Hello Portugal! Mimicat can’t wait to entertain us with her folklore song. Her Portuguese heart is about to beat, and her rhythm influences us already.

“Diz-me lá se és meu”

(Tell me if you are mine)

Mimicat

Mimicat, whose real name is Marisa Isabel Lopes Mena, is a singer and songwriter from Portugal known for her pop and soul music. She will be representing Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with her song “Ai coração”. Mimicat had previously participated in Festival da Canção 2001 under the stage name Izamena but did not make it past the semi-finals. She started singing and recording at the age of nine and gained recognition in 2014 with her debut album “For You”. This year, she is set to release a new album featuring “Ai Coração” which she co-produced with Luís Pereira. In addition to her music, Mimicat is a cat owner and her pet’s name is Brownie.

The second rehearsal

The second rehearsal is just as impressive as the first one. Mimicat’s dress, made entirely of feathers, stands out as the only one of its kind in this year’s Eurovision, with the color red being a recurring theme. The opening piano glissando gives a strong impression of the song “I Will Survive”, but this performance is pure musical theatre extravagance.

Chloe Hashemi / EBU

Compared to her Festival da Canção performance, the staging has been simplified, but the four backing dancers still bring plenty of energy. The lighting and costumes all follow the same red theme. Vocally, Mimicat sounds stunning, and the overall performance is a sophisticated and crowd-pleasing cabaret act, with the final note being particularly impressive.