When last year Malta's entry failed to qualify for the finals there were numerous calls for the resignation of the then chairman Robert Abela and indeed the whole board.

This year we have yet to hear anything said against Claire Thake Vassallo, PBS chairman in charge of Malta's participation. But of course, we obviously don't expect to hear anything objective on any TVM programme, as nobody wants to risk criticising their boss! So instead we hear that we should console ourselves that, at least, we made it to the final. Well, pardon me, but I have a few observations on that.

We had a nine-strong delegation that included a foreign producer. Do readers remember the outcry when we once had foreign dancers? Now we simply handed over the whole production to others (and let's not forget the very composition of the song, also foreign). Remember the cries about five or so Maltasong board people being far too many to accompany the singer? Now we had at least nine. We witnessed the presence of the PBS chairman, CEO, news anchor, PBS director and five other people; rather top-heavy for a trip abroad to be funded by public funds in "the most expensive city of Europe"; we do hope no crisis hit PBS in the meantime as I wonder who was left to manage the company. And all this when there was little or no PR to take care of (we all heard Chiara say on Xarabank that everybody knows her in Eurovision circles; to quote her: "My coming to Moscow is like Elton John coming to Malta"). There was also no choreography to stage.

We sent Malta's arguably best voice (no offence to previous singers, but that voice had to be a clincher to make it through the semis). We competed in the "softer" semi-final. We landed a wild card in the draw, and so could choose the most advantageous position to sing in. And we all agreed that diaspora was much less evident this year. (Chiara herself dismissed the notion on Xarabank).

Bearing all this in mind, I would have thought that getting through to the finals was the least anyone would expect.

But then we sat there on Saturday and watched a great show with infinitely better performances, personalities, voices, talent and professionalism than ours. And by some "neighbourly" voting of our own, just barely managed to avoid ranking in the last couple of places. And the more honest among us felt at least a pang of satisfaction that the smugness of those who thought they knew better and could do better than anyone who had come before, and did not even have the common sense to at least keep these arrogant thoughts to themselves, was quickly wiped out. Or was it? We'll wait and see.

What is certain is that this nation needs a serious revision of its perception of its own self worth in most areas. And in the current economic scenario it should also spend its funds better than on providing fleeting "red carpet moments" to dubious ambassadors. Or paying a redundant commentator who could not even be bothered to come up with a different script for the finals.

Now do you want a last sobering thought? Think back to February's selection and try and remember the other contenders for the title. That's right. Now quickly dismiss any hope of coming up with something that can ever be a winner. And just hope that the people who should be working hard at other things (especially those paid out of our taxes) get on with their day jobs.

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