UPDATED: Morena's Vodka for Eurovision
Morena won the Malta Song for Europe Festival tonight with ‘Vodka’.
The Gozitan, a relatively new face on the music scene, emerged as the clear winner with 78 points from the jury (20 per cent) and 16,979 votes through televoting (80 per cent) for the catchy song composed by Philip Vella and penned by Gerard James Borg.
The song is actually not about the drink, but about espionage and Morena sings about how she has “deciphered the code, got a rush to the head... Vodka, a transparent word”.
Claudia Faniello, Fabrizio’s sister, clinched both second and third place. Her song Caravaggio, composed by Ray Agius and penned by Godwin Sant got 68 points from the jury and 12,714 votes from the public, while the ballad Sunrise, composed and penned by Ray Agius garnered
Morena, who also impressed with her sultry looks and incredible stage presence, was over the moon with the result. She will now go on to represent Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest, in Serbia, in May.
The show, in the hands of executive producer Peter Busuttil, ran smoothly overall with ample entertainment from former winners Chiara and Mike Spiteri, as well as a live performance by the star guest Natalie Gauci, the winner of Australian Idol 2007.
She was flown over to Malta especially for the occasion with the help of the National Good Causes Fund, timesofmalta.com, and the Maltasong board.
Towards the end Natalie and Chiara teamed up to sing the latter’s winning song Angel, which the crowd loved.
Hosted by Chiara, soprano Ruth Casingena and John Demanuele, the festival was attended by some 1,000 people
12 Comments
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Marton Saliba
Mar 28th 2008, 22:38
First time I heard this song, I was tuned on the radio and had no Idea what was being played. I was surprised at the DJ playing such a strange song, only to be shocked when I've realised it is the next song of Malta for Europe.
Seriously, do one really think there's hope with such a song? It has an ethnic sound of some unknown music which is played for drunk people...no offense, after all it is called Vodka.
Pronunciation is not an issue, the singer has no choice but to snap some of the words.
My main point of argument is NOT Morena, she's a good performer, if only the song was as good...
The song is rhythmic.Period. nothing else, if it wasn't for the vocals it would be as monotonous as a pogo stick.
My expectations in the competition results are rather low.
Jimmy John M Vella
Feb 17th 2008, 21:42
Granted everyone. Perhaps the words are not exactly comprehensible but let's face it; most singers in the Eurovision can barely speak English and they merely learn to say the words phonetically... like parrots. Result: barely comprehensible songs; like it has always been.
But, even more so, shall we start drawing up a list of huge songs by big names in the music industry which cannot be understood unless you hear them once with the lyrics printed out before you?
Same with 'Vodka', hear it once with the lyrics before you, or, hear it a number of times attentively, and sooner then later, you'll start enjoying its rhythm.
The song is a good one and I truly believe that for once (well, second time rather) Malta truly has a very good overall package: decent singer (very good looking; not too sexy nor too scant but neither too conservative), brilliant song with a killer dance and a very catchy rhythm.
Let's be happy and give Morena all our support as the idea is to always support one's own representative, even if the song is not all that good. I mean, look at some of the past Eurovision winners and think...'Who would have said?'.
jane deguara nee hughes
Jan 29th 2008, 14:38
Well. I think the music was good, but sorry we did not have a clue what she was saying, Rosman Pace on the other hand had a great song, and you could hear all the words of the song. Is people only had one vote each I am sure he would have come 1st or 2nd, better luck next time i say.. and fingers crossed for Malta...
John Cauchi
Jan 28th 2008, 22:06
The problem with not understanding the Lyrics apart from some words here and there is caused by the lack of knowledge from the sound mixing person and the recording of the music itself. In the art of mixing a song, the engineer has to leave space for the voice to come out. I've heard the song twice on the TV (live) and several times on the radio but still can't understand more than 5 words from the song. Unfortunately many songs (made in Malta) suffer from such engineering mistakes.
Pure Brit
Jan 28th 2008, 17:22
Well now, what exactly is "good" English? Do you mean British diction? Or, is it American, Australian, South African, Indian ... Maltese, or Gozitan diction? Frankly, we have an accent - just like the Italians, French, Spanish and Russians do. Learn to live with it ...
Petra Gasan
Jan 28th 2008, 13:52
Well now that Vodka has won, all we should do is wish the Maltese team good luck for a good performance in Serbia. On the otherhand, I do not agree with Joseph Micallef's comment that the dancers should dress up in Russian costumes and give it a Russian style...after all, the song is still representing Malta, but I fully agree that we should enhance the performance by having Morena and a team of dancers moving more to the rhythm.
Nestor Laiviera
Jan 28th 2008, 00:09
Pronounce better? She should start off learning how to enunciate the actual lyrics of the song.
Personally, I found it impossible to comprehend anything past the chorus.
Jane Muscat
Jan 27th 2008, 16:17
I don't think that Vodka had to win the festival but I think that now it's the winning song, Morena has to learn how to pronounce the song in good english..... at least we understand what more she has to say apart from the word "vodka"...
Albert Attard
Jan 27th 2008, 14:37
I back up Joseph Mangion's arguments. We need Morena to Move on stage with this type of song. It is natural for her and can do it well, so please do not make her sing still as happend with some past songs with good rythms, spoiling the whole package in return.
Charmaine Muscat
Jan 27th 2008, 12:23
I'm very proud that Morena with Vodka did it. She deserves it, with her astonishing voice, look, charisma and talent. Well done to Morena, her smart Dancers and obviously to Philip Vella and Gerard James Borg... The show was excellent. Keep it up and Good Luck!
Joseph Micallef
Jan 27th 2008, 10:04
I am glad that Vodka won though I am still shocked how Whispers did not make it to the finals. Now I hope someone will take heed of my advice and create an appropriate coreography which suits the style and rythm of the song! Please do learn from Vertigo.
Vodka has a Russian-pop sound which would naturally appeal to eastern European countries (a plus in our favour)-so please dump those James Bond like dancers even though the song is about espionage (nobody is going to understand the lyrics as Morena's English diction is not so clear and many have commented that they don't understand anything but the word Vodka) - and instead have some dancers dressed in Russian costumes and dancing as Russians do!
Stephen Muscat
Jan 27th 2008, 01:18
I'm so glad that "GO" did not place in the first 3 places! Everyone knows that its music is similar to Busted's "AIR HOSTESS"!!