Verão - Carlos Mendes

I already owned 'A festa da vida', Carlos Mendes' second Eurovision song from 1972, but six years earlier he represented Portugal for the first time with the song 'Verão'. The song, composed by Pedro Vaz Osório and written by José Alberto Diogo, was about a man with a broken heart who realises that summer is over and he can’t wait until summer starts again. It was a very short song, clocking in at just over two minutes. 

This EP presents three more songs, of which 'I'll get over it' is the most enjoyable. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6766
Found: Discogs.com, received 13 August 2022
Cost: €6
Tracks: 'Verão', 'Nobody wants you when you're down and out' / 'I'll get over it', 'Mensagem'

A festa da vida - Carlos Mendes

Carlos Eduardo Teixeira Mendes was born on May 23, 1947 in Lisbon. He started his singing career in the 1960's, representing Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest on two occasions: in 1968 and 1972.This single, 'A festa da vida' is the 1972 entry. 

'A festa da vida' ('The party of life') is a ballad, with Mendes singing that the world needs to view life as a party in order to dismiss the negativity of the world. Although Portugal hadn't been particularly successful at Eurovision in previous years, this song reached 7th place at the close of voting, making it the country's highest placing at the time. Of course, it wouldn't be until a few years ago that Portugal actually won Eurovision. But when they did, they did it with a song that became an instant classic. This song is not an instant classic, but enjoyable all the same.

My collection: 7" single no. 6315
Found: Discogs.com, received August 8, 2020
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'A festa da vida' / 'Glow worm'