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Eurovision mania still thrives
Malta
will soon be choosing the song that will represent the country at
the Eurovision Song Contest.
MIRIAM DUNN asks Malta Song Festivals Committee chairman, Charlò
Bonnici, whether anyone outside of Malta still takes the competition
seriously…
It is a busy time for Charlò Bonnici.
In two weeks' time Malta will be choosing the song and singer that
will represent the islands at the Eurovision Song Festival and,
as Chairman of the Malta Song Festivals Committee, he has a major
role to play in organising the proceedings.
I cannot resist challenging Charlò over the line of argument
that Malta is the only country that takes the Eurovision seriously.
But it is not a viewpoint that we share, as I discover.
"Lots of countries take the Eurovision seriously," he
answers. "Perhaps some of the larger countries take it for
granted, but certainly, countries like Malta have more to gain than
lose
by participating."
Staunchly defending the competition, Charlò highlights some
of the benefits derived from taking part in the Eurovision.
"The competition gives Malta the chance to show itself to the
world," he explains. "We should remember that both the
island and the talent we have here are on display to a potential
viewership of 300 million."
Charlò, who works in marketing and has also been involved
in the media for some time, stresses his role in the Malta Song
Festivals Committee is very much an organisational one, laughingly
admitting that his interest in music is solely as an observer.
But organising the competition and taking care of the publicity
for this and other musical events is certainly enjoyable, if hard
work.
Charlò explains that he has travelled to Israel and Stockholm
for the last two Eurovision song contests, and will soon be off
to Copenhagen to help in the preliminary work.
He admits that the nature of the competition means that ensuring
Malta's song is well promoted is a vital part of the whole event.
"The committee recognises how important it is to liase with
the other participating delegates and also make sure our entrant
is both seen and heard," he says. "In fact, we have already
ensured that the song will be getting some radio airplay and that
the singer will embark on mini-tours in different countries."
Charlò believes that ensuring Malta's song and singer are
heard is especially important since it is a fact that the island
doesn't have a particularly easy ride on the big night.
"It is a fact that we do not have natural allies, like the
Scandinavian countries," he admits. "We are isolated,
even in the Mediterranean.
“With this in mind, publicity is a must, as is, of course,
ensuring we have a very good song."
Charlò explains that this has been the committee's strategy
– to look for the best song performed by a strong voice.
Taking this into account, he adds, the committee has now introduced
a rigorous selection process, through which the first jury has been
doubled and the judges will also hear the acts live rather than
just on CD.
"This second change was made because we also believe that some
importance should be given to how a participant performs on stage,"
he says. "There is no doubt that experience makes a difference
and that singers can get nerves, especially at a contest on the
scale of the Eurovision."
Charlò points out that he believes the mushrooming of local
television and the openings this has provided for local entertainers
has helped in this respect.
"Many more singers are now used to performing for the camera,
which helps build up their experience and quash some nerves,"
he says. "In fact, almost all the 16 finalists have been on
TV."
The last 16 songs, which will be performed at the Song for Europe
Festival on 2 and 3 February at the Mediterranean Conference Centre
and will be shown live on television, have been narrowed down from
an original 229 submissions. Some artists will be performing more
than one song, since the committee takes into account the fact that
composers write their work with a particular singer in mind.
Some familiar names and faces appear on the list of the 16 finalists,
with singers Lawrence Gray and Fabrizio Faniello among the performers,
and Ray Agius and Alfred C. Sant among the writers. There are also
some familiar names among the collaborators, such as Dominic Galea,
Doreen Galea and Paul Abela, together with Georgina Abela.
And does Charlò have any views on whether Malta's song should
be performed in English or Maltese?
"I do not agree with the critics that are against the decision
for our song to be sung in English," he replies. "After
all, many other countries perform their entries in English, it is
not as if only Malta is the only country to have shown this preference.
I like the way that perhaps a phrase in Maltese is then put into
the song, as was the case with Claudette Pace's number last year."
I ask Charlò whether he believes Malta has ever been shortchanged
at the Eurovision and he smiles philosophically.
"I think Debbie Scerri should have placed better, although
perhaps nerves came into it," he answers. "I believe Chris
and Moira also had a very good song. But what is most important
is that whoever is there representing Malta does their best and
I'm sure that will be the case."
Photo
by Paul Blandford
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