Song(s) sung blue(s)

The set looked like it was designed for a Christmas party for morose goths. The dress code was obviously 'bedazzle', so much so that in a certain light, Pablo Micallef appeared to be wearing one of those carnival costumes that have skeletons printed on them.

A few of the singers could well have subscribed to the 'buy two, get one free' special offer and most people were expecting a Janet Jackson-style wardrobe malfunction.

On the other hand, the Malta vignettes between one song and another in the Malta Eurosong festival did not lack colour; they were bold and imposing. I hope someone prints and exhibits them somewhere.

I find it upsetting and irritating that we give so much importance to the decisions of foreign judges, and actually boast about this. They are chosen because they are supposed to be well-versed in trends in the international music scene. But is the Eurovision Song Contest about having a succession of clones onstage, mimicking the Top 20, or is it about each country providing good music with a somewhat ethnic feel to it?

Call me cynical and insular, but I say it behoves foreign judges who come here to select entries for contests in which their own countries are involved, not to choose the best entries.

The new system means we are handed down crumbs from the masters' table. We are only allowed to vote for certain songs because in their wisdom, the experts have technically forbidden us to vote for the rest. It ruffles my feathers that someone, especially a foreigner, is arbitrarily handed the right to decide what I ought to do in something that is no concern of theirs.

The aim of the new format was intended to make us familiar with the songs. But when push came to shove, we could not use what we had decided during what PBS chief executive Albert Debono had called the "showcase for Maltese talent, the Maltese Voice" (my capitals). This system had worked well, in the first section of the selection process, so why was it not applied to the finals?

I am sure we Maltese are shrewd enough to differentiate between Kraftwerk-style electronics and 'Yo-Yo Ma' virtuoso violinists, and to tell Kate Bush wannabes Vagabond King rip-offs apart.

The script for the presenters was, once again, banal and puerile. Someone had the bright idea of getting Valerie to study an inane couple of paragraphs in Russian. Later, she sparred with Pablo about how Cypriot viewers were having their eliminations concurrently with ours, and (here the mind boggles) about how they would be watching the local programme.

The attempts of the presenters to pretend they were ad-libbing failed dismally, despite the "waqqgħu down" quip. Is this the idea of lobbying that will scratch people's backs so that they scratch ours?

Angie Laus, easily one of the best people on the local television scene in the last 30 years, would have done a much better job of carrying the festival along, without a script she does not need or want. Pair her off with someone who is as professional, and it will be all right on the night.

And while on the subject of festivals, it is worth noting that the organisers of the International Malta Hit Song Contest 2009 are extending the submission deadline. The final opportunity to take part is February 20 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Hamilton Travel offices in Floriana.

The finals will be on May 1, and the winning entry will represent Malta at the Universong Festival 2009 to be held in Tenerife in June. For more information, go to www.ogaemalta.com.

The minute someone moves from one television medium to another, or decides to take a sabbatical, the rumour mills start grinding - fast and hard.

Carlo Borg Bonaci says he left XFM on December 31 as he felt it was time to move on after five hectic years of fronting the Breakfast Show and running the station. He describes himself as being in "refresh mode", albeit he remains involved in Divided. He says he is "testing the waters" and will be back on air sometime in 2009.

Meanwhile, I am informed that the position of programmes manager at PBS will be announced in a paid advert.

Several disc jockeys take calls on air, day in, day out (often from the same people) to show us that they have a steady fan base. This impresses neither Shania Twain nor countless others, including myself.

I used to think that it was not done to be rude on air, especially when the topics were sex, religion, and politics. But pluralisation has apparently moved the goalposts.

One caller this week wanted Ave Maria played. "Oh, come on, lady," said the presenter "that melody goes on air at station opening time; now it's time for something more upbeat..."

And then there are the other two people, one of whom does not know the difference between 'eulogy' and 'sermon', and the other who gives a prize when a caller calls a film Finger on the Roof. I assume there are log tapes to prove these three instances.

television@timesofmalta.com