Malta Song Festival
The Eurovision Song Contest – now there’s a funny old thing! In some countries it is treated as little more than a joke. The UK, for example, enjoys a good laugh at the bizarre strains of Euro-pop dished up almost as much as the hugely predictable political voting tactics from the Baltic States. But for many Maltese people, Eurovision is a really big deal!
The annual competition, held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union, is watched religiously by the majority of the Maltese population. Although some of them now also watch it mainly to ‘enjoy’ the overall kitsch, bad singing and dancing and usually terrible stage shows and costumes.
It should come as no surprise then to hear that the Malta Song for Europe- the song festival which decides who will be Malta's representative in Eurovision that year – is one of the most eagerly-anticipated musical events on the island.
During the festival, held every February, and broadcast to the nation, aspiring Eurovision hopefuls take to the stage in the hope of being chosen (by a jury, complemented by public voting) to represent the nation at Eurovision later that same year.
To be fair, Malta does not have a great record but did almost taste Eurovision success a couple of times. The first came in 1998 when Chiara Siracusa won the Malta Song for Europe festival with her ballad The One That I Love, which she then took to the main event, which that year was held in the UK.
Maltese people watching the show held their collective breath as, during the final stages of voting, Chiara’s entry held a joint lead with Israel. The votes of only one country remained to be cast.
However, the last country – Macedonia - gave Malta no points at all, leaving Chiara behind the first-placed transsexual Dana International of Israel, which isn’t even in Europe! It pushed Malta into third place behind the UK’s Imaani.
In 2005, Chiara tried her luck again with another ballad entitled ‘Angel’ and came second, this time behind Greece. Not knowing when she was beaten the intrepid songstress was back in the Malta Song for Europe finals with ‘What If We’ in 2009 and she won the right to represent her nation again. She made it through the first semi-final in Moscow and qualified to the grand final. However, she finished up 22nd!
In the meantime, songstress Ira Losco had also come second in 2002 with her song ‘Seventh Wonder’. She went on to become one of the best selling artists in Malta, as well as touring in other countries such as Germany, were she has a solid fan base.
The Malta Song Festival is organised by Maltese broadcaster Public Broadcasting Services (PBS Malta).
