Reflections on the Eurovision (3)

I have just finished watching the Eurovision Song Contest and I must admit that for the first time in years I found it utterly boring. The songs, with the exception of about three, were drab and devoid of good music. I am not saying this because the Maltese song did not qualify. In fact I was not over enthusiastic about it but it was the best Malta could offer this year.

What is wrong with the contest is not the singer or the song. It is simply the politics and the geography of where the countries taking part come from. In the 21st century it has become ludicrous to guess which country will be voting for which before they even get their turn.

The contest has become a competition between Eastern and Western Europe. It seems that the East is becoming predominant and Malta will never get the chance of surviving no matter what you do.

Therefore I suggest that: 1) Malta pulls out of the contest and then 2) starts a competition held in Malta for countries from Western Europe and the Mediterranean. This will be held at a different time of the year from the Eurovision and can just be called "The Voice of the Mediterranean Contest".

Something like this would attract visitors to Malta, especially the young ones and it would have the same effect as the Small Countries Olympics. Malta should not let itself be devoured by the new wolves of Europe. It existed long before they did and it must show the courage and motivation to come up with something like this. So much preparation and money go into the Eurovision contest and it seems to me that it comes to a sticky end.

For goodness sake, the Maltese must do something for themselves. They have the talent and the people who are able to organise another contest, perhaps held every other year to start off with.

I look forward to being one of the first people to attend the "Voice of the Mediterranean" - the sooner, the better. Maltese talent should not be squandered.