Festival da Canção 2009 was the 46th edition of Festival da Canção, the music competition that selects Portugal's entries for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Format
The competition featured thirty songs. Three live shows were then broadcast during a one-week period: two semi-finals on 2 and 4 March 2010 and the final on 6 March 2010. All shows were held at the Campo Pequeno, an old bullring, in Lisbon, which has the ability to hold up to 10,000 people, enabling the biggest Festival da Canção ever. Before the live semi-finals, all thirty songs faced an online vote held between 21 and 27 January 2010 where the top twenty-four songs advanced to the semi-finals. Each semi-final then featured twelve songs from which six advanced to the final. Results during the semi-finals were determined by televoting only. In the final, the winner was determined by a combination of the votes from 20 regional juries and televoting.
Competing entries
Artists and songwriters were able to submit their song entries until 15 January 2010. Songwriters of any nationality were allowed to submit entries, but songs were required to be performed by citizens of Portugal and in the Portuguese language. RTP received 420 entries, and a four-member selection committee chose 30 entries for the national final. The selection jury included the head of delegation José Poiares, To Zé Brito, Fernando Martins and Ramón Galarza.
Online voting
After the thirty competing entries were announced on 20 January 2010, 90 second clips of each song were placed on RTP's official website, and an online public vote ran from 21 January 2010 until 27 January 2010 at 23:59 GMT, enabling local and international users to vote for their favorite entries each day. The twenty-four entries with the most votes advanced to the semi-finals of Festival da Canção 2010. Shortly after voting began, it was reported by the Eurovision fan community in Portugal that Homens da Luta, current leaders in the voting with the song "Luta assim não dá", had been uploaded on the Internet in May 2009, and had been performed live in Lisbon in May, breaking Eurovision contest rules. The following day, RTP disqualified the song, leaving 29 songs in the contest. After the voting had closed, it was revealed that Filipa Azevedo was the online vote winner with 2,992 votes. The top 24 songs progressed to the semi-finals, with the running order being drawn on 1 February 2010 at the RTP headquarters in Lisbon.
Semi-final 1
The first semi-final took place on 2 March 2010 and twelve acts competed. The top six entries decided by televoting advanced to the final. Filipa Galvão Telles, Jorge Guerreiro, The Agency, Nuno Pinto, Filipa Azevedo, and Vanessa were chosen to progress to the final. 11,656 televotes were cast during the first semi-final.
Semi-final 2
The second semi-final took place on 4 March 2010 and twelve acts competed. The top six entries decided by televoting advanced to the final. Banda Trocopasso, Ricardo Martins, Seis Po' Meia Dúzia, Catarina Pereira, Gonçalo Tavares, and Rui Nova were chosen to progress to the final. 23,878 televotes were cast during the second semi-final.
Final
The final was held on 6 March 2010. The 12 qualifying artists from the preceding semi-finals competed during the show, and the winner was determined by a combination of the votes from 20 regional juries and televoting. "Há dias assim" performed by Filipa Azevedo was declared the winner, after receiving full marks from the juries and placing fourth in the televote. The televoters favourite, Catarina Pereira, failed to win as she only came fifth with the juries, placing second overall. 42,768 televotes were cast during the final.
At Eurovision
Portugal competed in the first semi-final of the contest on 25 May, performing in 14th position and ending 4th in a field of 17, with a total of 89 points. Portugal then competed in the final of the contest on 29 May, performing 23rd on stage, after Germany and before Israel. It ended 18th, with 43 points.
Split results
In the Semi-final 1 Portugal came 4th with 89 points: the public awarded Portugal 9th place with 58 points and the jury awarded 2nd place with 107 points.
In the Final Portugal came 18th with 43 points: the public awarded Portugal 20th place with 24 points and the jury awarded 13th place with 69 points.
