Ariadne Massa
Fans boost Chiara's low morale
Loyal fans greeting Chiara at the airport last night. Photo: Jason Borg.
Chiara received a warm welcome at the airport last night, which worked as a balm to her raw emotions after ranking towards the bottom in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Some 100 loyal fans gathered at the airport last night eager to boost the singer's morale with flowers, hugs and words of support.
"The disappointment is huge and it was a big blow not to place among the top 10 countries," she said, mulling on the outcome of the result before boarding the plane to Malta.
Chiara's expectations and those of the Maltese were high, based on the ballad queen's reputation - she placed third in 1998 and second in 2005, so the goal was a victory.
Instead, the 32-year-old, who gave an impeccable performance on the night, placed towards the bottom earning just 31 points to place 22nd out of 25 competing countries.
Malta failed to receive points from countries, which were considered to be Chiara's fans, among them Greece, Cyprus, or Albania. She did not even garner a solitary point from Belgium when the composer and author of her song What If We are Belgian. However, Malta got a good ranking in the semi-final, placing sixth from 18 countries.
"Seeing the points being read out was a shock. I'm still confused as to why certain countries did not vote for us," she said, at times laughing and at other times trying to suppress her tears from falling.
Does she regret entering the contest?
"Today I'm regretting it a bit, but a week will pass and so will the regrets. I loved being in Moscow and I was thrilled to have made it through the semi-final. We were a good team and we enjoyed it right until the end... well, until the votes were being announced," she said, managing a laugh.
Chiara has long maintained that her main objective was winning and that if she failed to reach her aspirations she would return to the Eurovision stage. Yesterday, she was reconsidering this, but stressed she never said never.
"I don't exclude anything. I'm too angry at the moment to say I'll go back again, but the Eurovision is a game and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose," she said, shrugging her shoulders in her usual frank manner.
The songwriter of Iceland's ballad Is It True?, which placed second, has encouraged Chiara to keep going irrespective of the placing, because "you have the greatest voice". Chiara was resigned that there were so many ballads viewers were willing to give the space to, and this year it was Iceland's and the UK's It's My Time, which struck a chord.
"I just hope people are happy with my performance because I gave it my best."
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X Bonanno
May 22nd 2009, 07:21
@ Joe fenech
Everybody knows SHE IS GREAT!
Even you....
Re. medical and moral advice, non c'e di che!! ;) always at your service ....
@ Eman Camilleri
You smell of serious conflict of interest... Min jaf ghaliex hux??
Have a nice day.. and Have a life will you?
Joe Fenech
May 21st 2009, 19:15
X Bonanno :
Well done and thanks for your medical and moral advice!! I'm sure all the readers were impressed!
Continue enjoying Chiara. She's REALLY great!
Wayne Flask
May 21st 2009, 12:50
@Tico: Marketing? 2009: 22nd; 2008: DNQ; 2007: Last.
What is the unique selling point in all of this?
louis zammit
May 20th 2009, 23:13
this is taken from the EUROVISION web site
The results of the jury vote from all the 42 countries taking part in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest are known. Taking a quick look at them, we can check how Alexander Rybak of Norway won the majority of the votes from the 5-member panels across Europe. Fairytale won with 312 points, 52 ahead of Iceland, the runner-up also in the overall 2009 results.
These are the results from the 210 European music professionals:
Norway (312 points)
Iceland (260 points)
United Kingdom (223 points)
France (164 points)
Estonia (124 points)
Denmark (120 points)
Turkey (114 points)
Azerbaijan (112 points)
Israel (107 points)
Greece (93 points)
Moldova (93 points)
Bosnia & Herzegovina (90 points)
Malta (87 points)
Germany (73 points)
Armenia (71 points)
Ukraine (68 points)
Russia (67 points)
Portugal (64 points)
Croatia (58 points)
Lithuania (31 points)
Romania (31 points)
Sweden (27 points)
Albania (26 points)
Finland (12 points)
Spain (9 points)
If the outcome of the Eurovision Song Cotest would have been based on jury vote exclusively, we can see how several countries would have done much better. This is the case of United Kingdom, France, Estonia, Malta or Germany,
Tico Torrez
May 20th 2009, 22:14
If I have to say something. I want to say all that is the irony of what Wayne Flask just said. Malta needs Eurovision to promote its artist. Its the cheapest marketing you can do for such a small country!!!
N.Sciberras
May 20th 2009, 22:09
Dear Chiara........have you ever heard of the word HUMILITY ???
just remember what the Bible (Matthew 23:12) says "..... whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted".
Eman Camilleri
May 20th 2009, 19:29
Lehnek minn dejjem kien jghogobni, u ghadu jghogobni. Issaportjatek anke din is sena u meta kulhadd kien qieghed jghid li kibritlek rasek jien kont nghid li l attitudni tieghek hi biss ta wahda kunfidenti u xejn izjed. Izda iktar ma bdejt insegwik, iktar bdejt ninduna li kull min beda jghid hekk, kellu ragun. U fuq xarabank ghaxxaqt kollox hi. U jekk qed tahseb li hemm xi kantant li qieghed jibza minnek hawn Malta sejra zball. Fil Malta Song for Europe ippartecipa kemm trid, imma l-Maltin ma nahsibx li se jerghu jibatuk tirraprezentahom.
X Bonanno
May 20th 2009, 19:24
@ Joe Fenech
L-ghira u l-kumplikazzjonijiet medici li jistghu igibu maghha jafu jiehdu diversi forom u sura! Fosthom dawk li alludejt ghalihom int.
Ifhimni hawn min jinfexx f:"
"WWWWHOOATT IIIIIFFV WIIIEEEEEEEEH...!!!!
u hawn min jinfexx f"
" ninneee millliiioonn biiicyyycleees innn beiiigiiinngg....!!!!!
Tifhimni nahseb!!! ;)
Life is short.... Have a life!
@ Chiara....
You are just great! Keep it up. Be proud of yourself!
Michael Pule'
May 20th 2009, 18:55
Though Chiara has a truly special voice, we must be honest at least amongst us and admit that the final songs were brilliant. So it was very tough to beat such a competition with a lonely singer on stage. Chiara's song did not reach the high standards achieved by other talented singers from Iceland, Azerbaijan, England, Greece besides the obvious Norwegian team headed by...... Harry Potter. We should grow up also when dealing with the media.
S. Anastasi
May 20th 2009, 18:33
WHAT IF WE try to persuade CHIARA to return to being the ANGEL she was when she sang 'THE ONE THAT I LOVE'???????????????
SIMON AMATO
May 20th 2009, 18:10
MA KONTX SORPRIZ BDAK LI GARA. NAHSEB KIEN RIZULTAT GUST U XEJN XEJN FORSI NITALLMU MA NATUX KAZ DIN IL FARSA U NIFTHU MOHHNA!!.KIEN HEMM DISKI SBIEH HAFNA IKTAR MINN TA CHIARA U LI ANKI GEW LURA BHAL TA DENMARK. INSOMMA DAK LI TIEHU META TIPPROVA ZZEBLAH U TAJJAR LILL HADDIEHOR BHAL HARRY POTTER!!
Wayne Flask
May 20th 2009, 16:55
I wonder what all the fuss about Eurovision is about. I think it's high time we stop aspiring to participate in this senseless charade and stop channeling funds into a musical event that is derided and parodied in the UK, US, and Italy - which is incidentally where the majority of pop music comes from.
In my opinion Government should withdraw all funding and spell the death knell to the song for Europe festival, and divert all efforts to making l-Ghanja tal-Poplu a bigger event where singers MUST present their own compositions (instead of composers handing out multiple songs to the first one passing by). I would even create a separate category for youths within l-Ghanja tal-Poplu.
Our artists don't need Eurovision to become stars and sell their music abroad. Talent isn't measured by whether you place first or 22nd in Eurovision. Talent is how well you can write and sing, irrespective of whether the average Austrian TV viewer likes the song.
So, down with this messy waste of money. We don't want to go next year!
T Cassar
May 20th 2009, 16:34
Well done Chiara. You have an impeccable voice and you gave a very good performance on Saturday. But I'm afraid that the song was not the best one to compete with. It was constant throughout, except for the last few seconds and it didn't bring the best of you either. Many of us had argued this from the very beginning. Most people had faith in you but not in the song and it has been shown very clearly that the singer alone is not enough. There were other nice ballads so I don't think that we (Malta) are not keeping up to date. We need a more catchy tune.
I wonder how the song 'Angel' would have ranked? ...I think it would have made it to a higher position.
WELL DONE again x
A. Cassar Pulis
May 20th 2009, 16:33
I had always been pruod of Chiara and always will be. It was a hit for her to be among the finalists which, to my opinion' was of great top best ever in Eurovision.
Keep dreaming Chiara, that's how a big star should do. If we get off our dreams, all excpectations finish and down go the stradom with it.
So Chiara give us more of your best and we meet again for the next Eurovision.
Joe Fenech
May 20th 2009, 16:23
X Bonanno :
You're right! EVERYBODY would like to be like Chiara and is envious of her worldwide success!!!!!! As the Times said a couple of months ago: Chiara is the Queen of ballads in Malta and abroad!!!
I've chucked all my Katie Melua disks away and now I only listen to Chiara! "WWWWHOOATT IIIIIFFV WIIIEEEEEEEEH...!!!!
R. Gatt
May 20th 2009, 15:54
@ Leif Morten - Well sorry we're not perfect, but then neither are you. I'm assuming you're scandinavian. You are the ones who should stay away for the next 20 years, since you are the ones who give each other the top votes. Ever heard ' And our 12 points go to our good neighbours Norway or Sweden or Denmark or Finland. It's countries like your's that ruin the contest as no matter how bad your neighbour's song is, you still give them top points. How's that for fairness.
As for our song itself, I thought it was too slow and boring albeit Chiara's formidable voice. My suggestion would be to stop entering ballads and instead go for a faster and livelier one. To the one who thinks that Eleonor is sexy. Well let's not go overboard now.
louis zammit
May 20th 2009, 15:24
we try our luck by sending the song that wins the songfestival..the one most originally.. a good beat song...and yes we need a show.....a funny show a sexy show whatever as long as its different.........and chiara sorry but just forget it and go on with ur life in malta or wherever u choose,,, there must be other contest so try ur luck there....
Martin Cassar
May 20th 2009, 14:16
We should try our luck with Joe Demicoli!
C. Caruana
May 20th 2009, 13:27
We need to keep with the pace of the eurovision. We cannot contest with classical songs and opera. We need more pop and energy on stage,
Ray Woods
May 20th 2009, 13:12
We thought that she was amongst the best SINGERS and our family voted for her.
It is not a song contest anymore - just a tacky politicised entertainment show - so Chiara shouldn't take it too seriously! We don't.
Ray Woods
www.maltabuyproperty.co.uk
Sandro Cremona
May 20th 2009, 11:16
I fully agree with Godwin Scerri, year after year I ask myself, who pays for all those people helping Chiara (or whoever was chosen to sing)? Bodyguards, Hairdressers whatever. Can we people know what this show is costing us. And what logic is this when you come third in a year, second in another, does it equal to 1st this year? Don't think so!! unless you count backwards. Lets blame everything and everyone but us. Because we are so presumptious!!!
Patricia Huggard
May 20th 2009, 11:14
Chiara sorry to tell you this, but please get rid of your bad attitude. It's too much.
J. Buhagar
May 20th 2009, 11:01
I really cannot understand.
Chiara is by any measure, a very good singer.
But.........Did anyone sincerely believe that the SONG in this SONG Contest had a chance.
The song music was so weak. So slow, imkaxkra, rieqda,............Donate this kind of music music to the Church.
And so THE SONG got what it deserved.
X Bonanno
May 20th 2009, 10:42
Dear Chaira,
Thank you for your formidable and exceptional show. Thank you from the heart!
Please do try some other time... jghidu x'jghidu dawk infiskati!
You are the one and only.... You were, am and will continue to be our most precious treasure.
Love ya xxxx
@ those mimlijin bl-ghira bazwija....
L-Ghira oht il-genn! Seems like many have got this pandemic disease... Ghira bazwija ghal Chiara....
A. Cachia
May 20th 2009, 08:57
@ Alan Davies...
If Malta ever won the song contest, it would be capabile to host the event, and there are enough hotels to cater for the visitors too....
Dont underestimate Malta my friend, we may be small, but we have good know how.
As to Chiara, i will say it again, if the Maltese do not want her to represent Malta in the Eurovision, then dont vote for her. If Malta votes for her, than Chiara has every right to go to the Eurovision. She has dont nothing wrong. Excellent performance on Saturday! Pitty we didnt get alot of points....
Maria Bensaid
May 20th 2009, 00:34
I think Chiara was one of the best, and I suggest that Malta stops from participating in this Funny game.Im sure that every body noticed that the votes went all to neigbours,and unfortunatly we dont have neigbours altghou we are in the EU... No body see us because we are to small, to be seen....I want to tell Chiara YOU WERE SO GREAT that you dont need to be upset my dear......
Leif Morten
May 19th 2009, 21:13
Your singer this year did not do much good to your country. She might have had a big voice (and a boring song) but her tongue was way bigger. It won't help Malta in a special way next year. Please spare us from her for the next 20 years!
Joe Fenech
May 19th 2009, 17:35
Chiara should grow up and stop acting like a spoilt little girl! She acted high and mighty and shot her mouth about how great she was and how better she was than all the other EV candidates. She even committed the unpardonable by proclaiming herself as the Maltese equivalent of the gigantic Elton John... When one loses all touch of reality, it is obvious that his blow is going to be massive!
I can't understand Chiara's fixation on Eurovision which she describes as one of the routes to success. She is completely off the mark!!!! Want success in the pop world?: start working hard on your voice, appearance and attitude; find a professional coach abroad - then things **MIGHT** follow!
jane deguara nee hughes
May 19th 2009, 15:58
@ Daniel Gauci ....how can you talk about chiara like that. when she came 2nd and 3 rd everyone was all over her, and its not who you are, or what you look like, its the song what counts and if all the other countries stop this dancing on stage it will be a lot better as on the radio you dont see them or on cd's. and thats what needs to change from next year.....Chiara you was great 100%
Joss Galea
May 19th 2009, 13:04
We are now blaming the package! We know that it's the song that has to be strong and not the jumping dancers behind the singer. Norway won because he had a good song not because of the acrobats he had! Iceland placed second even though she had a very unflattering..ugly dress! Lordi's won with a good song..not because they had masks. They are very good musicians! Not to forget that when Chiara placed second and third she was far more big than she is now! We also blame other countries because they vote for their neighbours, and then we get upset becuase Greece and Cyprus didn't vote for us!!!
Sylvester B. Fenech
May 18th 2009, 13:23
What if We ? .............. Qrid, Qrid u Qrid Biss. I said it before. Chiara should be happy about her 22 nd placing. Her song NEVER, and I repeat NEVER deserved to win the Malta Song Festival. The second placed Eleonor is ALSO a good singer ( like Chiara ), had a very good song ( not like Chiara's ) and above all she is SEXY ( it helps ). And may I add one more comment - if the Eurovision S.C. is a game, it remains so whether you place 2 nd, 3 rd and 22 nd !!!!!!
Jeremy Farrugia
May 18th 2009, 12:50
It IS called the Eurovision SONG contest but as other readers have said, we all know that it is the whole package which counts. We ALL know it. THE SONG on its own is NOT enough. We had a perfect example a few years ago of what this contest means when Finland won the festival with "Hard Rock Hallelujah" by Lordi. Still, we don't learn from these past events what we need to send for this festival to win. A good PACKAGE.
Kenneth Galea
May 18th 2009, 12:10
This year's Eurovision was the best ever in my opinion. I really enjoyed watching it, standard was high and the majority of the songs were catchy and sing along.
As for our lovely Chiara, she has indeed an incredible voice, she sings from her heart and stirs all sorts of emotions.
Well done Chiara for giving it your best shot. Keep it up.
godwin scerri
May 18th 2009, 11:40
I am only interested in how much participating in this farce costs the country. Can the ordinary citizen be given an itemised bill of account?
Martin Büttner
May 18th 2009, 11:35
This years edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was one of the best ever. The show was spectacular and most of the songs were just great. The standard of quality has risen for a third consecutive year. Stage performances get more and more professional. And songs and performers attract the audience increasingly, too. Malta's contribution was too monotone, too boring and too much focused on just a voice. It had to fail. Chiara has an exeptional voice, but that's it to say it clearly. The way she commented certain contestants and countries shows that she still lacks in international experience and in maturity about how to treat people in public.
Peter Busuttil
May 18th 2009, 11:33
i think some of the self-styled critics ( who cannot understand all the fuss made about eurovision, yet find time to see it , write about it and analyse it ) should go to youtube and see the close to 1000 comments made there ........before wasting anymore electronic data space .........chiara prosit ...you are the voice you sing ......brilliant ......further comments are futile
Roy Worthington
May 18th 2009, 11:03
Hi Chiara, loved you since 1998 and I can't understand why you didnt get the votes you deserved. That's Euro I guess you can never predict how the block votes will go. But from the land of Down Under, you were the best and hopefully you will get down here one day and tour. Maybe our Cabaret Festival
Alan Davies
May 18th 2009, 11:01
If Chiara had won the E.S.C would Malta be big enough to host the event considering the hundreds of thousands of extra visitors. And where would it be staged?
Shirley Sammut
May 18th 2009, 10:46
@Daniel Gauci
Grow up...Malta's reputation does not hinge on the Eurovision song contest. This is not a contest to vote for the best country, it is merely a SONG contest. And it is a game because of the way the voting is done & not because Chiara did not take it seriously.
You don't need sex appeal to win - look at the winner!!! He's cute but def not sexy ;-) maybe Chiara's performance wasn't as eye catching as the rest but her voice is incredible so please stop putting her down.
Whenever there was a report about her on this website, some of the comments posted were downright nasty!!!
Maybe next year if you're all such experts, you should go for it yourselves!!!
Fej irridu kulhadd jifhem f'kollox!!!
Dorianne Mifsud
May 18th 2009, 10:43
Fully agree. I watched the Eurovision together with international friends at a party here in Trier, Germany. I was the only Maltese, but there were some Greeks, French, English, Polish, Danish and Turkish people. Our top ten were Turkey, Norway, Azerbaijan, Greece, UK, France, Germany, Russia, Romania and Portugal. Out of our 36 people scoreboard Malta came 21st.
I cannot understand Chiara's attitude. She was warmly welcomed by the Eurovision community, but the way she commented about other participants and about some countries' voting behaviours is just not acceptable. She should know that everything is recorded that she says and that all of Europe is listening. Chiara, please apologise for your comments and resign from the stage career, at least from your "international" one. The show was terrific, never before we have seen such a good competition. Most of the packages were just great, we liked 20 out of 25. 'What if we' wasn't amongst the 20. Norway is a good winner, a great song, a cute guy, and nice lyrics. Malta must send better packages. Packages! Not a single voice only!
Dgatt
May 18th 2009, 10:28
Chiara dear, you did give it your best and it was absolutely great. However, this year's eurovision unlike the recent contests had a lot of very good songs. I could not predict the top 10, as my top 10 ended more like top 20.
Fairytale being the winner shows that although good ballads are appreciated fans in the ESC prefare something with a bit of rhythm & a good performance. This is clearly seen as in my opinion Iceland was a better song than Norway but still it placed 2nd. Moreover, Azerbajan, Turkey, Norway, Armenia and Greece song had a very pleasant sing-along rhythm which will probably be very popular in discos during the summer.
I think that to make some success in ESC, we need not only a good voice but also a good song and a good performance. If one checks out www.esctoday.com, most fans said that Chiara's voice is great however the song was very boring. On this point, can someone from the maltese board confirm whether fans comments from this site are taken into consideration to be able to pinpoint what actually makes a winning song?
Daniel Gauci
May 18th 2009, 10:11
You gave your best, Chiara. But your best was not good enough. You do have a great voice. But Eurovision is about more than that. Voice, Song, Lyrics, Tune, Melody, Choreography, Stage Performance, Sex Appeal. Those are the master criteria to be successful in the Eurovision.
You should step down now. Especially after your comments.
Now the Eurovision is agame for you, earlier you said that you take it seriously and that you go to Moscow to win. Any what about your comments on 'Harry Potter'? Shall we look for names/puppets thet resemble you or the other way round?
And don't blame the people abroad for their good taste. If the Belgians and Cypriots and Greeks prefer to vote for other songs, so it's their right. Don't be so arrogant to know who or which countries your or Malta's fans are. Wake up and start apologising. Malta now got a bad reputation because of you. We will need some time and a very good package next time to get over this. If you want to help us, then resign and stay away from any stage. Oh, and your attitude, well, get rid of it straight away!