se Fores Poema“, 75 pts, 7th
  7. TĂł Carlos, “Ai Dona InĂŞs“, 46 pts, 8th
  8. Sara Tavares, “Chamar a MĂşsica“, 220 pts, 1st

As you can see, Sara Tavares won with a landslide, 84 points ahead of the runner up!

Sara Tavares

Sara Alexandra Lima Tavares, born on February 1, 1978, in Lisbon, Portugal, was a renowned Portuguese singer, composer, guitarist, and percussionist. Of Cape Verdean descent, her parents immigrated to Portugal and settled in Almada in the 1970s. Tavares grew up in Lisbon and faced early family challenges, with her father leaving and her mother moving south with her siblings, leaving Sara in the care of an older woman.

Tavares exhibited remarkable musical talent from a young age. In 1994, at just 16, she won the national television song contest “Chuva de Estrelas,” performing Whitney Houston’s “One Moment in Time.” That same year, she triumphed at the “Festival da Canção,” earning a spot in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. Her winning song, “Chamar a MĂşsica,” was included on her debut EP, “Sara Tavares & Shout” (1996), where she blended gospel and funk with Portuguese influences.

Her debut album “Mi Ma BĂ´,” produced by Lokua Kanza, was released in 1999. In 2017, Tavares released the album “Fitxadu,”. It was inspired by Lisbon’s diverse African sounds and cultures, showcasing a more electronic and urban sound. The album earned a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Portuguese Language Roots Album.

Tavares was multilingual, composing in Portuguese, Portuguese-based Creole languages, and occasionally English. Sara was known for singing the European-Portuguese version of “God Help the Outcasts” from the Disney movie “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,”. She won a Disney Award for the best version of the original song with it. She also won a Portuguese Golden Globe for Best Portuguese Singer in 2000.

photo: Henryk Kotowski

Tavares passed away on November 19, 2023, in Lisbon at the age of 45, after a long battle with a brain tumor diagnosed since 2009​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​. Her death was a great shock in the Eurovision community.

Chamar a MĂşsica

“Chamar a MĂşsica,” the captivating song that Sara Tavares performed at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, showcases her exceptional talent as a young artist. At just 16 years old, Tavares brought this melodic and emotionally resonant piece to the Eurovision stage, representing Portugal with grace and artistry. The song is characterized by its smooth, soulful melody. It is blending elements of Portuguese musical tradition with contemporary influences. Although Tavares’ performance was well-received, it ultimately placed 8th in the competition. Despite this, “Chamar a MĂşsica” remains a significant part of her early career, reflecting her deep connection to her cultural roots.

Picture of Martijn

Martijn

See all contributions

Related news
Eurovision 2026

In the Spotlight: Finland

Tonight is the night: The big final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in the Wiener Stadshalle in Vienna. One of the big favorites for the win is Finland, represented by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen.  But who are they? Let’s give them a spotlight. Peter Parkkonen Early Life and Music Beginnings Pete Parkkonen was born in Pihtipudas, Finland, and grew up surrounded by music. He first played drums before discovering his talent for singing as a teenager. Performing with local bands helped him gain early stage experience and build a strong connection with live audiences. Idols Finland and Breakthrough Success Parkkonen rose to national fame in 2008 after finishing third in Idols Finland. Soon after, his debut single “Girl In a Uniform” became a hit, followed by The First Album, which reached number one in Finland. His early career combined chart success, television appearances and live performances across the country. Finnish Pop Career and Major Hits After starting with English-language rock, Parkkonen successfully transitioned into Finnish pop music. Songs like “Mitä mä teen” with JVG became some of his biggest hits. He also won Dancing with the Stars Finland and Tähdet, tähdet, further expanding his popularity. Recent Music and Television Work In recent years, Parkkonen continued releasing successful singles and albums, including PETE. His appearance on Vain elämää introduced new music and showcased his versatility as an artist. Today, he is known as one of Finland’s most recognizable pop and rock performers. Linda Lampenius Early Life and Musical Training Linda Lampenius ( aka Linda Brava) was born on 26 February 1970. She grew  up in Helsinki and Lapinjärvi, Finland, surrounded by both theatre and music. She chose the violin at the age of five and quickly showed exceptional talent. As a child, she performed with the Helsinki Strings youth orchestra, appeared on Finnish television and became the youngest recipient of a scholarship from the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland. International Career and Musical Success Lampenius studied at the Sibelius Academy while gaining orchestral and solo experience. Her international breakthrough came in the late 1990s with both pop and classical music success. The album Linda Brava became a worldwide hit and made her one of Finland’s best-selling classical artists. Throughout her career, she has performed with major orchestras and artists, including Andrew Lloyd Webber. Television, Media and Finnish Comeback Beyond music, Lampenius built a strong television presence through shows such as X Factor Finland and Sweden’s Let’s Dance. She also shared her personal story in the award-winning documentary series Linda. In recent years, her appearance at UMK 2025 introduced her to a new generation and confirmed her lasting influence on Finnish music and pop culture. Eurovision 2026 Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen started collaborating for Finland’s Eurovision journey through UMK 2026, the country’s national selection. Their duet “Liekinheitin” combined Pete’s pop and rock vocals with Linda’s classical violin playing, making the song stand out immediately within the competition. Linda received special permission to perform live on stage during Eurovision — an exceptional decision, as instruments are normally never played live at the Eurovision Song Contest. Can they live up to the sky-high expectations? Tonight, we’ll find out.  

Read More »
May 16, 2026 No Comments
Eurovision 2026
Anja Kroeze

In the Spotlight: Finland

Tonight is the night: The big final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place in the Wiener Stadshalle in Vienna. One of the big favorites for the win is Finland, represented by Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen.  But who are they? Let’s give them a spotlight. Peter Parkkonen Early Life and Music Beginnings Pete Parkkonen was born in Pihtipudas, Finland, and grew up surrounded by music. He first played drums before discovering his talent for singing as a teenager. Performing with local bands helped him gain early stage experience and build a strong connection with live audiences. Idols Finland and Breakthrough Success Parkkonen rose to national fame in 2008 after finishing third in Idols Finland. Soon after, his debut single “Girl In a Uniform” became a hit, followed by The First Album, which reached number one in Finland. His early career combined chart success, television appearances and live performances across the country. Finnish Pop Career and Major Hits After starting with English-language rock, Parkkonen successfully transitioned into Finnish pop music. Songs like “Mitä mä teen” with JVG became some of his biggest hits. He also won Dancing with the Stars Finland and Tähdet, tähdet, further expanding his popularity. Recent Music and Television Work In recent years, Parkkonen continued releasing successful singles and albums, including PETE. His appearance on Vain elämää introduced new music and showcased his versatility as an artist. Today, he is known as one of Finland’s most recognizable pop and rock performers. Linda Lampenius Early Life and Musical Training Linda Lampenius ( aka Linda Brava) was born on 26 February 1970. She grew  up in Helsinki and Lapinjärvi, Finland, surrounded by both theatre and music. She chose the violin at the age of five and quickly showed exceptional talent. As a child, she performed with the Helsinki Strings youth orchestra, appeared on Finnish television and became the youngest recipient of a scholarship from the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland. International Career and Musical Success Lampenius studied at the Sibelius Academy while gaining orchestral and solo experience. Her international breakthrough came in the late 1990s with both pop and classical music success. The album Linda Brava became a worldwide hit and made her one of Finland’s best-selling classical artists. Throughout her career, she has performed with major orchestras and artists, including Andrew Lloyd Webber. Television, Media and Finnish Comeback Beyond music, Lampenius built a strong television presence through shows such as X Factor Finland and Sweden’s Let’s Dance. She also shared her personal story in the award-winning documentary series Linda. In recent years, her appearance at UMK 2025 introduced her to a new generation and confirmed her lasting influence on Finnish music and pop culture. Eurovision 2026 Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen started collaborating for Finland’s Eurovision journey through UMK 2026, the country’s national selection. Their duet “Liekinheitin” combined Pete’s pop and rock vocals with Linda’s classical violin playing, making the song stand out immediately within the competition. Linda received special permission to perform live on stage during Eurovision — an exceptional decision, as instruments are normally never played live at the Eurovision Song Contest. Can they live up to the sky-high expectations? Tonight, we’ll find out.  

Read More »
May 16, 2026 No Comments
© 2019 – 2026 Eurovision Universe / eurovisionuniverse.com

Maintained in cooperation with IT-M.art

Follow Us: