Seventeen years after his first appearance in Festival da Cançāo, Marco Rodrigues returns this year with “A Minha Casa.” A veteran of Portugal’s fado houses, he took some time to fill us in on the inspiration behind the song as he prepares for his performance in the Final this evening.
You participated in Festival da Canção in 2008. How does your experience this year compare?
Taking part in the Festival da Canção in 2008 was an incredible experience, because it was almost at the beginning of my career with records, when I had left the fado houses for a while. It was great to share the stage with a series of artists who were also doing a TV show at the time, “Operação Triunfo.” I shared the stage with most of the contestants, which was very positive. The difference between 2008 and 2025, apart from the whole journey, is undoubtedly the fact that this time I’m a guest. I also appear as a composer and Tiago and I bring a little bit of what we’ve been doing all these years.
Tell us about your history with Eurovision. What are some of your favorite songs from the past, and why do you want to represent Portugal at Eurovision yourself?
I don’t have a specific story, but I remember sitting on the sofa with my family in the 90s, with enormous anticipation for the Festival da Canção and Eurovision, to see our country represented alongside other countries. I really like MARO’s song, which was one of the most recent ones we had representing Portugal. I think the song has a very beautiful, modern arrangement. Saudade is a very strong word that only we Portuguese can explain, so if I had to choose from recent Eurovision events, I think it stands out. Of course, Salvador Sobral’s “Amar Pelos Dois” is a must, but I also really like this song by MARO. Representing Portugal, whether at Eurovision or in the concerts we do abroad, is always an enormous source of pride and being at Eurovision is certainly enriching for any artist.
In another interview, you’ve mentioned how “A Minha Casa” is influenced by your background as a fado singer. Can you tell us a bit about your musical origins? When and how did you start making music?
When we came up with the theme for the Festival, “A Minha Casa”, we really wanted to talk about a love, which isn’t exactly a love between a man and a woman. It can be between a father and a son; it can be a region of a country; in other words, everything that makes us feel at home – that makes us feel protected – and the truth is that there are a number of influences. Of course, fado is my musical matrix. Fado is my musical language, and there’s always a hint of the moments I spent in fado houses and the intimate way fado is played and lived. There’s a small reference to the north in the ruffled skirt, a small detail that represents Minho, which is where I came from, so these are my references for this theme.
Which artists are you most influenced by?
I have some artists who have influenced me and continue to influence me through their music – some of whom have unfortunately passed away, like Carlos do Carmo, for example. But then there are some international artists, like Elis Regina. I really like a Cameroonian, Richard Bona. Of course, all my colleagues who were part of my journey in the fado houses are also an influence on me today.
What inspires you outside of music?
My children are my main inspiration outside of music and the greatest inspiration, without a doubt.
As a father, how do you balance the demands of parenthood with your music career?
I often balance it on the basis of compensation. I’m a very present father and there’s a rule I’ve imposed on myself that if I’m away from home for a whole week for concerts, the day I arrive there’s nothing to take me away from home.
What message or inspiration do you want audiences to take away from “A Minha Casa?”
We want to do with “A Minha Casa” what happens with some very successful songs. The idea is that people feel that this song is a bit of them too, that it makes them feel at home when they listen to it.
What’s an interesting fact about you that fans may not know?
I’m sure there are many things you may not know and will continue not to know. I think that everything that is interesting to know as an artist, as a musician, has been discovered. There are things you won’t know, because I really enjoy living apart from the artistic and fado life.
Besides Festival da Canção, what are your plans for 2025?
I feel it will certainly be a remarkable year – not least because I’m going to have some life changes and those changes will be made during this year, so I’m very confident about 2025 beyond the Festival da Canção.
Fans can follow Marco on Instagram (marcorodrigues_oficial) and on Spotify.
The Final of Festival da Canção takes place tonight at 22:00 CET.
What do #YOU think of “A Minha Casa?” Tell us on social media (@escunited), Discord, or at our forum.
