The Portuguese final "Festival da Canção 2023" was held on March 11th at the RTP TV Studios in Lisbon, hosted by long standing presenters Filomena Cautela and Vasco Palmeirim. Before the final there were two semi-finals where 6 songs qualified from each. However due to a technical problem in semi 1 an extra wildcard place was awarded. The winner was chosen by a 50-50 mix of jury and televoting. Going to Eurovision is Mimicat singing "Ai Coração" (Oh, heart)
Marisa Isabel Lopes Mena - aka Mimicat - has been singing and writing since very young. Aged just 15, under the stage name Izamena, she participated in Festival da Canção 2001 but did not make it to the final. In 2009 she graduated in Sound and Image from the Escola Superior de Artes e Design das Caldas da Rainha. Her debut album "For you" came out in 2014 and this also produced her first single. She has 2 studio albums and 6 singles under her belt, mostly in the English language. She has performed at many Portuguese and Brazilian festivals and has been affectionately named “The Amy Winehouse of the Tagus". Her style is described as pop, R&B and soul.
Mimicat is joined on stage by four dancers and a leather sofa. She is wearing a black dress with a red detailing on the back and front while the dancers are wearing Latin American inspired outfits with a slight nod to flamenco. The backdrop chops and changes between black, blue red and pink but most noticeably there is a heart shape with moving cogs on the inside. The song starts with a slow dramatics first verse sung on the sofa and uses some nice 'from above' camera angles. The backing starts off intermittently and more as punctuation but then comes in full throttle at almost breakneck syncopated speed. This continues into the chorus and out the other end with an elongated instrumental. Then follows another verse and chorus followed by a less frenetic instrumental break. The final chorus starts off just with a flamenco style guitar but soon builds up to the big finish and the lights going out.
This song really oozes personality. Mimicat, and her band of dancers, do a great job of bringing attitude, sass and the Sally Bowles energy. The song has a pounding beat which is also very waveable and clapable. There is certainly nothing like this this year. It feels Portuguese but not overly so. Without the words one might think this Spanish and with the instrumental it seems a little bit French. Mimicat's voice has a distinct timbre and although one may not understand what she is saying she is extremely emotive and has a great chemistry down the camera. It is a simple yet effective show that people may find an affinity with.
There is, however, a lot going on - one may even say too much. Between the different camera angles, the constant movement and the ever-changing lighting, it feels rather in your face. I feel that changing the background colours so they are not the same as the colours of the costume would help. As much as I love the dancers' outfits, I like Mimicat's less. I feel like the shape of the outfit either needs to be smaller and more fitted or be totally over the top. I also wonder if the larger space in the arena will help differentiate everything on stage more, even though I quite like the small, tight nature of the setting. Also, I wish they would make more use of the overhead camera angles as it really does give the act a distinct look and feel. My instinct tells me this will stand out, especially in the voting recap, but as to if the song compels people to vote - I am unsure. For those who get to the end and feel the need to bravo, they will vote for it. I feel that is this did get to the final, the jury will bump up its places.
ARTIST - Mimicat
SONG - Ai Coração
WRITING/PRODUCTION CREDITS - Marisa Mena, Luis Pereira
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