Active from 1998 | ||
Similar Célia Lawson, Nevada, Duarte Mendes, Tó Cruz, Da Vinci | ||
Alma Lusa were a short-lived Portuguese musical group, set up specifically to participate in Portugal's Eurovision Song Contest selection (Festival da Canção) in 1998. The group consisted of vocalist Inês Santos and musicians José Cid, Carlos Jesus, Henrique Lopes, Carlos Ferreirinha and Pedro Soares.
On 7 March 1998, Alma Lusa took part in the Eurovision selection with Cid-penned "Se eu te pudesse abraçar" ("If I Could Embrace You"), which was chosen from the eight entries by a panel of five "experts" as that year's Portuguese entry. The song, an ethnic composition featuring traditional Portuguese musical instruments, went forward to the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, held on 9 May in Birmingham, where it finished in joint 12th place (with Estonia) of the 25 entries.
Alma Lusa's Eurovision appearance was always intended to be a one-off, and they disbanded after the contest.