After the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest was won by four different artists - a result of a lack of rules in case of a tie - five countries decided not to participate in the 1970 edition. Portugal was one of them, but bizarrely enough, they had already selected a song and participant before they decided not to enter. And so Sergio Borges released 'Onde vais rio que eu canto' without actually going to the Netherlands, where the Contest was to be held.
The song is interesting enough, with its up-tempo ending and its pensive melody. This single was one of three I received from Portugal this month - proof that collecting Eurovision singles is truly an international endeavour these days.
My collection: 7" single no. 6385
Found: Discogs.com, received 25 May 2021
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Onde vais rio que eu canto', 'A voz do chao' / 'Velho Sonho', 'Raining in my heart'
