Júlia Machado has won the 4th edition of “The Voice Kids Portugal” and will represent Portugal at Junior Eurovision. The viewers have chosen the best voice of the edition through phone calls. Francisco Horta and Francisco Santos completed the Top 3 of the Grand Final of the Portuguese talent show.
At the final moment of the gala, RTP confirmed that she will also be Portugal’s representative at the 21st edition of Junior Eurovision. In recent years, the Portuguese broadcaster has used the popular contest as a pre-selection to choose the Portuguese flag-bearer for the European competition.
The Junior Eurovision rules stipulate that contestants must be between 9 and 14 years old by the date of the contest (26 November).
The young singer Júlia Machado with 12 years old fulfils the age rule imposed by Junior Eurovision, so her way to Nice is clear.
Last week, RTP made her attendance at the 21st edition of Junior Eurovision official. Tonight, we learned that Júlia Machado will represent Portugal at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023, which will take place next Sunday 26 December at the Palais Nikaïa in Nice (France). Afterwards, RTP will internally select the song for the European children’s contest.
JÚLIA MACHADO, THE WINNER OF “THE VOICE KIDS PORTUGAL”
Júlia Machado (12 years old) lives in New Jersey (USA), although she loves spending her summers in Portugal.
In her spare time, she does theatre, enjoys cycling and surfing in Nazaré.
He is a member of the Count Basie Theatre School in New Jersey and often sings at the Portuguese Club in Long Branch.
One of her favourite songs is“Andorinhas” by Ana Moura.
When she grows up she wants to be a veterinarian or a singer.
“THE VOICE KIDS PORTUGAL” AND EUROVISION JUNIOR
Since its 2nd edition in 2021, “The Voice Kids Portugal” has been RTP’s selection method to choose its Junior Eurovision representative. Curiously, at a time when the Portuguese country has achieved its best results in the European contest.
- In 2021, Simão Oliveira won the Portuguese contest. Subsequently, in Paris (France), the young singer reached 11th place, after years in the last positions.
- Last year, in Yerevan (Armenia), Nicolas Alves was the Portuguese flag-bearer after coming 2nd in the talent show. The winner of the 3rd edition of “The Voice Kids Portugal” was Maria Gil, but she was over the age limit to participate in Junior Eurovision. The charismatic Portuguese singer achieved Portugal’s best result in the European competition.
HOW THE GRAND FINAL OF THE 4TH EDITION WENT DOWN
In the Grand Final, the 5 finalists performed solo songs. They also had the pleasure of singing with their respective coaches in a round of duets. The 5 young artists competed to become the best children’s voice in Portugal.
Catarina Furtado (1972), presenter of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, has been in charge of hosting the Portuguese talent show since 2021. In addition, in this edition she was accompanied by Catarina Maia.
The public at home has had the power of decision. Viewers were able to vote for their favourites in two phases. In the first part, the 3 most voted were chosen, then the lines were opened again to choose the winner.
During the gala, Sebastián Yatra, coach of “La Voz Kids” in Spain, greeted the finalists and the mentors from Portugal. Presenter Catarina Furtado took the opportunity to send an affectionate greeting to Spain, recalling that a new edition of the children’s competition is also being held in our country.
Francisco Horta (14 years old)
Coach: Carlão
Júlia Machado (12 years old)
Coach: Fernando Daniel
Rodrigo Oliveira (13 years old)
Coach: Bárbara Tinoco
Maria Pedro (14 years old)
Coach: Aurea
Francisco Santos (14 years old)
Coach: Carlão
4TH EDITION OF “THE VOICE KIDS PORTUGAL”
The 4th edition of the Portuguese competition was announced on 3 December, when applications were opened for those interested through the official RTP website. On 8 January, coinciding with the broadcast of the 10th edition of the adult version of “The Voice Portugal”, the identities of the quartet of coaches for this new season were confirmed. Portuguese singer Aurea has replaced Carolina Deslandes on the coaching panel, while Carlão, Fernando Daniel and Barbara Tinoco have continued on the show.
87 children have performed on stage. Among the constants, we highlight Joana Almeida, who represented Portugal at Junior Eurovision 2019 with “Vem Comigo”. At the festival held in Gliwice-Silesia (Poland), she reached 16th place with 43 points.
On this occasion, she performed the song “Never Enough”, from the film “The Greatest Showman”. He made it to the next stage. However, in the battles she lost to Júlia Machado and Yasmin Alicia.
Throughout this edition, the young artists have performed versions of Portuguese and world music hits. In addition, they have also bet on some popular songs from the Eurovision Song Contest such as “Desfolhada Portuguesa” (Portugal 1969), “Arcade” (Netherlands 2019), “Voilà” (France 2021), “Lusitana Paiãxo” (Portugal 1991) or “Chamar A Música” (Portugal 1994)
The new edition opened on 9 April, with blind auditions. This first phase lasted 6 programmes. On 21 and 28 May, the battles took place. After that, the live programmes began, where the public’s vote played the leading role in choosing the young artists who continued in the competition. On 4 and 11 June, the 8 semi-finalists were chosen, the two most voted from each coach:
| Carlão | Fernando Daniel | Barbara Tinoco | Aurea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Santos | Júlia Machado | Martim d’Aires | Maria Pedro |
| Francisco Horta | Matilde Abreu | Rodrigo Oliveira | Carolina Quintas |
At the live gala on 11 June, the contestants had the pleasure of singing with Mimicat, Portugal’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. With them, she performed her song “Ai Coração”, with which she reached 23rd place in Liverpool (UK).
On Sunday 18th June, the semi-final was held, where the 5 artists who aspire to win the 4th edition of “The Voice Kids Portugal” were selected.
Francisco Horta, Júlia Machado, Rodrigo Oliveira and Maria Pedro were chosen by the public vote, while Francisco Santos won the Wild Card in a second vote of the viewers.
| Carlão | Fernando Daniel | Barbara Tinoco | Aurea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Santos | Júlia Machado | Maria Pedro | |
| Francisco Horta | Rodrigo Oliveira |
PORTUGAL AT THE JUNIOR EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
Portugal took part in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for the first time at the 2006 edition in Bucharest, after broadcasting the 2005 edition in Hasselt a year earlier. Pedro Madeira with his song “Deixa-Me Sentir” did not make it past the penultimate place, the same result he obtained in Rotterdam 2007, with Jorge Leiria and “Só Quero é Cantar”. In these first editions, RTP bet on the children’s version of the Festival Da Cançao to choose its standard bearers for Junior Eurovision.
The poor results together with the cost of participation and the discreet audience figures obtained led Portuguese television to stay away from the contest for 9 editions.
Finally, in 2017, after Salvador Sobral’s victory in the Eurovision Song Contest, Portuguese television decided to return to the contest with Mariana Venâncio and her “Youtuber”. In recent years, with the exception of the 2020 edition when it withdrew due to the health situation, Portugal has maintained its regular presence in the contest , with somewhat discreet results. Since 2021, RTP chooses its representatives through the Portuguese version of “La Voz Kids”.
At Junior Eurovision 2021, held in Paris (France), the 101 points obtained by Simão Oliveira with his song “O Rapaz”, took Portugal to 11th place, starting a path towards improving its results at the festival.
Last year in Yerevan (Armenia), Nicolas Alves with “Anos 70” achieved the best result ever for Portugal at Junior Eurovision. The young artist reached 8th place with 121 points, his highest score so far.
JUNIOR EUROVISION 2023
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2023 will take place on Sunday 26 November under the theme “Heroes” and is expected to have many new features. France is preparing to host the 21st edition of the children’s contest in the coastal city of Nice. On this occasion, the Palais Nikaïa has been chosen as the venue. Young artists from all over Europe will shine in a festival that returns to the month of November, after two editions held during the Christmas festivities.
As the main novelty of this year’s edition, the logo of the event incorporates the mythical Eurovision heart, just like in the Eurovision Song Contest. Since the generic logo was introduced, this is the first time in the history of the children’s contest that the flag of the host country has been included. Thus, in Nice 2023, the French flag flies inside the heart, which is already a globally recognised icon. The official slogan and theme art for the 21st edition will be unveiled at a later date.
French television is counting on the great experience of Paris 2021 and will spare no effort and resources to offer us a high-level event that lives up to the format. The aim is to make this 21st edition of the festival “unique and unrepeatable”. Once again, France Télévisions aims to organise Junior Eurovision at the highest level.
France will once again host the competition which will have at its heart a celebration of music, friendship and diversity, where Europe’s young talents will take centre stage.
With two victories to its name, the French country will host the 21st edition of a children’s festival that year after year consolidates itself among young audiences and acquires greater potential and popularity to give visibility to new talents in the world of music.
In 2022, in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, the Karen Demirchyan Complex hosted the competition for the second time in its history, as it did in 2011. There, France was the winner with the young singer Lissandro and his song “Oh Maman! With her charisma and energy in abundance, she managed to win the coveted crystal microphone thanks to 203 points from the national juries and the viewers via online voting.