"October 2006 - participated in Portugal Taste and Madeira Taste in Guernsey and Jersey (USA) respectively, as the representative of the Madeira Regional Government".

The Spin

Vânia was born in Funchal, on the island of Madeira ,and is most popular in Portugal for having won the RTP talent show Operação Triunfo, a Pop Idol kind of programme, in 2008.However, her connection with music dates back to her childhood.

The following are only a few of the main events in which Vânia’s voice stood out, in 2007 she is a final year student of the Instrument – Singing Professional Course, at CEPAM, the Madeira Conservatory, under the guidance of Prof. João Pereira, and a final year student of the Jazz course. She has several projects in various musical styles, mostly in the field of jazz, among which the project with the Júlio Resende Quartet.In February 2007 she took a training course, as part of the Leonardo da Vinci Project, in the Helsinki Conservatory, representing the Madeira Conservatory.

October 2006 - participated in Portugal Taste and Madeira Taste in Guernsey and Jersey (USA) respectively, as the representative of the Madeira Regional Government.
April 2006 - won the Reconnaissance Prize at the Jazz Festival, in Lisbon, representing the Madeira Conservatory. In August 2005 - became becomes the Voice Supervisor at the Vozes do Atlântico Festival.
April 2005 - attended the master class by the baritone Prof. António Salgado, who has a doctorate in Vocal Technique.
August 2004 - participated in the Vozes do Atlântico festival, as chorus supervisor.
June 2004 - was part of the resident band Humberto Fournier Sextet, which opened the Jams at the Irish Pub, during Funchal’s Jazz Festival.
October 2003 - began her piano studies at the Conservatory, with Professor João Luíz. Also in October she began, with the band Oficina” her experience as a jazz singer.
November 2002 - began her activity in several musical events, in the field of fado.
October 2001 - began her singing studies at the Conservatory. She also won 1st place at the Vozes da Madeira Festival as well as beginning her professional life as a singer in hotels and bars in the Madeira region, in the field of light/pop/rock music.
June 2001 - finished her secondary studies and won the contest Talentos à solta, that took place in Calheta.
June 1999 - won the contest Funchal a Cantar.
June1997 - began her participation in regional shows (such as Madeira em Festa, by João Luís Mendonça), hotels and television shows. In June 1997 She participated, for the first time, in the contest Funchal a Cantar.

The Singer
 
One of the true conundrums of this year is the manner in which the stage had to be strongly mopped directly after Vania left the stage after the second rehearsal. No-one could see her crying with emotion so the question is what on earth made the plexiglass so sodden? The thought of performing in front of OGAE fans maybe.

The Past
  
Portugal are an enigma to me. I don't understand how they can churn out the same shite year after year, and not learn to either 1. try something new, or 2. quit. They've been in 36 contests, and been abject in all of them. Ok so they came 6th in 1996, but promptly followed that up with a no pointer a year later. '96 remains their best performance in what has been a litany of continuous embarrassment. Occasionally they do have a half decent singer (Anabela and Rita Guerra are the only two that spring to mind though), and a half palatable song once in a blue moon, and I shouldn't complain because it's countries like Portugal that foul the footpath of serious Eurovision fans static caravans year after year. Long live Portugal.

The Song

Think Chiara but with a desperate song. You will be watching a stage effect of lapping rising tide, along with another appearance of a wind machine on fast, which still won't shift our Vania. Apparently she is an eminently fine singer however, and has dampened the underskirts of Eurofans watching the rehearsals. It won't be able to rescue this track however, which is wavering between 10th and 11th in the semi final 1.

Overall

 

 
   
 
 
   
   
 

Senhora do Mar

Senhora do mar
Ante vós, me tendes caída
Quem vem tirar meia da vida e da paz
Desta mesa, desta casa, perdidas?
Amor, qu’é de ti?

Senhora do mar
Ante vós, minha alma está vazia
Quem vem chamar a si o que é meu?
Ó mar alto, traz pr’a mim
Amor meu sem fim!

Ai, negras águas, ondas de mágoas
Gelaram-m’o fogo no olhar
Ele não torna a navegar!
E ninguém vos vê chorar
Senhora do Mar!

Quem vem tirar meia da vida e da paz
Desta mesa, desta casa, perdidas?
Amor, qu’é de ti?

Ai, negras águas, ondas de mágoas,
Gelaram-m’o fogo no olhar.

Feridas em sal, rezas em vão…
Deixai seu coração
Bater junto a mim!

Ai, negras águas, ondas de mágoas
Gelaram-m’o fogo no olhar
Ele não torna a navegar!
E ninguém vos vê chorar
Senhora do Mar!

Lady of the Sea

Before you, I'm fallen
Who comes and takes half of life and peace
From this table, from this house, now lost?
Love, what's happened with you?

Lady of the sea
Before you, my soul is empty
Who comes and takes what is mine?
Oh high sea, bring me
My endless love

Ah, black waters, waves of sorrow
They froze the fire in my eyes (Lady of the sea)
He's not sailing anymore (He's not sailing anymore)
And nobody sees you crying
Lady of the sea

Who comes and takes half of life and peace
From this table, from this house, now lost?
Love, what's happened with you?

Ah, black waters, waves of sorrow
They froze the fire in my eyes (Lady of the sea)
Salty wounds, prayers in vain (Prayers in vain)
Let his heart (Let his heart)
Beat next to me (Beat next to me)

Ah, black waters, waves of sorrow
They froze the fire in my eyes (Lady of the sea)
He's not sailing anymore (He's not sailing anymore)
And nobody sees you crying (And nobody sees you crying)
Lady of the sea (Lady of the sea)

Prediction Semi Final 2 12th
Final Miss out again