She did it... her way

Ira Losco's extraordinary success at the Eurovision Song Contest is a tribute to her talent, natural charm and outgoing personality. She was herself, exuding self-confidence and striking a chord with audiences all over Europe. She did it. Never was Malta so close to winning the Eurovision. And she succeeded because she did it her way.

As we followed the great happening from Estonia on the night, we could see the Maltese star flying the national colours in a way that she did us all proud. Proud to be Maltese as she exclaimed emotionally on her return to Malta last Monday. The joy of her achievement has been shared by an entire nation that united in wishing her well and in her success. Thousands turned up at the airport to welcome her back, shower her with flowers, seek her autograph, try to catch a glimpse of her, cheer and hail posters that praised her unparalleled success.

Many thousands of others followed her return on Malta's main three television stations which sought to bring the event live into people's homes, not without difficulty, since it was obvious that cameramen had to wade through the throngs that beset Ira from the moment she came out of the Air Malta plane that brought her back home. Others welcomed Ira next to her own residence in Sliema.

It was a heroine's welcome, and Maltese flags were proudly carried by many of the well wishers that turned up. Equally the Maltese flag was waved with pride as Ira gave a brilliant performance on the Estonian stage to an audience of millions around the world.

Whatever the president of the Malta Labour Party might make of it, this is an important event that appeals to a massive audience. In many European cities, it is not only followed in the comfort of people's own homes, but also in squares and at other public events with enthusiasm and exuberance. His talk of "friends of friends", apart from being a hackneyed expression that is used only for partisan purposes, helped remind us of those Super One presenters who had lobbied their audiences to remember that charity begins at home when Malta was about to choose its representative for the Eurovision!

The Eurovision is the European Cup of Songs. Twenty-four nations were competing and Malta made it convincingly to the second placing, with a gap of a mere 12 votes from Latvia's winning entry.

On the day following her return, Ira was received with all the honour she deserves by the President and Prime Minister. The next day she was received by the Leader of the Opposition.

The welcome home that Ira has received from the Maltese was a token of appreciation to what she has done to the national dream. Ira made that dream a reality. She proved that the Maltese people do not prove their capabilities by choosing to segregate themselves from others, or through the "security" of isolationism. The Maltese people can and do prove their worth by believing in themselves, by practising and training as hard as other peoples do, by marketing well provided they have a good product to offer, and as a result by making it happen.

This is the lesson that Ira has taught us all. What she has achieved does honour to young people who can, through their creativity and fresh ideas, venture into new fields and achieve the success they deserve. Young people do not ask 'if' as they would prefer to ask 'when'.

Ira has had the necessary determination and self-confidence to make it.

A documentary about her life shown just before the Eurovision by the national TV station depicts Ira singing and actively participating in various events through her talent from her childhood.

I have had the occasion to follow her for the first time at a soirée staged by Sixth Formers of St Aloysius' College where annually the students put up a marathon of talent in the various performing arts, ranging from bands to drama, from choreography to mime, from comical satire to the choir, from classical guitar to singing. It is an annual event.

I always look forward to it, since it brings home in clear terms not only that we can be confident about our country's future, but also, and perhaps more importantly, that we can be confident about our country's present, since it is up to society to involve talented young people in various spheres of activity as of now.

I had heard Ira for the first time in early February 1998 when together with Kathrina Farrugia and Greta Apap, she had taken part in a recital entitled "More than Words". It is the same year when Pamela Kerr was offering choreography to the tune of Free, James Vella Bardon and Chris Ellul were producing a Maltese farce entitled Terra Nostra? ably depicting various topical issues and when various other students entertained with talent and creativity as they performed dance medleys, plays, musicals and recitals. That is apart from the fact that the students saw to costumes, stage management, light effects, video effects, computer graphics and whatever it takes to ensure that the whole package gels well together.

This is the stuff of which the annual St Aloysius' College Sixth Formers' soirée is made of. Every year, not without some nostalgia for a college I was only too glad to belong to, I make it a point to attend this event at the college as well as a more classical evening that is staged within the Sixth Form premises. The college rector, the headmaster, other Jesuits, members of the teaching community, students and staff members blend together experience, enthusiasm, determination and a sheer sense of joy in making such events come together.

There are moments when I would be following an evening of choreography, or a concert by Voices, or a drama event at the Manoel or at St James Cavalier, when I remember that I had come across some of the names in one of these college events.

It is a similar feeling to recognising that a few of our leading personalities in the fields of performing or visual arts had kicked off on their respective paths at the former 4Ts (Teens' and Twenties' Talent Trust).

The arts is one of the sectors where any person who takes them seriously would immediately assert that there can be no boundaries or artificial limitations. The arts represent in their own right an international language that is the richer for the diversity of different national and local cultures that it comprises. Precisely because there are no such boundaries, the artist can excel in the international field while affirming even further his own national identity.

Ira's brilliant performance at the Eurovision has meant excellent publicity for Malta. As millions around the world watched and followed with awe the compilation of votes from each participating country, they admired the talent and charm of one of our own and shared with us the anxiety as to which country was going to place first. Soon enough it was clear to all the millions watching the Eurovision that it was either going to be Malta or Latvia to carry the prestigious title.

On the eve of the Eurovision, Ira had promised that she would follow one rule - to go out and enjoy herself. That is why she did it - her way. That is how she succeeded.

On her return to Malta she was modest enough to declare that she never expected such an overwhelming welcome. She deserved no less and was moved by the warm greeting. She also declared that she has no intention to become a different person or change her manner. This is as it should be, since her personality and style is a major ingredient behind her astounding success.

A word of gratitude is also in order to all those persons who worked closely with Ira. In particular, to Charlo Bonnici, chairman, and Robbie Cefai, secretary of the organising committee of the Malta Song for Europe event. Equally to Philip Vella, the versatile composer, and Gerard James Borg who provided the lyrics. There are many others, including those who worked on the video, other technical arrangements, or who provided sponsorships. It is the art of working together as one team, of seeing to all the different details that make up the full picture, of synergising and bringing it together.

On the great night, it then ultimately depended on Ira herself. On her voice, manner of presentation, and coming across to the audience.

In all respects she excelled. She offered a brilliant performance. She was herself. She did it - her way.