Playback was the Portuguese entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1981 in Dublin performed by Carlos Paião. The performance was best remembered for the antics of the backing singers, who wore plastic boiler suits and on some occasions stuck their microphones in their ears.
It was performed 15th on the night following United Kingdom and preceding Belgium. At the close of voting, it finished in 18th place with 9 points.
Lyrics[]
Podes não saber cantar nem sequer assobiar
Com certeza que não vais desafinar
Em play-back, em play-back, em play-back
Só precisas de acertar, não tem nada que enganar
E assim mesmo sem cantar, vais encantar
Em play-back, em play-back, em play-back
Põe o microfone à frente muito disfarçadamente
Vai sorrindo que é p'rá gente lá presente não notar
Em play-back, tu és alguém
Mesmo afónico cantas bem
Em play-back, a fazer play-back, e vivó play-back
Hás-de sempre cantar
Em play-back, respirar p'ra quê?
Quem não sabe também não vê
Em play-back, a fazer play-back, e vivó play-back
Dá p'ra toda uma soirée
Podes não saber cantar nem sequer assobiar
Com certeza que não vais desafinar
Em play-back, em play-back, em play-back
Só precisas de acertar, não tem nada que enganar
E assim mesmo sem cantar, vais encantar
Em play-back, em play-back, em play-back
Abre a boca, fecha a boca
Não te enganes, não te esganes
Vais ter uma apoteose, põe-te em pose p'ra agradar
Em play-back, é que tu és bom
A cantar sem fugir do tom
Em play-back, a fazer play-back, e vivó play-back
Hás-de sempre cantar
Com play-back até pedem bis
"Mas decerto", dirás feliz
Em play-back, a fazer play-back, e vivó play-back
Agradeces e sorris
Podes não saber cantar nem sequer assobiar
Com certeza que não vais desafinar
Em play-back, em play-back, em play-back
Só precisas de acertar, não tem nada que enganar
E assim mesmo sem cantar, vais encantar
Em play-back, em play-back, em play-back
Em play-back, em play-back, em play-back
Em play-back, em play-back, em play-back
Maybe you don't know how to sing or even how to whistle
But you won't sing out of tune for sure
In playback, in playback, in playback
You just have to get it right, there's nothing to it
And even without singing, you're going to enchant
In playback, in playback, in playback
Put the microphone in front of you, it's very disguisingly
Smile, so the people won't notice it
In playback, you're someone
Even aphonic, you sing in tune
In playback, miming, long live playback
You'll always sing
In playback why bother to breathe?
Those who don't know it, won't see it
In playback, miming, long live playback
It's for a whole evening
Maybe you don't know how to sing or even how to whistle
But you won't sing out of tune for sure
In playback, in playback, in playback
You just have to get it right, there's nothing to it
And even without singing, you're going to enchant
In playback, in playback, in playback
Open your mouth, close your mouth
Don't make mistakes, don't stop breathing
You're going to be worshipped, perform to delight
In playback, you sing in tune
Singing without missing the notes
In playback, miming, long live playback
You'll always sing
With playback, they even ask for an encore
"But of course", you'll say happily
In playback, miming, long live playback
You thank and smile
Maybe you don't know how to sing or even how to whistle
But you won't sing out of tune for sure
In playback, in playback, in playback
You just have to get it right, there's nothing to it
And even without singing, you're going to enchant
In playback, in playback, in playback
In playback, in playback, in playback
In playback, in playback, in playback
| Eurovision Song Contest 1981 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Marty Brem •  Modern Folk Trio & Aysegül •  Lena Valaitis •  Jean-Claude Pascal •  Hakol Over Habibi •  Tommy Seebach & Debbie Cameron •  Seid Memic •  Riki Sorsa •  Jean Gabilou •  Bachelli •  Linda Williams •  Sheeba •  Finn Kalvik •  Bucks Fizz •  Carlos Paião •  Emily Starr •  Yiannis Dimitras •  Island •  Peter, Sue & Marc •  Björn Skifs
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Wenn du da bist • Dönme Dolap • Johnny Blue • C'est peut-être pas l'Amérique • Halayla • Krøller eller ej • Lejla • Reggae OK • Humanahum • Y sólo tú • Het is een wonder • Horoscopes • Aldri i livet • Making Your Mind Up • Playback • Samson • Feggari Kalokerino • Monika • Io senza te • Fångad i en dröm
| |||
