Radiotelevisão Portuguesa was a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Despite its last-place finish in the contest, "E depois do adeus" gained notability for being used as the radio musical signal to begin the Carnation Revolution against the Estado Novo regime, being played at 22:55 on 24 April 1974.

Despite prior poor results, the 1990s were the most successful decade for the country, with four recorded finishes in the top 10.

[2] Portugal missed the 2000 contest due to their poor average results over the past five years.

[5] RTP stated that this break was needed in order to facilitate a content renewal for its national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, Festival da Canção.

[6] Festival da Canção (sometimes referred to as "Festival RTP da Canção") is the Portuguese national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, organized by RTP, and is normally held between February and March of the year of the contest.

Additionally, there was an orchestra present at the Portuguese national final in 1999 and 2001, where the winning entries were conducted by José Marinho and Rui Filipe Reis, respectively.