Filipa Batista , one of the 12 finalists of the Portuguese preselection, has already stepped on stage of Festival da Cancao twice, the first time back in 95 as part of the team responsible for the animation of the show and last year as a backing singer of one of the songs competing in the contest. The Portuguese singer spoke to esctoday.com and you can read the interview below.

Filipa, tell us a little about your journey as a singer and how you decided to embark on this career.

I started very early to sing! And when I was a kid my mother decided to take me to a casting … Since then, the theater has been my life, not only as a singer but as an actress. When i was just a little girlI took part in several television series, always connected to music. Later, Ijoined the cast of several musicals such as "Jasmine or the dream of cinema," "Amália", "Song of Lisbon", "High School Musical" and "Fado Esse Malandro Vádio." Also I worked in other projects, including soundtracks – like the "Winx". How did you come up with the idea of competing for Festival Da Cancao this year?

The idea started from the Augusto Madureira, the author of music and lyrics of O Teu Lugar. We did not know each other personally, I knew him only as a television journalist and at the time didn't even know he was a composer. Augusto called me one day to ask if I wanted to sing one of his songs … and I accepted! I came to know later that my name had been suggested to him by Carlos Coelho, author of Senhora do mar.

The song that you compete with, O Teu Lugar by Augusto Madureira is a ballad of love, a romance and a turn over the page, a new beginning.Did you immediately relateto the subject, when you heard the song for the first time?

Absolutely! It was at first! I thought the music is beautiful,the song timeless. Furthermore,I immediatelyrelated tothe lyrics. I think everyone at least once had that experience, an ending of a romance, turning the page …and moving on.

Are you a fan of the Eurovision Song Contest? Is there one or more songs that you have enjoyed most, Portuguese and foreign?

Yes, a big fan! I watch the show every year! And I think Portugal has had fantastic songs in Eurovision! Starting with unforgettable Vânia last year, with Senhora do mar. A song that's great in my opinion and which deserved the victory in Belgrade. But there were other portuguese songs in the past also unforgettable as A cidade até ser dia in 1993, Lusitana paixão in 1991 and O meu coracao nao tem cor in 1996.

Can you tell us of how you will present yourself on stage at Festival Da Cancao? Any surprise element in your presentation or any changes in the music?

The song is being a subject of intense work, we are preparing a new version. What was heard until now was basicly a model … and we are also working to make a great presentation on the 28th, at Teatro Camoes. But on this we will not reveal anything until then … these questions will be answered only in the Grand final! One thing you can be certain of: I will be myself.

Do you have some musical reference or references in national and international scene?

Of course! In the international scene, Céline Dion, Mariah Carey, The Coors … In Portuguese music, Dulce Pontes, Lúcia Moniz, Rui Veloso.

Because of Vânia's performance in Belgrade last year, the expectations for the Portuguese entry among fans in Portugal and all over Europe are very high. If the Filipa is chosen to represent Portugal in Moscow that could be a real asset to you or not, the weight of responsibility can somehow hinder your performance?

Vânia was really fantastic … and a it will be a big responsibility if I am chosen as Portugal's next contestant. The bar is very high, thereare now huge expectations for the Portuguese participation in Moscow. But this, in my case, never be a hinder y performance! If chosen, I can only percieve it as an honor and a challenge. And I like challenges…

Would you like to leave a message to the many fans who visit Esctoday.com daily?

I hope you'll enjoy our presentation on the 28th! I promise to give my best…Thank you for those who trusted me and made it possible for me to get to the final…Many kisses!

esctoday.com would like to thank thank Filipa Batista for granting us this interview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJPl_9mowaU

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