Simone de Macedo e Oliveira, a celebrated Portuguese singer and actress, emerged into the world on February 11, 1938, in Lisbon, Portugal, a city steeped in rich cultural history and tradition. Her mother, a woman of Portuguese descent with a deep-rooted connection to the African continent, specifically the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, a former Portuguese territory, brought a unique blend of African and European influences to Simone's upbringing. Meanwhile, her father, a Belgian national, added an additional layer of cultural complexity to her family's heritage. As a young woman, Simone's passion for singing began to flourish during her high school years, ultimately guiding her towards a lifelong pursuit of a career in the entertainment industry.
Simone de Oliveira's remarkable life story is marked by her resilience and determination, as she has bravely battled breast cancer not once, but twice. With a career spanning multiple decades, Simone's professional journey commenced in the late 1950s, setting the stage for her eventual rise to fame.
It was the year 1965 that marked a significant turning point in Simone's career, as she proudly represented Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest, captivating audiences with her rendition of the song "Sol de inverno." However, it was her 1969 song "Desfolhada Portuguesa" that would ultimately catapult her to stardom within Portugal.
Crafted by the esteemed José Carlos Ary dos Santos and composed by the talented Nuno Nazareth Fernandes, "Desfolhada Portuguesa" boasted innovative lyrics that deeply resonated with the Portuguese public during the tumultuous dictatorship of António de Oliveira Salazar. Despite receiving a modest four votes at the Eurovision Song Contest held in Madrid, the song's local success solidified Simone's status as a beloved icon in Portugal.
Simone's remarkable journey in the world of entertainment spanned over a decade, punctuated by two significant milestones in her career. Eleven years after her initial selection, she was once again chosen by RTP to represent Portugal at the prestigious OTI Festival, the Latin American equivalent of the Eurovision Song Contest. This esteemed event, a platform for showcasing the best of Portuguese music, provided Simone with an opportunity to shine, and she seized it with her captivating performance of the song "A tua espera". This remarkable endeavor resulted in a commendable 14th place finish, with a respectable nine points garnered from the esteemed judges and audience.
