On 7 March 1998, Alma Lusa took part in the Eurovision selection with Cid-penned "Se eu te pudesse abraçar" ("If I Could Embrace You"), which was chosen from the eight entries by a panel of five "experts" as that year's Portuguese entry. The song, an ethnic composition featuring traditional Portuguese musical instruments, went forward to the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, held on 9 May in Birmingham, where it finished in joint 12th place (with Estonia) of the 25 entries.