Morena's eye-catching beauty
Morena skipped breakfast and slept in this morning to catch up on her beauty sleep... And for good reason too.
At 12.30 pm today she is being whisked from her hotel room to the office of Alo!, a daily tabloid newspaper in Belgrade, which has chosen Morena and two other girls for a photoshoot.
Morena, together with Kalomira from Greece and Charlotte Perrelli from Sweden, have been short-listed by this newspaper as the three prettiest girls from all the Eurovision contestants for a photoshoot.
All three girls will be shot wrapped in their national flag, while for the second photo, Morena has chosen to wear a long, red flowing dress.
After the photo shoot, she will have the chance to relax and unwind before tonight's party at the Euroclub being put up by Ukraine.
Since she arrived in Serbia with the Maltasong delegation on Tuesday, Morena has been leading a whirlwind life. Apart from rehearsing her moves for two hours a day with her four Swedish dancers, she has been receiving invitations from several delegations to sing.
Morena sang at the Greek and Cypriot party and was even invited to a village in Serbia, Sabac, to perform at an open-air concert. This village considers Malta and Macedonia their favourite entries, and the concert was attended by a huge crowd who chanted "Malta, Malta!"
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Graham Crocker
May 19th 2008, 22:56
Mrs Hili, "Envy is left-handed praise".
:)
Raymond Sammut
May 19th 2008, 21:11
Your English is actually quite cute, Fleur. That was very original. "Telephone: ring! ring!"
John Theuma
May 19th 2008, 19:38
This is not a beauty contest. Morena next time take part in the Miss World competition.
Fleur Hili
May 19th 2008, 19:37
@D Fenech maybe I should contact you so you can help with my atrocious English.
@Joanna Mercica Thanks ,at least I`m getting more attention that Morena is getting In Belgrade! :-)
D Fenech
May 19th 2008, 18:35
Oh dear! Ms. Hili do you realise that your written English is atrocious! I think you had better concentrate on polishing it rather than writing these silly comments. This is meant as constructive criticism.
Joanna Mercieca
May 19th 2008, 17:48
Fleur, people like you are a disgrace to our country.
Proud Gozitan!
Maria Dolores Fenech
May 19th 2008, 17:47
@ Fleur
A friend of mine from Zejtun, speaks 'Maltese' when she is at work (she is a bank clerk), but she speaks in dialect when she is at home with her relatives, it comes natural. I met her once with her mother at Valletta and I did not understand a word she told her mother, because they spoke in dialect between themselves. When I told her how come she speaks 'Maltese' when she is at work, she told me that she does a great effort to do so because otherwise few people understands what she says.
Vodka was not my favourite song, I prefered Caravaggio but now Morena is representing Malta at the Eurovision. We should all give her our support, which she needs very much right now.
Somebody said that if you want to test the ability of a singer, hear her/him sing without music.
I heard Morena sing without music last Friday on Xarabank and I was amazed; she has a wonderful voice.
Aim high Morena, but keep in mind how the Eurovision works. Do your best and let God do the rest. Good Luck.
PJ Mifsud
May 19th 2008, 16:41
@ Fleur Hili
I sympathise with you for all the criticism received but although every one has a right to express one's opinion freely, I feel that some of your criticism for Morena was unmerited.
Why all this bother and fuss regarding her looks, her Gozitan accent and her background. It's common knowledge that Eurovision Song Contests are not won by the best musical and lyrical composition but on the strength of getting the highest number of votes from neighbouring States that, year in year out, irrespective of the quality material presented are prepared to give their vote partially to "friendly" countries. At times, the more idiotic the lyrics and the more outrageous the stage outfits worn, the better the chances for placing highly. The important factor is to put on a three minute exotic and colourful display where lusty singers are given the opportunity to display as much flesh as is legally permitted. I hope that this provides you with an answer as to the reasons why we generally end up losers. It's not because, as you maintain, due to our entries being "flops."
Let's avoid needlessly criticising Morena (and other Maltese representatives) and putting her under a strain to achieve the prize that usually goes to unmerited contestants. The Maltese are prone to suffer from this annual syndrome at this time of the year, doubtlessly spurred on by a vitriolic local media, notably the TV programme "Xarabank." The contest is presented as a matter of life-and-death to each singer chosen to represent Malta. God bless Morena for she's still an unspoilt Mediterranean beauty hailing from a humble, working class background, with feet firmly on the ground, possessing and practising strong Christian values and totally lacking the foppish airs associated with TV personalities who consider themselves as VIPs. Nothing's amiss if the girl speaks with a Gozitan accent when addressing her kind and in idiomatic Maltese when speaking on the media to the general public. I personally know respected public figures who follow the same practice. They feel more at ease doing it that way. Morena does it because it comes natural to her. It is worrying when a person can ONLY speak the dialect for that's a clear indication that the person has just received a minimal standard of education.
Notwithstanding what you think about Morena's interpretation of "Vodka", I am convinced that no matter what the final result will be, she will have done her best for her country and that we should all be proud of her. If it were for me, I'd follow Italy's example and drop out of this annual sham contest where meritocracy plays second fiddle to outrageous spectacle. If we usually end up depressed with the result, the cause is not to be attributed to our singers or the quality of the songs presented. It's the system of voting that requires an overhaul!!
Sandro Agius
May 19th 2008, 11:58
The true language is in dialectic form form that is the true language of the people...always better than a person who says that English is a mother language!!!
Fleur Hili
May 19th 2008, 10:51
For the last time..................I don`t care about the accent. I don`t care if she speaks, in the worst dialect that no would understand her,what I mind is that it was used so people watching Xarabank think that she is "cute, down to earth, and and the bla bla bla"
For all I care people can use any dialect they want, but use is constantly or don`t use it at all.
My father is half Gozitan and I can tell he does the worst impression of the Gozitan dialect, because he never lived in Gozo and I also hate people trying to use spoken English in the worst possible case " Ara the car ghax tmur il hospital".
Its the use to appear what one is not that bothers me.
I hope i made myself clear for the last time.
PS @laurence schembrigudja: I am grow up and I did have my fun, but this "eurovixin" saga get on my nerves every time and ever time we fail!!!!!
Raymond Sammut
May 19th 2008, 03:23
I like my accent. It's the only way I can speak Maltese. It invariably gets sharper when I have tantrums with those at home. And it never ceases to get in my way when I try to pen something. I think you have been a little too harsh, Fleur. What about your accent? How does it sound? "U halina". "MIN[N] GHAWDEX". Which part of Malta has been putting up with you? Let's hope it's not the last time. We would like to hear more from you. I admire a woman who stays put, in defence of her beliefs. That 's the stuff of martyrs. But right now ... right now is Morena's moment.
laurence schembrigudja
May 18th 2008, 21:51
@ Fleur
C`mon grow up, go out and have some fun.
M. Formosa
May 18th 2008, 20:02
Oh and bdw, Fleur Hili, "il mondo e bello perche e vario".
Malta is beautiful because of the different accents and dialects that exist among us.
A word of advice, stop your excessive commenting.
M. Formosa
May 18th 2008, 20:00
ok, at first the words may be a bit hard to decipher, but no one can deny that she's got a magnificent voice and she's a true Mediterranean beauty.
& to Fleur Hili : what's so wrong about the Gozitan accent?
I think it's just fine.
She is proud of being a Gozitan, why is that so wrong in your eyes?
& to speak frankly, there are certain Maltese whose accent is even worse that the Gozitan one.
Fleur Hili
May 18th 2008, 18:43
@D. Borg
read the article "Morena Rocks" and you will MAYBE understand what i`m on about!!!! Oh and by the way Fabrizio is my son, Chiara is my sister, and Olivia Lewis is married to my brother.
U hallina......... if some one criticizes, one has to be jealous, or else related to some else.
So what if Malta has 1000 dialects, If so PROUD OF HER HERITAGE, SHE SHOULD SING IN HER NATIVE TONGUE !!!!!!
For the last time i am proud of my country, but I also want what is BEST for it.
M Borg
May 18th 2008, 18:12
I am still not getting the point of Fleur Hili. Maybe are you related to some other singer who failed to go to the Eurovision?! This is just a competition and this lovely girl is going to REPRESENT all us Gozitans and Maltese. So why this fuss? Let's back her! And Fleur, since you appreciate all that is Maltese, how come you are criticising Morena and they way she uses the Gozitan dialect? Do you know that we (Maltese) are so unique to have our own language for less than 400 000 people, and also have about 70 dialects in our language? Does this make you proud? If not, you are one of a kind! Good luck MORENA!
stefan cardona
May 18th 2008, 17:24
i love reading these comments! hilarious! viva malta u l-maltin (+ghawdxin)
Fleur Hili
May 18th 2008, 14:08
@ J Scicluna
That figures,I had the feeling all along that you might be related or very close to her.
Since she is a public figure, one should learn how to take criticism.
I meant MEDIA WISE.
No one is asking anyone to be ashamed of their roots.
@David Farrugia.........I do no`t understand your comment. I did see the site you posted and to tell you the truth I was "shocked". It seems that the tabloid is a very open one regarding sexuality. I hope Morena in her God fearing portrayal does not pose for such a crappy tabloid!!!!!
J Scicluna
May 18th 2008, 12:55
Ms Hili, Do you even know Morena? How do you know that she only uses her dialect on Xarabank? I have known her for years and I can confirm that she always speaks in a Gozitan accent as she is not ashamed of her roots as is proud to be Gozitan.
Raymond Sammut
May 18th 2008, 11:06
No one needs to explain anything to you, Fleur. You are obviously smart enough as you are.
David Farrugia
May 18th 2008, 10:57
Found it Fleur!!!
Here is the link: www.alo.co.yu
David farrugia
May 18th 2008, 10:42
Envious, Fleur?
Now let me start searching for the online version of Belgrade tabloid ALO. hmmmmm..
Fleur Hili
May 18th 2008, 10:32
Now explain this do you think the Russians and the other Vodka drinkers are going to see right through us?
The song sounds just like Russian (incomprehensible), The Name (Vodka), oh and the only capable dancers are Russian.
What a joke.
Gerard James Borg tell us that the song was not written to influence the Baltics. What are we, puppets???
Fleur Hili
May 18th 2008, 10:22
@J Scicluna,
Get off your high horses once and for all. People all over the world have dialects. Why did she only use it on Xarabank? If she uses it so freely she should use it everywhere not just xarabank!!!
@Raymond Sammut.
Phoney -fake. That is the way she comes out to my humble opinion.(if the people wanted her it's their problem, I am guessing you were one of the intelligent voters). Sorry you don`t like that word since many of us Maltese have quite a habit of being one.
@Laurence Schembri.
Ok. So you want to know. She is, in my opinion, not what she is trying to be. she is trying to hard to appear "humble,cute and down to earth"
@K Bonello. Its a pity you don`t know me. You would know I`m not like that, but then everyone has a right to his OPINION or so I thought.
K Bonello
May 18th 2008, 09:37
Symptoms of Maltaphoid - the Maltese desease:
a) talking crap about others who were able to be more successful
b) criticising anything under the sun - without ever having the guts to try doing the same thing that is being criticised
c) inability to suggest objective alternatives
Medicines to cure Maltaphoid:
a) a generous dose of humility
b) (if medicine a fails) a large strip of cellophane stuck to the foul mouth
Raymond Sammut
May 18th 2008, 08:57
Apologies to Ms Hili. I've just realised I misspelled her second name. I hope she can retract the word "phoney". We all like to give Gozitans a lot of flak, but that's just not a nice thing to say.
Kevin Zammit
May 18th 2008, 08:19
Here we go again ... emabarassing. I bet Terry's going to be howling all night about this one.
Has anybody seen that video she posted on u-tube? Just like something my kid daughter would do in our backyard.
And the song ... vodka? What is this a commercial? Probably my ignorance in these matters and it's great tack-vision material after all.
laurence schembri
May 18th 2008, 07:38
For crying out loud, she is a young beautiful girl, let her have her day. What is the problem with Fleur?
Raymond Sammut
May 18th 2008, 03:04
You are not simply giving an opinion, Fleur Hill. You are calling someone a "phoney". That's quite a serious accusation. Morena is where she is now credit to her hard work and dedication. More importantly, she has been duly selected for the occasion, and the Maltese people are not in the habit of selecting a phoney. Are you able to explain how your remark does not amount to being an insult to all the Maltese people who voted for her during the selection process?
J Scicluna
May 18th 2008, 01:05
Referring to Ms Hili's comments.....it is hypocrisy fun of our Gozitan dialect or haven't you noticed that there are places in Malta where people speak with an even stronger dialect. As for Morena, we Gozitans are proud that she speaks with our accent so freely and that she is representing Malta as well as Gozo in this year's Eurovision. GOOD LUCK MORENA... WE ARE BEHIND YOU 100%....
Fleur Hili
May 17th 2008, 22:48
@John Azzopardi
I have no envy for the Gozitans (or Morena) actually I have a lot of respect for them, but let us be honest, have you ever seen a TV program with a Gozitan caller?
Telephone: ring! ring!
presenter: hello,min int?
Caller: Maria min Ghawdex!!!
Presenter: MIN GHAWDEX???? Prosit min Ghawdex! Kemm niehu pjacir meta icemplu min Ghawdex!!!!!
For Pete`s sake they are calling from GOZO not Haven!!!!!This is what I don`t like!
No i`m not jealous. I call a spade a spade. That is what Morena is a spade!!!!!
JOHN SCERRI
May 17th 2008, 21:35
Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others.
He or She who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.
John azzopardi
May 17th 2008, 21:27
To Fleur HIli..........do I detect a hint of jelousy. We gozitans along with the majority of the maltese are proud of Morena. Good Luck
Fleur Hili
May 17th 2008, 21:25
@D.Fenech
I do appreciate what is Maltese, but I appreciate what is good, not what is in trend. I admire quite a few of Malta`s own great artists.
I will not mention anyone as it would not do them credit to post on this article. Some of them have competed in the GREAT "Eurovision" others no, since their talent was not appreciated (Thank God for that!!!).
D Fenech
May 17th 2008, 20:28
How sad when Maltese people cannot appreciate that which is ours and write it off as phoney! But we all have a right to our opinions.
silvan said
May 17th 2008, 20:04
Sigh..... it's that tme of year again. Eurovision frenzy and dashed hopes, recriminations, neighbourly spirit, disappointment and comedy. Let's not also forget airtime to fill on Maltese chat shows.
biting my nails......
Fleur Hili
May 17th 2008, 19:56
My opinion.....................phoney, and as the past years a flop.
Cannot understand a word she sings and the Gozitan dialect ha ,what a joke.
This craze just because she is Gozitan makes me ill, and the voice????
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
May 17th 2008, 18:45
Wishing you all the luck, Morena. Keep up your good work! I am sure the One up there is looking over you.
D Fenech
May 17th 2008, 18:14
Whatever the result, Morena, especially after the programme Xarabank transmitted yesterday, has come over a a gem of a girl! I admired the way she used her native Gozitan dialect in such an unhibited fashion. She obviously comes from a family steeped in traditional values- a breath of fresh air in this day and age! She came over as a sensitive loving person who loves and is loved! Bless her! She has the voice, the looks and the charisma! She will make Malta proud!
marie craus
May 17th 2008, 16:47
Let´s hope all this fuss stretches throughout the final voting hour!
alex grech
May 17th 2008, 15:29
Wish you succses..!!]
Your gr8
A. Gauci Cunningham
May 17th 2008, 15:05
Good Luck Morena!! Not much of a Eurovision fan myself, but rather a fan of anything Maltese!! ( or Gozitan ovvjament!!!)
Patricia Mifsud
May 17th 2008, 13:51
While wishing Morena all the very best of luck, and my congratulations for being short-listed for her beauty (and I also augur that she will be short-listed for her performance as well), I can't help wondering... is the tabloid concerned also holding a photo-shoot of the three most handsome men taking part? You know, for the sake of balance and gender equality? ;-p