Actually, de Oliveira was not the authors' first choice to defend the song at the national final, having even been invited to a week of the event.

At the close of the voting the song had received 4 points, coming 15th in the field of 16 competing countries.

[4] The Portuguese people followed the minute the presence of Simone de Oliveira in Eurovision, through the reports emitted by the radio and newspapers of that time.

It was a great disappointment when it became known that Oliveira and the choristers were unwell on the eve of the event due to having eaten spoiled apple pie, which forced them to undergo medical intervention.

[6][7] The regime was unable to stop the strength of the people who made a point of paying homage to their representative at the Eurovision and sang "Desfolhada portuguesa" in unison.