Portugal is gearing up their preparations for Festival da Canção 2023. As artists look ahead to the national final, which begins on February 25th, Jazzi speaks to Teresinha Landiero. She is vying to represent Portugal with her song “Enquanto é tempo”
Hi Teresinha, I would just like to start things off by asking how you are doing today?
“Hi, thank you for asking. Everything is fine with me. It’s all going beautifully”
Before we continue, let’s start with a quick icebreaker by just asking if there is one thing about yourself that not many people know about.
“My dream was to be a doctor. But then I realized that music was really my path, so I gave up on that idea and ended up studying management.”
For newer Eurovision fans, this will be the first time they will get to know you, could you please tell us a bit more about yourself.
“Of course. I started to sing very young. I always liked to sing in Portuguese, so I used to listen the songs from Festival da Canção, and sing over it.
Then, a friend of my mother said to me that I should to listen Fado. Fado stole my heart, and I started to sing it. I started to visit Mesa de Frades, the fado house where I sing until nowadays. When I was 18 I had my first solo concert. In 2017, I signed my contract with Sony Music. I recorded my first album “Namoro” in 2018, and the second, “Agora”, came out in 2021.
At the same time I was singing around the country and in several countries. I had the honor and good fortune to meet some of the most outstanding fado singers in the history of fado. I’m very lucky.”
Let’s move on to Eurovision, and you will be participating at Festival Da Canção 2023, can I start off by asking, what made you want to participate at the Portuguese selection?
“This invitation was very important for me. Be recognized as a songwriter is almost as important as being recognized as a performer. It is a great honor for me to be able to compose a song that fully represents me, but knowing that it can come to represent Portugal. That’s what fascinated me the most. Knowing that I can take my music across borders, just as it is.”
You will be participating with the song “Enquanto é tempo”, can I start off by asking what the song is about?
“This song is only about hope. It represents the hope I place in songs. When there is no longer love, I believe that there will always be a song capable of guiding us, of keep us together, of comforting us.
The world is full of barriers and walls. We are driven by fear. And when the voices are able to unite they have much more power, and they are much closer to each other.
It was easy for me to decide that I wanted to use these 3 minutes to leave a message that I believe in and that I think is necessary today.”
When the audience listens to your entry, what message would you like to send?
“Hope, Hope, Hope. It’s the key word. May the songs save us, always.”
What would going to Eurovision and representing Portugal mean to you?
“The idea of being able to represent Portugal on an international stage as big as Eurovision is incredible. I think that taking Fado to the rest of the world is a source of pride for any Portuguese person.
Also, it’s great to have the possibility to meet more artists and to be able to share music with each other.”
Asking more about Eurovision, what is your earliest memory of the competition and what is your favourite Eurovision song (from Portugal or from another country).
“Since I was a little girl, I’ve watched Eurovision. I confess that my favorite songs are the oldest.
However, the Salvador Sobral’s participation moved me very much. He is wonderful, and the song was uniquely elegant and beautiful.”
As we are speaking right now, we are only a few weeks away until the semi-finals of Festival Da Canção, how are you feeling?
“I’m pretty well. I am confident of what I will present. And there’s no reason to be anxious, singing is the most wonderful thing in the world and what I love to do the most.”
How are the preparations for your live performance going?
“Everything is ready. Now it’s just a matter of continuing to rehearse to be ready for the big day.”
Can you give us any insight into your staging for Festival Da Canção?
“The staging will be very simple but beautiful. The aim is to have the focus and attention on the music and the lyrics. It won’t be anything too exuberant, but it will be striking.”
I have read in the past you released a song with Eurovision 2017 winner Salvador Sobral, can I ask how that collaboration came together?
“I’m a big fan of Salvador. Consider him one of the greatest Portuguese musicians.
After the most intense months of COVID, Salvador often went to Mesa de Frades to hear me sing. He told me that he liked to hear me sing, and I believed him, because he continued to go to Mesa de Frades for several weeks to listen to me.
So, one day, I gained courage and called him to invite him to sing Lei da Recompensa with me. He said yes right away, and so it was.”
Are there any other parts of your discography you would advise fans of “Enquanto é tempo” to listen to?
“Maybe Lei da Recompensa, and some songs from my last album Agora. Songs like O Mundo, or O Tempo are in the same line as Enquanto é tempo”
What is the one thing that you have learnt from taking part in this year’s contest, that you will take with you going forward?
“I don’t know exactly what I learned. But the fact that I had to write a song specifically for this contest made me think a little about who I am and how I want to present myself to the public. And it’s wonderful to look at the song I wrote together with Pedro Castro, and realize that I see myself in every bit.”
Thank you for this opportunity, Is there anything you would like to say to the International viewers over at That Eurovision Site?
“Thank you to everyone who has left me messages of love and support. This song is for you all”
About Teresinha Landeiro
Teresinha Landeiro is a 26 year old singer from Azeitão, Portugal, she started performing publicly when she was just 12 years old. In 2018 she released her first album “Namoro”. Teresinha has performed in places such as The Centro Cultural de Belém and the Teatro Capitólio in Lisbon. In 2022 Teresinha released a collaboration with Eurovision 2017 winner Salvador Sobral. Enquanto é tempo was written by Pedro de Castro and Teresinha herself.
Portugal’s Eurovision Journey
Portugal debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest with António Calvário’s “Oração” in 1964. Since then, Portugal has participated in the competition 53 times – appearing the final 44 times. Their only win in the competition came in 2017 with Salvador Sobral, performing his heart-wrenching song “Amar Pelos Dois”.
Portugal’s most recent participation was with MARO with the song “saudade, saudade”. MARO managed to qualify for the Grand Final and once there, she finished 9th, after receiving 207 points from the jury and the televote.
What do you think of our interview with Teresinha Landeiro? Do you think “Enquanto é tempo” could represent Portugal in Liverpool? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok as we prepare for Eurovision 2023!
News Source: That Eurovision Site
Photo Credit: Arruada
