Impromptu show goes down well

The dance version of Vertigo rocked the EuroVillage in Helsinki yesterday afternoon when Olivia Lewis gave an impromptu performance, which was received with loud cheering and clapping.

After singing the official version and her previous entry Déjà Vu, she was inundated by people wanting to pose for a photo with her and requesting her autograph.

Afterwards, she was interviewed by a number of foreign journalists who questioned her about when she started singing and her interest in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Overall, it was a restful day for the Maltese singer yesterday and she made the most of the warm, sunny weather, escaping to buy herself a few accessories from the shops that surround the hotel.

The team also managed to fit in an hour to rehearse their movements in a nearby gym, in a bid to ensure that every move is synchronised and the show perfect.

Today, Olivia Lewis will be taking the opportunity to relax and enjoy some sights and sounds before tomorrow's gruelling day with two full dress rehearsals, before Thursday's semi-final.

Maltasong board chairman Robert Abela, though looking somewhat tense, is happy with the way things are falling into place and said that the second rehearsal on Sunday had been well received.

"You ask if I'm worried? I guess after last year's placing you remain sceptical right till the end. Seeing is believing and voters can tip the balance either way," he said.

"I have to add that some of the songs in the semi-final are also of a much higher level than those competing in Saturday's final, which makes the competition so much harder," he added.

Mr Abela was also concerned by the fact that a Maltese student living abroad, who had been accredited by a local medium, was quoted in a popular Finnish newspaper making disparaging remarks about the host country.

"Such a situation is very damaging, especially when what he said is mostly untrue. We cannot afford to rub the host country the wrong way and risk losing votes."

Meanwhile, Olivia Lewis is refusing to let anything get her down and she is making sure she enjoys every minute. Last night, she let her hair down at the official Welcome Party, which was held for all the participating countries at Finlandia Hall.

Classic Jewellers said it was once again endorsing Malta's representative at this year's contest. She will wear a collection of hand-made diamond jewellery featuring concentric circles of rose gold as a backdrop to a cascade of arranged diamonds.

Hamilton Travel made this coverage possible.